AIBU to think I can become a piano teacher after 18 years of not playing?

[fieldmouse231]

I passed grade eight piano with distinction aged 17, but since then have barely played, think learning a simple piece once or twice for a family member’s wedding, and that’s it.

I think that my piano skills are probably my best option if I wanted to create a small extra income (which I do) alongside my current job but is it realistic to think I can get to a good enough standard again within a year of practising?

I do love the idea of teaching - I’ve considered primary teaching in the past and have volunteered in a school. I’d want to start with absolute beginners and maybe eventually teach up to c. Grade 5 level. Eventually I might scale back my main job, if the piano teaching were successful…

My biggest issue I think is sight reading, I’ve never been very good at it, and might feel embarrassed not to be great at it if I was teaching… I’m also very aware that lots of piano teachers are also amazing performers and have extensive degrees etc!

Any thoughts or suggestions from experienced piano teachers or those who have picked up piano teaching later?

Thanks so much!

Theoretically I could become a dance teacher but I'd have a lot of catching up to do as I haven't done much since I stopped for Uni, it's more about how you teach rather than the extent of your abilities. I teach high school pupils but don't know EVERYTHING about all the subjects I teach!

I don’t think your plan seems realistic as there will be lots of better qualified people offering the same service.

I think you prob need to brush up first (ie do a month or 2 and lean in) but why not!

But if you are teaching grade 1 and 2 with little ones you can progress as you go.

Teaching is a very specific skill quite separate from the subject. Having a first class degree doesn't guarantee that a person will be a great teacher. Yes, you'll need to practise to improve your piano skills and sight reading, but you need to think about how you are going to learn to teach.

I think you would need to be having lessons yourself and playing at grade 8 with strong sight reading skills and pedagogical knowledge before considering this.

I imagine you’d have to be up to speed with the curricula and expectations of ABSRM and Trinity College. DD’s piano teacher teaches her theory as well.

Playing is one thing. Teaching is another. Do you have any music teaching qualifications?

Teaching, adapting to each pupil, ensuring they are advancing at their own pace etc and knowing how to get the best out of each one are skills in themselves. I have played at grade 8 flute level, I couldn't teach someone beyond the basics as I've no idea how.

Is there a qualification for piano teachers that you could undergo so you do learn all of those skills?

Just start practicing and only teach beginners to start with - grade 1-4. Don’t let on that you’ve not played for a while and just get better over the next year whilst teaching the beginners - you’ll then be able to teach higher grades as you get better yourself. Why not 🤷‍♀️.

Its only like saying I got a degree in maths but I’ve not used it in a while, so I’ll only teach year 1 - 4.

Playing piano and teaching piano are two different skills. Do you know how to teach? Do you even remember how you were taught? (genuine question, I remember some things but the memories are patchy)

I would send you here: https://thecuriouspianoteachers.org/ or here: https://epta-uk.org/ to get some training on teaching. It sounds as though it’s a long time since you were in an actual piano lesson, and methods/ books/ psychology of teaching may have changed since then.

Alternatively, find a well respected local piano teacher and ask if you can observe some lessons/ have some refresher lessons.

I actually think that if you are teaching beginners it is even more important that your skillset is already of a high standard and that you have the knowledge and skills to teach them good habits and the develop the right foundation from day one.

Please, please don’t teach beginners if you don’t already have a secure grounding in piano pedagogy!!

Do you thoroughly understand piano technique, pedagogy, music theory? If so crack on. If not, please learn those things first!

I think you struggle honestly. I would go and have some lessons yourself and retake grade 8 and see how your teacher teaches you to understand how they do it. My child’s teacher can sight read in seconds and you need to be able to do that for them to pass. That said, I expect teaching children the basics and the first couple of grades might be within reach.

Yes! This! I’m a violin teacher of 30 years experience, lots of qualifications, top up my CPD every year, and my biggest dread is taking on pupils who haven’t been set up well from the start, as, if they want to progress, they then have to unlearn & relearn, and a lot are just not up for that extra work which was only necessary because they weren’t well taught at the start.

All the peri teachers I know have a degree and gone through teacher training. They have all played for years and taken their music career seriously. I wouldn't hire someone without this. My teenage son plays an instrument and gets rusty after he misses a few weeks, imagine what you will be like after years. You need lessons yourself before you even start to think about it

I'm a qualified riding instructor (BHSII), but haven't taught at all in the last ten years or so.

If I was going to start teaching again (and my preference was always for 'coaching' more advanced riders, rather than teaching complete beginners or novices), I would probably spend some time shadowing currently practicing coaches to get back up to speed with techniques and approaches, because these change over time.

Oh, and get my insurance back in place!

Thanks so much everyone, I will do some research into lessons and teaching qualifications I could target. Can anyone recommend any particular courses/teaching methods?

I mentioned two earlier, but also look at these (maybe the CME at your current level) here as well:
https://estaeducation.co.uk/

But also talk to other experienced teachers locally as they will usually know and support each other and recommend enquiries to each other if one doesn’t have vacancies etc

@fieldmouse231 I was you a few years ago, I have kept my playing up to a certain degree, and got a good second-hand piano and brushed up for a few months before advertising as a teacher.

it’s been absolutely fine! I just teach little ones and advertise up to grade 5 practical and theory. I got a few grade one practice pieces and theory books to check nothing much has changed (it hasn’t!). I was classically trained for 12 years so I know all about hand position and posture and technique. I’m sure after a few months brushing up and a couple of read throughs of Thompson’s First Piano course you’ll be absolutely fine too!

PS I tend to charge slightly lower than market rate and explain to parents I’m just getting back into teaching (did it for a couple of years to support myself at university), so they are under no illusion that I’m Daniel Barenboim 😂