New Studio-Lacking Students?!

[aisling_7]

Hello,
I just started teaching about 3 weeks ago.  Within a week, I had 3 students-one adult and two sisters.  Today, the mom of the girls called to tell me they wouldn't be coming due to financial reasons.  I can understand that this is the case.  They were late to their first lesson b/c their car broke down, and there are eight children in the family.  Unfortunately, this doesnt keep me from feeling really discouraged.    I really liked the oldest girl; she was very bright.  I got these students by running an ad in the paper for a week.  Should I run another ad?  Should I put flyers up at churches?  I don't know what to do!  I know I can be a good piano teacher, but it's hard to be a good teacher without students.   Currently, I am charging $60 a month for 30 min lessons, and $120 for hour lessons.  This is the going rate for "little old church lady teachers"  IOW, people who don't have a degree.  I only can take about 6-12 students.  How long did it take you to get this many students?  I need ideas and encouragement.  I'm so bummed.

Jackie

[Brian Healey]

Honestly 6-12 students is all anybody can take and be able to do their students justice with their lessons. I wouldn't ever take lessons (on a regular basis anyway) from someone with more students than that, because then you're just a face in the crowd. Although I shouldn't say never, because it lso depends on who the teacher is.

For me, there have been times when I've been hurting for students, and other times when I've had to turn people away because I just can't fit them in. And I haven't even been teaching for that long (a little less than two years), so that may give you an idea of how quickly things can change. Give it time. A private teacher usually needs to develope a local reputation in order to keep more regular students and keep new students coming in.

Don't be discouraged, because lots of kids start piano and quit within a short time. It's not your fault as a teacher, it's just the short attention span of kids. For most kids, piano is just a phase they go through and they get bored with it. Only a relative few stick with it for the long haul. And sometimes it's the parents who can't or don't want to shell out money for lessons.

Also, I don't know what your performance situation is, but it helps to be a presence in the community. One student I have now saw me play a concert with my jazz trio, and I ended up talking to him afterwards. He asked about how I approached different things, so I told to come by my place for a little workshop. I didn't charge him, but now he's a student who I see on a weekly basis (I charge him now).

[bernhard]

Yes, the beginning is always hard. Brian has some good advice.

You can find a few more ideas in these threads:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2511.msg21767.html#msg21767
(Advertising- Very good posts by Minsmusic, and Pianoannie)

You may also find this thread interesting:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2032.msg19339.html#msg19339
(How to become a piano teacher – good advice from minsmusic – lists of pitfalls as well as requirements)

As for your students with financial difficulties. Since you do not have a queue of students knocking at your door at the moment, you could consider making some sort of arrangement with this family: a special family discount, or some kind of bartering in exchange for piano lessons. I would not recommend teaching for free, since human nature is such that the moment you give something for free it will not have any value.

Also consider this: For every new student that is recommended to you by a present student, they get a discount of 20% for that month. So if a student brings you 5 new students in a month (and they enrol), they have a free month!

Good luck,

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[ChristmasCarol]

Honestly 6-12 students is all anybody can take and be able to do their students justice with their lessons. I wouldn't ever take lessons (on a regular basis anyway) from someone with more students than that, because then you're just a face in the crowd. Although I shouldn't say never, because it lso depends on who the teacher is.

For me, there have been times when I've been hurting for students, and other times when I've had to turn people away because I just can't fit them in. And I haven't even been teaching for that long (a little less than two years), so that may give you an idea of how quickly things can change. Give it time. A private teacher usually needs to develope a local reputation in order to keep more regular students and keep new students coming in.

Don't be discouraged, because lots of kids start piano and quit within a short time. It's not your fault as a teacher, it's just the short attention span of kids. For most kids, piano is just a phase they go through and they get bored with it. Only a relative few stick with it for the long haul. And sometimes it's the parents who can't or don't want to shell out money for lessons.

Also, I don't know what your performance situation is, but it helps to be a presence in the community. One student I have now saw me play a concert with my jazz trio, and I ended up talking to him afterwards. He asked about how I approached different things, so I told to come by my place for a little workshop. I didn't charge him, but now he's a student who I see on a weekly basis (I charge him now).

