Questions about teaching piano and the music industry (rent, how much)

[projectmaximus]

Hi Nashville CDers...hoping some of you will have insight to help me out. In June I will be graduating with a masters degree in piano performance from a rather prestigious music school. But unlike most of my colleagues, I do not plan to continue with classical music as a career. Instead, I hope to pursue my dream of being a songwriter in the music industry. Anyway, I'm gonna leave my background at that for now. Here are my questions:

1) What is the classical scene like in Nashville?
2) How much do private piano teachers charge for lessons and how well are they paid at music schools?
3) How much does it cost for a young single guy to live OK in Nashville? Basically, will it be possible for me to survive working just as a music teacher and still have enough time to pursue my dreams on the side?

I'm a pretty laid back guy so I don't need a whole lot to be happy...but at the same time I don't want to barely scrape by on ramen either...I'd like to be able to have some fun wherever I am. I welcome answers to my questions as well as any other advice you might have. Like "don't bother coming here, you need to head out to LA." (which I've heard plenty already)

Thanks in advance!

[alleycat]

These links might help answer your question about the classic scene in Nashville:

Nashville Symphony - Home

ORCHESTRA NASHVILLE : Music Without Boundaries

School of Music - Belmont University

The Blair School of Music Homepage (http://www.vanderbilt.edu/Blair/ - broken link)

I can't help you with your other questions. I don't know how tough it is to make it as a music teacher in Nashville; if I were just guessing, I would say it wouldn't be easy. Vanderbilt and Belmont probably graduates more people that want to be music teachers than a city the size of Nashville needs. Still, people do it all the time; you could be one of those who finds a niche here. If I were moving here to be a music teacher and possible songwriter, I would look for some sort of unique angle or connection or something that would set me apart.


The Schermerhorn Center, home of the Nashville Symphony

(http://www.vanderbilt.edu/Blair/ - broken link)

[sfitz]

It takes awhile to build up enough students to support yourself teaching in a private studio. If you do a Google search there are a number of music studios, maybe you could hook up with one of them to get started. Good luck

[Griz83]

You may also want to look at some of the non-chain music stores in the area, possibly even the chain stores. Many of them have teachers that pay a small rent to use the facilities there. Then you may get a good number of students that would stick with you if you moved to a private studio, or taught from your home.

[projectmaximus]

Thanks for all your replies, folks! I do appreciate it. I have two friends who are piano students in college in Nashville, so I will certainly turn to them for advice. But I wanted to get a general opinion from others first (and I also wanted to figure out if Nashville is even viable before bringing this up with them).

Originally Posted by alleycat

These links might help answer your question about the classic scene in Nashville:

Nashville Symphony - Home

ORCHESTRA NASHVILLE : Music Without Boundaries

School of Music - Belmont University

The Blair School of Music Homepage (http://www.vanderbilt.edu/Blair/ - broken link)

I can't help you with your other questions. I don't know how tough it is to make it as a music teacher in Nashville; if I were just guessing, I would say it wouldn't be easy. Vanderbilt and Belmont probably graduates more people that want to be music teachers than a city the size of Nashville needs. Still, people do it all the time; you could be one of those who finds a niche here. If I were moving here to be a music teacher and possible songwriter, I would look for some sort of unique angle or connection or something that would set me apart.


The Schermerhorn Center, home of the Nashville Symphony

(http://www.vanderbilt.edu/Blair/ - broken link)

I was thinking that Vandy has no grad music program and Belmont's is very very small...so maybe it's not as much of an issue as it is in other cities with lots of music schools. But then again, it's never easy anywhere.

I actually spent a couple days in Nashville a few years ago and took a tour of the newly-built Schermerhorn. It was pretty cool...I'd totally take an arts administration job with the symphony in lieu of private teaching. Connections anyone?

As far as a niche or unique angle with the teaching and songwriting...I guess I can try to teach songwriting? Obviously, I would try to set myself apart as a good songwriter and as a good teacher. But I'm not sure how to combine those two things in a unique fashion.

Originally Posted by sfitz

It takes awhile to build up enough students to support yourself teaching in a private studio. If you do a Google search there are a number of music studios, maybe you could hook up with one of them to get started. Good luck

Thanks, I'll just google as well as ask my friends. But do you have any recommendations for schools to look into?

Originally Posted by Griz83

You may also want to look at some of the non-chain music stores in the area, possibly even the chain stores. Many of them have teachers that pay a small rent to use the facilities there. Then you may get a good number of students that would stick with you if you moved to a private studio, or taught from your home.

Will do. I can't imagine I'd be teaching from my home anytime soon though...I'll have to travel to students' residences or teach at a school (or both)

[bluesky42day]

Originally Posted by projectmaximus

As far as a niche or unique angle with the teaching and songwriting...I guess I can try to teach songwriting? Obviously, I would try to set myself apart as a good songwriter and as a good teacher. But I'm not sure how to combine those two things in a unique fashion.

I would be prepared to have a backup plan, it's very optimistic of you to come to "Music City" & teach songwriting...

[projectmaximus]

lol, yes, youre right. I was just trying to oblige alleycat in his/her suggestion.