Preparing to Teach - instrumental or singing
The advice and information on this page is the result of a professional development workshop run by the RNIB Music Advisory Service in February 2012 for blind and partially sighted teachers in partnership with the Wigmore hall. Our sincere thanks to the Wigmore hall and all the speakers who contributed to such an interesting and thought-provoking day, including Professor of harpsichord at Trinity Laban, John Henry and flute teacher and events coordinator Liz Hargest.
Introduction
This page gives information and advice for blind and partially sighted musicians on becoming a vocal/instrumental teacher. It does not cover working as a classroom music teacher.
There are many successful blind and partially sighted music teachers and with some careful thought and preparation, having sight difficulties need not be any barrier to running your own successful teaching practice.
I've never thought of teaching, is it for me
Teaching music can be very rewarding. If you can help someone to develop a love of music and the ability to play or sing, you will have given them a skill they can enjoy for ever. However, not everyone is suited to teaching, so consider first whether you have what it takes.
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Are you passionate about passing on your skills?
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Are you good at communicating what you do and explaining how you do it?
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Have you got plenty of patience and the skill and flexibility to engage students of different ages and backgrounds?
If you're only thinking of teaching because your career as a performer never quite took off and you think it might be easy money, you may need to question whether your heart is in it.
What are the options?
As a private music teacher, you could be working from home or working in schools. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. If you teach privately, you will be self-employed, so consider whether the accounts, tax returns, insurance, private pension schemes and no holiday pay is for you.
This is offset by the flexibility over your working hours, for instance working more evenings and weekends to fit in with your pupils. You can also decide who you teach, young children, adults, beginners to highly experienced levels.
If you work in a school, you will usually be employed by your local music hub lead organisation. This will typically mean your hours will be fixed not flexible, your overheads will be fewer and, depending on your contractual arrangements, you may receive sickness and holiday pay. However, you may be expected to teach a whole family of instruments (flute, oboe, clarinet and saxophone) and to teach in several schools across a larger geographical area. Perhaps most challenging of all if you are blind or partially sighted, you will possibly be expected to teach in groups rather than one to one.
What qualifications do I need to get started?
Anyone can set up as a private music teacher, but without a qualification or demonstrable skills and experience, you may find it difficult to attract any pupils.
If this is you, why not run some free music-making workshops in your local community centre, or offer your services as a volunteer in your local school to see if teaching is for you?
If you wish to work in a state school, you will usually be employed by your local music hub lead organisation who will expect you to have a recognised music teaching qualification and have a current enhanced CRB check. You may be expected to teach two or more instruments as well as group lessons. Private schools will set their own criteria and conditions but there may be more flexibility, especially if there is a strong musical culture at the school.
Where to advertise your services
For teaching privately:
Most people looking for a teacher will ask for recommendations, so your reputation is worth a thousand small ads, so consider placing a few parental and pupil sound bites and testimonials on your website.
For teaching in schools:
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contact your local school music department to enquire about opportunities.
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Register with your local music hub lead organisation and ask what their procedures are for recruiting teachers.
Professional development
The RNIB Music Advisory Service runs professional development events and can offer advice and support to blind and partially sighted teachers.
The ABRSM run a comprehensive programme of training and development for teachers, from one-day introrductory events to one-year certificate of teaching courses.
Reading University offer a Master's degree in instrumental teaching.
Marketing
First of all, establish whether there is a market and if there are gaps to be filled. If you already know four piano teachers in your area , what can you offer that is different?
The following are all worth considering:
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Develop your own website where prospective pupils or their parents can find you;
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Have some attractive A5 fliers to leave in public places;
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Make contact with your local music shop who may receive enquiries.
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What is your unique selling point (USP)? Do you specialise in inspiring with beginner adults, or working with young children? Can you offer music theory or improvisation skills? Perhaps you can make a point of developing skills of playing by ear or from memory.
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Joining the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM), Musicians' Union (MU), or the professional association or society for your particular instrument, which keeps you in touch with other professionals, along with relevant developments in teaching, conferences and workshops shows you take your work seriously and are professional.
Support for blind and partially sighted teachers
The Access to Work (ATW) scheme can help self-employed people with additional costs related to your disability. For blind and partially sighted music teachers, this could include
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having a reader to help select teaching materials or transcribe music into modified stave notation or Braille music;
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Support with the cost of transcribing teaching materials and music;
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having a support worker to help prepare invoices or access paperwork, and attend conferences and pupil competitions;
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financial support for taxis or a driver to travel between schools and pupils.
ATW will require you to set out your business plan and to quantify the support you are seeking.
The Elizabeth Eagle-Bott Memorial Fund, administered by RNIB, provides financial support of up to £10,000 for blind and partially sighted musicians wishing to pursue a career in the music business. This could include:
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undertaking professional development;
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attending courses;
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support with accessing materials.
The Phoenix Awards, administered by the Musicians Benevolent Fund, offer financial assistance to help with the additional costs directly related to a disability.
The RNIB Music Advisory Service can offer advice and support specific to your sight problems, for example:
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how to tell prospective parents or pupils about your visual impairment;
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how to ensure your body language is consistent with your teaching methods;
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how to best access teaching materials in your preferred formats.
Resources
The ABRSM teachers section contains a wealth of information about professional development, new tools and publications and a comprehensive page of useful links.
...and finally
If you would like to discuss any of the suggestions above, or have advice of your own, why not email mas@rnib.org.uk. We would love to hear about your experiences of teaching to share with others.