Teaching Meets Talent: Monetize Your Musical Expertise on TikTok and Social Media

In today's digital age, social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have transformed the way creators share their talents and connect with audiences. As a musician and teacher, you have the unique opportunity to showcase your expertise, inspire others, and even turn your skills into a source of income. Here’s why leveraging social media is worth it and how to get started.

Why Showcase Your Expertise on Social Media?

1. Reach a Global Audience Social media platforms break down geographical barriers, allowing you to connect with aspiring musicians and enthusiasts from around the world. Your expertise can inspire and educate countless individuals who might otherwise never have access to your teaching.

2. Build Your Personal Brand By consistently sharing high-quality content, you establish yourself as an authority in your field. A strong personal brand builds trust, attracts followers, and opens doors to opportunities such as collaborations, sponsorships, and paid gigs.

3. Monetize Your Passion Platforms like TikTok and Instagram offer multiple ways to generate income:

   • Attract new students for private lessons or courses.

   • Partner with brands for sponsorships and promotions.

   • Earn through platform monetization programs like TikTok’s Creator Fund or YouTube’s ad revenue system.

   • Sell your own products, such as sheet music, lesson plans, or merchandise.

How to Get Started

1. Define Your Niche Think about what sets you apart as a musician and teacher. Do you specialize in a specific genre, instrument, or teaching style? Focusing on a niche allows you to connect with a targeted audience and makes your content more impactful.

2. Plan Your Content Your content should balance education, entertainment, and engagement. Here are some ideas:

   • Share quick tips or tutorials for beginners and advanced students alike.

   • Post performances or covers of popular songs to showcase your talent.

   • Create behind-the-scenes content of your teaching process or practice sessions.

   • Answer frequently asked questions to provide value to your audience.

   • Use trending challenges or sounds to reach a wider audience on platforms like TikTok.

3. Be Consistent Post regularly to keep your audience engaged. Create a content schedule that works for you, whether it’s weekly tutorials or daily tips. Consistency helps grow your following and keeps you top of mind.

4. Engage with Your Audience Social media isn’t just about broadcasting; it’s about building a community. Respond to comments, answer questions, and collaborate with other creators. The more interactive you are, the stronger your connection with your audience will be.

5. Use the Right Tools

   • Video Editing Software: Apps like CapCut, InShot, or Canva can help you create polished content.

   • High-Quality Audio: Invest in a good microphone to ensure your music and teaching sound professional.

   • Analytics: Use platform insights to understand what content resonates with your audience and adjust your strategy accordingly.

6. Monetize Strategically Once you’ve built a following, explore monetization options:

   • Offer online lessons or courses tailored to your audience.

   • Partner with brands for paid promotions that align with your values.

   • Create exclusive content on platforms like Patreon for loyal supporters.

   • Sell downloadable materials, such as practice guides or sheet music.

Final Thoughts

Sharing your teaching and musical expertise on social media isn’t just about building an audience; it’s about building connections, sharing your passion, and inspiring others to pursue their own musical dreams. By leveraging the power of platforms like TikTok, you can turn your talent into a sustainable and fulfilling career.

Remember, the key is to stay authentic. Your unique voice and approach are what will set you apart in a crowded digital space. So grab your instrument, hit record, and start turning your musical expertise into a thriving online presence. The world is waiting for your talent! 🎶✨

Happy Teaching, and Performing!

From Stage to Spotlight: Encouraging Student Participation in Local Festivals and Competitions

As music educators, we know that learning extends far beyond the studio. While lessons and practice are crucial, there’s something magical about students stepping outside their comfort zones and sharing their talents with a larger audience. Encouraging student participation in local festivals and competitions is a fantastic way to inspire growth, boost confidence, and create memorable experiences. Here’s why—and how—you can help your students shine on the stage and auditions.

Why Festivals and Competitions Matter

1. Building Confidence and Stage Presence Performing in front of an audience helps students overcome stage fright, develop poise, and build a sense of self-assurance. These experiences translate into valuable life skills that extend far beyond music.

2. Setting Goals and Measuring Progress Preparing for an event gives students a clear goal to work toward. Competitions and festivals provide benchmarks to celebrate their progress and set new aspirations for the future.

3. Encouraging Community Engagement Local events connect students with peers, mentors, and music enthusiasts in their community. They’ll forge friendships, exchange ideas, and see themselves as part of a larger musical tapestry.

4. Learning Resilience Competitions, in particular, teach students how to handle both praise and constructive feedback with grace. These lessons foster resilience and prepare them for real-world challenges.

