The hardest way to teach guitar lessons is when you teach in a commodity market. If your lessons are basically no different than the lessons offered by every other teacher in town, there’s really no reason for potential students to choose you over anyone else except one: price. Unless you understand how to keep […]
STG 117: Rework Your Teaching Studio For Better Results
There are lots of business-related books out there you could read to improve your teaching studio, but one of the best books I’ve ever read is a funky little book with short chapters and full-page artwork called Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, the founders of 37Signals, Basecamp and Ruby On Rails. […]
STG 116: 5 Methods For Mastering Money In Your Guitar Teaching Studio
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG116.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS Many guitar teachers have a love/hate relationship with money. It’s awesome to get paid for doing something you love, but it’s no fun working hard doing something you love and not getting paid what you should be. Too many guitar teachers […]
STG 115: Why Guitar Teachers Who Specialize Make More Money
Just like with doctors in the medical profession, you can choose to generalize or specialize as a guitar teacher. That choice can make the difference between a thriving business with almost no competition and struggling to attract enough students to make a good living with your teaching studio. There are a few situations where […]
STG 114: How To Succeed At Offline Marketing
Advertising and marketing can be a challenge for any small business. The good news is that there are really only three kinds of marketing you need to learn about: online marketing, referral marketing and offline marketing. While you’re waiting for your website and referral program to kick in (which can take some time), there […]
STG 113: How Emotions Influence New Student Acquisition
It’s a very familiar story: a potential new student comes along through your website or some other form of advertising, they read all about the cool features of your studio and they seem to be getting close to signing up for guitar lessons…but then they decide against it. Maybe they even sign up with […]
STG 112: Growing Your Teaching Studio $5 At A Time
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG112.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS There are a lot of cool websites out there, but the coolest site for small business owners has got to be fiverr.com. There’s no place else on earth where you can get almost anything done that you could imagine and only have […]
STG 111 : Why Prospects Don’t Become Guitar Students (And What To Do About It)
Have you ever had potential students get really close to signing up for guitar lessons, and then have them back out? There’s a business concept called “friction” that can make it harder for people to choose to do business with you, and if you don’t understand what’s going on, it can be baffling as […]
STG 110 : Buying vs Leasing Your Teaching Space
If you’ve been teaching guitar lessons for a while and you’ve reach a certain level of success, the question of moving into commercial teaching space is always in the back of your mind. If you’ve outgrown your home studio and it’s time to move up, should you RENT that new commercial space or should […]
STG 109 : How To Make Better Business Decisions
Have you ever made a decision and then lived to regret it later? Decision making is one of those few business tasks you can’t really delegate to anybody else. As an entrepreneur guitar teacher, the buck stops with YOU! Your business will succeed or fail based on the decisions you make, so it makes […]
STG 108: How NOT To Teach Guitar Lessons
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG108.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS I’ve done lots of podcast episodes about how to become a better guitar teacher; today I want to take a look at this from a different angle and talk about how NOT to teach guitar lessons. There are tons of teachers out […]
STG 107 : 2014 Guitar Teacher Survey Results
Are you wondering how much other guitar teachers are charging for their lessons? Wondering how many students other teachers are actually teaching? How about how much money real teachers are making from their teaching studios? The results of the 2014 Guitar Teacher Survey are in, and this episode will have all the details. I’ll go […]
STG 106 : How To Make Your Taxes Less Painful
Benjamin Franklin once said “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Tax season comes around every single year, and it’s a big source of stress and frustration for most small business owners, including guitar teachers. If you procrastinate and don’t do anything to prepare yourself for tax […]
STG 105 : 10 Guitar Blogs You Should Be Reading
Reading guitar blogs is a great way to keep a “growing edge” on your skills as a guitar teacher. Good blogs will keep you updated on the latest guitar-related developments, give you excellent articles and information you can forward on to your students and provide you with a steady source of new (and FREE) […]
STG 104: 7 Guitar Teaching Excuses I Never Want To Hear Again
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG104.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS If you’ve been thinking about taking the plunge into teaching guitar lessons but you haven’t found the motivation to actually get started, then this episode is for you. There are lots of excuses we’ve all made at one time or another for […]
STG 103 : Why Learning The Guitar Is So Difficult
I think guitar teachers sometimes have a tendency to forget where we came from. Whenever we teach absolute beginners how to play guitar, we tend to look at things through the lens of where we are TODAY as a player and we don’t always see things from the perspective of someone who has never picked […]
STG 102 : How To Build Momentum and Reach The Tipping Point
Nothing is more frustrating than pouring your heart and soul into your teaching business for months and feeling like you haven’t made any progress. Most guitar teachers tend to give up when they don’t quickly see results for their efforts, but more often than not, the breakthrough you’ve been looking for in your business […]
STG 101 : How To Choose The Right Business Name For Your Teaching Studio
Have you ever seen a business with a really bad name…or worse yet, a name that you never even bothered to remember at all? Your business name really can make or break your teaching studio, and if you design a great name, it can become one of your biggest marketing advantages. In this episode, […]
