how do you sell yourself as a piano teacher?

[imapnotchr]

ok, so someone has seen your ad as a piano teacher.  They call you up, and in two minutes or less, you need to convince them that you are the right teacher for their child.  What do you tell them?  What ideas, concepts do you include in your shpeal?  What should you refrain from saying to them?!

[jpianoflorida]

I start out by telling them a little about myself, that my goals are for the students to have fun while learning and the ultimate goal of one day being able to play from any book they pick up since I stress note/site reading with students.   I always ask them if they would like to meet in person to discuss things and so they can see "what I do".   Also I always like to get their email address and follow up the phone call with a personal note and I attach my brochure to the email.

[lostinidlewonder]

Tell them that you would like to meet them in person at their home or your studio so that you discuss what exactly the requirements are, what music they have done, what experience they have, see their hands on the piano etc. This initial interview should be for free, no strings attached. Here you can discuss price of lessons and everything. Doing it over the phone I feel is impersonal.

I do mention the prices on average on the phone, telling them it depends on the students requirements. Also I will tend to charge less if I feel the family isn't upper class. If they live in a million dollar home I will be happy to charge normal price. If I teach a music univeristy student I will charge more, if I teach a student who plays high level piano I will charge more, if I teach a beginner who has no knowledge I will usually charge less because these lessons are no brainers for me at least.  Always tell them that you sometimes wll go over the time limit but will not charge extra, they like to hear that.

It is important to give for free your personal time to meet these prospective students. You will find much more often than not they will join up with you if you give them that free interview and give them piano tips there and then, nothing specific, you do that when you have the first lesson. Always have a smile and appear as if you enjoy teaching and feel inspirational no matter how boring the topic you teach might be.

[oceansoul]

Greetings.
This makes me feel, as a future taught by teacher student of piano, a little confused about the teachers. 
Do you try to please people so you can give lessons?
Like, even if you think something is boring, you pretend it's alright?
You are ruining my childish fantasies about teachers. 
Just kidding. lol

Bye for now,
          OceanSoul.

[rhapsody in orange]

Hi,

I would think that pleasing someone is a way to build a happy relationship between two people. It may not be to the extent that you accomodate your student all the way, but one  important thing is that your student is happy with his/her lessons. It doesn't help when your student comes for your lesson feeling dreary and just wishing that the lesson'd end soon.

And if I think that a piece is boring, I would try to convince my student that the piece is worth learning as it would improve certain aspects of their playing. If that doesn't work, I would try to look for alternative pieces that offer the same things. Usually every time it's time for a student to start a new piece, I'd look for a few pieces which I think is suitable for the student and ask them to pick which piece they'd like to do.

By giving them some kind of choice, students would feel that their opinions are actually considered and that teachers are not so 'authoritarian'. So if they can have a say in what pieces they want to do, they would be more willing to practise and they would feel less 'forced' to do it.

Just my two cents. =)

[lostinidlewonder]

Greetings.
This makes me feel, as a future taught by teacher student of piano, a little confused about the teachers. 
Do you try to please people so you can give lessons?
Like, even if you think something is boring, you pretend it's alright?

Well, a teacher is a servant to the student in all reality. We are there to give them what they need, help them with their problems, make their life easier. Honestly I don't find explaining general stuff like shape of chords, scales very interesting because I have done it countless times, but I have to sound interested about it. Even though I have heard it 10000 times this student is listening to it for the first time! So if I talk about it like blah blah yeah its boring, the student suffers. I have to be like... hey know how you can see the piano like this, and say it with bright eyes and excitement. I guess it isn't pretending because I do it because the student learns faster and stays awake, it benefits me as a teacher too.

[counterpoint]

Do you try to please people so you can give lessons?
Like, even if you think something is boring, you pretend it's alright?
You are ruining my childish fantasies about teachers. 
Just kidding. lol

I think, that's a very serious question, and teachers should think about it!
When you tell students, piano playing is easy and funny all the time, they will believe it. But they will think, that something is wrong with them, because it is very hard sometimes and sometimes it's even boring. So, one should tell new students the truth instead of telling them fairy tales. The more serious you take practising, the more fun you will have in the long run. If you are only looking for the fun of the moment, you won't get very far with your skills.

Another thing is, that student think "I am not so talented, so I don't have to practise this much". No comment on this statement 

[ingagroznaya]

I personally think that being honest really works.
About a year ago someone called me on the phone about 11 in the morning. I grouchy answered:" Yaa, Piano lessons? More piano lessons? I need some rest. The studio is closed. Yaa. Till noon.". I knew I have secured the student on the spot with that sleepy-grippy answer, because I've heard a healthy awake giggle on the other side. She was a bright lawyer looking for a piano teacher for her kids. 2 girls. The older is superiorly expressive, the younger is a wonder kid ( she is a genius, not less ).

