Strategic Strings
with Emily Williams

Pain Points

We all have “pain points” in our teaching. Those things that we wish weren’t there, but that we endure for the sake of our art (or perhaps just because we need the money!). Do you wish you could minimize your teaching pain points? Have you bought into the lie that musicians just need to put up with the pain points in their teaching studios because that’s “just the way it is”?

Which of the statements below most resonate with you?

I’m tired of getting paid week-by-week and not being able to count on my income. I love teaching, but wish students and parents would respect my time more. I’d love to get paid for no-shows, late cancellations, and late reschedules, but don’t think it’s possible without losing students. I would love to teach young students how to read music easily, but I’ve been told it’s too difficult for young string students to do this. I see my students struggling to read music, but don’t know any other way of teaching them. I feel very inadequate at how to teach the basics. Am I the only one? I hate the sound beginning string students get, but it’s just something that has to be endured for a time. Don’t all teachers start out children bowing fast rhythmic patterns in the middle of the bow? I wish I had a way of teaching my beginning students a more fluid and natural way to bow, but I haven’t found one yet. Shouldn’t teaching the basics be easier? Am I the only one who finds this hard? I feel I put in more effort into teaching than my students do into learning. I’d like to change this but I don't know how. In order to make a living teaching you just have to endure teaching students who don’t practice. I’d love to have a studio full of students who practice, but if I did that I wouldn’t have very many students. The work ethic that I grew up with as a child does not seem to be the work ethic I see in the student’s I teach. I’m tired of putting up with this. It bothers me that practicing always seems to come after all other extra-curricular activities. I would love for my students to make their instrument more of a priority. It’s so hard to make sure students practice effectively. How can we really know what goes on at home anyway? I thought I would love teaching, but it’s not what I thought it was going to be. Is there a different way to teach that would be more fulfilling? I’m frustrated by students who tell me they have practiced but still make no progress. How can this be?

Did you find yourself relating to some or maybe even many of the pain points on the quiz? You are not alone! Many teachers struggle with feeling inadequate at teaching, or frustrated that their teaching is not getting the results they want. Or perhaps you’re tired of working so hard while your students take advantage of your time. My Strategic Strings approach addresses all of the pain points and myths listed above. I will show you how you can attract quality students who will work hard and pay you well for it. You also don’t have to struggle with teaching the basics. You can learn how to teach with confidence and ease!

Listen to the free audio on the home page to learn more about Strategic Strings!

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