Education comes First!

In the business of education, the needs of the student must come first.

Many times music stores who offer lessons think in the posessive terms. They view students as inventory and not as independent learners. It is the teacher that retains students after the inital contact. If there is no quality of education, the student will not return. If the personality of the teacher does not mesh with the student, the student will not return. The teacher must put the needs of the student first.

Music stores will charge an excessive amount of money for guitar lessons with each store taking a share of the fee.

Many stores will make students pay for as many as 12 lessons up front and not excuse any absences.

Music stores might make you get a substitute! The store should take a lesson from schools, if every teacher had to get their own sub, wow what a mess!

How many subs are out there that have your skills and how many parents will be comfortable leaving their child with someone they don't know?

Music stores will hire any one who plays guitar to teach, not necessarily a qualified teacher.

My advice to music stores:

Be fair to your teachers and you will retain them, do not treat students as inventory.

Hire only qualified instructors who have a vast background in guitar, yes they are out there!

Do not charge for excused absences, unless you charge a tuition fee for a set number of weeks.

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate!

Do not treat your students as inventory. If you want to control your teachers, have them sign a no-compete clause.

Teachers: Be fair to your students and you will retain them.

Teach what they need to know and stress technique!

Teach them what they want to learn and stress technique!

Technique, Technique, Technique!

Beware of music stores! You are better off on your own, but if you must. Make sure you know the following:

How are you paid and when. --Some stores will tell you "When we feel like it" Unacceptable!

Do the students pay you or the store.--be suspicious if you have to turn checks over to the store.

Students should be able to pay for lessons at any cashier if its on the level.

Make sure you set up a business to handle the money, claim what you earn. Its cheaper than IRS penalties.

And...you can deduct your "rent" from the music store. See your tax professional for details.

Seek out training to be a guitar teacher. Learn patience. Learn more than 1 technique.

I have trained several guitar teachers. If you would like a lesson in teaching, contact me.