STG 100: Milestones – 100 Episodes of Start Teaching Guitar
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG100.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS This week is the 100th episode of the Start Teaching Guitar Podcast! In this “centennial” episode, I’m going to talk about the milestones we’ve hit together with STG and tell the story of how it all came together almost 3 years ago. […]
STG 099 : 5 Marketing Mistakes That Drive Students Away
A lot of guitar teachers work really hard on marketing themselves to attract new students, but they don’t see the results they hoped for. The phone doesn’t ring and their email inboxes are empty, so they start to think that marketing is just a waste of time and their businesses never become as successful […]
STG 098 : How To Be a One Stop Shop For Your Guitar Students
When I was a kid we had a different shop to visit for everything we needed: we bought our groceries at one store, our clothing at another store, our light bulbs the local hardware store and our vehicle tires at the local tire store. Then I remember when Wal-Mart opened a store in our little […]
STG 097 : How To Use An Amazing Guarantee To Grow Your Teaching Studio
Did you know that one of the best ways to grow your teaching studio is to offer a guarantee? Guarantees take away the risk of trying guitar lessons with you and provide a higher level of comfort for your potential students, but they can also be a tool to dramatically increase your student acquisition, […]
STG 096: 7 Secrets of Student Retention
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG096.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS A lot of guitar teachers struggle to grow their businesses because they lose students as fast as they come in…it’s like trying to bail water out of a sinking ship, and they never seem to be able to get ahead. The solution […]
STG 095 : Overview of the 4 Main Music Instruction Methods – Part 2
Most guitar teachers just teach “freestyle” and don’t use any kind of formal method with their students, but there’s a lot we can learn by looking at formal music education methods and adapting some of their more effective principles to what we already do as guitar teachers. There are 4 primary formal music education […]
STG 094 : Overview of the 4 Main Music Instruction Methods – Part 1
Most guitar teachers just teach “freestyle” and don’t use any kind of formal method with their students, but there’s a lot we can learn by looking at formal music education methods and adapting some of their more effective principles to what we already do as guitar teachers. There are 4 primary formal music education […]
STG 093 : Protecting Your Students From Hand Injury
One of the lesser talked-about aspects of playing the guitar is protecting yourself from repetitive strain injuries in your hands and wrists. There’s nothing more disheartening than spending years of your life mastering an instrument like the guitar and then finding out you may have to give it up completely because you never took […]
STG 092: 12 Online Productivity Tools For Guitar Teachers
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG092.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS Today’s high-tech world has it’s ups and downs, but it’s a great time to be alive and teaching guitar lessons. There are more inexpensive tools available today to help you run a successful teaching studio than there have ever been in the history […]
STG 091 : How To Resolve Conflicts With Your Guitar Students
Experiencing conflict with one of your students is pretty rare, but it definitely happens. When it comes to resolving conflict with difficult guitar students, an ounce or prevention is worth a pound of cure: it’s a LOT easier to use good student retention practices to prevent problems from ever happening than to try and […]
STG 090 : Dealing With Overcommitted Guitar Students
Overcommitted students are common in almost every teaching studio, but you don’t have to let that become a problem for you. If you can understand what life is like for the families of these students and adapt the way you do business to make things EASIER for them, you can take good care of […]
STG 089 : Teaching Is Really Managing
Teaching your guitar students and managing employees have some pretty striking similarities. By taking a closer look at some of the skills you need to be a good manager, you can improve the way you teach guitar lessons, have better student retention and help your guitar students get better results on the instrument. In […]
STG 088: How To Beat 7 Common Guitar Teaching Fears
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG088.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS Maybe you’ve been thinking about starting up your own guitar teaching studio, but you keep putting it off. The root of procrastination is FEAR, and fear will always rob you of opportunities for success. If you can understand and overcome your fears, […]
STG 087 : How To Teach Great Guitar Tone
The gear and equipment your students use can play a huge part in what kind of guitar players they become, and in whether or not they really get excited about learning the guitar. Being able to dial in a really good, appropriate guitar sound for the style of music your students want to learn […]
STG 086 : How To Fire Your Worst Guitar Students
Sometimes one of the best ways to grow your teaching studio is to pull out the pruning shears and weed out the “bottom 10%” of your students…the ones who cause the most trouble, who don’t respect your studio policies and who seem to not be a good fit. It can feel scary sometimes to […]
STG 085 : Growing Your Teaching Studio Through Special Promotions & Sales
There are two ways you can use marketing & advertising to bring in new guitar students: “slow and steady over time” and “in chunks”. Most of your marketing efforts will be focused on keeping a slow and steady stream of prospects and referrals coming in, but once in a while it can be very […]
STG 084: Why Teaching Guitar Will Never Meet Your “Needs”
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG084.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS Sometimes you can do the right thing, but be doing it for the wrong reasons. One reason why some guitar teachers are frustrated and never see the success they WANT is because they try to use their teaching business to meet NEEDS […]
STG 083 : Are You Ready To Teach Guitar Full-Time?