 
Try the same ad again.  When I was starting out, I had a few families start up that weren't good customers.  It's no reflection on you, just a reality.  As you take on more students the quality relationships will stand and the tire-kickers will fall away.  There are some families who teacher hop trying to get a cheap lesson or a teacher who will do what they want.  Trust me you don't want these students. 
I've noticed that there is a phenomenon of what I call "gatekeepers".  I have one family that has sent me at least a dozen new students.  The chain reaction has been wonderful.  You'll get one if you just keep getting the word out there that you want students. 
Also, I have 34 students now and they are getting fabulous instruction as witnessed by how well they are doing.  6-12 students wouldn't put enough bread on my table that's for sure.
Good luck,
It's a very satisfying occupation!

[Brian Healey]

Also, I have 34 students now and they are getting fabulous instruction as witnessed by how well they are doing.  6-12 students wouldn't put enough bread on my table that's for sure.

Well, if you teach full-time, then I suppose having more than 6-12 students works fine. A lot of the teachers I know (myself included) also have busy performance and teaching schedules (and by that I mean teaching classes at a university or some other form of teaching that's not private instruction). Definitely the more students you can take the better, but I know that for myself the most I've had at one time is 9, and that was pushing it. Although if I focused soley on private instruction, I guess the sky would be the limit because that would be the only source of income. My only point was you shoudn't sacrifice quality of instruction for the desire for more students. I know wouldn't be able to handle 34 students, but maybe that will change in a the coming years. I've found that teaching is like juggling. The more you do it, the easier it becomes to juggle more balls (in this case, balls = students).

Good point about the "gatekeepers". Lots of times a student's friends or family will hear them playing and become interested themselves. And who do you think they will go to first for instruction? Naturally, the teacher of the student that inspired them. Also, to add to what I said earlier about being a presence in the community, having a local reputation also gets you referrals from other teachers.

[pskim]

I have been teaching in Japan for now over 5 and a half years.  But I still only have 5 students.  Can you believe that?  I don't know what I'm dong wrong.  I Japanese have improved very much and I don't have much of a language barrier.  I have put ads out before but no luck.  I'm really bumbed out right now.  And I even applied for jobs at music universities but they are firing teachers because of lack of students.  I'm really in a bind.  I'm beggining to think that I've made a mistake coming to this country.  So instead of piano, my real occupation, I am teaching mostly English and Korean, which I hope I won't have to once my studio has grown.  But the question is when.

Anyway, I'm in a real slump in my life.  Compared to me you are still fine.  I'm still looking at the bright side.  After all, I've only been here five and a half years with only 5 students.......yeah, right.

[lostinidlewonder]

Newspapers are always good if you live in a city area, advertise in them for at least 9 weeks straight. Request interviews with your students at their home or yours or wherever. Don't charge for that interview and muck around on the piano with the prospective student. It usually sets up a good relationship.

When I lived in the country I advertised for lessons and got only 3 over the entire year I lived there. It is all about population. There was only 12,000 people living there, which isn't that much. When was in Perth, population around 1.5mill or so, I advertised in the paper and got at least 1-2 students per week.

When I did my first solo concert ever, for some reason started a piece with a wrong chord, and i asked the audience who wanted some lessons from me? Some people took it seriously though and I ended up with 5 which are still all with me.

If you do concerts at least every year people in your area really get to know you. I don't see the harm of self promotion even during your own concert you mention teaching. After the performance you go out to your audience and mention your lessons, you will generate a lot of interest and word of mouth. If you in the future get good students of yours to play public, this can again attract again more prospective students. If there is only one student then you should do the bulk of the peformance but do some with them, duets or solos.

[squinchy]

I have been teaching in Japan for now over 5 and a half years.  But I still only have 5 students.  Can you believe that?  I don't know what I'm dong wrong.  I Japanese have improved very much and I don't have much of a language barrier.  I have put ads out before but no luck.  I'm really bumbed out right now.  And I even applied for jobs at music universities but they are firing teachers because of lack of students.  I'm really in a bind.  I'm beggining to think that I've made a mistake coming to this country.  So instead of piano, my real occupation, I am teaching mostly English and Korean, which I hope I won't have to once my studio has grown.  But the question is when.

Anyway, I'm in a real slump in my life.  Compared to me you are still fine.  I'm still looking at the bright side.  After all, I've only been here five and a half years with only 5 students.......yeah, right.

Maybe the general population of children is very busy with schoolwork-are you in an area with top-notch schools? I knew a lot of people that quit (or are never allowed to start) piano due to scholastic responsibilities. On the other hand, if you are indeed in an area with top-notch schools, then the parents may see your English instruction as an addition to school and not a distraction (like piano.)