How do I start giving music lessons?

People who know how to play an instrument or who have studied music know that passing on this knowledge is very useful and valuable. That is why many people take the option of giving private tuition in music. 

On the other hand, there are many people who are interested in learning an instrument, and within private tuition they are the ones that have to do with leisure that are most in demand. Learning an instrument is for everyone, from children to adults.

Become a private tutor

Each type of instrument requires a different set of skills or materials, but whether you want to be a music tutor and give guitar lessons, violin lessons, piano lessons or singing lessons, there are commonalities that will be useful:

• Assess your knowledge: it is not only important what you know about the instrument you want to master, it is also important that you have the knowledge to tutor it. Explore tutoring methods and techniques.

• Evaluate the student: many students already know a few things before they start music lessons, so it is important that you know what their level is and above all what their objectives are. 

• Establish a system: all tutors should have a syllabus, a set of steps to teach how to play any instrument. If you want to know how to give private music lessons, try to get a book or look at how other tutors who play the same instrument as you do on the internet. But maybe all you have to do is remember how you learnt it yourself.

• Use your creativity: you can't forget that most people who want to learn to play an instrument want to have fun, so try to use all your creativity to create different lessons that will keep your students happy.

Think like a tutor

Many people who tutor piano, guitar or any other instrument are not trained as tutors, but they know how to teach how to play very well. It's not that you have to study to give private tuition, but you have to change your mentality.

Giving lessons to strangers is not the same as tutoring a friend, you have to have a lot more patience and a lot more motivation. Things that you have when you have a passion for music, but it is important that you think about it before you start.

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Every student is different

That's why you have to personalise each class. Not all students are looking for the same thing when they want to learn music. Some are only interested in playing their favourite songs, others want to learn more in-depth knowledge.

Know your students and their goals, if you know many people who make music you will know that each person has their own personality and way of playing, that's why all lessons cannot be the same for everyone. This is basic to understand how to be a private music tutor.

Take your classes further

One of the mistakes some music tutors make is being too technical. When you are learning, there are more boring things that you can't skip, but try to compensate for this with more fun sessions.

To learn to play an instrument you need to listen to music, so why not try it with your student and do it in an active way. Listening while analysing is very enriching and entertaining for many.

Practice from day one

When a student takes private tuition in guitar or any other instrument, the first thing they want to do is to start playing it. It is true that theory is important, but if we don't start to familiarise ourselves with the instrument from the first day we will progress more slowly.

Try to do simple exercises or even very simple songs. If in the first few weeks you are already playing a recognisable song, your student's motivation will increase a lot and then everything will be much easier.

Choose your students

It is important that when it comes to knowing how to teach music you have some criteria to know who to teach and who not to teach. Teaching an instrument is something very special and often if you don't share the same way of thinking it is impossible to make progress.

For example, there are many music tutors who get frustrated because their students only want to learn to play the guitar so they can play it with friends and are only interested in learning a few songs.

Be clear about your student's objectives and think about whether you are the right tutor for them. At the end of the day nobody has to know how to play an instrument perfectly, everyone stays at the level that interests them, just evaluate whether this type of class is worthwhile for you.

Music teaching materials

If you want to make a difference and be a good music tutor, you need to have a set of tools. Always carrying a set of resources with you will give you much more confidence and make you a professional.

• Sheet music: a music tutor cannot be separated from his or her book of sheet music. It doesn't need to be something printed on paper in the traditional way, it is enough to always have a series of pieces to play. Of all levels and tastes.

• Theory: music theory is important for learning to play. There are books for beginners that can help you, but if not, look for material on the internet that you can use to set up a syllabus.

• Instruments: although your student probably already has his or her own, it will probably be of lower quality than the one you have, take yours with you and it will be easier to teach the class. In addition, you can always bring other instruments to complement them and make your sessions much more fun.

• Accessories: this is essential for a good music tutor. You have to have a series of tools such as a tuner, a tuning fork or any kind of accessory, depending on the instrument you play. But all those things that a professional musician must have, you must have it.

Within the world of music tutors there are some who are very informal, try to differentiate yourself from them and offer something more professional. It is the materials you offer and how you do it that will make the difference that will make you a good tutor.

Conveys the passion for music

A tutor, whatever the instrument, should be fostering a love of music. And not only because they provide more than just technical knowledge, but also because everything will be easier. It is impossible to learn to play an instrument well if you have no references.

There are students who start playing an instrument but lack a lot of musical culture, try to encourage this and your students will learn faster and better. Try to leave a mark on your student and if you open their mind to more types of music you will make your student an artist.