Private music teacher

Private, visiting and peripatetic music teachers provide instrumental, vocal and music training for children and adults of all ages. You'll work at a variety of levels teaching different musical skills to individuals or groups.

Teaching can take place in schools, colleges, universities, conservatoires or community-based settings. Alternatively, you may work from your own home, provide online tuition, travel to various locations to teach students, be hired by a local authority music service or music education hub to teach in schools or be employed by a privately or publicly-funded music centre.

Many private music teachers and musicians combine several number of these roles. In this role, you may also be referred to as an instrumental or vocal music teacher.

Private music teachers are often self-employed.

Responsibilities

As a private music teacher, you'll need to:

• plan and prepare individual lessons and overall schemes of work for your pupils
• teach individual and/or group lessons, delivered online and in person, typically lasting 15 minutes to an hour or more, incorporating elements of general musicianship such as ear training and theory, as well as instrumental technique and interpretation
• arrange lesson schedules, collect fees and enter students for examinations
• develop your knowledge of materials and repertoire for students at different stages of their musical development
• arrange timetables and teaching spaces for school-based music lessons and work alongside classroom teachers on music activities
• provide reports and feedback to pupils (or their parents/carers) about their progress
• establish relationships with schools, local authority music services and others who may be able to offer you work
• develop networks and collaborations with others working in music education in your area
• arrange performance opportunities for your pupils, such as concerts for friends and relatives
• prepare pupils for performances, examinations, auditions and festivals
• work with groups of musicians such as choirs, ceilidh and jazz bands, wind or string ensembles and drumming groups
• expand your own musical experience by familiarising yourself with the music your pupils listen to, learning another instrument, becoming familiar with other musical styles and developing your improvisation or vocal skills
• support students in their use of music technology by keeping up to date with digital tools, apps and recording software
• manage the administrative tasks associated with running a small business
• ensure that you adhere to health and safety standards, are adequately insured and work in line with safeguarding and child protection requirements
• manage the marketing, development and expansion of your business.

Salary

• The ISM (Independent Society of Musicians) annual survey (December 2024-March 2025) showed that the median hourly rate charged by private music teachers was £38 for both face-to-face and online teaching.
• The median hourly rate charged by self-employed visiting music teachers in state schools was £36 per hour. Hourly rates were significantly higher in independent schools at a median hourly rate of £44, but lower in music services or hubs at £32.
• Median hourly rates for employed music teachers were £35 in state-funded schools, £42 in independent schools and £30 in a music service or hub.
• The Musicians' Union recommends annual minimum teaching rates for individual lessons or for small-group teaching. The 2025/2026 rate is £44 per hour. Their recommended minimum rate for workshop leading is £285 (maximum five hours length).

According to the ISM survey, median rates in London and the South East are generally higher than elsewhere in the UK.

Most private music teachers are self-employed, so in addition to providing an income your fees need to cover the overhead costs of running a private teaching practice. For tips on setting your rates, see the ISM.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Your working hours typically include after school, evenings and weekends. Hours may be irregular due to cancellations and rearrangements. Some students stop lessons during holidays, while others continue throughout the year.

If you're working as a self-employed visiting music teacher in a school, you'll typically work during school hours, although you can also arrange some private lessons before or after the school day.

Part-time work is common, and many private music teachers combine teaching with performing, directing, composing or other activities.

What to expect

• Your career can combine several roles or jobs, either in a music-related field or in another sector altogether. For example, you could work for a local authority alongside private teaching.
• In its annual survey, the ISM reports that online teaching has become more common and is a valid alternative to face-to-face teaching.
• The survey also found that 44% of respondents taught piano or organ as their main instrument. Other popular instruments included vocal, strings and woodwind.
• As a self-employed music teacher, you need to devote time and energy to generating work opportunities. In the early stages, it can take some time to build up a portfolio of pupils and income-generating activity. The amount of work you get will also be affected by economic issues such as a cost-of-living crisis.
• Travel during the working day is common if you teach pupils in their homes or in different schools.

Qualifications

There are no set qualifications for private music teachers. In practice, however, many have a music degree or equivalent. Many also have further teaching and/or performance and theory qualifications or a Masters degree. The ISM provides tips for setting your rates, according to your level of experience and qualification.

The most important qualifications are musical competence (both practical and theoretical), knowledge of your instrument, and a commitment to and understanding of the teaching and learning process.

To enhance your teaching skills, you may decide to take a qualification relevant to music teaching, for example:

• Trinity Level 4 Certificate for Music Educators (Trinity CME) aimed at music educators (instrumental and vocal teachers, early years and primary teachers, community musicians and workshop leaders) working with children or adults, beginners or advanced students
• RSL Professional Diploma at levels 4 (for new professionals) and 6 (for experienced professionals) - both of which have a teaching pathway.
• The ABRSM also offers diplomas in Music Teaching and Education in music, though these are not for beginners at entry-level.

Check providers’ websites for a list of approved training centres.

If you've already got a degree or equivalent in music and want to work in schools, you could consider doing a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), or Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) in Scotland. Although this isn't an essential requirement for a private music teacher, it may enhance your application.

Students looking for a music teacher will consider a range of factors, such as your qualifications, level of experience, teaching style and availability. They will also want to know about practical matters such as the fees you charge, cancellation policies and additional resources available (and their costs).

