If you have a passion for music and enjoy teaching others, you might be interested in becoming a music tutor. Music tutors are professionals who offer private or group lessons on various instruments, genres, and skills, such as vocal coaching. But how do you become a music tutor? Here are some steps to help you get started.
Before you start looking for students, you need to evaluate your own musical abilities and qualifications. You should have a solid foundation in music theory, technique, and performance, as well as a good ear and a sense of musicality. You should also be able to adapt to different learning styles, goals, and preferences of your students. If you want to teach vocal coaching, you should have experience in singing, vocal health, and vocal exercises. You might also want to consider getting a formal education or certification in music or vocal coaching, as this can boost your credibility and confidence.
The biggest progress I've made as a vocal coach was by signing up to the mastermind, packed with knowledge about voice pedagogy, troubleshooting sessions, and lots of instruction videos. The platform is called BAST. As a beginning vocal coach, you shouldn't go hard on yourself. Once I started teaching I was learning everyday about voice, and that is how I gained confidence and knowledge. Many teachers are great with children, and that is where you can start as well: by forming a singing group for children, where you help them build a strong music foundation with basics of vocal technique.
When teaching music online, my approach is very much like face-to-face teaching, being student-led. I encourage beginners and those who lack confidence, taking a gentle, patient approach, tailoring vocal exercises and selecting repertoire that individual students like, while meeting their needs. It's important to remember that we must constantly learn and improve our skills. I work continually on my own singing, and engage in regular training, particularly in the areas of supporting young and beginner singers, as well as singing for health, an area of particular interest for me. To find students, I’ve discovered that the best approach is just to let people know what I do, talk about it, write about it, and share on social media.
Music is a broad and diverse field, and you can't teach everything to everyone. You need to decide what kind of music tutor you want to be, and focus on your niche. For example, you might specialize in vocal coaching for pop, jazz, or classical singers, or for beginners, intermediate, or advanced learners. You might also offer additional services, such as songwriting, music production, or audition preparation. Choosing your niche will help you define your target market, your curriculum, and your rates.
This is so important. Choose the genre of music that you love and of course which ages you want to teach. For me, I have two favourites: Musical Theatre vocals to young learners and kids music classes. Both of these make me happy, especially to see how the students progress and gain confidence in their singing capabilities. For me music came as a second nature since I grew up in a musical family and practised music all my life. I went to study Musical Theatre after school and having the qualification with 15 years of performing myself, I knew what I wanted to do next. Dream big!
It is important to know what ages and advancement levels you would ultimately like to teach. I prefer to teach teenagers and adults, with a bit of an advanced level. Technique wise, it is also important to know what is the reach of your competence: if you're a contemporary singer, and that is what you're educated at, don't try to teach classical singers. Narrowing the niche even more, will allow you to help singers with stylistic aspects. That also helps with building your personal brand as a specialist in certain area/ genre.
Once you have your niche and skills, you need to set up your business as a music tutor. This involves creating a professional profile, a website, a portfolio, and a marketing strategy. Your profile should highlight your credentials, experience, testimonials, and contact details. Your website should showcase your services, rates, policies, and samples of your work. Your portfolio should demonstrate your musical skills and achievements, such as recordings, videos, or awards. Your marketing strategy should include how you will promote yourself, such as through social media, referrals, or ads.
Just being an artist or a vocal coach is not enough to build an independent career path. I've learnt that, at some point, I needed to step away from being an artist, and start to think as a business person. Online presence as an artist, credibility as a knowledgeable vocal coach, and referrals from current students are the first thing to take for consideration with setting up a music studio.
The next step is to find your students and start teaching. You can use various platforms and methods to attract and connect with potential students, such as online directories, forums, blogs, or podcasts. You can also network with other music tutors, musicians, or organizations in your niche, and ask for recommendations or collaborations. You can offer free trials, discounts, or bonuses to entice new students, and provide feedback, support, and encouragement to retain them. You can also ask for reviews, referrals, or testimonials from your satisfied students to build your reputation and credibility.
The final step is to keep improving your skills as a music tutor and a musician. You should always seek to learn new things, update your knowledge, and expand your repertoire. You should also seek feedback from your students, peers, or mentors, and identify your strengths and weaknesses. You should also invest in your equipment, tools, and resources, such as a quality microphone, a sound system, or a music library. You should also join professional associations, attend workshops, or enroll in courses to enhance your skills and network.
Becoming a music tutor can be a rewarding and fulfilling career, especially if you love music and teaching. By following these steps, you can start your journey as a music tutor and share your musical passion and expertise with others.
First, be a good teacher… get qualified. Someone who doesn't understand what they are talking about can't teach others. Then, keep on learning. The music business changes regularly. Keeping up to date is important. Lastly, do everything else listed above. If you are an inspiring teacher you will teach your students everything you know.