Unless you are on a tour from January 1 to December 31,
and are doing back-to-back television, radio and print
interviews to support your new release, you probably
have, at least, a couple of hours to 'kill', so to speak,
each week.

In fact, it is likely that you have more than a couple of
hours to kill that you would like to put to good use. As
such, have you ever thought of using that time to help
other 'everyday' citizens who may also have an interest
in learning some aspect of music?

Such a venture would go especially well for those few
of you who are *not* on a continuous tour from
January 1 to December 31, and are *not* doing
back-to-back television, radio and print interviews to
support your new release. :-)

You may not realize it, but it is a fact that most people
like some form of music, regardless of what they do in
life, in terms of their vocation, their financial status, etc.
And, more than a few of these people would like to
learn how to sing or play an instrument.

And, whether you are based in New York City, or
Beria, Texas <=(so small, the cows go to the city to
party), there is no shortage of prospective clients for
you. In short, many such people are likely looking
for you and your teaching skills right now.

And, there is no need to be bashful about teaching
or feel that you are unqualified to teach because,
remember, these are people who, for the most part,
are completely unfamiliar with music, as for learning
its musical and technical skills.

Regardless of your skill level, you assuredly know
more than they, of which they can learn. In fact, you
may just become their hero.

They are also going to be students who are eager
to learn, and could just be the sparks to re-ignite
your own energy level in regard to music.

* What aspect of music would you teach?

Well, that is entirely up to you, but if you are a singer,
you could give other people private lessons on voice.
If you are an instrumentalist, you could show people
how to begin playing the instrument that you do.

The important thing to understand is that you already
have a marketable skill that you can utilize, and which
will serve the two-fold purpose of helping others learn
a desired skill and feel better about themselves while
also increasing your income level even further.

And, your clients can range from children to adults. In
fact, proof of this point is to simply start playing your
instrument around kids to see how, regardless of what
they are doing at the time, they instantly stop to look
and listen to you.

"So, Kenny, how do I get started? How do I get clients?"

Well, I'm glad you asked those questions, because they
were going to be my next points.

After deciding what area(s) you want to teach (voice,
instrument, music theory, songwriting, music or lyrical
composition, etc.), then determining what your rates
will be, you will need to notify the public in order to
obtain clients.

Side Note: Class durations are, generally, half-hour
and one hour, with minimum rates of $10/half-hour.
You should also create a progressive lesson plan or
outline.

Also, as I briefly covered in a previous issue, you can
also consider contacting area community colleges
that will likely be receptive to your classes within their
"Continuing Education" program. And, if time allows,
consider teaching at both the community college level,
as well as independently.

Back to Main Topic:

In order to notify the public of your teaching services,
the following list will do well in accomplishing this:

* Low-cost ads in area weekly newspapers
* High schools to post notices/fliers
* Colleges to post notices/fliers
* Low-cost college newspaper ads
* Low-cost college radio ads
* Your website with your class notices
* Low-cost cable television advertising

An even greater way to increase your teaching income
is to consider holding weekend seminars, which would
allow you to schedule a larger number of students per
class session. If you have enough room in your home
to conduct this size of a group, this will be great and
eliminate your need to rent commercial space.

Also, the more areas that you can teach, again, such
as; voice, instrument, theory, songwriting, music or
lyrical composition, the greater you can increase your
income.

Additionally, if you are skilled in multiple areas, and
you have students who desire to learn more than one
skill simultaneously, such as; voice/instrument,
music/lyric composition, voice/theory, you could
increase your rates accordingly as well.

Lastly, you could further increase your income by
teaching certain music aspects, such as theory,
songwriting, composition, etc.

Note: Provide your credentials to student prospects in
the forms of a resume and/or portfolio in the interest of
their consideration of becoming students.

* Special Note *: This article was inspired by and
is dedicated to my first private teacher (Dr. Max Morley),
whom I salute, and who was, pardon the pun,
"instrumental" in music as my career choice.

At Stephen F. Austin State University, in 1975, and
during my junior year in high school, Dr. Morley also
taught me how to safely "double tongue" and "triple
tongue" on my Getzen trumpet without ending up in
the emergency room. Accomplishing that feat alone
is worth its weight in insurance premiums.

Kenny Love is president of MuBiz.com, a multi-service music firm providing radio promotion, media publicity, gig publicity and business services for musicians. Get complete details at MySpace.com.