Posted by: clariniano on: April 28, 2009
There are many musicians, especially advanced ones, who resist the idea of learning music to the point of mastery. A typical response often runs along the lines of “I have so much material to work on, how do you expect me to master it all?” Another common response is “if I were to learn all [...]
Posted by: clariniano on: April 28, 2009
When I first began teaching clarinet, I felt like I was trying to teach too many things at once, which sometimes led to me being frustrated and perhaps my students geing confused. Now I will often spend nearly an entire lesson focussing on one aspect of playing or music, such as embouchure, rhythm, or articulation. [...]
Posted by: clariniano on: April 28, 2009
Rules of advertising: You have probably heard of the saying, “out of sight, out of mind.” Therefore, “S/he who advertises is more likely to get the students” . Why? Because someone else might beat you to making the decision to start advertising themselves as a teacher of a particular instrument. Besides, how are people supposed [...]
Posted by: clariniano on: April 25, 2009
There has been an alarming trend in the past few years for private music teachers to charge low fees for lessons. In some parts the fees for private music lessons, especially piano and guitar lessons, have become so low that babysitters and housecleaners are charging more money than private music teachers, without requiring study at [...]
Posted by: clariniano on: April 25, 2009
-A teacher teaching 20 students at $50 an hour is making the same amount of money as a teacher who teaches 40 students at $25 an hour. But the teacher who teaches half as many students is able to provide more individual attention because they are devoting their energies to fewer students! -Going to study [...]
Posted by: clariniano on: April 25, 2009
Lessons in a music store Advantages: Tends to be the least costly for the consumer. Disadvantages: Distractions from the retail section of the music store. High turnover of teachers, because the store usually takes a cut from lesson fees, which are already often below market price. Some won’t let teachers take their students with them [...]
Posted by: clariniano on: April 25, 2009
I have spaces for students starting in the summer, and have some available for September as well. I am offering a special incentive to new students. I am offering a 3 month, 45 min private lesson package which will, in September 2009, cost $175/month per student, but if students and parents choose to pay for [...]
Posted by: clariniano on: April 18, 2009
There are a number of strategies that musicians can use to improve the quality of practicing. Practice your pieces or difficult sections of pieces backwards. Don’t play the piece backwards! Learn the last bar (or part of a bar if it’s a sequence of sixteenth notes or faster) or two first, then go back two [...]
Posted by: clariniano on: April 18, 2009
I came home from a great concert which was played by a high caliber youth orchestra, which one of my clarinet students plays in. And I noticed that so many of the kids parents were there. Yet, when I ws their age, my parents rarely showed up to my performances, because they were “too busy”. [...]
Posted by: clariniano on: April 16, 2009
Although some students and parents of students do not want to participate in music exams, they are beneficial to most students. The student gets a sense of accomplishment. Receiving the certificates in the mail gives a sense of pride, which enhances their self esteem. They show that the student is making progress. Some teachers seem [...]
