Private music studios have changed over the years that I have been teaching. Here are some things that I feel assure the success of your studio, no matter how many electronic devices or resources you use.
- Business License
- Music Stands (at least 2)
- Music Paper to write out counting examples or exercises to send home
- Pencils – it is inexpensive to have pencils printed with studio name, phone and e-mail; Pencil sharpener
- Tuner – can be an app
- Metronome – can be an app
- Internet access for listening to music, looking up terms, composers or flutists
- Chairs – at least 2, more if parents and siblings are allowed to stay. Make sure they are high enough to work with a music stand and preferably without arms.
- Filing system for music, copies of handouts and studio policy sheets that include original signatures, brochures and student information record.
- Notebooks to handout for students’ lesson assignments and notes.
- Fingering Charts to pass out.
- Business cards – for phone and e-mail information.
- Flute music including solos of all levels, duets, things to sight read, copies of scale sheets, fingering or trill fingering chart handouts, all of which are so valuable to have on hand to grab during a lesson.
- Piano
- Lightening – Have stand lights or additional lighting as needed to see music well.
- Power outlets
You already know about the electronics –
Cell phone
e-mail address
Internet access/Cell service
Tablet for calling up listening examples, free sheet music or fingering charts
Printer – with print capability from studio devices – paper and ink
Be sure to check with parents about the level of internet access available to their student. It is helpful to have access to YouTube for listening, flutist comparison, and flute teaching videos. There are fingering charts and other so many other resources available online. Find out if the student has access a printer and are allowed to use it for flute lessons.
You will certainly know what you need as you go along, it is just good to prepare and anticipate some of the costs.
Flute Studio Space –
Remember that the studio space itself is an expense, and the insurance that goes along with it. You will need to insure any items you leave there and have insurance for injury to students and parents if they trip and fall.
Here are some questions to ask when looking for a studio space other than your home:
Ask to see the space –
- How big is it?
- Does it have windows for natural light or is it in a basement?
- Does it have heat and air conditioning?
- Will other people be using the same room?
- Can you store a file cabinet, music and instruments there?
- Does the building have internet access?
- What is the rent for the space and do you pay extra for internet?
- Who does the cleaning and building maintenance?
- Is there a restroom close?
- Is there a space for parents to wait?
- Is there a parking lot or do you have to park on the street?
- What days and hours of the day is the space available?
- How secure is the space?
- It the space located in a part of town accessible to your students?
- Is it possible for some students to walk from school?
- Is there a place for students to warm-up, practice or do homework?
- Is street access for drop-off and pick-up easy?
- Does the door to the room lock?
A misstep on any of these items can cause you to have to relocate. Not to mention the expense of reprinting business cards and brochures with a new address.
Where should I teach?
Home, music store, a public or private school room or a church are some of the venues in which I have taught. Any of them work.
A music store will usually charge a fee.
Public and private schools really only want their students to have access to the building so it is free but might have limited availability and no piano.
In your home, there will always be distractions.
I would say that I have had students come to all these types of locations for lessons. I have taught as a private entity, as part of a music store and as part of a local music school, which is the one I like the best.