Independent Music Teacher Survey, 2006
In April, 2006, BMTA conducted a formal membership study. This valuable input provided a snapshot of its member base by revealing current trends in the music teaching profession in the greater Birmingham metropolitan area. If you are a music teacher in the Birmingham area and would like to complete this anonymous survey. Your input will be greatly appreciated!
BMTA Membership, 2006-2007: 136
Total Surveys Submitted: 34
Original question in black.
Response results in green.
Please describe your music teaching status:
Full-time: 17
Part-time: 15 (One response: "Part-time, but it does seem like a full-time job!")
Retired:
Student: 1:
Do not teach:
What is your PRIMARY teaching/music focus area(s)?
Piano: 30
Organ
Guitar
Band
Voice: 2
Early Childhood: 3 (see also "Kindermusik", below)
Keyboard
Conducting: 2
Strings: 1
Brass
Music Appreciation
Accordion
Woodwind: 1
Harp
Percussion
Theory: 3
Composition
Pedagogy: 1
Other: choir
Kindermusik: 1
General Music (Classroom K-8): 1
What is your SECONDARY teaching/music focus area(s)?
Early childhood-3 (1 Music teacher at a church preschool); Music Appreciation-3; Theory-8; Organ/Music Appreciation/Woodwind;
Piano; Organ-1; Voice-2, Keyboard/Music Appreciation at University Level; Piano Accompanying/Church Pianist; Voice/Choral/Church Music; Organ; Choral; Pedagogy;
How many hours per week do you provide individual lessons?
None:
Less than 10: 3
10-20: 14
21-30: 15
31-40:
More than 40: 1
Please describe your current teaching load:
Right number: 25
Not enough students: 4
Too many students: 4
Please list the area(s) of town where you offer lessons:
Homewood: 7
Mountain Brook: 6
Bessemer
Vestavia Hills: 6
Alabaster: 2
Hueytown
Hoover: 4
Montevallo: 1
Birmingham: 4
Pelham: 2
Helena: 1
Inverness: 5
Pinson: 1
Other: 4 (plus those listed below)
Mount Olive (Gardendale): 1 - Bluff Park, Christ Church United Methodist on Caldwell Mill Road: 1
North Shelby County: 2 -- Trussville: 1 -- Chalkville/Trussville: 1 -- "I teach students who drive from Cullman, Gadsden, and Pell City: 1 -- Altadena Valley: 1 -- Chelsea: 1 -- Jasper (students come from Dora, Double Springs, Sulligent, Winfield, Carbon Hill, Florence etc.): 1; Irondale-1
What are your primary teaching settings?
Home studio: 22
Students' homes: 1
Studio outside home: 4
College/University: 5
Community center: 1
Church: 10
Public school:
Music/piano store:
Virtual online lessons:
Other: Alabama School of Fine Arts
In home, for college prep dept: 1
Private school: 2
Please list the number of teachers in your studio:
RESPONSES: 10-15 teachers, N/A=1; One teacher-27; "26 teachers"
Do you have a waiting list?
Yes: 20
No: 13
Not at the moment: 1
("I usually try to refer them on unless they are a sibling")("I usually refer students to other teachers when I'm full")
Please list the skill level or levels that you teach:
Beginner: 31
Intermediate: 31
Advanced: 22
(Early-Advanced): 1
("Usually just 1 or 2 advanced") 1
("Moderately advanced, up through high school"): 1
Which of the following age groups do you teach?
Pre-school: 14
Elementary age: 31
Junior High: 30
High School: 30
Adults not in college: 17
Undergraduate: 7
Graduate:2
Please tell us your approximate annal income (from music teaching -- not including spouse/other income):
0-$10,000: 7
$10,000-$20,000: 7
$20,000-$30,000: 9
$30,000-$40,000:
$40,000+: 6
What rate do you charge?
