Leaving a music school.

[thaicheow]

Hi, everyone,

Not as a mean to express my angst, just wanna share my 'not-so-perfect' relationship with this music school.

I have been teaching in this school for almost 4 years. You can say, I almost started up my teaching job (I dun like to call it a career) simultaneously as the school started. The principle herself has come a long way in this profession. She used to specialized in electone and had won an award. She sets up this music school right after she got her FTCL in electone.

The relationship overall is ok, but never been smooth. They have been underpaying me right from the beginning (compare to what other schools offer me, which I turned them all down). In the average, they will just pay me by commission according to the number of lessons that I conducted, roughly around $10 per 45-min lesson. Initially, I suppose they just started up, business hasn't picked up yet, and I need a point to establish my name as well. So, I agree with the condition that they set. And at the same time, I am teaching privately whenever I can squeeze into my timetable.

As we go along, business started picking up. Of course the boss won't mention anything about the payment stuff. As time goes by, more and more angst I feel. Added salt to the wound is that the boss daughter (who is somewhat spoiled) constantly badmouthing against me, commenting on me with other staffs, which mostly audible to me. Of course added with the stress of teaching, students' exam etc. It just doesn't help, and sometimes I just lost my temper. Not those with hysteric screaming (though I very much like to do it), but rather unhappiness show it through my body language. E.g, I have broken a few pancils in front of my students. Somtimes, I feel so distress that I want to cancel the lessons, but just couldn't do so.

We had a long talk last night. And finally they ask about all these. May be I am a little bit too frank to them, pouring out all this underpayment stuff, distress etc. I suppose they get the message that I'd like to focus more on my private teaching. Immediate action is taken, as they shift some of my students in the school to other teachers. I suppose as time goes by, things will get more and more hostile to me. May be this is an action to make sure that students won't follow me when I go totally private or leave the school.

Feel depressed these few days. And really dissapointed. After all, I have been helping them in much other ways too (organizing concert, type set some scores, etc, all without extra payment).

And also feel lost. I am not so sure I can survive all by myself. After all, my private still hasn't seemed to establish yet.

I look at myself, and really dunno what will be my future? Finish my Dip(I am preparing for a year end exam)? Licentiate? Then fellowship? Then what else? Carry on teaching and suffer the angst of teaching? With my age (20 near 30), it is definitely too late to become a concert artist. I really hope to further study in music and performance, but just don't have enough resource. Everytime seeing those young artists, studying performance with scholarship, family being supportive etc, I feel really envy. I come from a traditional asian family where parents expect their kids to become doctors, engineers. My mum never support my persuing in music. She fall sick, after learning that I gave up an engineer job to start teaching piano, and passed away later.

I truly hope that I can retreat from all these upheaval for awhile, but I know I can't. There are lessons waiting for me to deliver. Students are taking exam this October, etc. Bear in mind that lessons which I fail to conduct, either I need to make up for them, or pay will be deducted.

Where am I heading?


P/S: Dun mean to complain, nor gain sympathy. It would be nice if anyone with much more experience can give me advice. Thank you, and may God bless you all.

[zheer]

 Am sorry to hear about all of that bad stuff going on in your life, to me it seems not too bad that you have some privat students and a job within a music school.
Infact you are a lot better of than most people, however your mother passing away is very very sad.
  Few people meet the expectations of their parents, not everyone is going to be a lawer ,dentist or accountant, someone has to do the dirty work so to speak.
If you love music and it makes you happy, then apply to other music schools you might find the right one for you, i think with music things need time to develop it does'nt  happen quickly for most if ever. Good luck.

[richy321]

Where are you heading?  Good question.  From everything you say, if I may list a few:

 

[richy321]

Sorry, my reply got sent  before I finished.  I was going to list some of the issues that jumped out at me that indicated that your problems are basically emotional.  I am not going to list them except for one striking example:  you get so upset (read angry) that you actually break pencils in front of your students.  This is bizarre and you can hardly blame others for talking about it.  Now, I also come from a traditional asian background, so I hasten to assure you that it is not meant to be rude or insulting to suggest that you seek counselling, because that can be a great benefit not only in terms of your work situation but in your overall well-being also, since you indicate that you have issues with your family expectations.  I wish you the best.  No one deserves to be so unhappy.

Rich Y

[cora]

They will always underpay you. It is possible to make more than 1/3 of what they charge
your students but unlikely. I imagine they are charging your students about $30 for the same lesson you get $10. This is because it is a business and they have to turn a profit solely on the teachers' backs. You will never be happy in this situation.

