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