A very Happy Teachers’ Day to all the teachers out there, especially to all the MUSIC teachers, because all of you are the greatest and the most passionate! To mark this day, I am going to write more about the joys and pains of being a private music teacher. My experience can’t be generalised to all music teachers but I hope that it will be helpful to those who aspire to become one. As for music students, perhaps you may think about how you can make your learning more effective and hopefully, give your teachers an easier time!
Music teaching is probably one of the most underrated careers out there, especially if you are an independent music teacher (like me). I do not know how many times people have raised their eyebrows that I teach music privately full-time and asked when I am intending to get a “proper full-time job”. Yeah I get it, the same old societal stereotypes on freelancing, being your own boss, and so on. But hey, what’s wrong with teaching music privately? What’s so bad about not doing the usual office jobs or rotating shifts? Just because we aren’t following the conventions of the majority of the population?
Yes I totally understand where these people are coming from. Their concerns are fully justified and legitimate. Being a freelance music teacher isn’t a walk in the park, but so are any other careers out there. Every field has its own set of challenges. I’m not going to explain more about the pros and cons of being a freelancer as you can find plenty of information on the net.
However, if you really like teaching music, you will find joy and satisfaction when you see your students making progress over time. That to me, is the most important.
The joys of teaching music – the entire process
As mentioned, I find that the most satisfying thing when teaching music is seeing how students improve over time. What seemed like a struggle at first slowly became more effortless. Of course, that requires a lot of hard work, dedication, patience, and perseverance from both the teacher and student to overcome the many challenges on the music-making journey. Knowing what it is like to be both a student and a teacher, I can say that the teacher has to continually find ways to help the student solve his musical issues and bring out his fullest potential. On the other hand, the student needs to put in the work required and keep striving to improve.
When thinking back to how students at first struggled with note-reading, coordinating both hands etc., to how they are now able to play pieces fluently and musically just makes me so excited for them. They have come a long way. Besides feeling the satisfaction when hard work pays off, the fact that both the student and teacher have worked together to keep the music-making dream alive is immensely fulfilling!
Furthermore, I cannot describe in words how it feels when students finally understand a specific thing (e.g. tone production) after struggling with it for a period of time. These moments are priceless and you will feel that all the pains (as detailed below) you have experienced were all worth it.
In fact, it is not just the outcome that matters. Granted, music teachers will be very happy when students score well in their music exams. However, the process matters too. Lessons can be very enjoyable, especially when students take a strong interest in music and in playing their instrument. Their eyes light up when you demonstrate how to play the part that they want to learn, and the excitement that they have when they have nailed it! Others love to discuss or challenge me with questions and it makes the teaching process a very varied, interesting, and different one – no two students can be taught in the same way. That’s what makes the music teaching process exciting too.
The pains of teaching music
As with any other career, there are also pains and frustrations associated with music teaching. These include students who don’t put in effort to learn/practise, students who are not interested to learn, dealing with rude students/parents, fees collection, and other administrative work regarding lessons.
Students who don’t put in effort to learn/practise
I understand that all of us are busy. Kids have many activities while adults can get swarmed with work and other life commitments. I understand. Music teachers understand that too and we don’t expect you to put in the same commitment as professional musicians do. However, do understand that it is no longer the teacher’s responsibility to ensure that you reach high playing standards if there is no way you or your kid can take some time out to practise. It is nearly impossible for the teacher to make miracles happen in weekly lessons if the student does not do some practising at home, and then, the teacher has to practise with the student during the lesson while the student forgets what was done when he comes back the next week. Repeat this process over weeks and months. I do not have to go any further on how these students are progressing, but it makes me think that I could have instead spent the time on another student who puts in more effort to learn. I have to emphasise that these are one-to-one lessons and not group lessons!
If that’s the case, ask yourself why you have decided to learn music and also ask yourself if you will be satisfied with this kind of progress. If you are, then by all means! But if you aren’t, then don’t play the blame game… And do know that it can get frustrating to repeat the same thing over weeks and months… Even if you are learning music for leisure, do put in some time to practise! Music teachers do not expect polished performances but we can see who has put in the effort to learn and who hasn’t. And trust me, you will reap what you sow.
Students who are not interested to learn
This applies mainly to younger students and I’ve heard kids lamenting that they are only attending lessons because their parents want them to. The more well-behaved kids will comply with the teacher’s requests while the more defiant ones will find ways and means to disrupt the lesson. While it is the teacher’s responsibility to keep lessons interesting, it can’t be all fun and games. Again, the student needs to put in some effort to practise (see previous section). Will they practise if they are not interested in the first place? Certain things just can’t be forced. No matter how fun and interesting the teacher makes lessons to be, it is difficult to make progress without practising. Furthermore, if the student does not like music then he doesn’t, period. We are all more inclined towards certain things so why do we force kids to do what we like? Of course, the teacher can somehow inspire the student to like music, but it takes effort on the student’s part to try. After a period of time, if the student decides that after trying, he just does not want to learn music, then it is best to follow his wishes.
In most cases, students are unhappy when they are forced by their parents to attend lessons and practise, so why put them in such agony when they can spend time on other things that they like? They may even go further in those things instead.
Dealing with rude students/parents
This is self-explanatory. No one likes to communicate with rude people, so be nice to your teachers!
Fees collection
This is also self-explanatory and an issue that freelancers often face. Pay your lesson fees on time so that your teachers do not have to constantly press for it, or take unpleasant action such as not conducting your lesson! They have to pay for bills too!
Other administrative work regarding lessons
The top on the list regarding this would be last-minute cancellations or no-shows. Besides extenuating circumstances, let your teacher know in advance if you are unable to make it. Although they are usually chargeable, your teacher has already made arrangements for the lesson, and another student could have learnt something during your time slot.
Concluding thoughts
Fortunately for me, the joys of music teaching outweigh the pains (these students are just a minority). It has been a satisfying and rewarding journey so far. I am grateful to have the opportunity to impart whatever I know to my students and I hope that they will achieve their musical goals in future.
To all the music teachers out there, here’s to you for being so passionate and patient in nurturing the next generation of musicians! On this note, I’d like to thank all my music teachers who believed in me and never gave up on me, even though I probably drove all of you nuts (:
Once again, a very Happy Teachers’ Day!
As always, do leave a comment to let me know your thoughts and subscribe to the blog for future updates!
~Vanessa