Making the leap to teach guitar lessons full-time can be a scary proposition. How do you know if you’re really ready? How do you even know if it’s the right decision for you? Making your teaching studio a full-time career can be one of the most liberating experiences of your life, as long as […]
STG 082 : Branding, Music Lessons and Mind Control
What do people associate with your teaching studio when they come into contact with it? Do you stand out in their minds and create a connection with them? Do they know exactly what you stand for and why they should choose you for guitar lessons? Strong branding is what helps cut through the “white […]
STG 081 : 4 Ways To Expand Your Teaching Studio
If you’ve been teaching guitar lessons for a while and it feels like you’re stuck in a rut, then this episode is for you! It’s time to start thinking about ways to EXPAND your current teaching studio and growing it into a more successful business that lets you help more students and also put […]
STG 080: The Pros and Cons of Self Employment
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG080.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS Being a full-time self-employed guitar teacher is a path to the kind of success and the kind of life many people dream about…but it’s definitely not for everybody. There are lots of reasons why it could be the best decision you ever […]
STG 079 : How To Stop Losing Students In The Summer
Many guitar teachers have trouble with losing students during the summer months, but that doesn’t have to be a problem for YOU. Re-thinking the way you offer your guitar lessons and educating your students and their parents about the value of summer lessons can actually help you be MORE PROFITABLE during this traditionally slow […]
STG 078 : The Amazing Power of Commitment
Are you COMMITTED to teaching guitar or just INTERESTED in it? Commitment is the secret weapon that can help you be more successful as a guitar teacher! If you can find the courage to commit to your own success, you’ll find motivation, resources and creativity you never realized you had access to. In this […]
STG 077 : Protecting Your Teaching Business From The Unthinkable
What would happen to your teaching business if something happened to YOU? Would it continue to be an asset that could generate income for your family members or would it just fade away into oblivion? Spending a little bit of time working on a business continuation plan can help ensure that your teaching studio […]
STG 076: Why You Need To Raise Your Tuition Rates
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG076.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS Are you tired of struggling to make ends meet as a guitar teacher? Ready to break through the financial barriers that are holding you back and also start teaching some better quality students who respect you and your time? The solution you’ve […]
STG 075 : Understanding Your Students Better – Part 2 (Psychographics)
The first step towards attracting more new guitar students and growing your teaching studio is understanding your target market better. If you don’t know WHO you want to reach and HOW to get their attention, it’s impossible to put together an effective strategy that will help you reach your goals. Without this vital information […]
STG 074 : Understanding Your Students Better – Part 1 (Demographics)
The first step towards attracting more new guitar students and growing your teaching studio is understanding your target market better. If you don’t know WHO you want to reach and HOW to get their attention, it’s impossible to put together an effective strategy that will help you reach your goals. Without this vital information […]
STG 073 : How To Use Your Story To Attract New Students
What would you say if I told you that you’re probably OVERLOOKING the most powerful tool available to market your guitar teaching studio? How about if I said it was completely UNIQUE to you, guaranteed to make your prospects more ENGAGED with your business and absolutely FREE to use? It’s all completely true, and […]
STG 072: Why Teaching Guitar is a Top Career Choice for the Next Decade
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG072.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS With the world economy being so uncertain, a lot of guitar teachers are wondering if they’ve made the right career decision. With so many other jobs being replaced by technology, is teaching guitar lessons a safe bet for the foreseeable future? The […]
STG 071 : Growing Your Teaching Business Through Simplicity
Sometimes when you add MORE, you actually end up with LESS. Many times the best way to grow your guitar teaching business is through SUBTRACTION and not ADDITION. Adding more of the wrong features, products and services can actually decrease your effectiveness and hurt your student retention, and often the best way to reach […]
STG 070 : 3 Simple Sales Techniques To Improve Your Teaching Profits
Wouldn’t it be cool to improve the profitability of your teaching studio and make more money without having to attract a single new student or do any additional advertising? Using these 3 simple, easy-to-implement sales techniques you can earn more income from the students you ALREADY TEACH by providing extra services that can add […]
STG 069 : Are Your Communication Skills Hurting Your Student Retention?
