This is my story as a private music instructor.
I’ve been involved with music in one manner or another since I was six years old: eight years of private piano lessons, music courses in college, study and employment with a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, extensive self-study on numerous instruments, intermittent performances and the authoring of many music books.
My first paid student was a teenager on the harmonica, in the late 1960’s.
Although I lacked prior experience, I seemed to naturally come up with the right plan of instruction. Looking back, I can see how, back then, I fit right into the role of a private music teacher.
This was only a year or so after graduating from college, where I had majored in philosophy, a subject that galvanized my attention during that period of time. From it, I came away with a deep belief in personal engagement in my life’s work.
Teaching in the setting of individual instruction fit well with this perspective.
I continued to teach over the next several decades while also doing other things, mostly training positions in another technical fields. This set of experiences dovetailed nicely into my music instruction and gave me more skill in organizing and presenting material.
I turned to full-time work as a private music teacher in the late 1990’s.
I recall making the decision to pursue this work more so than performance or other possible musical activities.
I was able to do this, as, by then, I was competent at a number of different music instruments, thus more diversified and able to carry over a number of students that I had been teaching at various other sites.
I began to build a stable schedule.
I would say that my ability to play and teach these instruments provided a security that helped support me through the times of not much work.
Over the years, I have taught many individuals and groups, written numerous instrument instruction guides, created 6 volumes of music theory books, 3 song books as well as provided music notation services.
My students have ranged in age from 4 to 92 years old.
I have found that being open to opportunities as they arise has been an important ingredient in my success.
Examples for me include: weekly instruction at a private school, despite it being a distance away.
Connecting with state organizations which fund family home instruction, despite the bureaucracy which had to be navigated.
Taking on jobs as an accompanist, despite the crimp on my time.
Teaching at local Adult Ed classes, despite the lower wages.
Teaching at area music stores when an opening appeared, despite having to rearrange my schedule.
Learning Finale music notation software, despite the long learning curve.
Learning new instruments out of interest or as the demand appeared.
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I also began an effort to create music instruction software. This came from the realization that I routinely make the same points in a lesson and could consolidate my knowledge and provide it in a separate format.
That proved too much to do, so I converted the content into print format. The end result has been 6 foundational music theory books, titled The Young Musician’s Series.
Designed as ongoing narratives, each book is rich with musical examples and corresponding audio tracks. Including them into the lesson material has given many of my students a far more firm footing in music theory.
Challenges that I’ve faced include economic downturns, COVID, bad weather, last -minute appointment cancellations, difficult students, changing popularity of instruments and new technologies.
My particular business is not one that grows especially well by efforts at marketing and advertisement. I’m sure that being visible is good but I’ve never found that any marketing or advertising I’ve done has ever directly returned new students to me.
One action, however, that I’ve taken over the years is to sign up on internet music lesson platforms. Often, there is no actual result but it does provide exposure should a prospective student come across my listing.
General interest in learning to play a musical instrument seems to live below the surface. New students surface when the interest arises. My task is to be there at those moments.
I firmly believe that doing consistently excellent work is the best way to promote one’s business. That’s certainly held true for me.
Towards that end, I continuously research many aspects of music. I find that more knowledge of instruments, music theory, musical cultures and such provide nourishment and enhance my offerings to my students.
I listen to music all the time. I am quite familiar with songs from the pop, rock, folk, country, bluegrass, blues, jazz, classical, show and sacred genres.
Learning new instruments has occurred in parallel with my teaching. The most recent that I’ve tackled are the Anglo Concertina and the diatonic Button Accordion.
Pursuing such interests has led to new students.
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Flexibility in scheduling has helped in a major way to retain many students. Along with this comes sensitivity to the way various students and their families are and how much structure works best for them.
Along with those goes the willingness to drive to my students’ homes for their lessons. I have done this and continue to do so with about half of my students.
Lessons delivered at the student’s home occur much more reliably.
This reminds me that I let the flow of events with student take first priority on my time. Being free to weave lessons in wherever they fit has made a big difference in the number and regularity of lessons I have been able to give.
This has without doubt contributed to long-term continuity of lessons with most of my students.
Opportunities
The onset of the COVID pandemic instantly lopped off about 1/3 of my students. With those willing to, I went to remote lessons, using either FaceTime or Zoom. That turned out to be an improvement in the overall set of services offered.
I have a number of students that live a distance from me, so remote lessons are perfect for them.
Computer technology has been an aid to my work in other ways.
I frequently have students listen to a YouTube performance of a piece of music that they are working on.
Online meetings also allow the easy viewing of images of active sheet music.
Sharing of PDFs is another helpful option.
Advice
I learned not to carry a difficult experience with a student into my other lessons. This has been a help in navigating through long schedules.
Knowing a subject thoroughly is essential to a confident presence of the instructor.
Developing good chemistry with each individual student is also important. This translates into knowing when to instruct, when to keep silent, how much guidance to provide at any one time and such.
Remembering the student’s goals helps keep my actions in close contact with the student’s needs and interests. Learning to play a new instrument helps me remember the perspective of a student.
I am always thinking ahead (akin to reading ahead in a piece of music) with each student, during and between lessons. Research into the best next music books by instrument and genre and student takes some time, but keeps good options at hand for upcoming books.
I maintain a list of such books for each student.
I rarely change my rates. I have found that the less change introduced into the lesson arrangement, the more stable it is and that much easier it is for it to continue as established.
I often do things outside of the lesson as an aid to a student. I rarely charge for that. Ensuring the best arrangement for the student has been my guiding principle on this.
I hope my story has given you some insights into successful business actions.
I can be reached at [email protected]
I also maintain a website, which you should feel free to visit to get more of an idea of my work. The address is www.melepsteinmusic.com
Thanks for reading through the above.
Mel Epstein
MS, University of Latvia
I am deeply convinced that each patient needs a unique, individual approach. Therefore, I use different psychotherapy methods in my work. During my studies, I discovered an in-depth interest in people as a whole and the belief in the inseparability of mind and body, and the importance of emotional health in physical health. In my spare time, I enjoy reading (a big fan of thrillers) and going on hikes.
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