Teaching and parenting?

[Kaaryn]

Hello,

I'll introduce myself first - I'm 26 years old, I have been playing piano for twenty years and I've been teaching for three years now.  I have 21 students aged five to fifty-nine and I mainly use the Piano Adventures book series.  I enjoy teaching and want to make it my main career eventually with thirty to forty students.  I am also working on my ninth grade royal conservatory.  I do some part time work as a freelance web/graphic designer.  My husband is also self employed and runs an office supply store.

Anyway what I would like to know is, has anyone successfully combined teaching private piano lessons with raising a new baby?  We'll be expecting one next winter and I'm wondering about how to work things out.  Obviously I'll have to take a little time off, but I don't want my students to lose a lot of time and of course practically speaking I don't want to put my career in jeopardy by stopping for a full season.  Any advice from teachers who have been there?  One thought I have is to hire a babysitter to come for a few hours each day while I am teaching...

Thanks very much!!!

[clarinetwife]

Hello, Kaaryn!

I have two children, ages 5 and 3.  They are both adopted, so I was not nursing, but I taught when both of them were babies.  I took the older one to an in-home day care for a couple of afternoons a week, but after going through two home day cares in 5 months I gave up on that.  I have had babysitters come to the house since then.  Do you teach in your home?  Once you get to know your baby's disposition and schedule and see how much time each week you will be able to arrange reliable child care you can arrange your studio from there.  You also might want to consider what you will do in case of illness.  My studio policies say that I will either credit or reschedule any lessons that I have to cancel.

Good luck!

[glamfolk]

My 5-year-old is getting better with it.  I don't have a sitter over while I teach, and sometimes I wish I did. She has her moments, but then so do I.  It's a matter of getting past the "daddy's working right now and can't play" period.  We're both getting better about it.  She's picking up music all the time, too.  Sometimes on a break we'll have a game of "lessons"  where i get to teach her stuff on the piano.  She thinks it's a game, plus she's learning to play at the same time.  

Cute stuff, too.  I remember her grabbing the students' feet and placing them on the pedal, saying "F chord! F chord! F chord!" at the age of 2.  

[Khartwig]

I am a stay-at-home mom.  Some day I hope to teach full-time.  I structured my daughters' schedules (naps, mealtimes and nursings) so that I have a 3-hour window to teach in the afternoons.  I really found a lot of help and encouragement from the book "Babywise" as far as getting Baby on a predicatable schedule.

Also, I suggested to my students' parents that they look for another teacher when I was expecting my 2nd.  They came back crying and asked if I would keep teaching if my rates raised and they sat with my now 1- and 3-year old daughters during lessons.
I wasn't sure how it would work out, but decided to give it a try.  I feel that I have become a better teacher by having to plan more ahead of time.  My daughers also get some social time with other kids and adults.
(As an added bonus - lots of the families gave me baby gifts too!)
Give your baby a "snack" before your students arrive, and keep a glass of water close by when you're teaching.  I often do a Crock-Pot dinner or have something that can be ready quickly once the students leave.
I would caution against having Baby in the room while teaching.  You might be used to having him/her around, but it could be very distracting to your student who deserves your full attention anyway.
Congratulations and Good Luck!

[deirpg]

Hi!

I have been teaching for about a year now, and I have a 5 year old daughter.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the balance of stay-at-home mom time and teaching time.  I am expecting a baby in October, so we'll see how he fits into the picture, but I think that you'll enjoy doing both.  It's a nice way to keep your brain active while you're home with a little one.

Enjoy and keep us updated!

Deirdre