How to Teach Music 1-2-3
Become a Music Teacher:
Resources and Methods for Teaching Music
Teaching music can be a very rewarding business. Not only that, but you can live a career that allows you a
great amount of freedom.
Teach music lessons to children or adults, or both. You can open up your own studio, give music instruction
at your pupils' homes or give lessons from your own home. Several individuals are even launching their own
music instruction businesses online, complete with audio and video. With so many opportunities to teach music,
you can truly create a business that matches your liefstyle.
As a musician with the desire to teach, you most likely have the skills it takes to show others how to play
a musical instrument. What many musicians need help with is the "business" side of business (marketing,
management, paperwork, staffing, accounting, etc).
The easy fix is (1) a quick business plan, (2) an easy-to-follow business start-up guide for music teachers
and (3) a cheap business management system. Not only do you get the answers you need, but you get
step-by-step instructions to follow. This enables entrepreneurs to start making money faster, which is
the whole point of a business anyway. Right?
There are music teacher
business plan templates online that make planning easier. Similar to "fill-in-the-blank" these plans can be
completed in a matter of days. Next!
You're great at teaching music, but the other
business tasks? Not so much.
There's actually an easy solution that will save you a lot of money. You don't have to pay other people to
handle your billing, build your website or accept credit card payments. A simple piece of software handles all
of these tasks for you. It's called Music
Teacher's Helper.
Although it manages multiple tasks for music teachers, I think the big benefit is that it helps these
teachers get more clients. Businesses with websites are known to attract more customers. It's an easy,
low cost method of advertising and building trust with potential clients. In addition, the credit card payment
option brings in a whole new group of clientele who would otherwise not do business with you.
The bottom line is that music teachers (like many other business) who don't have a website or who don't let
customers pay with credit cards are missing out on recurring monthly income.
Start Your Own Music School
Start by registering your fictitious business name with your city or county clerk and get a business license
from your local government office.
Apply for a Tax ID Number (or EIN). The IRS then send your an EIN which is your business's permanent number.
Having this number lets you open a business bank account, apply for a business license or file a tax
return.
Open a business bank account. (You'll want to keep your personal and business finances separate with a
separate bank account.)
Next, decide on a location for your music school. Will you be teaching from your home or would you prefer to
lease a space? Working with a commercial real estate broker will help you find vacancies and calulate rents
that you can afford. Commercial leases generally run for five to twenty years, but length of time and price
are open to negotiation.
If you need chairs, dry erase or chalkboards, music stands or other clasroom furniture, check out
School Outfitters or Worthington Direct. If you will be teaching several students at one time in a class
situation, Music Arts supplies musical instruments for rent for for sale to schools. Worldwide Music Services provides sheet music that you can purchase online.
Have questions about starting a music school? You can follow a step-by-step music school business plan, and
start-up suddenly becomes much easier.
The Business Plan for Your Music School
provides a template to follow for putting together a business plan. In addition, you can get an outline on
how to start a business and how to find customers. (TIP: download the plan and save
yourself over 50%)
rated by entrepreneurs
More Teaching Business Resources:
Music Teacher Resources:
- Practice Spot
Free online resource for help creating great music lessons
