How do I go about getting students for my studio? After trying some of these you will know what works in your community. To start, decide where you will teach, how long the lessons will be, how much you will charge, whether the fee includes music or whether students need to buy their own music, so that you have all that information at your fingertips when talking to prospective students and their parents.
Schools
I would start by talking to public and private schools. If they have a music program you can offer to come in and help with coaching flute students at the beginning of the year. In this way the students get familiar with you and your teaching style. Private schools without a music program may offer an opportunity of a different sort like being able to start a class on how to read music or play the recorder. Be creative and remember that you can teach music, not just how to play the flute. Check in with your local community college and see if there is a niche you could fill in music. Like classes on how to read music , the instruments of the orchestra or an introduction to music history might be possibilities. The band and orchestra directors in public schools, as you probably know, need private instructor information especially when it comes to contest times.
Advertising
A newspaper ad is going to cost some money. It is a write off at tax time, so it may be worth it. Try it and see what kind of response you get. Also look into any local publications that have listings for services.
For electronic advertising, your particular choice of social media may, through reaching people you know, circulate to a larger community circle. Community event websites or arts bulletin boards may let you post information about studio openings. Also it might not hurt to put studio information up on the websites of local performing groups. The women’s choir may include people that want lessons for themselves or information for their grandchildren.
With and ad in a music concert program, your money will support local music groups and reach those who have an interest in music. Certainly your local community orchestra will welcome your advertising dollars.
Your own participation in community music events will let people hear you performing and allow them to come up and meet you in person if they have an interest in flute lessons. Keep business cards with you at all times.
Business Cards
Business cards and brochures can be left around town especially in music stores so that parents coming in to rent instruments will be able to pick up your contact information.
Business cards are the most convenient way to pass on your name, your phone number and your e-mail address. Carry with you all the time.
Group Lessons
Here is an idea, offer an after school flute class at a school. With a group you could charge a lower per student lesson price. In this case students may be in different grades and may have different abilities. You can make it work, and private students may evolve from it. You can even include this group lesson option in your private studio, although friends almost always have differing abilities and the less capable one ends up feeling badly about their playing.
Performances
Performing locally for churches or community musicals etc., will get your name around and let people hear how you play. More than once a parent has looked over a pit wall and asked if I taught lessons.