Let’s face it… you’ve considered quitting. And nobody blames you. At some point we’ve all considered quitting. Quitting can be a scary journey into the unknown. It is unpredictable and certainly unsettling. You never know if you’ve made the right decision until after you’ve finally taken the leap.
But without taking that leap, you’ll never know! If teaching piano is your true calling, quit whatever soul-crushing job is taking you away from a full time piano teaching career. Because the world needs more great piano teachers just like you!
Andrea and I love helping teachers build better careers. If you ever find yourself at a crossroads in your piano teaching career, we’re only an email away.
I love you blog, but I don’t see how you figure this one. There may be holes in the ozone, and North Korea may have nukes, blah, blah, but fear not there is NO shortage of good musicians and teachers…the schools crank them out by the boatload each year. That used to be my job actually. Sooo, as much as I would like what you said to be true it sounds kind of like terrible advice. Again, even though that is what I want to do!
Keep up the good work.
Cameron
Cameron,
We’ll have to agree to disagree. It is never terrible advice to pursue your true calling. We work with teachers everyday who are growing their studios bigger and bigger and becoming less dependent on “pay-the-bills” jobs.
I’m sure perspective depends on where you live, as well. I’ve actually thought about calling my old professor up and spreading the word that we need more piano teachers and accompanists in the county where I live. We’re a rural, impoverished area, and yet I have a waiting list that I couldn’t get through in five years! If someone was willing to consider an area like ours, I think they could do quite well.
Hi Lauren – great comment! Thanks for sharing your experiences. I’m sure that your success has been due to your skill as a teacher! We’ve discovered that no matter where you live, you have the potential to have a thriving studio – it’s dependent on your level of commitment and your abilities as a teacher (and as a business person).
Interesting comment Cameron. Where I live (New Delhi, India) there is absolutely no shortage of music teachers. They are a dime a dozen. However, most of them aren’t very *good* teachers – they teach just as a business and have no real concern about their students. They teach improper technique, don’t care if the kids can’t read notation properly and have wacky rhythm, etc. So, while there may not be a shortage of teachers, GREAT teachers – those who care for and inspire their students – are always needed!
Students & their parents are attracted to great teachers – but it takes a ton of work to be one!
I just left my office career to move from teaching part time to full time. It’s been the best decision I’ve ever made! I realized that life is too short to not follow my passion.
Hi Bev – this is GREAT news! Congratulations 🙂 Trevor and I live by “life is short, do what you love” and it has made such positive impact on our life. I’m so happy to hear that you had the gumption to give it a try and that you’ve been successful in following your passion. Cheers!