Music Lesson Studio Series – Part 6 

Setting Goals and Expectations for Music Lessons

Now that you’ve figured out where you’re going to teach your private music lessons, your methods on how you’re going to teach your private lessons, how much time you’re going to teach each week, how much you’re going to charge, and how you’ve promoted your music studio, I’m going to share what kinds of goals and expectations a music teachers can set for students and also share what goals and expectations students are might be expecting in their music lessons.

As a private music teacher, it’s important that you set clear goals and expectations because you want to maintain strong connections with your students, achieve music goals and having successful music lesson and in turn having students achieve their music goals and dreams.

Setting Your Goals and Expectations as a Music Teacher:

• Define clear expectations in your music lessons, keep it fairly simple.
• Create a contract of your goals and expectations in your studio, have it in writing.
• Create a studio policy with fees, cancellations, have it in writing.
• Stay consistent with your expectations and overall goals with your students.
• Create individualized goals and assessments with each student.
• Maintain a record of student’s information, musical skills, basic background information and their goals list.
• Be adaptable in your students learning journey in their lessons!

Expectations as a teacher that should share to your students might look something like this:

• Understand that learning new music takes time, some music may be easier than others, some may be harder. Be patient with yourself in your learning process.
• It’s important that you practice your music and exercises daily, at least 4 days a week for 20-30 minutes.
• Stay in a daily routine and be consistent with daily practicing.
• Most importantly, have fun when you’re singing or playing your instrument!

Here are some additional resources on how to set up your music studio as a private instructor.

Student Goals and Expectations

• How do I to improve my singing range?
• How do I create good breath support as a musician?
• I want a voice teacher who knows about contemporary music, e.g. pop or musical theatre.
• How can I improve my rhytym?
• Have a better understanding of music theory.
• How do I become a better sight reader?

These are just some examples of what students want in their music lessons. It’s important to have communication, consistency and growth in your students’ learning of music. Each student’s journey is unique and everyone may have different learning styles and learning goals. This is important because you want to build trust and understanding and have a strong relationship with every student that you teach.

As a teacher, having patience, empathy and support for every student is vital to your student and their goals in music. Even if the student doesn’t pursue music as a career, the lessons are still meaningful to them and they will be great music advocates in the community!

I hope you found this blog helpful and insightful. Do you have any questions or feedback on goals and expectations with teachers and students? Let me know in the comments below! Thank you for reading my blogs and stay tuned for more tips on building up your own private music studio!

Photo by Isaac Ibbott on Unsplash