The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachers

Growing is as much a part of business as breathing is a part of life. It could be the smaller (but VERY important) types of expansion such as growing as a teacher and musician, finding a supportive teacher community to join, or recruiting new students.

It could also be the more major types of growth like: Going to work for someone else – an institution or music school Becoming your own boss, transitioning to or adding online teaching Adding additional teachers to your studio Starting a music school Starting a YouTube channel Or maybe even initiating that side hustle that’s been lingering in your imagination for years.

Whatever the scope of your expansion, I guarantee you ARE growing. So, let’s take a bit of a deeper look at how to do so in a way that brings you more confidence and happiness!

Find our new show by searching for "Teaching Studio Stories"!

If we want the music teaching industry to move forward, we need to be part of the change. 

We can only have so much impact through our own teaching. Mentorship is one way to reach beyond the walls of our own studio.

A few years ago I made a decision. I put an ad out online with an offer to mentor a new teacher in my studio. 

I didn’t know how this project would go or if I’d even get any responses. I just decided to put it out into the universe and see where it took me.

I got some great applicants, took on a couple of teachers and the process has evolved from there. I now have a full course on how to set up a similar program in your studio if this sounds like the right route for you.

So let’s talk about what that route entails.

When you think about hiring your first teacher, how do you feel? 🤔 Clueless? Scared? Definitely-not-for-me? Perhaps you’re excited and ready to start ASAP.

We all know hiring a great teacher is important, but hiring the right-fit teacher is vital to you and your business’ wellbeing.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting that first, right-fit teacher onboarded.

Find out more about membership at vibrantmusicteaching.com.

Business expansion is not for every teacher. If you’re thinking about growing your music teaching business, read this article first.

My job in this post is to persuade you NOT to expand your music teaching business.

Why am I doing that?

I’m taking on this project because everyone else seems to be taking the opposite one. Everywhere you look you might be hearing about entrepreneurialism (what a word, hey?), profitability and impact.

But, maybe, you can have a bigger impact by staying small. 

Consider these 7 factors carefully. Then, if you still want to expand your music teaching business know that I am 100% behind you. But if you want to stay small and mighty, I support that too. 💛 💙 💚

Welcome to The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast! This is the show for you if you’re an instrumental or vocal music teacher that wants friendly, creative and accessible advice. 

I’m your host Nicola Cantan. My membership site, Vibrant Music Teaching, helps teachers all over the world to include more games and creativity in their lessons, so that their students giggle their way through music theory and make faster progress. I also run a popular blog, Colourful Keys, where we write about creative ideas and teaching strategies and an interview show called Teaching Studio Stories. 

Every Monday I provide bite-sized bursts of inspiration and ideas for instrumental and vocal music teachers. The episodes are usually between 10 and 20 minutes – the perfect length of time to put away some of the music books scattered all over your studio and hide the rest of them in the piano bench.

Listen to a few episodes and hit the subscribe button. When you come across an episode you love, make sure to tell your teacher-friends they can get it for free in any audio app that supports podcasts.

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