Also be careful of the people that will find students for you and send them to your home. They will keep charging you their cut of about 1/3. These people are exploiters. They give no instruction to you to make you a better teacher. They give you nothing. You can place an ad in the paper just as well as they can.

I don't know where you live so it's difficult to give you exact advice. I do not believe you need counselling. It will cost you money and time and will not change the fundamental problem: you need money. Sorry to hear about your mother dying. It is not because of you.

Try advertising with every penny that you have left over. If you get even one student, it pays for itself very quickly. Also try to extend the lessons of the private students you have or give them twice weekly lessons if they are quite young. Consider teaching history or harmony if you don't already do so.  Consider accompanying students for exams; call all the violin teachers in your area. Consider playing piano at weddings and funerals. Call the malls nearby to see if you can play Christmas songs in December.

Every day when you wake up, ask yourself, " What can I do today to help myself to become a successful piano teacher?"

[lostinidlewonder]

Don't worry, no one instituition will be your ONLY HOPE. So even if you leave this school you will find somewhere else eventually. Try not to underestimate the power of your own teaching school. When you teach your private students at home or in their homes this is really your own little school, there is really little difference between that and opening a school of your own and teaching from there.

$10 for $45 mins of teaching is slave labour in my opinion. It has actually been said that a music teacher is one of the most stressful jobs! The luxury of teaching at the school is that you do not have to search for students. You slowly create your private student network, I started with 5 students in my first year, the next year it was 10, then 15, then 20, then 30, the maximum was at 40 students which I couldn't handle without neglecting my own concert perparations. You must constantly advertise your service in local papers, you should also approach schools, local groups, churches etc throughout your area offering private lessons.

It is never too late to become a concert performer, there is no limitation. The only thing is that you must do it yourself. This is the question where people fail. It is not that you cannot play well enough the piano, it is because you cannot play the business game, promoting yourself, keeping the momentum going. Let me explain, I did a concert back in 2001, I immediately followed it up in 2002 and 2003 doing a concert at the same place, around the same month. The second and third time it was much easier to sell tickets because people where expecting it and talked to friends about it. The thing is you must be consistent and hit the same places many times. This process is hard to say in words, the strategy to grow your concert career with your own self promoting efforts is a very big topic.

With music you are the product, you are the business, everything that determines your success comes from yourself. Most businesses fail in this world because we do not have the determination and consisitent effort required to deal with it. Most businesses fail because they offer nothing that people didn't know they needed.

[jpianoflorida]

thaicheow

the question is....except for the hassles at the school, DO YOU LOVE TEACHING? ..if the answer is YES, then go for it on your own! I don't know exactly what kind of area you live in, but if you advertise a lot you should be able to get students.    The school is definitely taking advantage of you.     I really hate to hear how unhappy you are.    Sounds like a lot is that your parents expectations for you were not what you really wanted.   Well, bottom line, it's YOUR life.   Only you can take charge and make yourself choose to do what you want and be happy!     Decide to not let the past cause you to be unhappy!   While I know that is easier said than done, it's your only choice if you want to live a better life.

[thaicheow]

Thanks for all who cares to reply, especially those who encouraged me while I am in my most down mood.

I have finally left the school. Literally speaking, being kicked out of the school. I think I have been a bit too honest in the way I express my displease to the principle (she asked me, I just told her straight). I suppose some teachers in the school are feeling the same too, as they are planning to leave the school as well.

I am not good in diplomatic. I think that's why she couldn't quite take my words (yeah yeah, I admit I was somewhat harsh in my words). Anyway, all the bro-ha-ha on my students whether they are following me or not. She seems to be nervous that some of my students may stick with me as private, and a lot of actions have been taken against me to make sure they stay in school.

I should have learnt my lesson. I have some private on my hands, and hopefully more will be coming in. Meanwhile, I just feel like resting awhile. And pick up new repertiors of my own. Just hope that I can make ends meet.

That's life. What a bizaar way to end the year. Merry Christmas and  happy new to all of you. Thank you.