I always schedule free interview. I never think of it as an interview one way. We both have to rock each other boat for lessons to work. On the interview I am the aggressor, but also feel as if it's me who's being interviewed the most. I ask million questions. I play. A LOT. My interviews cost as a minimum $200, but it's free. I invest whole a lot in to interviews. More then I invest in advertisement. I tell the parents that there will be up and downs, tears, you are here for the long haul. Playing is fun, practicing is dreadful. I tell them - " I hate practicing sometimes. Sometimes I do not feel like it. Sometimes it is somewhat enjoyable". I play again, smile and say " See, it's all worth it at the end". Did I stress enough how much I play?

I find the whole idea of dressing fancy don't get me students that I want. Few years back I would not wear slacks to interview or lesson, today I don't oppose jeans. Scarf is for the weekends. Look like your client, think like your client, joke like a client you want. Know what your client is seeking. Don't offer more then you can give. Don't lie.
Marketing is a wonderful science.
Get your self a stage name. I am Russian, but was married to some unknown Brit. He had a very fancy name. I took it. My own was 13 letters - impossible to spell or to pronounce. Funny accent works wonder in combination with fancy last names.

Be fun. FEEL fun. Remember how fun it was to play something so simple for the first time in your life. If you can not, please play for a living. I never thought I'd teach. It was a miracle how I've got to it. I had no kids of my own, so I always thought kids were dumb.

You have to first to learn enjoy the company. The purity of it. There is nothing like it.

I will sincerely go out of my way to find an arraignment my student wants to play after a year. I do not overdose them with Bach at 7 or 8.

Be different. Stand out. Look for someone who is in it for a long haul. Look for " Crazies". Have something to share. You'll find them. It's very rewording.

There is an incredible competition in my area. My little hole is very famous for best education in US. It's pricey/cheap, but still the best.  I gave my first paying lesson at 11... To rephrase your question it is not really a shpeal ( why does it sound so jewish?)

It is not really Jewish thing or marketing, You have to believe in what you sell. If you do, you should not have any problems.

[pianistimo]

best education in the US?  i though you lived in russia.  what is this?  seriously, though, i think you are right about being funny.  some teachers think that it is some kind of God- given right to be boring.  i think all my memorable teachers have been humorous in some kind of way.  not silly.  but, just make you think.  ask you questions.  laugh when the answer is way off the first time.  keep asking the same questions until you understand and get it right.

bad teachers, imo, are huge assumers.  they assume that the student understood everything they said.  they might assume the student understands their language.  i've had some teachers that didn't only explain piano and music - but also language and terms and meanings of things.  this was probably the most meaningful dialogue because i came away with SO much information that i could use.  then, the next lesson it was practiced.  a repeated question about some of the items from the previous week and how it went (practice) and what was done with the information.  i don't think i'm one to harp much on 'what is this?  you don't remember a thing from last week?'  but, when i encounter a student like this - i try to be patient and repeat it all over again.  pretty soon they get the idea that what is being said is important.

i sell myself on the basis of pragmatism.  if it works - it's good.  if it doesn't work - find some way that is better.  also, i like to help students become creative problem solvers. 

[ingagroznaya]

After a year it is whole another universe. Kids are not so dumb after all. E-mail me directly if you have a question after believing in someone's potential after a year. At first you sell YOU and a DREAM. You have to be firm on both.

I like your jewishness. Do not take me wrong. Russian friends are so rare.

[ingagroznaya]

I was going to Auckland  Australia and landed in Oakland US., pianistimo,  Don't touch the subject. It is still too painful. I was stuck. Get a life. sh*t happens.

[pianistimo]

whose jewishness?  i'm irish.  but, i go to a synagogue every weekend.  they ask me the same thing.  are you jewish?  no.  i just come here to listen and then eat really good food afterwards.  there is some innate thing in jewish people that makes them good teachers.  they have an affinity towards 'repetition.'  and, as you know 'repetition' and building upon concepts is probably one of the most basic things about teaching.  also, they make things fun for kids and the parents interact a lot during the week with their children. 

the american way is to let someone else do it.  interact.  teach.  etc.  i think, as i've gotten older, that i see the importance of having a relationship with child (by doing fun things with them - going to the park, doing things they like to do) before trying to teach concepts or while teaching concepts.  i mean, if you are just sitting at a table or piano and talking, talking - it's boring.  but, if you bring the concepts to life somehow (and this is where creativeness comes in) - you do get into the 'dream' idea.  that what someone creates can be good without being 'perfect.'  not to dwell on perfection SO much that it inhibits creativity.  this is hard for first time teachers because they want to hear everything perfect perfect.  well, i'm happy now if it is half-way perfect.  they'll become better, as you say - ingagroznya - after a year, two years, whatever!  the enthusiasm of lostinidlewonder and ingagroznya and basically every longtime teacher rubs off, imo. 

[pianistimo]

ingagroznya,  you are killing me!  auckland, oakland.  this is too much.  i can't stand it anymore.  you are passionately crazy.

do you think you could help me sort out who's who in some of these old family photographs of my husbands.  they're all named ludmilla, or vasily, or basil.  these names kept repeating through each generation.  are russians the most likely to rename the children the same names as the parents?  also, what is this obsession with including chicken pets in family pictures.  i have this one pic which includes three chickens.

