Private School teaching

[amanfang]

Does anyone teach in a private school that allows release time for the students to come to their lessons during the day?  I am intersted in how this works.

[elba508]

I used to teach in a private school for boys.  The music school was located within this private school...sort of like a tie-up between the two.  A percentage of the tuition fees for the music school plus the revenue generated by sales in books, musical instruments would go partly to the music school and in part to the private school.  The kids would come to the music school which was located in a strategic part of the bigger  private school after classes time so they can take their music lessons. 

[Bob]

I could see the same thing working in the public schools.  It's already in place in most place for band lessons.  What difference would it make to be piano?

[amanfang]

Well, I was hoping to have kids come during the school day.  I was thinking that if I had a scheduling form with general policies about scheduling, maybe they could miss one part of a class each week.  For example, they have to have an A or B average and have permission from the parents and the teacher.  So if little Suzie has an A in reading, she can come on Wednesdays at 10:00 and miss part of reading group once a week.

So I was wondering if anyone did it this way.  I would like to teach during the school day and not just after school all afternoon and evening.

Bob, do your band students miss class for band lessons, or are they all after school?

[astroboy]

When I was in highschool, all the instrumental lessons worked this way. The head of music would schedule the lessons at different times each week (but still on the usual day), so that you wouldnt miss the same class each week. we also had 20 minute lessons which was a bit crap. I'm interested to hear how other schools work

[mattgreenecomposer]

I taught at a private school like you are mentioning.  Kids got about a 25 minute lesson during a class like P.E. or art. 

[Bob]

During school.  There can be so many rules about it all.

Like... not being able to use grades as a factor in selecting students.  You might be missing the student who is really talented and enjoys music, but doesn't have the academic ability to get good grades.  Music might be their only reason for coming to school.

I think pullout lessons can really tick off the general classroom teacher though, whether they say it or not.  Someone has to go back and catch that student up after the lesson. 

You would need the ok from the school board I would think.  And a favorable opinion by the prinicpal and superintendent.  And then the support of the regular classroom teachers.  They can really make or muck up things.

That would be you going into the school.  You'd need a room with a piano.  The kids don't always come down to their lessons on time.  It would probably take awhile to hammer out the details.  I would start small.  And then the school would really have to open it open to any music teacher.  There's got to be catch somewhere otherwise this would go on more.

[amanfang]

Hmmm.... When I was in school, we were always pulled out of class in elementary school.  High school we had to go either after school or during a study hall or free hour or something.  And I wouldn't necessarily make it grade dependent as to who I accept - it would only affect scheduling time.  For example, Suzie student makes straight A's and can miss spelling class to come to lessons.  Jimmy struggles to keep up, so I can only take him during recess or PE time or whatever.

As for room and pianos, I currently teach at a Yamaha store in town.  They have a deal with a school that lets them "borrow" pianos for their piano teachers, but the teachers refer all students buying pianos to the Yamaha dealer.  If I relocate to Bigger City (which is only a couple hours away), I may see if the Yamaha dealer could work out a similar deal.

[Bob]

I could see things going either way.

I could see a principal saying, "If we can't offer it to everyone, we can't offer it at all.  We don't want to make those who can't attend feel bad." 

If you could get the school to pay you and then be present, I think I would go for that.  Guaranteed payment.  You don't have to mess with individual payments.  You're not stuck if the kid doesn't show up because of a field trip, etc.  There are lots and lots of reasons music lessons get bumped.  But having the school hire you would take care of the issue of the school letting private teachers in.  Now that I think about it though, I do remember hearing about a few schools that had actual private music teachers teaching kids during the day.  Must have been pullouts.

I could see it going either way really.  Good luck.

[amanfang]

Wouldn't I make more though if I could charge what I want rather than having the school pay me?  I figure that the kids whose parents want them to take lessons will see this as a convenience to have them take during school.  That's simply one less after-school activity to have to drive to.  This is also why I would think it would work better in a private school than in a public school.  There are 8 schools on my list to call.  I'll keep things posted...

[Bob]

I don't know which way you'd make more.  I was thinking it would be a pain to do things individually and to work within the school system.  If your an outsider, they can't just hand out contact information.

Then there might be an issue insurance.  You might have to rent out the teaching space.  If they do it for one private teacher, they probably have to open up to all music teachers.  If they let one kid out for a private music lesson, why aren't they letting other kids out for other individual things.

And a criminal background check. 

It's probably a good idea to get permission from the school board.  If you walk in with your plan, your own background check in hand, and can get them a piano for their school, that might interest them.  If there are lots of parents who want that, they will listen.  If parents want it, they will find a way to make it happen.

I guess I was thinking it would be easier to get paid by the school than mess with individual payments and parents.  Because the parents aren't going to be there at all I would think.  And for resume appearances, it looks better to be hired through an organization rather than just doing things yourself.

I'd be concerned about who's guarding the piano though.  I wouldn't want to be responsible for it at all if it's left at a school.  The kids are hard enough on them, but I've seen adults swing the school piano into walls when they need it moved.