Suggestions for filling up morning/early afternoon hours?

[sonata58]

What do other private piano teachers do to fill up their morning/early afternoon hours?

I'm a private piano teacher. I teach about 20 students at my home. Most of my students attend a public or private school and both parents work. As a result, the earliest that I can begin teaching is around 4pm.

Based on some research I've done, these are the main suggestions. However, they don't seem to work for me at this point.

1. Teach homeschoolers -- A few years ago, most of my studio was comprised of homeschoolers. I attracted a lot of homeschoolers, because I was a homeschool graduate myself. It worked great because I would be able to finish long before dinner time. However, one by one, they all left. They all were too busy: co-op, speech & debate, swing dancing, etc. I've advertised with several homeschool groups, but I have not got any replies.

2. Teach preschoolers -- I've taught preschoolers, and I don't mind it. But what happens when they start kindergarten? All my after-school hours are booked. So, that means that I'll have to put them on my waiting list, or refer them to other teachers. And, in order for this to be consistent, I would have to have a steady influx of preschoolers every year.

3. Teach adults -- At this point in my life, I do not feel comfortable and ready to teach adults yet. I'm in my mid-twenties. And I'm rather shy and insecure. (I don't feel that way with children, though). However, I know that this will change in the future. A few years ago, I was uncomfortable teaching high schoolers. But, now, I enjoy working with them. So, I will probably be ready to teach adults eventually. But, not now.

So, does anyone have any other suggestions? Perhaps I should be looking at non-music related side jobs?

[distantfieldrelative]

I am not a piano teacher but I have quite a few friends who are and most of them have told me at least once that they wish they had more time to enjoy playing piano for themselves. Why not use some of that time (if not all of it) for improving your musical and/or technical abilities. 
Just an idea.

[auralia]

Would you be able to find work teaching in a school one or two mornings a week.  Perhaps you could also offer pre-instrumental classes to nurseries.

[musiclessonsanywhere]

I recommend teaching piano online, I love it! I have 60 students a week and choose my hours as my students live in different timezones.

[chopinlover01]

You could teach adults, do online lessons, do all of the above mentioned.
Or, you could actually practice; seems to me a lot of teachers are so busy passing on their knowledge they never remember to keep and improve their own.

[asiantraveller101]

1. Practice your own music,
2. Collaborate with other musicians. I was involved in a trio ensemble wth other professionals for a few years and we met in the morning, and
3. Sleep late and enjoy your coffee!

[sonata58]

Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions. I will look into them.

[quantum]

Maybe try shifting your work hours to maximize what the local market supports.  If that means most of your teaching is from 4pm - 8pm then so be it.  If you find that there really is not much demand for private teaching in the school hour period, then there is little sense in investing too much energy into it.  Of course you can re-evaluate in a few months or years to see if things change. 

Use the time for personal practice or studio administration.  Have you considered doing accompanying?   You could accompany school choirs during that time, or accompany students during their lessons in school. 

I would suggest to be careful against trying to fill every waking moment with work.  You need time to yourself in order to grow as a teacher and musician. 

[awesom_o]

Perhaps I should be looking at non-music related side jobs?

+1 

[rubinsteinmad]

+1 

You're Bach!

[louispodesta]

What do other private piano teachers do to fill up their morning/early afternoon hours?

I'm a private piano teacher. I teach about 20 students at my home. Most of my students attend a public or private school and both parents work. As a result, the earliest that I can begin teaching is around 4pm.

Based on some research I've done, these are the main suggestions. However, they don't seem to work for me at this point.

1. Teach homeschoolers -- A few years ago, most of my studio was comprised of homeschoolers. I attracted a lot of homeschoolers, because I was a homeschool graduate myself. It worked great because I would be able to finish long before dinner time. However, one by one, they all left. They all were too busy: co-op, speech & debate, swing dancing, etc. I've advertised with several homeschool groups, but I have not got any replies.

2. Teach preschoolers -- I've taught preschoolers, and I don't mind it. But what happens when they start kindergarten? All my after-school hours are booked. So, that means that I'll have to put them on my waiting list, or refer them to other teachers. And, in order for this to be consistent, I would have to have a steady influx of preschoolers every year.

3. Teach adults -- At this point in my life, I do not feel comfortable and ready to teach adults yet. I'm in my mid-twenties. And I'm rather shy and insecure. (I don't feel that way with children, though). However, I know that this will change in the future. A few years ago, I was uncomfortable teaching high schoolers. But, now, I enjoy working with them. So, I will probably be ready to teach adults eventually. But, not now.

So, does anyone have any other suggestions? Perhaps I should be looking at non-music related side jobs?

"dcstudio," are you asleep?

This is without a doubt one of dumbest posts I have ever come across.  Hey OP, hows about you learn some new music and prepare a solo recital program or one with ensemble or orchestra.  That is what a real MUSICIAN would do!

How can one get to the point where they consider themselves qualified to teach without going through the years and years of training and performance regimen that everybody else has to?  And, while we are at it "dcstudio," just how many empty hours do you have during the day?  Practically none, judging from your teaching and performance schedule.

What it means is that any particular teacher, like "dcstudio" has, should have the required theory and harmony background, plus the technique skills necessary to meet the standard pedagogical norm, OR THEY DO NOT!

This teacher is taking approximately $600 a week out of parents pockets. And, to advise the OP as to how they should spend their time, makes me once again suspect that this may be a "phony" post.  I have never ever heard of a piano teacher who did not know what to do with their off hours.

With all of my physical disabilities, I have not had a good night sleep in recent memory.  But, after I have had my shower, and my early morning treatment for my psoriatic arthritis, then I sit down at the piano and do my two hour morning practice session.  Then, I hit the grocery stores, and afterwards go another two hours in the afternoon, all before 4:00 PM!

So, when someone like the OP asks what they should do with their supposed free daily hours, it has little or no credibility with me at all!

[musiclessonsanywhere]

In MHO this is a genuine post. I think pretty soon with replies like this people will become reticent about posting anything! I had a very unwelcoming response to my first post on this forum, go easy! 

[louispodesta]

In MHO this is a genuine post. I think pretty soon with replies like this people will become reticent about posting anything! I had a very unwelcoming response to my first post on this forum, go easy! 

You, nor anyone else, can teach anyone how to play the piano as a "well rounded pianist" on this website (by written advice) or any other website.  To suggest the contrary, is not only a disservice to the OP, it is a lie!

[lostinidlewonder]

The OP is simply asking how to fill TEACHING time slots in the mornings/early afternoon. Learn to read louispodesta the op didn't keep talking about potential teaching sources throughout their post for no reason.