inBachs / What Music Teachers Are Talking About Right Now

If you ever feel like you’re the only teacher struggling to find new students, motivate teens, or connect with the ones who’d rather be anywhere else… you’re not! Here are a handful of trending conversations, from finding new students to keeping teens engaged. Here’s what’s been buzzing inside the Private Music Instructors, Piano Lesson Teachers, and Music Studio Owners group recently and the conversations are very relatable.

“How do you get more students?”

One teacher shared that they’ve only had two students all year and they’re not alone in asking how to grow. The thread turned into a goldmine of ideas, from community partnerships and referral incentives to optimizing your Google Business profile.

The big takeaway: word-of-mouth is still great to have, but it only works if people know what you offer. Teachers who consistently share success stories and behind-the-scenes studio moments tend to attract more inquiries without relying on paid ads.

“What do you assign to teens who hate classical music?”

A teacher asked for fresh piano rep ideas for teenage students who’ve lost interest in traditional repertoire. The group delivered everything from film and video game soundtracks to creative mashups and popular arrangements that still teach theory and technique.

The takeaway: sometimes the best way to keep a teen engaged is to meet them where they are musically and then gently stretch them back toward the skills they need. Repertoire choice isn’t necessarily lowering the bar; it’s more like building a bridge.

“What do you do when a student clearly doesn’t want to be there?”

This one hit a nerve. Many teachers shared stories about unmotivated teens, especially when lessons are parent-driven. The consensus: focus on connection first. Sometimes that means ditching the plan, having a genuine conversation, or finding one small musical win to build on.

The takeaway: when enthusiasm is missing, empathy and curiosity usually go further than structure. You can’t force motivation to practice, but you can model joy.

These conversations are happening every day inside a space of over 6,000 teachers learning, sharing, and supporting each other.

Join the conversation → https://www.facebook.com/groups/privatemusicinstructors