Would you employ me as a musical instrument tutor?

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Hi
I am considering a career change following a long period of illness and change in personal circumstances.
I would love to pursue my lifelong passion for music as a part time career.
I would be really grateful to hear your views on whether you would employ me as a flute, recorder and music theory tutor.
A bit of background....I have been playing instruments since I was 4 and played in various youth orchestras and bands as a child and teen. Almost 40 years later I still play several instruments to a high standard and perform with amateur groups.
My educational background....I have a degree in Medicine, passed with distinction in the top 2% of my year, I have an intercalated BScHons as well, so I am fairly academic. I worked as an NHS medical doctor for 20 years, during which time I specialised and passed membership exams for the Royal College in my specialism.
I haven't worked for the last year due to a number of reasons but have been studying and taking some further exams.
Here are my musical certificates...
DipABRSM diploma in flute teaching 2022
ARSM performance diploma in flute, distinction 2021
Grade 8 distinction Flute
Grade 8 distinction Recorder
Grade 8 merit Piano
Grade 8 merit Clarinet
Grade 8 distinction Music Theory
Grade 5 Cello (a lockdown project just for funsies)
My plan is to start teaching flute, recorder and music theory for beginners to may be around grade 6. Perhaps when I get more experience I would extend to Grade 8 and consider taking the LRSM in teaching.
The ABRSM website says the dipabrsm is suitable to teach up to grade 6 and LRSM up to grade 8.
I do not have a music degree or any formal education qualifications. I already spent 6 years at university so it is not something that I can realistically pursue at my age. I have, however, studied child development and psychology as part of my membership exams in my medical specialty. I also think I have many transferable skills useful for teaching - communication skills, listening skills, being able to explain complex concepts at an appropriate level, empathy, attention to detail, good organisational skills etc etc. I have also received annual child protection training.
My questions is, would YOU consider me as a flute/recorder teacher given my background? I am looking to start out by visiting students in their own homes, both adults and children. I have a full DBS check, public liability and professional indemnity insurance.
Or would you only employ a tutor with a degree (or higher) in music?
This is so helpful to me, so thanks for reading and replying.
Dr M.

Hangonamo haha thanks for that. If I go back to medicine I will add "music teacher" to my list of causes of cardiomegaly!

Hangonamo - and thanks for the advice. I don't think I could do examining as my piano sight reading isn't great and think that'd need to be excellent for the aural tests especially at higher grades? I'm also only looking to take on a smallish number of pupils at the moment due to everything else going on in my life...!

Haha 😄

If you accompany musicians in their exams as a pianist you'd have a couple of sessions with them beforehand to practice, no sight reading required. Also consider accompanying ballet exams which often want a pianist, or school performances.

Chiccroissant thanks so much for the suggestion. I don't feel I'm a good enough pianist for that kind of work - I am self taught and not very confident in my playing. My strengths are in wind and theory/composition, although I do love playing piano for pleasure!

Id employ you in a heartbeat, it’s very hard to find piano teachers where I live.I’d want you to impart a love of music, pleasure in playing and satisfaction in practising something difficult until it is mastered.

Thanks WhatsIn...although I won't be teaching piano, just flute, recorder and theory.

You’d be snapped up as a peripatetic (Peri) music teacher in the private school sector. I think they earn £30 odd pound an hour teaching kids different instruments.
Go for it!

If you're into composition as well as theory then you might also think about tutoring students doing GCSE music

I don't think I could do examining as my piano sight reading isn't great and think that'd need to be excellent for the aural tests especially at higher grades?

Yes this is true - I know a couple of people who are instrumental teachers at conservatoire but have failed the assessment to become examiners because their piano playing wasn't good enough 😱

Yes, every time I do an abrsm exam I think gosh what lovey piano playing when it comes to the aural tests 🤣

I'm surprised as that. I always thought they'd need at least a music degree and possibly pgce?

You are more than qualified to be a peri. Very few have PGCE, only classroom teachers.

Dh used to be a peri. He now teaches at conservatoire level. An ABRSM teaching diploma qualifies you more than a degree really unless your degree is from a top level conservatoire.

You might find it profitable to offer 'intensive' music theory courses in the holidays? Crammer courses for Grade 5 theory are few and far between and generally have a good uptake.

DipABRSM diploma in flute teaching 2022 ... I didn't realise this diploma had a teaching component. I thought it was straight performance with a little viva?

Anyway, yes, I would employ you ... you've plenty of music and life experience to deal with most things in this area. Good luck.

You sound great! FYI you want payment in advance for all lessons - I pay dds teacher in blocks of 10. Do not invoice after the fact…you’ll never get paid!

Yes, I’d employ you. I wouldn’t need to know half of your history.
Main things would be

• time


• price


• location (our house or how far away yours is)


• what we do if either of us cannot make a lesson


• other parent recommendation


• less keen on excess sweet giving (last piano teacher did this)

My kids are the ones who are still on a low book number and don’t practice. I still think they have benefited. I don’t think children all need to be brilliant, you can just dabble!

Yes sounds great and also consider the Peri role. Our music teacher is a violinist but teaches piano recorder guitar ukulele and theory in school ss sidd projects. You know enough to teach primary level.

Yes but more importantly I want someone who is fun. I don't want my DD to necessarily be a concert pianist/musician but I want them to enjoy learning and playing. I don't care about exams, but do want to see progression for my money, so I want someone who can make it fun, capture her interest and provide me with lots of feedback and the plan for her progress.

I am grade 8 on three instruments but specifically outsource her teaching because it needs to be fun (and I all too quickly get 'on her case' and make it a chore)

Yes, I would absolutely let you teach my children. I am saddened to see a fellow medic feeling that she needs a career change but can completely understand why you are doing it. Go for it., best of luck.

Yes definitely. I would look into the peri role too. At dd school there is a waiting list for in school music lessons.

Clearly you're a capable musician and intelligent. Are you confident you can teach and would enjoy it? If so- you should!

The DipABRSM has a Performance, Teaching or Musical Direction option.

Yes. And please consider teaching adults as well !
Passion for the subject, from the teacher, makes learning a lot more fun and easier. Don’t be afraid to say to a parent/student that they may need a different style of teacher - not everyone learns the same way and personalities can clash, also pupils may progress beyond their teachers abilities.
Good luck.

Absolutely. Meaning this in the nicest possible way, but I dont think you needed to justify yourself in such a long and detailed OP. Your music exams alone would tell me you are qualified to teach in those instruments.

I work in HR in independent schools and your qualifications would certainly be a good fit for working as a peri. More important for us would be the way that you interact with pupils, awareness re safeguarding and so on, but I imagine your medical career would give you a strong foundation for those skills. Good luck.