Beginning clarinet teacher

Question

i have played the clarinet since i have been in the forth grade. i have been first chair the whole time. i am now in 11th grade and i teach 2 of my friends beginning clarinet. they have recently told my that they know some people who want to learn the clarinet and that i should teach them to. my friends pay about 7 bucks for a half an hour lesson. i need to know if it would be a good idea to start teaching other people and i need some tips on how to do that. i've had my friends get theory books and books that we work out of.

Answer 1

Haha... extra cash is always a good thing- you'll appreciate it even more when you go to college!

I would say that teaching your friends (and friends of friends) is fine, so long as 1)you are not spreading yourself too thin in other aspects of your life to do it, 2)you have a private teacher yourself, and 3)you have the patience and the passion for it.

Even though you have been 1st chair every year for 7 years, it does not mean that you are actually doing everything right... even the basics.  I have known TONS of people that were 1st chair all through high school... then, they get to college and have to start ALL OVER with technique, embouchure, tone, etc... because they had been doing it wrong all these years.  A private instructor will keep you from developing these bad habits and keep you honest... you don't want to be teaching others if you teach them your bad habits too! :)

Also, I have taught my fair share of students... the more you have, the more your patience will be tested!  It does come naturally to some, and if you love it, by all means, keep doing it.  However- you know of teachers that ARE NOT good teachers because they don't enjoy it (whether it's math, music, science, p.e., etc).  When you stop loving it, please stop doing it.  It will make you miserable and it will hinder the development of the students- it could even hijack their future passion!  As long as you're smiling, keep doing it.

Aside from that, there's not much I can say!  It sounds like you have a good grasp on content of lessons (theory is always a plus to throw in... get inventive with application!), and a good pay-rate worked out.  The only other thing I could recommend is that you keep an open mind about it all... if you have a specific reed and mouthpiece combo you like to use, think about if that will be something you require of your students... maybe some other set up would work better for them.  Don't try to mold them into your clones... you want them to be successful at music- not successful at imitating you.

And as they get better and better, remember the rule of teaching... "To be a good teacher, you only need to have mastered one more lesson than the student!" (Something we used to say in college)

Good luck, and keep having fun! :)

Answer 2

Yes, it's a great way to make a little extra money.  Start them out the way you started, or use a good method book such as "Essential Elements."  These introduce new concepts slowly.  Good luck.

Answer 3

i've seen this work...good way to make some extra cash.  you'll be fine at teaching them just be very detailed when you explain things so you won't have to do it twice