If you’re a devoted Teach Piano Today reader, you have no doubt noticed seasonal trends in our posting schedule. In February, our posts often revolve around keeping piano lessons fresh and exciting while in June we often share tips for boosting piano studio retention rates.
And in August… well, in August we talk a fair bit about finding new piano students. And how to find new piano students is a topic that fills our inbox with questions in August.
Today we’re rounding up our three of our top blog posts on how to grow your studio. And…In the comments below we’d love to hear your response to one simple question: How did you find your very first piano student?
The 4-Part Process To Sprucing Up Your Piano Lesson Advertising Materials
3 Critical Dates to Attract More Piano Students and Grow Your Studio
mauara phillips says
She found me. A 62 year-old woman who had taken music in younger years asked for a refresher course on playing the piano and I taught her several years. She played hymns at
church and when in the nursing home entertained herself and the other residents. A blessing.
Emily Bass says
I was getting my Masters in piano performance when a friend decided to move to Cape Cod and GAVE me 30 students. For this I am very grateful!
Amy G says
I found 4 students all on the same day…the first two (a set of girl twins) live just two minutes from me. The second two (a boy and a girl) are our best friends kids. I just told them I was starting to teach lessons as my daughter was a little older now. I make it a point to tell everyone I know and meet that I teach piano and it always sparks a conversation. I know have a full calendar of 13 students (plus my non-paying) daughter.
On a side note – a landmark music store in my city is closing it’s doors forever at the end of the year…I was in earlier this week chatting to the owner about it. He said the main reason for closing is simply because “not as many kids are taking lessons anymore”. Parents are allowing their kids to just quit because they don’t like or want to practice…I was saddened to hear this and it’s making me try even harder to make sure that none of my 13+1 kids don’t quit. I see the value and importance of the arts and it’s part of our job to ensure that others see this as well….
Dorla says
From the neighbors. Fresh out of college I moved to the USA with my parents. Our neighbors were my parent’s college students from long ago, they were looking for a piano teacher and the rest is history!
I’ve been teaching here since 1984…
Leia says
I was 15 and my friend at school wanted piano lessons. It jump-started from there – suddenly teachers were sending their kids to me, and word of mouth spread my lessons around the community.
It’s quite different when starting your own studio, though. I got my first student at my studio through a referral from another piano teacher, and most of my beginning sign-ups found me through online advertising.
Maxim says
Leia, could you please specify where online did you advertise? Thank you
Crystal Sexton says
My first two students (over 18 years ago) were the young daughter of my husband’s first cousin and an acquaintance of hers (and ours).
LeeAnn says
I just started giving lessons last year. I handed out flyers at the private school I had been teaching at for 19 years. Quickly I gained 18 students. This year I have 28!! Three are 3 year olds and 5 are adults. The rest are in between. I never dreamed I would love teaching piano so much. Couldn’t do it without you-Andrea and Trevor!! Thanks so much for all your helpful advice and resources.
Heather Kolankowski says
I was 16 and my father was a school Principal. My piano teacher suggested I start taking some students, and my father put the word out in the school……I had students right away.That was 31 years ago. I am still in contact with many of them; one just got married and bought a house in Switzerland.
I too notice that enrollment gets lower every year, and parents aren’t willing to put the effort into practice at home, no matter how many “Piano Stars”, awards, prizes, attention and emails I send. I have never put as much effort into advertising and social media as I have in the last few years. Having said that, the students who stay all get up to that Grade 8 – 10 RCM level……but then they’re the higher achieving kids with the parents who put in the effort too.
We stay positive and excited about lessons but I sure wish my Dad could send me some more students! LOL!
Kimberly Wright says
I have been our church pianist for 11 years, but haven’t formally taught piano since I started homeschooling my 4 children. 3 graduated a year ago, so I was able to start teaching again last year. All my students have come through my church, homeschooling community and neighborhood. I have 21 this year.
Bethany says
A friend at church asked me if I taught lessons and I laughed and told her no. Two years later I decided to give it a try and called her up and she was still interested. I’ve been teaching her children for almost three years now and currently have a roster of 12 students.
Katharine says
I started teaching around age 14; my first students were refered to me by a relative who ran a daycare. Since then, teaching full time has been my dream. I recently started teaching in a new area, and in the past 10 months I’ve registered 40 students for this year.
Amelia says
I was 12 years old and my mom taught but didn’t love it so when the next door neighbors wanted a teacher for their 7-year-old she passed her along to me! I’ve definitely learned a lot since and still love it.