PRIVATE LESSONS:
15-minutes: $15
30-minutes: $20, $60, $22, $12.50, $20, $15, $22, $40, $15, $12, $18.75 per lesson, $22, $12.50
40-minutes: $22.50
45-minutes: $31, $30, $90, $32, $18.75, $30, $21.50, $20, $20, $18, $27.50 per lesson,, $25, $80 (per month?),
1 hour:
$40, $42, $40, $25, $24, $35 per lesson, $50, $100 (per month?),
Term/semester: $32 lessons, monthly payments $75; $500
per semester/term; $650 for 30 lesson school year
$196 per term; Quarterly
Monthly: $65 (regardless of # of lessons in month), $50, $88 for 1/2 hour, $128 for 45-minutes; $168 for 1 hour; $50 per month for 30 minute lessons; $50 per month; $65 per month; $70 per month for 35 min lesson, $85 with computer added; $65 monthly; $48 $75 per month for 30-minute lessons; $70 for 1 30 minute lesson per week; $65 per month; $96/month for 45-minute lesson (34 private plus two 90 min hour lessons) with payment made 2-3 times per year; $75/month Sept-May for 30 lessons - This includes 40 minute private and 20 minutes on computer; $50;
Do you ever award scholarships to students by providing financial assistance or reduced rates?
Have in the past: 12
Currently: 14
"Yes, through the University"-1
Might consider for the future: 6; Offer a Family Rate-1; Students of parents in Ministry-1; Sibling Discount and student aid for dedicated students with financial needs;
If so, approximately how much money do you lose per year by offering student aid or scholarships?
RESPONSES: $600; $5,000 (*"I offer scholarships to families who have ministries and have to raise their own support, or where the Dad is in seminary"); $300, $500, $500, ca. $200-400; $1,000, $500?, $700, $75 per month X 9 months, $300, $300 per year for "Family Rate discount"; 2-4 students/year at $2,000+; $862.50 (Miss Walker County Piano Winner); $900; $700; $300;
How many years have you been a music teacher?
Not currently teaching:
1-10 years: 1
11-20 years: 11
21-30 years: 9
31-40 years: 6
more than 40 years: 6
Please indicate your gender:
Male:
Female: 33
What is your ethnic group?
Caucasian: 30
Asian: 1
Latino/Hispanic
African/American: 3
Other:
Please indicate your age:
18-22:
23-29:
30-49: 10
50-59: 9
60+: 9
Which of the following best describes you?
Bachelor's degree: (Home Ec. in Business, Minor in Piano Performance) (BM-Piano Performance: 8) (BM Piano Pedagogy-1) (BM-Clarinet-1): (BM Vocal Performance-1) (BA) (BA-Piano) (BA-English) (BME-4) (BS-Elem Ed) (Music Education-Church ministries) (BME in Piano-3);(BME in Piano and Voice); (1 currently finishing BA degree-music major); Bachelor's in Religion Ed and Piano;
Master's degree: 7
(MM, Piano Performance- 3) (MM, Clarinet -1) (MM Early Childhood Ed) (Music Ed=3) (MM Accompanying)
Doctorate: (DMA, Clarinet -1) (DMA-Piano: 1; DMA Piano Performance -1)
State or National Certification: (MTNA - 5)
No degrees or no entry for this section: 2
Do you have training in, and/or offer services in special music areas?
RESPONSES:
Kindermusik: 5
Suzuki: 2
Orff:2
Orff: Certified Level 3: 1
Dalcroze Training: 1
Fundamental and Scales: 1
Musicgarten: 1
Other responses: Accompany Children's Dance Foundation; Play Weddings etc.; Vocal coaching and accompanying; Training in Orff
Ergonomic motion and injury prevention/recovery; Taubman approach;
Yamaha: 1
Robert Pace: 1
Do you have training in, and/or offer services in special non-music fields?
RESPONSES:
Do-Re-Me and You! (home business created by Kindermusik offering musical learning products)
Librarianship
Computer programming
Education
Post-secondary teacher (retired); manuscript editing
Please indicate your awareness of the following BMTA services/programs:
Teacher workshops -- pedagogy/music:
Teacher workshops - business/other:
Teacher performances/recitals
BMTA Musical Miniatures (Non-competitive)
BMTA Musical Miniatures (Competitive)
Christmas Recitals at Mall
AFMC Jr. Festival Auditions, Solo
AFMC Jr. Festival Auditions, Hymn
AFMC Jr. Festival Auditions, Concerto/Duet
AFMC Jr. Festival Auditions, Composer's Contest
Elbert-Lingo Keyboard Artist Competition
May Teachers' Luncheon
Laura B Haynes Library
BMTA Website
How many years have you been a member of BMTA?
