Advice: Piano programs at schools

[urbanspice]

I have researched and found that a lot of instructors teach private piano  lessonsat school, usually a private school, during the day. I was wondering if anyone had any advice about contacting schools to get a program like this started. Should I aim for the music director or the principal? And, probably the most important thing, what should I say? I know that I'm basically "selling" an idea and I have no clue whatsoever how to do that. I need to "sell" the idea, without seeming tactless but seeming educated\intelligent\worthy of their time. Any tips, help would be greatly appreciated.

[m1469]

Forgive me if you have already indicated the answer to my question on another thread, and I have just missed it... but do you currently teach ?

[urbanspice]

Yes I do. I currently have about thirty students, but most of them are through a piano company that I work with, which means they take part of my money. For my own private students I teach in their houses since I don't have my own place  (It is so insanely expensive!) I figure that doing something like this would expand my student base a lot and very quickly. And giving piano lessons at school is quite common. Tons of private schools and a few public schools do this, some programs are new and others have been in place since the seventies. I'm just not sure how to go about getting things started where I live.

[m1469]

Okay.  Well, the only reason I asked if you were currently teaching is because that means to me that you have somewhat developed philosophies and so on behind why you are doing this.  Something like a mission statement.  You also have some great experience. 

And, while your mission statements and experience will help to sell you, particularly, 'the bottom line' will ultimately sell the program to the school.


Homework :

A private school will have one main philosophy or mission statement of its own, to start with.  It wouldn't do you any harm to get to know what the philosophy is for each school that you present this program to. 

Why have they decided that public school is not enough for kids ?
What do they claim to offer the community that other schools don't (depending where you live, music may be an endangered program within public schools (along with other programs) and is a good selling point for private schools) ?

Find out what kinds of ideas they sell to the community, and then find what ideas within your own philosophies work harmoniously with that.  Also think about what kinds of things you can offer that are not already being offered, but would be in their own best interest if they did offer them.

The thing about private schools is that most often people are paying a lot of money to have their child attend.  These schools often have students whom are achieving good marks (or parents don't want to pay the money) and whom have a number of interests.  There seems to be greater emphasis on arts and scholastics than within public schools, too.  The point is, "high society" is often looking for something like this to help distinguish their child from others.  And actually, even when applying for Universities, having studied a musical instrument is smiled upon, even if that is not the field the student will end up pursuing in Uni.  It is my impression that most children who are attending private schools have very future minded parents; already thinking about post-highschool education and wanting to set their child up with good oportunities in life (and private school admin. knows this, too).

The bottom line is, whatever philosophies and mission statements the school may have, they are ultimately looking to offer the kind of program that will make people want to pay them a lot of money to have their child attend their school (afterall, the child could always attend a public school for "free"... or a different private school that has a more rounded program overall (including music/piano)).  You want to offer the school something along these lines.  You want to offer them the opportunity for they, themselves, to earn more money BECAUSE you are there.

The rest is detail at this point.


Hope that helps with some next steps,
m1469

[m1469]

Here's another thing.  It may just be an easy sell.  You walk in and say " I would like to start a piano program here at your school" or "I would like to see a piano program for these kids".  And maybe they are already wanting that and see the value.  You just want to be ready with stuff to back it.


m1469

[jam8086]

would you have to have teacher certification to teach a piano program in a school or is a music degree acceptable?

[m1469]

would you have to have teacher certification to teach a piano program in a school or is a music degree acceptable?

It's probably variable.  I know a woman who ran an art program through the public schools and she does not have a teaching cetificate (maybe not even a degree), and has now been hired by a private school teaching full time even (general ed plus art classes and some other things).  Private schools are not run by state laws because they are not state funded, so they basically do whatever they want.  And for public schools I am not sure about all of the rules that apply for every circumstance, but I know that for certain programs it's not a requirement. 

It would be best to inquire at the specific school(s), however.

Hope that helps,
m1469

[urbanspice]

Thanks everyone for your comments and I will definitely do my homework! 
If anyone else has any thoughts please don't hesitate to share them.

[wenat]

I've no idea which part of the world you are in, as I'm sure the word "private" could differ quite a bit.  In my part of the world many private schools do offer an after school instrumental program for all instruments not just piano, and from experience (teaching) it's all about the money.  The school itself normally wants quite a big percentage of the fees leaving the organizer only a minimum amount to pay teachers.  The demand for teachers can be quite high as most programs are verypopular, but because the pay is so low you will end up with a lot of "greenhorn" teachers with very little experience and the same amount of responsibility to match, hence no quality lessons; lots of teachers not turning up; lots of substitute lessons being given.  Then you're also limited to teaching within the school term withholidays, long weekends, you end up giving maybe 30 - 40 weeks worth of lessons a year?  Definitely questionable when it comes to quality vs quantity for piano lessons given at school.  I've been banging my head against the wall for some time....but have no choice!

[Bob]

Public and private schools can be a little different.

An administrator will be concerned about letting you in with a student -- legalities, liability, letting you in a room alone with a student maybe.

For setting up a class, I haven't seen a lot of schools that have many pianos available for a group piano class.  A cost issue.  I doubt a school would hire a piano teacher to come in for one or two group piano classes.  It may be good for the kids, but they probably already have a music teacher -- To an administrator, any music teacher can teacher any kind of music.  A music teacher has a degree and certification, so they can teach music, any music.  They might think if they could set something like group piano up, their own music teacher could teach it.

After school sounds much more likely, but there would probably be limited pianos.  After school is also sports time.

There is no reason not to contact the school and contact the music teacher and ask if you can give lessons -- either privately there at the school or just making contact with the music teacher who can recommend you.

I have heard of schools contracting art teachers.  They pay them for x-amount of sessions.  Something like that might work, but I wonder about getting enough pianos for a group.

An administrator would expect you to bring the basics of the piano program to them -- things pretty much all worked out.

I have seen schools have programs that use the school building that don't take any money from the program.  If the program is benefiting their students and the community, the admin have considered it giving back to the community to allow something like that to go on and use the building.  Since the community pays for the building, they don't limit its use to "school" only.

I could see something working out.  If a small group of students (5-6 students) met with you after school for group lessons.  Start with a few keyboards.  Maybe there's a way to get a grant (keyboards for the school that you and the school music teacher can use).  Build up.  You would get spin-off private students easily too.

[amanfang]

From what I've seen, piano programs at school seem to work better with private schools.  Especially if it's in conjunction with a church, then usually a room with a piano is not a problem.  You may pay "rent" to the school, but it would probably be a pretty low charge.  If there is some sort of PTA or open-house before school, set up a table with your policies, prices, and registration form.  It would take some work, but make a spot on the page for what classes the parents don't want their kids to miss.  You'll have to work with teachers as well for scheduling.  You may be able to teach only a 2 or 3 days a week, and since you teach at school, you can be done at 5:00 (or however early you want to end) and be at home the rest of the evening.