I often wish I was really great at just one thing. Unfortunately I’m a “jack-of-all trades” kind of guy. And it’s been like that my entire life. I was always good enough at sports to compete at a high level, and dedicated enough towards my schoolwork to achieve well in academics. But I was never the best of the best.
So, you could never pigeon-hole me as “The person who…” And I suppose being well rounded is a good thing (but sometimes I wonder if that’s what is said to those who are good enough… but not great).
But when it comes to running a business, like a piano studio, you need to be more than well-rounded. You need to be memorable. You need to be the piano teacher who… (fill in the blank with anything that makes you memorable).
That Piano Lesson Was Nice
As you’ve no doubt heard me say a million times before, the piano teaching business is a word-of-mouth business. And when it comes to word-of-mouth, piano lessons that are “nice”, are not good enough to grow a base of raving fans. What your piano lessons really need to be is memorable.
When piano students leave your studio, what is the first thing they say to their mom or dad when they get in the car? What is the one common response your students would say if they were asked to complete the following sentence:
Mr./Mrs. Smith is the piano teacher who (common response goes here)
Was That a No-Brainer?
If you were able to fill in the blank above in a moment’s notice, I’m going to bet you have a waiting list a mile long. Unless, of course, your response was something like…
Mrs. Smith is the piano teacher who has eleven cats. OR
Mr. Smith is the piano teacher who sweats profusely.
If filling in the blank above was a challenge, then it might be time to sit down and determine what it is that makes your piano studio special. But don’t be discouraged; just because you struggled to fill in the blank doesn’t mean your piano studio isn’t special. It simply means that you may not be aware of what makes you special and therefore you do not advertise, promote, or share your unique advantage with your piano students.
Everyone has, or can have, a unique advantage; but if you are not well aware of your specialty, than your piano students and their parents certainly won’t be either.
Share Your Thoughts and Be Entered In Our Giveaway
In the comments below, we’d love for you to share that “something special” that makes you and/or your piano studio stand out from the rest. To do so, leave a comment that completes the following sentence…
I am the piano teacher who…
Comment before midnight tonight (February 12, 2014), and be entered to win a copy of Pssst. Your Piano Teacher Thinks This Is Theory… and then you can say “I am the piano teacher who teaches theory in a unique and memorable way!” We will let you know who the lucky piano teacher is at the end of Thursday’s blog post.
Sophie says
I am the piano teacher who composes!
Denise Thompson says
I am the piano teacher who is always enouraging!
C says
I am the piano teacher who cares.
Susan says
I am the piano teacher who’s pupils never want to leave because she is so enthusiastic and great fun to spend time with. 😉
Sam Marion says
I am the piano teacher who uses the latest technology in teaching.
Christine says
I am the teacher who makes learning fun.
Susan says
I am the piano teacher who listens.
Nishaa says
I am the piano teacher who lets the student help to guide the lesson. 🙂
Andrea says
Love this!
Julie says
I am the piano teacher who…
… will let children under 7 start lessons…
… teaches jazz, rock/pop and keyboards, not just classical music…
… encourages ensemble skills…
Linda Fox says
I am the piano teacher who thinks the pretty way is a better path than the expressway.
Isabel says
I am the piano teacher who teaches singing and songwriting!
Rosy says
I’m the piano teacher who not only teaches how to make music, I’m also a mother, a sister, a friend …
Sue Seeger says
I am the piano teacher that gets to know the student’s whole family.
Jeanette says
I’m the piano teacher who has fun playing games with my students!
Anonymous says
I am the piano teacher who creatively motivates her students to do their best !
Kat Parsons says
I am the piano teacher who equips students with tools to be able to use music throughout their whole life – in jam sessions, improvising, and with lead sheets!
Sandy Haberkost says
As my students leave, they say, “She is the piano teacher who loves to hear me play:)”
Mary Beth Frasier says
I am the music teacher who teaches with her shoes off!
Jeannie says
I am the piano teacher who always does something different and creative — last week every one played keyboard outside in the sunshine for everyone to hear. We reviewed songs we’d learned so far in 2014.
Barbara says
I’m just jealous of this as we are expecting 12″ snow today:( Good for you and your students! Hope they know how lucky they are.
Tiffiny Allen says
I am the piano teacher who is interested in you as a person and a pianist. I know what makes you happy.
