This isn’t really a Dorico question, but since a lot of members of the forum are also teachers, I hope nobody will mind me asking a question here:
I recently completed a setup that makes it possible for me to teach music lessons online. How do I get the word out? I’ve investigated both superprof.com and wyzant.com and am happy with neither. I think I’d rather do It on my own, from my own website, rather than going through a marketing service. Only catch: I have no idea how to promote it myself!!! Thoughts? (I can’t afford expensive advertising.)
My initial goal would be five students, virtually any time of day or night. I could do piano, and have a webcam pointed at mine, but would prefer composition, orchestration, music theory, etc. Suggestions? (I think piano students would have to have a webcam of their own, so I could see them play, and this might be prohibitive for some students. Has anybody here tried it, with or without?)
Composition and orchestration students could send me Dorico files to look at and listen to, or pdfs from other software. Anybody see any ‘gotchas’ there?
Don’t overthink it too much! Anyone with a smartphone can FaceTime or Zoom for a lesson. Most young-uns will be able to figure out how to get video to you. If they have a laptop it will probably have a camera in it, too. They can set it on a small table next to them while they play.
The marketing can be much the same as how you would market yourself for in person lessons — you’re not trying to get a million likes on FaceBook or something! If you want a wider reach, a website could be made but there is an expense to full blown sites that may make this less than lucrative. Better to start small. See if local community colleges, etc, will let you put up a flyer. Now’s the time as school is starting up!
Another option is to use social media. For example, by joining various groups concerned with the “product” you wish to provide, it is often acceptable via group rules to post what you offer periodically. Just be careful about member rules and there should be no problem. Another option, if you are on Facebook, is to post your advert on your own page with recipients being Everyone. The latter option is a bit like a mass mailing to a local market. One usually has to repeat that every 10-12 days to start to get interest.
Thanks. Our local college is very small, about two hundred students. My town has a population of 2800 and I already have eleven in-person students. I’ve about maxed out ‘local,’ which is why I would like to go online!
I’ve found it quite helpful. The important thing is to remember that you can choose to or not to respond various commenters. There are a number of “trolls” and when I encounter them, I block them, move on and never look back. I only respond to those who show genuine interest and have a name and profile that appears to be real.