RESPONSES:
new member
4 years
5 years = 2
5-6 years
6 years
7 years
9 years
10 years
12 years = 2
14(?) years
15 years = 2
15 years-on and off
15+ years
19 years
20 years
22 years
25 years = 3
approx. 25 years
27 years
30(?) years
30 years = 2
33 or more
Long time
Overall, how satisfied are you with the value of your membership in BMTA?
Extremely satisfied: 18
Somewhat satisfied: 10
Not at all satisfied: 1
How likely are you to continue BMTA membership in the future?
Definitely not:
Probably: 7
Definitely: 24
Please indicate your preferred method of communicating with BMTA:
Direct mail: 12
E-mail: 21
Phone: 4
1 Response: Direct mail 1st choice; E-mail 2nd choice)
In the next few years what are some of the main challenges you anticipate as a music teacher? What would you be interested in seeing BMTA address in future programs?
RESPONSES:
Maintaining student enthusiasm: 4
Encouraging students to practice on their own-6
Parental involvement-5
Preparing students for competitions and performance - 6
Developing skills as a judge: 1
Dealing with business aspects of teaching: 2
Time management: 1
Avoiding teacher burnout: 5
Finding good teaching pieces: 2
Student enthusiasm
Practice: 1 ("Teaching students to practice effectively")
Teaching improvisation: 4
Teaching composition: 2
Keeping up with Technology- 3
Avoiding teacher Burnout - 3
Finding Good Teaching Pieces 2
Parental involvement: 1
Acquiring new students/retaining students: 2 ("not losing them to sports or overload of extracurricular activities")
Collaborative student programs -- chamber music opportunities for students etc.: 2
ADDITIONAL RESPONSES: "All of the above but especially maintaining student enthusiasm and how about group teaching ideas?"
"Early classical music for the different periods beginning with abaout E1 or PIV", "Music availability is becoming a problem. What's available for purchase at music stores plus trying to special order."; "Building classical music audiences/performers for the future."
"More topics regarding pedagogy - helping students with rhythm problems (no natural rhythm), sight-reading, performance strategies, developing a well-rounded student."; Making a decision regarding retirement.; "Keeping teachers involved -- maintaining and improving teaching skills"; "As I have been single the past years I wish for group rate health insurance -- I currently pay for my own."
"How to develop the left-handed student."; "Finding a good balance in overall repertoire in lessons; keeping students interested in a variety of musical styles; teaching composition; encouraging individual practice time"; "One challenge is competing with other opportunities offered to students. Establishing a studio of students as a familial group - or team - might keep the students from feeling he/she is an isolated learner who interacts with the teacher only." "I'm interested in ALL of the above, and all of the above are needed to become a better teacher!" "My greatest challenge is ...... I am the only experience with music that most of mine have. Limited knowledge in rural areas"; "Technology - how it affects our teaching practical skills/improvisation/sight-reading etc."
Would you be interested in presenting a future program? If so, what topic(s)? No's: 4; Yes: 1; "If given a topic, I could help with a program"; Yes, Improvsiation/Ear-Training;
Would you be interested in performing at a May BMTA luncheon? If so, what instrument(s)/type of program?
no-1; yes, Trio: Piano, clarinet, cello; I have a string orchestra and string quartet of my students." "Perhaps down the road."; Possibly piano; No's-1; No! - 1; Yes-20th/21st C. Music/Piano; Piano-Play own arrangements, improvisations and/or own compositions;
Which of the following BMTA wervice areas would best fit your strengths as a member (check as many as applicable)
Librarian: 1
Membership: 6
Sonata-Sonatina: 3
Keyboard Artist Competition: 3
BMTA Miniatures Recitals: 5
Yearboook
Scrapbook
Hospitatlity (supply refreshments for meetings): 1
President
Vice-President
Historian
Corresponding Secretary
Recording Secretary
Treasurer
Parliamentarian
AFMC Jr. Festival: 7
Special Projects: 3
Why do you teach music? Do you have a favorite quote or story about what made you choose to be a musician and a music teacher?
