Guide to Teaching Music Lessons in Students' Homes

Have you considered teaching private music lessons in your student's home?  Maybe you already offer this option to your students.  There can be many pros to teaching in students' homes, but there are also some things to be aware of before diving into it.  Below, I've outlined a few pros and cons to teaching in a student's home, as opposed to in your studio.  Also, some things to keep in mind to make things go smoothly.

Pro:

Catering to students' needs by teaching them in their home can successfully open your teaching pool, allowing you to teach students who otherwise would not be able to study with you.

Con:
Be aware that this can sometimes (though not always) give seed to an attitude of complacence, on the part of the parent, the student, or both, since they don't have to put in any effort to go to lessons.  It can become less of a responsibility or priority, since the teacher just magically shows up at the door, even if they've forgotten it was lesson day.  It's one thing to cater to a student whose parents are both working and are unable to take the student to a lesson at the only lesson slot you have available.  But catering to someone who just would rather not drive their kids to lessons is another thing.  Beware of the words, "I'd rather not...", or "It'd be so much easier..."

Pro:
Students are comfortable in their home environments, and they often open up to you more easily and more quickly.

Con:
Sometimes, it can be a problem when students feel too comfortable.  Trying to establish boundaries can be difficult when they are on their own turf.  (Think: students wanting to lounge on the couch, wanting to wander into other rooms, or the parent having difficulties pulling the kids from the TV to go have their lesson.)  If the students come to you, this battle may have already taken place at home (or hopefully not at all) and is over before they get to your studio.  As the teacher, you are more removed from any conflict, and have more freedom to make the lesson fun and enjoyable.

Pro:
Younger siblings, who may have an interest in studying an instrument, are able to freely observe lessons.  It's rewarding to help someone's musical interests bloom, and that sibling could be a potential future student of yours.  (Although, the younger sibling can also attend lessons in your studio just as easily.)

Con:
You have no (or very limited) control over the environment.  You could be competing for attention with siblings, friends, neighbors, pets, dinner, homework, family disputes, television....  You get the idea.

Con:
You may find that driving to the student's home is not cost-effective for you.  I'm not only talking about the cost of gas and mileage added to your car, but also time.  Travel takes time, and this is not only time when you could be doing something (anything) else, but time when you could be teaching another student.  Having students come to you in your studio allows you to teach more students, which means you can make more money.

Now, by outlining the cons, I don't mean to make anyone feel that teaching in a student's home is a terrible idea, and I certainly don't want to turn anyone off from it.  It's just good to have an idea of what you may be dealing with.  Every student and home will be different.

• So, when is teaching in a student's home a good idea?

If you teach a large instrument, such as harp, it may be more commonly practiced to travel to a student's home in order to avoid the cumbersome task of transporting the instrument.

Maybe you are truly in need of more students, and so you are willing to do what it takes to accommodate them.  It's better to have a few students that you have to work harder for, than no students at all.

Perhaps you, as a teacher, just prefer it.  Maybe you've found a way to make it work for you, and your students like it, so you offer this option.

Maybe you do not have access to a studio space.

Perhaps you want to expand your geographical teaching area, so you wish to offer lessons in an area far enough away from your studio that students cannot travel to you.  (You may also wish to consider teaching lessons online.  I'll be writing a post on this soon.)

There could be other reasons as well.  These are just for starters.

• What things should I keep in mind when deciding if teaching in a student's home is right for me?

Why do you want to offer this option to your students?  Is this reason good enough to you, personally, to merit the added expense and time?  Is there any reason these students couldn't feasibly come to your studio?

Do you like driving?  Personally, I hate it.  Some people don't mind it.  If it is going to be super stressful for you to spend so much time behind the wheel, then you may wish to consider other options.  Think especially about the long term.  It may become tiresome to you after a while, but maybe not.
 

• What things should I keep in mind when teaching in a student's home? 

Avoid distractions at all costs.  Ask to teach in a room that is semi-private, so that people knocking on the front door, television, etc. can be avoided.  Avoid being behind a closed door, however, and never teach in a bedroom, unless a parent is also present at all times.  This is for your safety as much as that of the student.

Set up boundaries from day one.  This is so important!!  Because the student feels more comfortable in their own home, they will want to do all sorts of things they wouldn't dare do in your studio.  Even after you've told them the rules, they'll want to bring snacks or drinks, lie on the ground, wander over to the piano and tinker while you're talking, sit down at every opportunity, answer the door or the phone, bargain with you to let them have a short lesson so they can get back to the TV, etc., etc.  Setting up the expectations from the beginning is much easier than trying to redefine them later on, after a culture is already established.  Your best option is to get the cooperation of the parent, since it is their home.  Make sure they know what is acceptable in lessons, and address any issues with the parent as they arise.  Ask them to help you establish a good learning environment, by turning off the television, not allowing the child to bring things like toys or food to lessons, etc.  Once the environment is established, other behavioral issues can be addressed with the student (no lying down during lessons, stay in the room for the entire lesson - don't leave to answer the door, let someone else get it, etc.).  Constant reinforcement of the rules is the only way.  Never let inappropriate behavior slide, or they may try to test where the boundaries truly lie.

Charge more.  What?  Really?  Yes, charge more.  If you are going to the student's home, you definitely need to be reimbursed for gas, at the very least, if not more.  (Remember the time spent driving, which is time you could be teaching another student.  How much do you charge for a lesson?  That's how much you are losing while driving...  Plus, you're putting mileage on your car, which depreciates its value.)

Keep track of your mileage and deduct it from your taxes.  Yup.  Easy peasy.  Programs such as Music Teachers Helper can help you track your mileage easily.  Having your mileage tracked also gives you an easy way to assess how much you are driving in a year, and you can determine if it is worth it to you to continue teaching in students' homes.

So, these are meant to be just a few ideas to help you know where to start and what things to consider when teaching in a student's home.  Hopefully you find it helpful.

What other things are important to keep in mind when teaching in a student's home?  Feel free to comment below with ideas/suggestions.