The Story So Far…
Jul 31, 2007 News
Posted by
admin
As i am sitting down here in my studio at 3am now, many thoughts flashing through my mind. Student intakes sore up lately and i almost hardly can find time to accept any more new students. In other words, i have stop taking in new students at the moment. This scenario may paint the wrong picture for many reading this.
First, a teacher full of students is definitely NOT a good thing (unless you owned your own music school / studios). Secondly, music education in Alor Star is by NO means a good business, especially if you are in the contemporary line (non-classical).
I came from a classical back groud but hated teaching classical. I am not a pure classical guy (not a pure classical guy = i will fall asleep listening to classical music). The reason i brought up the term “classical music” is because only this genre will survive and make it big in a small town. Since many many years back, the ABRSM Royal School of Music had planted the mentality of learning classical is the best you can ask for in music education. However, i must say classical music is NO WHERE near the excitement, adventure, knowledge, exposure, and many x-factors of contemporary music. Here’s a chart for you to compare:
Classical Music
most people thinking this got “class”
high learning fees (good for teacher)
life style of rich and not so rich
well established (major piece of the pie)
learn classical music
play in orchestras, ensamble, duet, solo?
Other Contemporary (Pop, Blues, Jazz…)
learn for fun and will drop soon you reach SPM, form 6, college, whatever…
lower learning fee at earlier stages
school kids, church bands, fun clubs??
struggling to make impact in local education market
learn everything
play in everything and every form (depend on your capabilities off course)
As i was writing the first paragraph, i had lots of idea, but now… cant figure out anything. Suddenly i felt quite tired, playing in 3 bands, guiding 4 bands, teaching over 70 students, and getting paid less than 2k. Ah huh! now you know how bad it is contemporary music education in Alor Star. But, still, the passion for music, passion for teaching every student, bringing out their best is always there. I put 200% in educating my students and I do really TL those who do not put in effort as much as i gave.. i wish i have total control over all my students and able to hand-pick who i want to teach and who i want to kick. Do not blame me for this. I am just your educator, you are fully responsible for ringing yourself to where you want to be. You can never find a music teacher doing all these~
-prearping website for students
-gathering music articles for students
-taking the BIG trouble to rate EVERY student EVERY month
-setting up bands for students
-programming backing tracks for students
-taking and uploading video of student performance
-giving FREE extra class if 100% needed ( i no longer do that due to time constraint)
-lend you an electric guitar for more than a year (not applicable already)
-taking students to gigs and explaining what to learn from observation
-sourcing cheap and good musical instruments for students without taking a penny (unless you insist..keke)
-take so much time to ORGANISE special events, shows, jam sessions for students without being paid extra
-take photos, put on website, write FULL report of each students’ performance and publish on website.
-organising trial music exams with no extra charge
-rewarding outstanding students with gifts
If you find a music teacher doing all these, yes, i mean, all of these, then please let me know.
Hereby annoucing i will cut more than half of the students and move into other music lines besides teaching by the end of this year. Work hard if you want to be part of michael-one.com by then, cause i dont care how you think i am LanSi or wat. I will talk about what type of students make me always looking forward to teach them, to see them again right after their lesson just ended; and also what type of students i wish i never have to teach.
Leave a Reply