How to Support Your Students

1. Help Select the Right Event Research local opportunities and suggest events that suit your students’ levels, styles, and aspirations. Whether it’s a laid-back festival or a competitive showcase, pick events that encourage growth without overwhelming them.

2. Guide Their Preparation Work with your students to select repertoire that highlights their strengths while challenging them to learn and improve. Help them create a practice schedule and break down their preparation into manageable steps.

3. Offer Mentorship Beyond Music Share tips on performance etiquette, attire, and stage presence. A well-rounded approach ensures students feel confident not just in their playing but also in how they present themselves.

4. Celebrate Every Effort Win or lose, participation is a victory. Celebrate your students’ hard work and courage, and emphasize that the journey matters just as much as the result.

Ideas for Local Opportunities

• Recitals: Great for beginners to gain experience in a supportive setting.

• Music Festivals: Non-competitive events where students can perform and receive feedback from professional adjudicators. Check with your local Music Teacher’s National Association. They often will hold yearly Festivals. Or Local music clubs. They will often have recitals, and even Concerto Competitions.

• Competitions: Perfect for more advanced students looking for a challenge and an opportunity to earn recognition. Check with local youth symphonies, and even professional and community ensembles, as they also could have Concerto Competitions and even offer a prize for winning.

• Community Events: Performances at schools, libraries, or fundraisers foster a sense of giving back and connection.

Final Note

Participation in local festivals and competitions is about much more than trophies or applause—it’s about growth, connection, and discovery. By encouraging your students to take these opportunities, you’re helping them not only find their voice but also make an impact on the world around them. From the studio to the stage, every step is a victory worth celebrating.

So, what’s the next spotlight for your students? Let’s turn their dreams into music. 🎶

Happy Teaching!

Pre-Made Holiday Themed Canva Recital Program Templates

Need help with a quick and easy recital program? I made 6 different Holiday Themed Recital Program Templates this year you can use using Canva.com

You can access them here using this LINK. You must create an account to access, and be sure to save the templates to your account before you make changes so everyone can access them as they are now.

Happy Teaching!

Becky

Unleash Your Income Potential: Discover New Ways to Increase Your Revenue Streams

Ever find yourself doing the same thing over and over again in your music studio and wonder, what if I just made something so I don’t have to keep writing this same thing out all the time?

That was me. Always write out the fingering chart for scales, week after week and student after student. I have a general rule, if I’m consistently doing the same thing, find a way to automate it. So I took my own advice and created a scale book for double horn.

But wait, there’s more. There’s nothing like this already out there…so what if I were to sell it, and increase my studio earnings through the book sales, but wait…what if I self-publish it on Amazon and have the potential to reach a greater audience?

In my area, I’m limited by how many students I can have in my studio by my county. So I have been thinking outside the box on how I can help more people on a broader scale and ultimtetly increase my revenue streams.

• Online sales of products like ebooks

• Offering Online Lessons, or premade lessons someone can purchase as needed

• Create a Presence on social media (playing famous solos, or your students playing, or ways that you teach have a creative spin to it. But something duplicatable that you can recreate over and over in a slightly different way.)

These are some ideas on how to make your studio successful outside your teaching space. The world is a big place and there is so much growth potential ready for you and your ideas and knowledge to share!

What are other ways to help make your studio successful outside of your teaching space? Comment below!

Happy Teaching!

Becky

Master Your Recital Performance with These Pre-Recital Practice Tips

Spring is HUGE for spring recitals! I personally spend at least 2 weeks working on recital prep with my students. We act out how they will get onto the “stage”, bowing, performing (including releasing the final note and what to do with their hands or instrument) final bow, and then returning back to their seats. We do this over and over each week to just make it super easy for even the youngest student to remember come recital time when nerves are high.

Recital prep starts 3 weeks before the recital date. I’ll explain why below. But first…

🎶 Secrets to Success: How we do recital prep in my studio

1) Pick a place near your piano to have the student sit in while they wait “their turn” to come on stage.

2) Introduce them as you will in the recital, with their name and the title of their piece. After their name is called they will then come on stage, place their music on their stand or bench of the piano and turn to the audience to bow, then they will sit and prep to play.

3) I always instruct my students to take a deep inhale before they begin playing, again as a way to help reduce the nerves.

