Whether you are a new or a seasoned teacher, this list gives you the tips and tricks that you wish you had thought of earlier!  With years of teaching piano lessons and with talking with other teachers, this list compiles all those things I wish I had known when I first started teaching.

1. Charge upfront each month, a standard flat-rate fee.
   • This will simplify your life drastically.
2. Buy method books that you love.  It’s worth finding the right ones that fit your style!  
   • Since this will be your primary curriculum, it’s definitely worth spending your time into searching out ones you enjoy and ones that your students will enjoy.  Method books should have a variety of music, incorporate theory and additional concepts, and keep the student’s interest as much as possible. Check out my recommended piano method books here.
3. Consider group lessons and individual lessons. 
   • Group lessons and individual lessons have pros and cons to each of them.  Don’t just shut down one or the other because you have heard this or that.  The ideal is to incorporate a little of both into your student’s music education.
4. Create a lesson plan for each lesson.
   • This is by far the most efficient way to teach lessons.  By creating a plan, you are much more likely to be prepared and you can plan for additional educational experiences including teaching new theory, music history, and piano improv and composition.  Plan, plan, plan.  You won’t get it done unless it’s planned!
5. Backtracks are much more fun than metronomes!  
   • Playing to a steady beat is essential, but it is so much more rewarding when it is done to a backtrack versus a simple metronome.  Metronomes can be highly stressful to the student and adding in a backtrack can relieve some of that stress as the student plays to enjoyable backtrack music.
6. Use thumbtacks to teach proper hand position.
   • Sometimes the students just can’t keep those nice, round finger position on the keyboard.  Try using thumbtacks on the edge of your piano.  Every time their hands sag, the prick on their hands make their hands pop right back up!
7. Hold recitals at least twice a year.
   • Recitals are so important for getting the student used to performing.  It is a great motivator for learning music.  It also gives the student motivation to memorize their music.  Possibly the greatest reason to hold recitals frequently is because it is something measurable the parent’s can see.  Giving the parent a chance to showcase their student goes a long ways in making them happy — which can be just as important as making the student happy.  For the best go-to guide for planning a recital, click here.
8. Provide variety to your lessons.
   • Doing the same thing each lesson is going to get boring fast.  Provide variety by switching up your order or style of teaching.  Throw in new theory games or activities.  Start your lesson in a creative way.  Check out my article on How to Make Lessons Fun Every Time for additional ideas.
9. Teach music theory in a game or an activity.
   • Teaching music theory can become very dry and students lose interest fast, not to mention they forget fast, unless it is reinforced in a way that uses as many senses and bodily movement as possible.  That is why I highly encourage teaching theory in a game or an activity.  Check out my list of 30+ tried and true music theory games and activities.
10. Create a studio policy for make-up lessons.
    • One of the most frustrating things about teaching piano can be making up the missed lessons.  Set a policy that you are comfortable with and stick with it.  Avoid burnout by sticking with your policy.  My suggestion would be to have either a limit to how many lessons can be made up if they miss, or to have a set time each month in which students can come for a make-up lesson.
11. Create a studio policy and hand out before lessons begin.  
    • Make sure you have a policy in general to adhere to.  Give this to your students and their families before lessons even begin.  You will want to make sure they understand your expectations.  It also give you an opportunity to give them a taste of your style and your teaching philosophy.
12. Encourage your piano students to make their own goals.  
    • Self-motivation is going to get the student much further than anything else you can put out there for them.  Periodically set goals, and enable the student to achieve them in a timely manner.  Doing this will also help you to understand their expectations and make sure your expectations are similar to their own.
13. Set a specific practice plan. 
    • Every student should have a set time in which they practice every day.  Help them to set that specific time and encourage the parent to stick with that plan.
14. Don’t underestimate yourself.
    • One of the most common mistakes teachers make is to undervalue themselves.  You may not think you can make much of a difference.  You may not think you are very good at piano or at piano teaching.  Don’t let the fear of failure keep you from going for it!
15. Teach them how to sight read from the very beginning.
    • Sight reading is one of the most important skills to teach your students.  Teach them how to sight read and give them opportunities every lesson.  This will greatly enhance their abilities and their enjoyment of playing.
16. Teach chords.
    • Teach your students chords from the beginning and it teaches them the basics of music.  It gives them a leap ahead in their playing because they understand where their music is coming from.  It also gives them the ability to improv and compose.  Start with the I, IV, and V chords.
17. Applaud the student on their successes.  
    • Be careful to not be too much of a perfectionist and to applaud them on their successes, small though they may be.  We certainly don’t want to burn them out by hounding them for every little mistake they made.