[lenkaolenka]

Dear Thaicheou,
Please, do not be sad. I am 45 and had some situations, which is similar to yours many times. But what I had learned from life: all the changes are scary from the first glance, but they always good. God sometimes closes a window, but opens a door for you.
$10 for 45-minute lesson is very low payment, but when you work for someone it is always this way.
I am originally from Russia and when I immigrated to the USA, I was 33 with no English. In Russia I was a very well-known music teacher and worked in one of the most prestigious music school ( due to the fact that Russian government support music education, teachers of state's music schools were well paid and had a lot of benefits).
In the USA I started on my own. First thing I did – I purchased a Yamaha 61-keys keyboard and called dozens of private schools and day care centers. First, I asked, if they have any music program in the school and if they answer 'No', I asked if they want to have music program. This way I found 7 day care centers and one pretty good private school and started to teach music and piano as entrepreneur. 
The day care centers didn't ask for any commissions, because they considered me as 'extra service' for their clients and were happy to say, that they have music program and piano lessons in their facility. Private schools' administration usually took 30-40% from my income, but due to the big value of students I was generating pretty good income there also. In several months after the start I was generating between 7-8 thousands a month (not at summer, though).
I was working many hours driving from school to school. Goof thing about it was that by having so many schools I was more financially secure and didn't depend from any of my contract. But by teaching music traditionally with method books I was facing different problems. Due to the fact that traditional teaching is very 'teacher intensive', I was very tired at the end of the day, but the worst thing was the low productivity. Before my students start playing some comprehensive pieces, parents could have 'change of mind' and I had to start with new student all over again.
However, all this experience helped me to create a very powerful computer based system, which is practically fail-proof and very effective. If you are not afraid of computer technology, I can introduce you to the system and you may also start your own teaching business. 

[thaicheow]

Yes, lenkaolenka,

Perhaps you can share your experience in using your computer system to enhance teaching. Basically I only use computer to typeset some of the scores, simplify popular pop music, etc.

[lenkaolenka]

Feel free to write me lenkaolenka@yahoo.com
I will share all the information with you

[juliax]

My Dad, an entrepreneur and very intelligent business man gave me this advice when I told him I wanted to open a music school:
"Just make sure that no matter what you do, you are doing something that is worth money, make sure you can't get cut out of the deal."

The school you are working for is protecting itself from getting cut out of the deal by making your life stressful and making you feel dependent on them.  The school I worked for was very manipulative in making me believe that I would not be taken seriously if I went out on my own.  Almost every single one of the teachers I worked with over 5 years quit because the owner was stealing from them, and nitpicking their personal lives.  The school now has over 900 students because they keep their prices extremely low by stealing from teachers.  Most of the teachers make $18/hr, but it really doesn't add up to that.  It is very frustrating to be constantly disrespected by your place of employment, and can cause long term anger and trust issues.  For your sake, and the sake of your career, find a new way to get students.  Set up a business plan, and do some research, maybe even take some business classes.  Noone is going to tell you how to take care of yourself, you need to just get out there and do it.  Instead of asking yourself why all these people are doing things to you, ask why you aren't doing anything about it.  Maybe these people already have you so depressed that you don't believe you deserve a full paycheck.  Maybe they have you so frustrated that you are breaking pencils in your lessons.  Ask yourself, do you even want to be happy?  If so, then make it happen.  The school wouldn't have been able to exploit you for 4 years if you weren't a good teacher.


In my situation, I worked for a school 5 years, and had over $3,000 stolen over the course of that time.  The owner and her friends spread rumors about me and another teacher having an affair, and the owners son went around telling the school I was dating him.  When I lost a few pounds I was anorexic, when I gained a few pounds I needed to "quit eating so much chocolate."  I realize now what was really going on, but the truth is I didn't have to put up with one second of it, I just didn't realize I could be just as successful with clients without the school as I was in the school.  Now I have double the students I had at the school, and I am actively working to branch out and network to help other teachers as well as myself.

[thaicheow]

Thanks, Juliax,

I think my life is in a little chaos currently. Nothing serious. I just need some time to compose myself, and set up from there again.

Currently a lot of things happen. Christmas coming, holiday season, moreover I may need to move my house soon (hope that won't happen for awhile, but my housemates have brought this up to me). I am a foreigner working in Singapore, so gotto struggle through some barriers.

I gotto admit I feel some lost after leaving the school. Just couldn't quite put myself together. I met my friend today, but forget to bring the stuff I pormised for him. I keep forget to bring something, like umbrellas, etc.

Hope things will be better soon. I am thinking ways to advertise myself, getting more students. Or finding a place to settle down.

Siiiiiiiigh, hope this won't be another sleepless night. Good luck, and thanks for everyone who care to share his/her experience.