Bartering is a common and accepted way for you to receive compensation for teaching lessons. It’s so mainstream that even the IRS provides a space for you to report bartering transactions on your taxes. So how do you know if a bartering arrangement is right for you? Figure out what your needs really are Don’t […]
Continue readingMore TagCategory: Teaching Ideas
College Auditions
From Barrick Stees (Cleveland Orchestra and Cleveland Institute of Music): Read the rest of this article at steesbassoon.com. Don’t miss the sections for bassoon teachers and parents at the end.
Continue readingMore TagTeaching Bassoon Embouchure
A correct bassoon embouchure is not something that students figure out on their own. While there are multiple acceptable embouchures (dependent upon teacher, country, reed style, bassoon setup, etc.), the embouchure most beginning bassoonists default to is incorrect. A thin, wide, lips around teeth, biting embouchure is never appropriate. I guarantee that you will have […]
Continue readingMore TagRejection: Summer Festivals
From Rob Knopper, percussionist with the Met Orchestra. Link to the rest at robknopper.com. Also check out his FREE audition cheat sheet.
Continue readingMore TagManaging a Music Lending Library
There is a way to loan music to students without saying goodbye to it forever. I use a combination of a personalized stamp, personalized stickers, and a very handy app (Who Has What 2) to keep track of my stuff. I also have a built-in reimbursement program should my items never return. More about that […]
Continue readingMore TagHow to Plan a Recital
Recitals are a lot of work, I admit. But they are necessary if we hope to train future performers. A violinist friend of mine has written a very helpful post about planning a recital. Check out her website for the full rundown and even a free downloadable recital planning checklist. Her post covers finding a venue, hiring […]
Continue readingMore TagSimplify Your Studio – Charge a Materials Fee
Do your students buy their own music? Do you wait weeks for them to actually order it? Do you buy it for them? Do you wait weeks for them to pay you back? Are you frustrated with the time and energy this takes from you? The two best policy changes I ever made were moving […]
Continue readingMore TagTeaching Theory to Your Bassoon Students
We can’t leave it up to the piano teachers and public school teachers anymore. We need to be teaching theory to our bassoon students. When students understand the structure and elements of what they are practicing, their practice becomes much more effective. When they can look at a scale and say “Oh, that’s just a […]
Continue readingMore TagYoung Bassoon Students Need Recitals
My studio sponsors four student recitals per year. I think that teaching students to perform is just as important as teaching them to play the bassoon. I remember being surprised when many of my music school friends would say, “Oh, I love to play my instrument, but I don’t like to perform.” I didn’t get […]
Continue readingMore TagInnovative Weekly Group Bassoon Lessons – Part 2
In part 1 of this post, I told you about my innovative way to teach more students in a shorter amount of time. Now let me tell you how it went down. Of the four students originally scheduled for the group class, one never showed up and another dropped out after two months. I had to […]
Continue readingMore Tag