Fionagh Bennet says
In my teens and 20’s I was a gigging musician, on organ & piano. People at my gigs started asking if I would teach them, and then a friend sent her 2 daughters to me for lessons. Seeing a future in all this, I then took my teaching diplomas, and have never looked back! Initially I put cards in newsagents shops etc and after that it was word of mouth. I’ve always had a waiting list.
Now my daughter, after gaining a 1st class honours degree in music composition now teaches piano, keyboards, theory and music for GSCE & A level music (We are in the UK). She started teaching my other daughter’s (our guitarist) friends whilst at University and employed the same card in shop windows method as me. She now has a bust teaching practice herself, plus teaches in a local music school.
Jan Curtis says
I always said I NEVER wanted to be a teacher. My late husband was pastoring a small Baptist church in 1977. He volunteered me to teach a little girl in our church. Her parents could not afford lessons and I had never taught before. Over 30 years and 300 students later…I am still teaching and I love it!
Hilah says
A friend from church approached me and asked me to teach her daughter.
Wendy says
I started out in a conservatory so they found students for me. However, when my son was born and I left the conservatory, I had one student follow me. I then discovered I was living in the same building as a girlfriend of mine who was also a piano teacher. Fortunately for me she was moving out of town and I inherited her students and it grew from there. This fall I have 34 students registered with room for more!
Carol says
I had no intention of teaching at the time. After two families begged me for a year, I gave in and taught their four kids under one condition. They were not to tell a single soul I was teaching! As you can imagine, that rule didn’t hold out long! I soon discovered that I really loved teaching private lessons and that put me on a totally different career path!
Leslie says
After I moved back home after graduating from college and began playing piano during the church services, one of the high school youth girls began asking me to give her piano lessons. I told her no, as I had never taught piano before. She contd. asking and told me her previous teacher was no longer giving lessons and needed me. I gave in and began giving her piano lessons, and then a few months later her 5 yr old brother. Now it’s been 19 years and over 75 piano students through my doors. How thankful I am that she persisted! I love teaching and I am soooo thankful for your website and fresh, fun and inspiring ideas!!
Mary Beth says
I was a very young and inexperienced wife and mother of two (now 4) who played the piano at our church. The children in the congregation asked me to give them piano lessons. I didn’t feel qualified but they and their parents were persistent. 33 years later, I am a NCTM, I became a licensed Kindermusik teacher, certified Mayron Cole Group Piano instructor, completed a Bachelors Degree in music, and am pursuing a Certificate in Pedagogy. I am so thankful for the opportunity to teach. I currently have a studio of 40 students and a waiting list. Last year, I received a surprise telephone call from my very first student!!!! I am so glad he was persistent 33 years ago!!!!!
Mary Aalgaard says
A friend asked me to teach her kids, word got around, and before I knew it I was a piano teacher. I find students everywhere I go from church to the doctor’s office. Don’t be afraid to tell people what you do. In fact, most people are excited to meet a piano teacher and ask for your card. And, always carry your cards!
Mary says
My poor 14 year old sister in law was my first student-on the organ. My in laws felt sorry for me and I think they forced her into taking lessons. It was not a good experience, but I don’t think she holds it against me 41 years later. I briefly taught her youngest daughter flute for a time, but the distance was far too great for them to continue.
Christine says
I was working on my piano undergrad and a couple at the church I attended asked me to teach their son. They both played and I later learned that the student’s grandfather was a concert pianist. The music building at the college I attended was named after him. Nothing like a little pressure! He was a great student! 🙂
Erin says
We had just moved (again – active duty Army family), and my best friend knew that I was bored because our children were all in school and had nothing to do all day. She pestered me for several months to teach two of her children until I finally gave in. I’m so glad she did ! We lived in that location and during that time I had 30 piano students and LOVED it.
We have since had to move again and I’m struggling to get piano students in our new local. I spent a week walking through nearby neighborhoods putting flyers on everyone’s mailboxes – 6 months later – I have 6 students. I wish I had more because I love teaching sooo much!
Mareli says
I started teaching this year. Most of my students are the kids of our friends.
Brenda Slocum says
I first worked for a music academy. My neighbors asked if I could teach their children in my home. That was the start….plus 1 newspaper ad and the rest is history. Full studio…word of mouth.
Melanie Conley says
I send out post cards. Millions of them. To church music directors, praise band leaders, choir directors. To preschool and daycare activity directors. To elementary and intermediate school choir directors, band directors and orchestra directors. To music stores. I put on there (with my name and phone number) the location and first two lessons free. I get a ton of students in August when school starts and everyone is looking for a piano teacher.