Plugging the gap: Maintaining a steady income as a music teacher

As any peri or private music teacher will know, the income we get is not standardised across the board. If the number of weeks in a term are used to give an idea of estimated number of teaching weeks in a year, this would total around 37 in state schools and around 33 weeks in the independent sector. A quick tally-up and it can be seen immediately that this leaves somewhere between 15 and 19 weeks where a music teacher is quite likely not to generate their usual teaching income.

Another factor to bear in mind is the wide discrepancy in rates of pay. Some teachers in the independent sector earn £50 an hour. This then trickles down to some peri teachers earning around £20 per hour. Thus, it falls on us as teachers to be creative and find other ways to supplement our income, both during school holidays and in term time.

Stay open-minded

The key is to be flexible and keep an open mind to all possibilities. While some teachers may like to stay in the same field and find freelance work, this can take a while to build up. Unless blessed with a good network for potential work, it requires tenacity from the newly graduated musician (and a certain amount of neck!). Once you have a ‘foot in the door’, it is useful to remember that work will often generate work and other opportunities will come along.

Speaking from experience, I know just how hard it can be to be selective. You end up accepting any opportunity and offer of paid work that comes along. For many years, I was terrified of saying ‘no’, convinced that word would filter through and I wouldn't be asked in the future. For the self-employed, beggars certainly can't be choosers. Bills need to be paid and the summer holidays are long.

For those who branch out away from music, it can be fun to have the variety of doing something completely different. I have, in my early days of teaching, done varied things such as a steward in an ice rink, been a part-time medical secretary, and also worked in local pubs. While it was great to have the chance to ensure a steady flow of money and I met some lovely people, I missed being involved with music.

Branching out

One year, a chance conversation with a pupils’ uncle led to a summer residency at a five-star hotel, which led to playing for singsongs down in the residents’ bar later. This in turn led to being asked to play for weddings and events. At one of these weddings, a bridesmaid approached me to ask if I could play some chords as she sang. This led to her asking me to play for a funeral, which led to the priest recommending me to families and couples. As is so often the way, just one person you meet can prove to be a real catalyst.

Other musical ways to fill the teaching-free weeks can be as varied as the scope of one's interests. Some teachers enjoy running workshops, camps or coaching on residential and day courses. This could be with external pupils, or ones they already teach. Working with pupils outside the routine of term time can be very rewarding for both sides. Without the usual constraints of the term-time routine, other facets of pupil and teachers’ personalities come to the fore. One of the more memorable summers I've had was spent working for a weeklong Stagecoach camp as musical director. The days were long, but it was fun, and all the staff were a joy to work with.

So, for musicians, the possibilities are many. Providing background music or gigging in hotels, pubs, private parties, and care homes; singing teachers can enjoy the chance to collaborate with others for opera or musical theatre projects; and instrumentalists may have the chance to tour with an orchestra. In addition to plugging the gap in earnings, having the opportunity to approach music from a different angle keeps teaching fresh, and enables teachers to return to their students with renewed energy for the year ahead.