[ingagroznaya]

Life is too much. You have to have the passion for it to suck what you want out.
I often tell my students " I've learn it the hard way, so you don't have to". I'm there all the way to help, but I know it's a biggest lie. There are no rules. No logic. It's all random. Almost random. I wish...

[pianistimo]

yes.  that's the feeling i got after taking grad level piano lessons.  i was paying more and getting less precise answers.  what i mean, is some answers were really precise and others very random.  almost like, 'just experiment for yourself.'  the trouble is, to adequately experiment - one needs a good instrument.  i would go back home to my kawaii upright and attempt to do what sounded much better on his piano.  i need a grand piano. boohoo.

[ingagroznaya]

Sometimes I wish.
I had/have a truly beautiful life to wish for more.

My dear grandma bought me a dozen of small chickens on the market when I was about 5 years old or so. They all died one after another in our Moscow apartment. It was a very moving experience for me. They were very joyful, active, and very very yellow.
Basil is a town in Switzerland. Not Sweden. Often mixed up in America .... I guess like Auckland and Oakland in Russia. Could be a herb, but it's my russian pronunciation. I am not sure about Vasily. He must lived on the Russian farm where yellow chickens were able to grow.

[ingagroznaya]

yes.  that's the feeling i got after taking grad level piano lessons.  i was paying more and getting less precise answers.  what i mean, is some answers were really precise and others very random.  almost like, 'just experiment for yourself.'  the trouble is, to adequately experiment - one needs a good instrument.  i would go back home to my kawaii upright and attempt to do what sounded much better on his piano.  i need a grand piano. boohoo.

You need exciting sex, travel and some life experiences, not a grand piano.

[pianistimo]

i've had all the exciting sex i need, thank you.  i had so much the other day - i had to stop everything completely and just recuperate.  if it doesn't make yuo extremely tired, it makes you sore.  what does that have to do with piano, might i ask?

yes.  i want to travel.  my hsuband will not let me go with him because it's 'business.'  i tell him he can pretend he doesn't know me, but we'll hook up at the hotel.  he has no imagination when it comes to these things.  i say - just take a few days more (he's going to paris for three days).  'no.'  must come home and go back to work.  for all that money?  $5000.+ for roundtrip tickets to paris.  i'd want to at least see some kind of fashion show.  and, eat some brie.  walk around in some french gardens.  drink some champagne.

when i die, it will be in my backyard probably.  my life experiences will be good, though.  i like seeing my children do bizarre things.  like take an afternoon in a costume shop.  personally, i detest halloween.  but, as kids would have it - they just want to dress up for no real reason.  so, my daughter gets on this venus costume.  i think it's a little beyond her age - but at least she didn't go for the vamp costume.  i tell her, look this costume is white - i can see pink underwear.  you're not going around the neighborhood looking like this.  she says - 'oh, mom.  i'm going to be wearing a coat anyway.'   what does a coat have to do with it.  then, the little one tries on a cheerleading costume - but decides instead on a fairy costume.  the wings are a bit heavy - the first ones we tried on.  but the second ones are really fitting.  i think everyone should just have a day they walk around in a costume.  one thing, though - is that once costumes are worn they should be donated to thesbian clubs at school, imo.  what a waste to have a costume just sitting around in a closet.  my son is wearing his sumo wrestler costume again.  it didn't blow last year.  i was sure from all his rolling around on the sidewalk that it would deflate.   

[pianistimo]

very yellow chickens?  do you mean chicks.  they never made it into full blown chickenhood?   do you work for a drug company.  some animals get tested so much, they die of vaccinations. 

[eastcountypiano]

I let my website do all my talking for me.  I have a waiting list BECAUSE of my website.  Parents call me and tell me that my website is what convinced them to choose me or another piano teacher. 

Schhsh.  That sounds like bragging, but I am surprised about it myself. Surprised they don't even want to meet me or my studio, they are already sold on me when they call.  I don't have to do any pitching whatsoever.

I spent a lot of time working on my website and as parents would call and ask me about lessons, I would incorporate those questions into my website. 

I have also made my website true to the teacher I am.  I am a layed back teacher, I do accept cancelled lessons, because I financially can and because with an acting son, I have to cancel as well, I do NOT have contracts, etc.,  Students come to me because of those things and students DO NOT come to me because of those things. 

The website allows a match to be found between us.  I don't have to sell myself, I don't have to explain myself, it's all there in black and white and they can take me or leave me. 

The result is parents that agree with my style of teaching and less miscommunication.

[pizno]

I am just now reading this thread and laughing all the way.  I agree, be funny, be witty, be spacey sometimes, forget what you were saying, keep after the same points, don't let up, and especially I agree with PLAY FOR THEM!  They need to listen, to model, to know what lies ahead.  One more thing I want to add, is don't be mean!  My daughter's teacher was like a stand up comic one moment, and biting her head off the next moment.  It was scary.  Even I was scared of her.  Now that I am teaching I have vowed to NEVER lose it with my students. 

Piz