| I've overheard teenage musicians mention | | | | their suitability as teachers. “Penny |
| casually they are considering teaching music | | | | whistle teacher needed: Psychopaths with |
| to make extra money. I am compelled to butt | | | | Intermittent Explosive Disorder need not |
| in, “Do you enjoy teaching?” the | | | | apply.”Instead of whopping students |
| answer I interrupt with “Are you | | | | with a pernambuco stick with hair, my |
| patient?” Their response: “Like, | | | | aforementioned colleague could have channeled |
| I play wicked, teaching will be an easy | | | | his infinite aggression into another |
| gig.”My response: maniacal | | | | enjoyable branch in the music industry, such |
| laughter.Teens, let us hear the wise old | | | | as fending off broken beer bottles at the |
| violin teacher preaching a holy sermon from | | | | country bar or smashing double-neck guitars |
| atop a glorious mountain of experience: | | | | for screaming mobs at GM Place. Last I heard |
| Teaching music isn't a luxurious life of | | | | he's still teaching at the music store, but |
| sleeping in late, illuminating the | | | | has invested in a heavy carbon bow and a |
| unquestioning minds of flocking prodigies | | | | cocktail of barbiturates.Once a player has |
| through 30-minute jam sessions and writing | | | | established that teaching is a good direction |
| off all your music gear and fast food meals | | | | to take and they have passed all the inkblot |
| come tax time. Lord have mercy on our | | | | exams without incident, he or she needs to |
| souls.Simply put, teaching music is weekly | | | | lay down a teaching foundation. Selecting a |
| customer service, with occasional late night | | | | method book to use is one thing, but the |
| support calls when the instrument falls out | | | | teacher needs to develop a mission statement |
| of tune or the player is struggling. A | | | | and their goals in teaching.My mission |
| teacher is dealing with customers who are | | | | focuses on two words: Inspiration and |
| exploring new ground, hence requiring lessons | | | | Encouragement. My goals include “music |
| in the first place, and is responsible for | | | | as a life experience” and sharing my |
| helping advance them into musicians who no | | | | love for violin among friends. The mission |
| longer require our services.Sounds easy, | | | | statement and goals serve as a guide whenever |
| except that the most trying aspect of | | | | I am faced with a decision or problem in my |
| customer service is, oddly enough, the | | | | work, it's sort of an operations manual for |
| customer. The human collective is a random | | | | my business. And that's what teaching music |
| grab-bag of mixed egos and inhibitions, fears | | | | really is: a business.I urge all musicians |
| and potential, attitudes and limitations. | | | | who plan to make their music more than a |
| Even the ideal customer, who listens closely, | | | | hobby to take business classes on marketing |
| asks exactly the right questions and retains | | | | and promotion, finances and taxes, and |
| everything they have ever been taught, cannot | | | | business plans. Learn to promote yourself |
| master music in an afternoon. (At least we | | | | because no one will know who you are if you |
| teachers have a semblance of job | | | | just sit at home chatting on MSN. Keep good |
| security).Music, a vast system of pitch, | | | | financial records so you are prepared for tax |
| velocity and rhythm that can take a lifetime | | | | season. There are far too many exceptional |
| to understand, has been further complicated | | | | musicians, performers and teachers who are |
| with pedagogy. There are more styles to teach | | | | stuck on the dole or playing for the coming |
| violin than there are ways to cook an egg. | | | | and going liquor store clientèle due |
| Each method claims theirs is the most | | | | to poor business practices.You don't have to |
| effective way to master the instrument, they | | | | be a marketing whiz or a lawyer, though your |
| have countless scientific studies to prove it | | | | mother would prefer such a career change so |
| and please enter your credit card number | | | | she can have her basement back. Just learn |
| here.A teacher has to weed through the | | | | enough to keep yourself out of trouble with |
| dogmatic hype and come out with a cohesive | | | | the tax man and to maintain a full compliment |
| teaching concept that jives with their own | | | | of paying, regular students. For more |
| approach to playing and learning. They also | | | | guidance I suggest the book “Making |
| have to understand their instrument inside | | | | Money Teaching Music” by David and |
| and out, keeping in mind a clear idea how and | | | | Barbara Newsam, available for a free read |
| when to introduce new concepts as to not | | | | through the Okanagan Library system.It seems |
| overwhelm the student. After carefully | | | | to be an oxymoron, but it is possible to make |
| formulating a perfect lesson plan, the | | | | money teaching music! So teenage musicians, |
| teacher will then scrap it all and reinvent | | | | nod your head, say “yes |
| their method when it inevitably doesn't fit | | | | Rhiannon,” and do exactly everything I |
| the student's learning style.A good teacher | | | | have ordained in the article above, then |
| is not locked into one method or way of | | | | watch the money pour into your bank |
| explaining ideas. Instead they receive | | | | account.Hallelujah!And try not to spend it |
| feedback from the player and interpret it | | | | all at the music store filling the blank |
| into a lesson that will make an impact.What | | | | slots in your gear rack.Amen.**Rhiannon |
| makes the most impact, you ask? Repetition. | | | | Schmitt (nee Nachbaur) is a professional |
| Repetition. Then you do it again. Detach | | | | violinist and music teacher who has enjoyed |
| yourself from how many times you've played | | | | creative writing for years. She currently |
| “Fur Elise” or corrected that | | | | writes columns for two Canadian publications |
| particular eighth note. There are pin-sized | | | | and has been featured in Australia's "Music |
| holes in my eardrums from “Twinkle | | | | Teacher Magazine."Rhiannon (age 29, she's not |
| Twinkle” and I develop an itchy rash | | | | really old) has worn the hats of |
| prior to our annual Christmas recital, but | | | | businesswoman, performer, events promoter, |
| I've found a Zen peace in accepting my fate.I | | | | classical music radio host, school orchestra |
| see each lesson as a new chapter in the life | | | | music arranger and music columnist in rural |
| of a musician I am helping along. With | | | | British Columbia, Canada.Her business, |
| experience, lessons have developed their own | | | | Fiddleheads Violin School & Shop, has won |
| rhythm and my teaching days swoop past me.The | | | | several distinguished young entrepreneur |
| repetition can get to some people, like the | | | | business awards for her comittment to |
| crusty old piano teacher, the one everyone | | | | excellence. Her shop offers beginner to |
| seems to have had as a child, who wielded a | | | | professional level instruments, accessories |
| nasty ruler for discipling unwanted notes. I | | | | and supplies. provides a rich resource of |
| knew a guy in high school who whacked his | | | | information on her school, violin, products |
| violin students on the head with his bow | | | | for sale and more.Rhiannon is also Founding |
| whenever he, the teacher, became frustrated.A | | | | President of the Shuswap Violin Society. She |
| teacher cannot crack when the student plays | | | | dedicates much of her time to community music |
| the wrong note for the hundredth time, so | | | | projects and helping young musicians. |
| impatient musicians must carefully consider | | | | |