Table of Contents
Biography 8
Acknowledgments 9
CHAPTER 1 Why You Need a Waitlist 10
Value of Music Teachers: A Child’s First Mentor 11
Waitlist Vs. Referrals: Weeding Out Indecision 12
CHAPTER2 My Place or Yours? Home Studio Vs Traveling 13
Teaching Location Considerations 14
Studio Location Options 14
CHAPTER 3 Music Teachers are Small Business Owners 18
Top 10 Steps to Become a Small Business Owner 19
CHAPTER 4 How Much Should You Charge 21
Apples to Apples, or Apples to Oranges? 22
Location, Location, Location! 22
Charge What Your Market Will Bear 23
Assess Your Own Quali cations, Specialties, Credentials,
and Cachet 23
Determine Your Rates as a Business Professional 24
Fairness, Equality, and Discounts 24
Sibling Discounts 25
CHAPTER 5 Raise Your Rates Annually 26
Don’t Take it Personally When a Student Quits 28
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) 29
CHAPTER 6 Self-Employment Taxes and Planning
for Retirement 33
Taxes 34
Corporate Vs. Self-Employment 34
Self-Employment Taxes 34
Marriage Penalty 34
6
It’s Never Too Early to Plan for Retirement! 35
Roth and SEP Retirement Accounts 37
CHAPTER 7 Benefi ts: Paid Sick Days and Planned Holidays 38
Pro-Rated Monthly Payments 39
Planning and Scheduling 39
Cancellation Policy 40
Student Illness 41
Teacher Illness 41
Studio Policy 42
CHAPTER 8 Protecting Yourself from Legal Liability 43
Business Licenses for Sole Proprietors 44
Business Liability Insurance 45
CHAPTER 9 Build a Basic Website in Under an Hour 46
CHAPTER 10 Socail Media: How to Reach Today’s Students 51
Communication Strategies for Each Generation 54
Social Media Platforms 55
CHAPTER 11 How to Get Free Marketing Within
Your Community 57
Free Marketing 58
Creating Incentives 58
CHAPTER 12 Sole Proprietorship Can be Lonely, Join a
Music Teacher’s Group 60
Is the Membership Fee Worth the Investment 61
Connect with Music Teachers in Your Organization 61
Do I Need to Activate My Membership? 62
3 Steps to “Activate” Your Membership 63
Which to Join? 63
Local Organizations 63
Mentorship 63
State and National Organizations 64
CHAPTER 13 Volunteering: Time Well Spent 65
7
e Bene ts of Volunteering Your Time for Non-Pro t
Organizations 66
Free Marketing 66
Recognition 66
Leadership 66
CHAPTER 14 The High-Tech Communication Triangle 67
Connecting with parents 68
Parental Involvement for Young Children 68
Video recording 69
Connecting with Students 70
Time is Money 70
Balancing the Triangle: Communication Option 70
CHAPTER 15 How to Add Value to Your Music Studio 72
Specialized Classes 73
Performance Opportunities 73
Competitions, Auditions, and Evaluations 74
CHAPTER 16 Expanding Your Pool of Potential Students 76
Teaching Special Needs Students 77
Group Lessons 79
Checklist for Teaching Group Lessons 79
CHAPTER 17 Teach Very Young Children, Adults,
and Senior Citizens 81
Broaden Your Teaching Schedule 81
Teach Very Young Children 81
Teach Adults and Senior Citizens at All Levels 81
CHAPTER 18 Secrets to Keeping Students for 10 Years
or More! 82
Advanced, Competitive Students 84
Keep Students Engaged 84
CHAPTER 19 Studio Growth and Specialization 88
Make Time for Teaching and Building Your Business 91
