Need Degree/Diploma to Teach

[nicko124]

I was just wondering whether it is essential to be a succesful piano teacher even if you do not do a formal study into your field of teaching. I mean when people decide on choosing a teacher they are going to choose a teacher with a diploma behind them against one who hasn't, surely?

[m1469]

I have never even once had somebody ask me what my "qualifications" are.


m1469

[nicko124]

I have never even once had somebody ask me what my "qualifications" are.


m1469

Yes but if you place an ad in the paper or something it goes something like...Teacher with X years of experience and diploma in (insert qualification here).

[m1469]

Well, you asked if it is essential to have a degree to be a successful piano teacher.   The answer is no, it is not.  Also, if I were going to advertise my teaching studio, no matter what degrees I have, I would advertise what my studio offers, not my degrees.  The customer is buying what the studio has to offer, not a list of degrees that may or may not qualify an individual to be a teacher.   

My studio is not about me, but about my students and what they can learn within my studio, therefore, I do not take the approach of advertising myself.  However, people are welcome to ask me questions.  My general approach is to let the product speak for itself.


m1469

[juliax]

I was just wondering whether it is essential to be a succesful piano teacher even if you do not do a formal study into your field of teaching. I mean when people decide on choosing a teacher they are going to choose a teacher with a diploma behind them against one who hasn't, surely?

      Absolutely not.  Experience is key.  If you want to make yourself seem more credible, why not join a guild?  I'm a member of the Texas Piano Teachers Guild, and I got a pin and a certificate, but it really doesn't mean a whole lot, it's just something that may help.
      The only truely essential thing you need to be successful as a piano teacher or in any field is confidence.  I have friends who do not demand respect or stick to their guidelines and in the end they are not taken seriously by their customers.  I took 5 students from one teacher that dumped them because they were underpaying and always trying to lower her price.  I raised all their rates up to a decent figure (still less than what I charge normally) which is $30 more per month than she was charging.  They had talked her down, and she gave in, which was her own fault.  I refused to back down from my prices, and informed the clients that they are welcome to search for another teacher, that way they can see my price is not only competitive, but fair.   6 months later, not only do I have all the same students at my price, but I have gained 3 additional from their recommendations.  This includes one who had turned another teacher down for being too "pricey."
      Basically, what I'm trying to say is, whether you have a degree or not, you have to take yourself very seriously and have an exaggerated amount of confidence.  I started teaching when I was 18, so you can imagine the flack I took for being inexperienced/underqualified.  I stuck to what I knew, never let them get to me, and took in everything as a learning experience.  By the time I was 22 I was one of the top teachers in the school and carried over 50 students.  I would say that is pretty successful, and though I have had music training in college, I don't have a degree.
     The key to being a successful piano teacher isn't being a great piano teacher, it's being great at selling yourself as a piano teacher.   Selling yourself is the key.

[nicko124]

Thanks for the prompt replies. I was curious as to the nessecity of the qualification, to me it seems that people want to find quicker ways to decide on what teacher to select: thus it would be easier to select a teacher with a diploma rather than one without.

However as juliax eloquently explained it is also about confidence, experience and determination.

This is comforting to me because although I am not planning to do a music degree/diploma, I would possibly like to look at teaching in the future if I reached a decent standard.