Skills

You'll need to have:

• musical and teaching ability
• patience, perseverance and excellent communication skills - much of your time is spent with a range of students at different musical levels, as well as with their parents/carers if they are children
• the ability to build and develop positive relationships and to motivate and encourage your pupils
• high standards of professionalism and ethical practice
• reliability and flexibility - parents/carers often rely on word of mouth and recommendations when choosing a music teacher for their child
• excellent self-management and planning skills
• strong record-keeping and organisation
• the ability to discuss money clearly and professionally
• resourcefulness, resilience and the ability to make things happen
• willingness to try new approaches
• passion and enthusiasm for music and teaching
• readiness to do routine tasks as well as the exciting ones
• strong classroom and behaviour management skills if working in schools
• an awareness of safeguarding and child protection requirements (if working with children and young adults)
• good working knowledge of online communication platforms such as Zoom or similar tools if you are teaching online.

Work experience

Whatever teaching or performing qualifications you've got, there's no substitute for practical experience. You need to take every opportunity to get involved in music teaching. This could include giving lessons to family and friends at a reduced rate to develop your skills and gain experience.

Raise your profile by giving local performances, arranging concerts and gigs, and performing wherever you can. This could involve joining a local orchestra, band or choir. Establishing a good reputation as a performer yourself can help you attract students. Skill as a piano accompanist can also be useful and may lead to extra work for examinations, choirs and dance classes/performances.

A private teaching practice is usually built up through personal recommendation, so networking with local musicians and other music teachers is important. Consider joining the Musicians' Union and the ISM (both organisations offer a student membership rate) while studying for a music degree, and using networks such as the national Youth Music Network and LinkedIn to help develop your professional contacts.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Most private music teachers work on a self-employed basis, sometimes combining teaching with other activities such as performing or composing.

As a private music teacher, you may be 'contracted' directly by your pupils or an organisation such as a school music service, which may engage you to teach pupils in schools in their area.

Typical employers include:

• local authorities - bringing pupils together into local or regional choirs, orchestras, wind ensembles and jazz bands
• schools, colleges and universities
• youth arts and drama organisations
• privately and publicly-funded music centres
• private pupils, both children and adults.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Local Government Jobs - local authorities occasionally advertise vacancies for private, peripatetic and visiting music teachers (or you can contact individual local authorities speculatively).
• Music Jobs UK
• Music Mark - has a music education jobs board.
• Musical Chairs - jobs in teaching and performance.
• Tes Jobs - the education press advertises vacancies for private, peripatetic and visiting teachers in schools.

Some vacancies are advertised on LinkedIn.

You'll need to use your initiative to find opportunities and promote your business. For example, you could advertise your lessons locally by leaving your card or flyer in music shops, libraries and schools, or use social media and online platforms to boost your profile.

You can also register your details on databases such as:

• ISM Music Directory (where all private music teachers listed are members of the ISM).
• MusicTeacher.com
• MusicTeachers.co.uk

Professional development

You'll need to maintain your own musical skills and continue to develop professionally as a teacher. This includes keeping up to date with developments in music education and teaching through personal reading, attending conferences, courses and seminars.

The Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) offers a range of training and continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities, including seminars and free webinars in areas such as setting tuition fees, developing a portfolio career, promotion, health and wellbeing, and safeguarding.

Training in child protection and safeguarding issues is also available through the Child Protection in Education (Music) online course developed by the Musicians' Union (MU) in partnership with EduCare.

Membership of the MU and the ISM is important as it provides access to careers and business advice to help your business grow, as well as as practical support such as lesson planning documentation, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks , National Insurance contributions, insurance, and legal and other teaching-related issues.

As a member of the ISM, you can apply for Registered Private Teacher (RPT) status. This shows potential pupils and parents that you've been reference and criminal record checked and have signed up to the ISM's Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy, Code of Practice and procedures. For more information and to apply, see the ISM.

There are opportunities to develop your teaching skills further. The Level 6 RSL Professional Diploma, for example, has a teaching pathway and is aimed at experienced professionals looking to develop their career. A number of universities offer music education courses at postgraduate level.

Search postgraduate courses in music education.

Career prospects

There are limited opportunities to move into more senior positions as a private music teacher. However, there are some coordinating and managerial roles available in local school music services. Arts management and leadership roles are also possible.

Despite limited promotion prospects within music teaching itself, there are various opportunities for professional and musical development, including:

• working as a qualified teacher in mainstream school music teaching
• examining for music boards, such as ABRSM, which involves assessing candidates’ performances
• festival adjudication, judging performances by students on different instruments or in singing
• curriculum development
• orchestra, choir or arts administration
• directing choirs or orchestras
• composing music
• performing
• accompanying at examinations, recitals or dance lessons (if you're a pianist with good sight-reading skills)
• lecturing and research in universities and colleges of higher education.

If you choose to stay in private music teaching, there are several possibilities:

• teaching pupils at higher grades
• specialising in a particular type of music such as early music or jazz piano
• directing choirs and orchestras for local and regional educational bodies
• teaching masterclasses.

To make a full-time sustained career as a private music teacher, you may need to combine several of these activities.