RESPONSES:
"To help students realize the beauty and enjoyment of music. To help them realize their God-given gifts and talents and to give Him praise and glory."
(Poem submitted):
"Why Do We Teach Music?
Author Unknown
Not because we expect you to major in music
not because we expect you to play or sing all your life
Not so you can relax
Not so you can have fun
But,
So you will be human
So you will recognize beauty
So you will be sensitive
So you will be close to an infinite beyond this world
So you will have something to cling to
So you will have more compassion, more gentleness, more good,
in short --- more life
Of what value will it be to make a prosperous living
Unless you know how to live?"
"Love of piano and desire to help children develop this skill as an outlet for creative expression."
"#1-I love doing it. #2-I consider it a ministry. #3-It's such a privilege to have one on one relationships with students as they grow up."
"I love my 'job'! Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best." -- Henry Van Dyke"
"Of all God's gifts to man, music is the greatest and because He gave me a small taste of it, I want to share it with everyone I can.""My parents and grandparents instilled in me a deep love of classical music. They passed along to me their passion for music and I in turn try to pass along that passion to my students."
"I encourage my students to ENJOY playing whatever type music they are interested in; and find opportunities to play, i.e. church programs or school talent shows."
"I love it! To develop qualified students to serve God and community with their musical talents and abilities."
"In Jr. High I wanted to be a librarian; in Sr high a radio actress. One day my teacher said, "Tell your mother to give you some piano students! It's time for you to learn to teach." My mother was a fine singer and pianist and had lots of students. She gave me 4 little girls and 1 boy (age 5). I fell in love with them and knew at age 16 that teaching music to children was where I belonged. No regrets after 60 years!"
"I love music and children. My mother, myself and my dauaghter make 3 generations of string teachers."
"Music and music teaching chose me."
"I love that instrument study offers a platform or jumping off to many other areas of life. Research is supporting how musical children are successful children."
"Music is discipline, therapy, math, art and science."
"I didn't choose the piano ... it chose me, starting with a keyboard drawn on the edge of a cardboard-topped card table whien I was 6 years old and somebody gave me a copy of "Teaching Little Fingers to Play"
"Honestly I began teaching full-time because I was going through a divorce and needed a job I could do without being away from my children. But teaching has become my passion. I cannot imagine doing anything else. It has helped me to grow not only as a musician but as an individual."
"Because I love it -- it's the BEST part of my day/week/life!!"
"I teach because I want children to have everything that I did not have. Great talents can be overloooked without proper training."
"I teach music because I believe it plays a vital role in the development of human beings."
"I love it!"
"I enjoy it and feel I have a talent for it!"
Please feel free to add additional comments or observations that you feel would be useful to BMTA leadership in developing programs that better suit your needs.
"Please, let's be highly selective with winners! Excellence is important! (fewer is OK)"
"How about a session just to discuss problems, and hopefully answers, with the 'floor' open to anyone?"
"Have children at home right now. May be able to be more involved down the road."
"I would love to be more involved once all my pre-school children are in school."
"Would like to see festivals provided in Birmingham area for instrumentalists. (Brass, woodwind etc.) Could they be held at the same locations as the piano festivals and on same days! Maybe at a piano location that is not booked as heavy as others."
"Distance from Birmingham and husband's health prevent my being an active participant."
"Would like to be more involved, but am limited due to my (day job)."
"I have a sepcial interest in how children learn and different learning styles. I am ending a 10 yr tenure with the Homewood Board of education and hear a lot in that arena -- would love to hear about different learning styles in piano study, as I try to do it."
"I have learned so much from my students and I am constantly looking for new ways to keep them interested and excited about music. I love the look on their faces when they finish a piece they have been struggling to learn or when that light finally comes on. They are my motivation!"
"When I was a young piano student, my father gave to me a blessing. He told me that God had given me a musical gift and if I would work hard, I would get to travel and share my music all over the country. I remembered his blessing much later in my adult life; I go on tour each year with the Briarwood Senior HIgh Church Choir as their accompanist (for 11 years) and we travel to different parts of the USA each summer. I remember his blessing each year as I go and minister to people with our music!"