18. Teach your students what it means to practice.
    • Since 90% of the music education they will receive will be within their own practice time, make sure you teach them how to practice!  Give them all the keys to a successful practice.  For more ideas, check out 7 things you can do today to change your piano practice forever.
19. Invite the parents to some of your lessons.
    • Since parents are such a key ingredient to success for your piano student, you will want to make sure that they are involved and on page with what you are teaching them.  Inviting them to your classes every once in a while will help them to see what you expect, what you are teaching, and what your aims and goals are for the student.
20. Play your own music for the student every once in a while.
    • Sometimes, the students need to hear what it’s like to play the piano when you are more advanced.  No need to play them something long — the younger ones especially will get bored of that fast.  Play a 2-3 minute piece and it will fire them up.  You aren’t showing off, you are showing the student how much fun piano playing can really be.
21. Keep your students organized by using a binder.
    • Having everything in one place is a life-saver!  It also makes a great portfolio for the student to use wherever they go!  Check out my student binders here.
22. Use venmo, square, Google Pay, or another virtual way to pay.
    • Paying virtually because much more convenient for the parents and the students.  It is also much easier to keep track of!
23. Don’t undercharge your students.
    • Make sure that you are charging your students the appropriate amount.  They also will value the lessons more, with the greater investment they have put into it.  Find out how much to charge your piano students here.
24. Use the Note Rush App for learning notes.
    • One of my favorite apps for learning notes is the Note Rush app.  It’s very affordable and it is has come in handy for having the student play the note on the keyboard as the note is shown.
25. Teach students to look at the music, not their hands.
    • Instill the habit of looking at the music right from the beginning.  This a crucial skill for them to learn and reading will be much easier for them if they look at their music instead of their hands.
26. Teaching music history will help them understand their music better.
    • Knowing the context of their music and teaching them a little about the composer will help them get a better vision of what the music is supposed to be like.  Check out my 9 fun ways to teach music history.
27. Play the music piece for them first before they start learning it.  
    • Allowing the student to hear what the music is supposed to be like before they start learning it will give them a huge boost in their learning and understanding of the music.  Play the song first to give them that vision.
28.  Teach them the hardest part of the song first.
    • Ask them what part of the song they think is going to be the hardest part.  Then walk through that part with them so that they can play it before they leave their piano lesson.  You will have already won the mental battle of “this song is too hard” before they walk out the door.
29. Use an object to place the student’s hands over to teach them hand position.  
    • Having an object to place the hand over will give the student’s an idea of the shape the hand should be in when playing.  You can use these fillable ornaments here for adult students, or here for younger students.
30. Record your student and listen together.
    • Students need to gain the habit and the skill of listening to themselves. Record the student and evaluate together what they have done well and what they can improve upon.
31. Use physical movement to reinforce concepts.
    • The brain works more efficiently if you engage as many senses as possible.  Which is why I like to use physical movement as much as I can in my lessons.  Any time you can teach a concept by getting them off the bench, do it.
32. Give them practice goals.
    • Sometimes practice can be too ambiguous.  Give your students several practice goals to complete before they return for their next lesson.  For a handout of practice goals I like to use for my students, click here. 
33. Incorporate music improv and composition.
    • Students have so much fun making up their own songs.  You will notice even the youngest kids sitting at the piano and just enjoying whatever sound they make.  Allow your students the satisfaction of creating.  For a list of quick and easy ideas to incorporate improv and composition, visit my article here.  
34. Embrace holidays by allowing them to play holiday music. 
    • One of the keys to motivating students to allow them to play music that they enjoy.  Bringing out holiday music around the holidays is something they will look forward to!
35. Build a relationship with your student, but don’t talk too much. 
    • While it is important to talk and visit with your student and what is going on in their lives, you don’t want to waste the time you have been given by talking through the whole lesson.  The first 5 minutes can be “catching up” or just getting to know the student.  But in general, the rest of the lesson should be dedicated to music and the piano.
36. Provide a discount for referrals.
    • If you are trying to build up your studio, provide a one-time discount for every referral that signs up for piano lessons.  I would suggest a $25 one-time discount after the referred student has taken for at least 3 months.
37. Use a drum, percussion instrument, or at the very least your feet tapping or hand clapping, to teach rhythm.
    • Using your hands off of the keyboard can help reinforce rhythms.  If trying to teach a rhythm, clap it out, or better yet, use a percussion instrument to get it down.  I love this drum you can find here.