Jamila Sahar says
I am the piano teacher who sees every students musicianship talents, helps them develop it to exceed theirs and there parents expectations.
Jacquie says
I am the piano teacher who loves her students! Who tries to make each lesson unique. Who sometimes runs a little behind :(. Who fights City Hall and a grumpy Neighbor for the right to teach in my home.
Wendiann Trent says
I am the piano teacher who teaches, inspires, and plays with passion.
Collette says
I am the piano teacher who works hard to get to know her students and teach them based on their strengths
Barbara says
I am the piano teacher who knows that no one is “just” a piano student.
Kathy G says
I am the piano teacher who teaches and learns along with the students.
Bethany says
I am the piano teacher who is flexible and positive. I work to understand what makes my students tick and apply that to our weekly lessons.
Jana says
I am the piano teacher who is constantly learning from students even after 30 plus years.
Jessica says
I am the piano teacher who believes every student has talent that should be cultivated, no matter what their age, ability, or interest. I love finding creative ways to build upon those talents.
Cherilyn says
I am the teacher who uses plenty of good humor.
Sandra says
I am the teacher who is always looking for ways to improve the way I teach.
Sam says
I am the piano teacher that always makes them clap and count, and is encouraging no matter what, oh and I am the piano teacher that has an impressive sticker collection. 😛
Andrea Bentz says
I am the teacher who finds motivation for each student and cheers a success on every attempt.
Maggie says
I am the piano teacher who makes every one of my students feel important, from finding and re-writing pieces of music they request to making up a game to engage and teach a specific individual.
anna says
….who asks, “soooo….whuddya do in school today?”
(two-fold question to give me perspective as to what their mindset might be at that moment, and to find out more of about what they find interesting/memorable. It’s a nice segue from school to piano lesson).
Elena says
I am the piano teacher who helps all students discover the joy of artistic expression, developing the skills and the confidence to share it with others.
Ann says
I am the piano teacher who spends hours making different games and resources to keep students inspired and interested, and who greatly appreciates all those who are willing to share their talents and resources with fellow teachers all over the world. I always try to find something good to compliment a student for at every lesson so they leave their lesson with a smile.
Eleanor Baldwin says
I am the piano teacher who has a toy bucket! Each child takes one at the end of his lesson regardless of how the lesson went. Siblings are given a toy to create a positive association. Parents bring toys for the bucket without my ever having asked them to. My next door neighbor’s eyes light up when I tell him to take a few for his indigent fourth graders. Dollar World clerks know me by name. Shall I sign this one Saint Eleanor?
Milla says
.I am a piano teacher who can always get her students to be cheerful at the lesson, no matter how grumpy they are when they come.
Kimberly Wright says
I am the piano teacher who teaches hymns, hymn improvisation and lead sheets for the glory of God!
Debbie says
I am the piano teacher who nurtures self confidence and a love of music.
Annie says
I am the piano teacher who lets her students pick a favorite song to learn.
Nalani Proctor says
I am the piano teacher who works well with young students (ages 5 – 7).
Rachel says
I am the teacher who has fun and memorable practice incentives to keep her students motivated to progress!
Sandy Fortier says
My students would first say that I am the piano teacher with the cute baby (she’s well-loved). But once my baby grows up, then they and I will say “I am the piano teacher with the games (practice incentives) that make my students go above and beyond when they practice.”
Christi says
Do you teach with your baby right there? I have an almost-6-month-old, and part of the reason I chose to become a piano teacher was that I could teach as a work at home mom, but I’ve been getting a sitter during my lesson times because I’m afraid she’ll start crying and I’ll have to take care of her rather than teach my students. I’d be curious how you teach with your baby around.
Karen says
I am the piano teacher who tries to give each student a positive music experience each week.
Heidi LeRossignol says
I am the teacher who listens and hears the inner voice of my students that no one else has time to listen to or hear.
Mary says
I am a piano teacher who will teach anyone regardless of ability or “musical talent”. I figure everyone who comes into my studio is there for a reason, and if progress is slow to nonexistent, I know I am imparting something to them that they will remember long after lessons with me have stopped.
Nancy says
I’m the teacher who raises puppies to become service dogs and my students are helping me teach the puppies to have good manners during lessons. I’m also the teacher who rarely keeps students for more than 2-3 years because most are military family members. 🙁
Shirley says
I am the piano teacher who makes piano lessons fun (whose students don’t want to miss a lesson)!