Any piano teachers out there? Can I ask for advice please?

[absolutelynotfabulous]

Hi. Background: I've been doing piano as a hobby for a while and sort of fell into teaching friends on a very casual basis a few years ago. I've always wanted to teach piano as a bit of a pipedream. I've got a couple of Grade 8s now in theory and practical (I know this is not particularly fantastic) and I'd now like to take tentative steps towards making a career out of it.

I have a few steady pupils now - mixed age beginners and all is going well.

I'd like to advertise myself but I'm not sure what to say! I don't want to seem arrogant, but I don't want to undersell myself either.

Also, I see others advertising themselves as "qualified" piano teachers and I'm not sure I know what is meant by this. Most of my piano teacher friends started out either with Degrees in music or a couple of grade 8, and have taken diplomas in teaching later on. I know the notion of a "qualified" private music teacher is something of a grey area....

I'm working towards two Diplomas: one teaching; one theoretical. I also have a PGCE with substantial experience of teaching (mainly adults) but not, of course, music.

Any advice?

[absolutelynotfabulous]

Gosh, thanks! I didn't realise I had any replies.

icky I have 2 G8s, I'm halfway through a teaching diploma (done the work, now need to upload it all) and just about to start a theory diploma to start filling up some gaps in my knowledge. My G8 is in Jazz, by the way.

I'm not particularly interested in performance, so not likely to ever undertake a performance diploma but I'd be happy to collect another couple of G8s (perhaps a classical one and a Pop one).

My PGCE covers me pedagocically (if that's a word) I think, and I'm a member of EPTA.

A Degree in music is, alas, out of the question (I'm of rather advanced vintage).

[balletgirlmum]

I would class a qualified teacher as one with a teaching diploma or a conservatoire degree.

[Ickythumpsmum]

Hi, I am qualified and have a music degree and a music education degree. Sometimes people count the diplomas from ABRSM too. Do you have grade 8 or another musical qualification?