38. Teach intervals by ear using recognizable songs.
    • Learning intervals by ear becomes a cinch when you use recognizable songs to refer back to.  Here is a list of modern/pop songs to reference to at Musical U.  Or here is the time-old list of songs to reference to on soundfly.com.
39. Create listening maps to help with ear training.
    • Listening maps can really help to make the sounds more concrete as the student listens to the music while following along on the listening map.  In my article 9 Fun Ways to Teach Music History, there is a list of linkable free listening maps that you can use to get started with this.
40. Check in with your city to figure out if you need a permit or if there are certain regulations you need to follow in order  to teach piano.  
    • You definitely want to make sure that you are legal.  Call your city to make sure that you are following the regulations for your particular area.  For more details, visit my article called Do you need a license or permit for teaching music from home?
41. Use the EDGE method (from BSA) of Explain, Demonstrate, Guide, and Enable.
    • When teaching piano, you want to make sure that you explain the concept, demonstrate it, guide them in doing it themselves, and then enable them to do it on their own.  As often as possible, incorporate this strategy and your students will find much greater success.
42. Begin and end lessons in a fun way.
    • You want to keep the students fired up about music.  So start the lesson in a fun way.  Wrap them in and get their attention.  Then end the lesson in a great way so that they walk out the door with a smile.  The feeling they leave with will be important in the following week they are practicing.  For some good ideas on beginning and ending your lessons, check out my post on making your lessons fun.
43. Do music camps in the summer time.
    • Regular piano lessons can get difficult in the summer time with summer vacations and a lack of routine.  So throw together some summer camps instead of just doing lessons all summer long!  It will keep the students involved in music, but will not require as much commitment as weekly piano lessons.  For a free music summer camp lesson plan, check out this post.
44. Consider extended length lessons to better utilize your time.
    • The standard lesson is 30 mins long.  But consider how much better you will utilize your time and be able to charge a little bit more if you extend your lesson time.  Depending on the age and whether or not you have individual or group lessons, extending your lessons can be very advantageous to everyone.
45. Get a good set of flashcards and a variety of them.  
    • Sometimes you just need to reinforce some basic principles and having sets of flashcards on hand can be very helpful.  I have a box of laminated flashcards that I keep with me during lessons to pull out at any time.
46. Branch out and use a variety of music and composers.
    • Each method book has a unique style and you will find that the students have a hard time playing other composers unless you expose them to this often.  So throw in new music frequently that will make them branch out of the “norm”.  As hard as the method books try and add variety, it just isn’t quite as effective and simply using other composers as they learn and progress.
47. Find your go-to favorite music to use when the students are in a “slump”.  
    • Sometimes, your students will just be in a slump and will lack the motivation to practice.  Having music that they love and will be not too difficult to learn will definitely give them a boost to start practicing again.  Last year, I had a student who had nearly decided to quit.  I threw in a song (“End Game” from Jennifer Eklund) I knew he would enjoy, telling him to just practice this one song and see what he feels about piano after that.  He came back the next week totally excited and on fire with piano lessons once more.
48. Have the students keep practice journals.
    • Have a simple practice journal in which the student fills out the day they practiced, what they practiced (including details like how many times they played a song, what exercises they did, or what measures they worked on), and a few words about how they felt.  This will reveal a lot about what was actually done.  Sometimes the students come back saying they have practiced all week only to find out they only practiced twice when you refer to the journal.  The idea is that there is much better communication between home and the studio and what is actually happening at home.  I certainly don’t want to make it complicated.  Just give them an opportunity to jot a few things down and it will become very resourceful to you as you review it during the lessons.
49.  To help reduce costs, have a library that students can check out piano books.
    • I really want to try and keep lessons affordable for my students and I would rather not have them spend money on things that I can find a solution for.  Thus, I have a library that students pay a yearly fee to be part of.  Then they can check out books (including method books) and return them when they are done.  I keep my library stocked, and it helps curb the cost of books for the parents.  The parents/students can then decide if they would like their own copy and then can pay for the books themselves.
50. Give students something tangible to showcase their achievements.
    • Just as a team will receive a trophy, students need something to show off their accomplishments as well.  Especially if you aren’t involved in competitions every once in a while, give the students a certificate, a ribbon, or a trophy of some sort.  They need something tangible to represent their talent and it will go a long way in making them feel like they have officially accomplished something.

Thank you for being the type of teacher to read through an article like this!  We certainly need teachers like you in the world who are seeking to be better and do things in the best way possible.  You are making the world a better place and your students and their families will certainly appreciate that!