DRUMMER CAFE - Community Forum

How many students do you have and how long did it take for you to build up your base?
-c

I teach 5 beginner/intermediate level kids at my Church.  I got started because I had several people ask me if I taught and got started with about 3 students right away.  Within a few months I had my full allotment.  I only teach one night a week so my base is very small. 

If you are involved in Church or have kids in school, you might use those avenues to round up a batch of students to get you started.  You might consider offering the first few lessons free to get them to try it out. 

I taught through a shop that got students for me. I only taught on Saturdays and had around five students. Since I moved to the Midwest I haven't started teaching again though. It's really a lot of fun to teach!

Thanks for the imput so far. Right now I have 3 students and I'd like to see how long it took others to grow their student base.
-c

Ok, I'm looking to expand my student base and I'm trying to establish a timetable. Does anyone have a timeline of their own they are willing to share so I can get an idea on how long it took them to expand to 10 students then to 15 students?
(I'm not from the IRS ;)

It depends on the city, your expertise, and perhaps most importantly, your ability to advertise and generate clientele.

I'm just looking for generalities and other private teacher's experiences. I'm not going to start full time tomorrow, but I do teach beginner to intermediate. I travel to clients houses and a couple have come to my house. I also do some assistant teaching for high school drum lines. I network my current clientele is though friends, family and students.
Thnx

I think there are too many factors involved to give you the information that you want ... just like any business. If it were a definite, every business in the world would succeed.

Factors: Where do you live? Where will you teach? How much you charge? What are your qualifications? Do you have a degree? How long have you taught? Are you known in your community? Do you have a good reputation? Do local public schools know you? Do local music stores know you?

I could go on and on and on. These are real factors that do matter and will affect how many students you will have as well as how quickly you could potentially acquire them.

Years ago ... I've gone into public schools, conducted a free masterclass for the percussion section and immediately get 8-12 new students. Similarly I've come into a region where the school has contacted me to offer private lessons to all of the percussion students in the school program, junior high and high school. Immediately I had 40+ students.

So that's how quick it can happen, but that doesn't mean it will happen that quick. I'm a known educator and private instructor, so that works in my favor. When I come into a new region, if I'm not known, then I have to make myself known. You need to do the same thing. You have to create a means for people to know or learn about you. You have to be able to offer something that people want. Playing out or letting them hear/see you play is one quick way for this to happen. Just last week I had a young man, who found me online, come out to one of my gigs. He heard me play, we talked afterwards, and now he wants to take lessons from me.

Pat Petrillo has created the Drum Teachers Network (http://www.drumteachersnetwork.com/) which you could consider joining. There's also a lot of free ways to get the word out.

Instructors and teachers have hired me to consult them on ways to generate and create a student base. That's another option for you!  ;D

Hi guys.

I used to teach (gave it a try, I was terrible!) but more importantly I have had lots and lots of lessons.  Lots and lots and lots and lots  8)

I've known Bart for sometime now, and he knows I'm not one for idle flattery- but he is really really smart about all things drumming.  He's just that good.  He surprises me all the time with his knowledge and I'm very serious about that.  I'm not just blowing smoke.  He really stacks up there with the best teachers I've had. 

I've had so many BAD teachers.  It seems like everyone wants to teach.   It takes a special talent, not only to play drums but be a great teacher.

I had many teachers over the years. Junior High and High School they were both trumpet players who got their degree. Army Band was also a trumpet player who had a music degree from West Point.... In all cases they were people who knew only the basics of playing drums. But it took me years of playing out with various variety bands that gave me the most valuable insite. I wish I had taken more studies on the percussion subject. I would never be a very good teacher. I've been asked many times to be a private instructer, but I don't feel qualified. It takes a certain mentality to deal with people at various skill levels. I respect those who can put up with the various challenges they must deal with. Kudos to them....  ;D