4) Once they are done playing, hands gently in their lap then stand and SMILE (at their mom) and take their bow. They then depart the stage back to their seat. I keep the music and will hand that back to them at the end —one less music rustling around while other kids are playing. You could collect their music beforehand as well, but I found most kids like having something to hold on to help them not fidget so much.

ALWAYS, whenever someone is bowing, each student should clap just like they want to be clapped at when they perform. We even practice clapping in lessons.

3 weeks before the recital we practice this process at least 3 times before we move on to other music if there is time. Lots of talking and explaining each step, and how to bow (hands at their side not in front and back)

2 weeks before the recital we have “Distraction Week”. This is where I enlist my children to pretend to be the most noisy audience ever. My kids will literally try to distract my student while they are playing. The goal, the student can ignore all distractions. But I still call them up and have them bow and follow the same step-by-step process.

The week of the recital is recital prep week. Shortened practices because the point is to run through their recital piece 3 times following the steps of sitting in their seat, being called up, bowing, playing, bowing, and returning to their seats. By this point, they have got it down. So the lesson will be super short anyways and you don’t want your students playing their sone more than 3 times anyways.

Happy Teaching!

Pre-made Recital Program Canva Templates

Need help with a quick and easy recital program? I made 4 different Holiday Themed Recital Program Templates you can use using Canva.com

You can access them here using this LINK. You must create an account to access, and be sure to save the templates to your account before you make changes so everyone can access them as they are now.

Happy Teaching!

Halloween Week Lesson Plan

October is one of our fun months in the studio where the room decor changes/add in Halloween decorations and the magical candy bowl appears, (you can read about that here). The beginning of the month each student starts to learn a Halloween specific song that we work through over the 4 weeks, I have a collection of Halloween books and various levels of sheet music that I call “community music” where the student will borrow it and bring it back at the end of the month. I use the Inventory Acquisition, sales and loan log to keep track of who has what music.

Each year in my studio, we have what we call HALLOWEEN WEEK! Halloween week is a special week where the students are encouraged to dress up in their Halloween Costume, I wear mine as well, but we focus the lesson completely what truly makes Halloween, Halloween…THE MUSIC!

I consider it a throw away lesson where we don’t go over anything new in their lesson books but focus solely on musical examples, playing different songs either over Youtube (youtube kids has great little kid appropriate songs that are fun to listen to that aren’t scary) , the origin of Halloween music, sounds, chords, and so forth. This works great and fills in easily for my 30 minute lessons.

Students that have longer lessons we also sightread and start working through 1-2 Intermediate Halloween pieces.

For my advance 60-90 minute lessons students read through Saint-Saëns - Danse Macabre or Macdowell Witches Dance.

Each student also gets a treat to take home. This year, I’m making these Monster Rice Crispy Treats.

SECRET: Discuss with each parent ahead of October to see if they are okay with their child learning Halloween songs. Have a book with Thanksgiving themed songs just in case.

Use this template to make a flyer / poster to hand out or send your student family to remind them about Halloween Week!

Make Holidays Count In Your Studio!

Never underestimate the power of incentivizing! Mid September I had one student asking when I will start putting the Halloween candy bowl out? It’s funny, because kids remember the smallest details. And while it’s just something super small and just for a month (also December with various candy cane flavors) the students ALL LOOK FORWARD to earning that piece of candy after their lesson.

So, use the holidays to help drive incentives when you can. Make is special for the kids and they will come back each and every week excited, or have something to look forward to each and every holiday.

Don’t break the bank, just keep it super simple, but PLAN AHEAD. (It’s near October and I’m already thinking about a little something for the students for Christmas.)

Holiday treat ideas that we have in my studio:

Halloween: Candy basket, let them pick it out BEFORE lesson so that a) they don’t forget to grab it before they leave b) they have that candy staring them in the face and it helps them stay focused more during lessons.

Thanksgiving: Turkey gift, you can make little homemade treats, I make these turkey cookies. Don’t feel like you have to make a whole plate for the whole family. It can be just a single treat just for your student.

Christmas: Candy Cane plate. I also plan a Christmas gift for each student. In our house I have hidden horns and pianos on my tree and add to it year after year. I’ve started this for my students. They each get an ornament for their tree (year after year students can start collecting an assortment of ornaments for their own music themed tree) Or any gift, big or small. Remember to track all purchases for your expense report in your Bookkeeping

Valentines: Heart Cookies. I like to make a big batch of sugar cookies. And because they are easier to make as a batch, each family will get a plate of cookies.

Easter: Little mini Easter baskets, and fill with candy. Super simple and low cost.

Happy Teaching!