To those of you who read this blog who also happen to teach piano lessons, I have a few questions. I may be taking on a beginning student (I've only taught intermediate students before) and I have no idea what the best curriculum is. What books do you use? Is there a good online source for music books that you use? I'm fairly certain there isn't anywhere in this town to buy them.
I also don't know what to charge. I'll try to figure out what the going rate is around here, but if you wouldn't mind sharing that information, I'd like to know from you, too.
Thank you very much. I appreciate any info you're willing to share with me. :)
P.S. Potty training update: Cora quit. Not kidding, she was doing really well and one day just quit. So I kind of put it all on hold. She has now started going a little bit again, so maybe. Ruby is still about the same, she'll pee in the toilet but not poop in it.
14 comments:
My sister in law teaches piano. This is her teaching blog if that helps. http://www.missgingerspianostudio.blogspot.com/
The two I use are Bastien and Alfred. I learned from Bastien myself, but they are both fantasic and I'd rave over either of them. I order them from Amazon because you can usually find pretty good prices. And prices for teaching here are drastically lower than elsewhere (from what I hear anyway). I charge 30 a month. Hope that helps! Good luck!
Thirty a month? Wow! Here the going rate is about $20 per lesson! We've been wanting to get our kids into lessons but it isn't in the budget with the prices that people are charging.
I used Bastien and Alfred for years. I stopped using Bastien about 5 years ago and am now phasing out Alfred as well. They are older methods and I feel they don't really connect with kids anymore, especially once they start getting to the later levels. Alfred just put out a brand new course called "Premier Piano Course" and I have started using that. It's working very well and the music is more relevant, excites the kids, but still is pedagogically sound- in fact the series is written by some of the most accomplished composers in the country.
I also enjoy using Piano Adventures. It's a little harder to teach from though so be aware of that. I think kids ultimately become more successful through using that method though because they don't get stuck in hand positions. They have a lot more confidence when it comes to moving around the keyboard.
Here I charge between $80 and $187 a month, depending on what type of lesson the student is enrolled in (I offer a variety of lesson formats). Obviously, Phoenix is different since it's a large city. You also have to base it on your experience and level of training and charge what you think is a fair reflection of that. I have a degree and am nationally certified as a piano teacher, so I charge more than the lady in my ward who has played for years but just teaches as more of a hobby.
I would recommend getting involved with the MTNA and your local state chapter if teaching is something you decide to do long term. You might also look up a few teachers in the state MTA and contact them to see what going rates in your area are. http://www.wyomingmta.org/. What city are you in again? I could do a little spying if you want me to!
I buy my music online at one of two sites, www.sheetmusicplus.com or www.primamusic.com. I prefer Prima Music because they will often offer free shipping and they keep a running total of all your orders and once you reach certain totals you get bigger discounts. They give you 10% from the very beginning if you register as a member with them (registering is free).
Hope this helps. Feel free to ask me any other questions if you have them! raffertyhouse@msn.com
And I had to chuckle that there isn't anywhere in your city to buy books, because there really isn't here either, even in a city with a million people! There is one good music store, and it's all the way downtown. We have had a bunch of music stores go out of business lately. So sad. I guess it does save me a little bit of money though since I can't just drop by the music store and buy stuff anymore!
My personal opinion is that the MOST important thing, whichever books you use, is to teach them to count right, to have a good hand position, and to read notes. I currently use Bastien and Alfred just like Mary, and it works well for my kids and I love them. My mom had a ton of success with her students, and she taught out of those. People who had all sorts of degrees and such would ask her how she was so successful (while they struggled), and it all boiled down to having a good solid foundation of the basics. Counting and Hand Position. I don't think the basics ever outdate. Either way you go, I hope you enjoy it! That's cool that you're taking a student - have fun!
I definitely agree with Amanda and Mary. I like the Bastien and Alfred books. I have seen or 'not heard' results from other methods and feel these are still the best. I learned from the 'ancient' book Schaum and not to be conceited or anything, my sisters and I excellent pianists. It is all about teaching the basics. You took from my mom. There is not a better teacher out there. So remember some of her techniques and views. Good luck with it. Keep to the basics and you will do great. That is what is most important. Good luck with it.
Oh - I forgot to mention one thing. When I use Bastien, I use "Piano", "Technic", "Performance", and "Theory". When I use Alfred, I use "Lesson", "Technic", "Recital", and "Theory". Good luck!
I think Amanda may have misunderstood my meaning of hand position- I mean that students tend to get stuck thinking about "middle C position", "G position" etc and they are afraid to move out of those. Certainly correct technique in hand position is vital.
You have to use the method that you're most comfortable with. But I honestly don't think there is any one best method, and you owe it to your students to use what method best suits their learning style. There is no one method fits all. I use several different methods when you take into account my different students.
And your comment on my blog is exactly how you shouldn't feel- you have played the piano for years and learned from an amazing teacher, so don't cheapen yourself!! Plus, I searched for teachers in Sheridan and I could only find two! So it looks like supply and demand may be in your favor!
No Genny, I wasn't referring to anything you mentioned about hand position. :) I'm talking about curving fingers. I was simply referring to problems I have seen in my area and with kids from other teachers while I was growing up. It always blows me away how many teachers don't know how to count or curve fingers. It seems so silly, but like Genny said, is so important.
OK I totally emailed one of the teachers! We'll see if she responds. I love spying :o)
I so enjoyed reading these comments. I always considered your Poulson cousins the best piano players and I really like how Amanda and KellyAnn said the basics, counting and hand finger position... are the most important.
My son is 8 and I need to get him a good piano teacher.
I meant to add something else about the pay.
As a mom who is serious about a teacher for my child I would be willing to pay up to $80 a month (with one lesson a week), or $20 a lesson/week. That is a lot to me though.
Although I am talking about a good teacher who is interested in the challenge of getting my child up and moving and not drag...
I live in a pretty big populated area in CA so I'm not sure how it would be where you would live.
You are good at piano So don't sell your self short.
So how's it coming? I'm afraid I have no advice to give, but I hope it's working out well for you.
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