According to George Bernard Shaw, the single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place. Just because you’re TALKING, that doesn’t necessarily mean your students are LEARNING. If you spend a little bit of time working on your communication skills, it can pay you back with better student retention and […]
STG 068: 7 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Teaching Guitar
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG068.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS You know what they say: “hindsight is 20/20”. You never have all the answers or all the information you need when you’re first getting started as a guitar teacher, and some of the most valuable lessons of all don’t come until you’ve […]
STG 067 : Why Your Marketing Isn’t Working (And How To Fix It)
Sometimes it feels like you’re doing everything you’re supposed to do to market and advertise your guitar teaching business, but nothing seems to be working. You have a website, an email list, social media profiles, local search and all the rest, but where are all the new students those things are supposed to bring […]
STG 066 : How To Increase Your Word of Mouth Referrals
Word of mouth referrals are the easiest, most effective and most productive way to attract new guitar students, and they usually bring in the highest quality students, too. If you haven’t started mobilizing your existing students and using them to do your advertising and recruiting for you through word-of-mouth referrals, you’re not making as […]
STG 065 : How Your Confidence Level Can Make Or Break Your Teaching Business
Your confidence level has a big impact on how successful you are with teaching guitar lessons. A high level of confidence will help you keep moving forward when times are tough, and a low level of confidence will make you feel like giving up. If you can keep your confidence level high, you have […]
STG 064: 15 Components of a Complete Guitar Player
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG064.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS What is a complete guitar player? There are a lot of different aspects to being a well-rounded musician. People debate this subject all the time. Is it all about how well you can play technical passages, or how well you understand theory […]
STG 063 : How Using A Budget Can Save Your Teaching Business From Total Destruction
Hands down, the biggest reason why every kind of small business goes belly-up (including guitar teachers) is because of MONEY. Not staying on top of your income and expenses can get you into all kinds of trouble, including tax problems, not being able to pay your bills and not being able to keep your […]
STG 062: 5 Ways Your Students Can Sabotage Their Guitar Lessons
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG062.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS Guitar students can choose to quit taking lessons with you for several different reasons. Sometimes it’s because of something you did or didn’t do as a teacher, sometimes it’s just because life gets in the way, and sometimes it’s because they do […]
STG 061 : How Your Personality Type Can Impact Your Guitar Lessons
Do you ever wish you could understand why your students respond to your lessons the way they do? Maybe you’d love to know what strengths and weaknesses you bring to your guitar teaching business so you could get help with the things that could make you more successful? Understanding personality types and how they interact […]
STG 060: Time Management For Guitar Teachers – Interview With Kevin Toller
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG060.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS Are you so busy teaching guitar lessons that you don’t feel like you have time for the things that really matter? Or maybe you work a full-time day job and teach guitar on the side and it feels like you don’t have […]
STG 059 : The 80/20 Principle of Teaching Guitar
The 80/20 principle applies to many aspects of teaching guitar lessons, and it can really help you be more successful as a teacher, as a musician and in your life. By focusing on the 20% of your efforts that bring you 80% of your results, you can maximize the level of success you see in […]
STG 058: Riff Master Pro – Interview With Heath Nicholson
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG058.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS You’ve probably heard of Riff Master Pro by now, but you may not know much about Heath Nicholson…the guitar teacher from Sydney, Australia who created it. Heath is a successful teacher, performing guitarist and business owner who has some excellent advice for […]
STG 057 : How To Track Leads And Convert Them Into Guitar Students
Have you ever been so busy with teaching guitar lessons and keeping your business running that you forgot to call back someone who was interested in becoming your student? It’s a common problem once your teaching business starts to get some traction, but you don’t have to lose new students just because you can’t keep […]
STG 056: Teaching Guitar To Kids
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG056.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS Have you ever pulled your hair out trying to teach an 8-year-old how to play an open C chord? Some guitar teachers think teaching younger kids is the least desirable way to make a living, but that’s only true if you don’t […]
STG 055 : How To Use Online Classified Ads To Attract More Guitar Students
In this episode, I’ll be covering how to use online classified ads to advertise your teaching business more effectively and attract new guitar students. Classified ads may not be the biggest avenue for new students, but it’s an advantageous one to check into because they are easy to set up and don’t cost you any […]
STG 054: Guitar Pedagogy Basics
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG054.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS In this episode, I’m going to be talking about guitar pedagogy…what it is, what it can do for your teaching business and why you should care. Pedagogy is one of those areas that most guitar teachers aren’t really familiar with and don’t […]
STG 053 : Accounting Basics For Guitar Teachers
Accounting and bookkeeping for your teaching business doesn’t have to be BORING or OVERWHELMING! It can actually be a valuable tool to help you grow and manage your business more effectively. In this episode, I’ll explain 5 key accounting concepts you need to understand to be able to speak your accountant’s “language”, 3 key financial […]
STG 052: Girls Guitar School – Interview With October Crifasi
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG052.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS In this episode I’m going to introduce you to someone who’s a great example of how you can target your teaching business toward a specific group of students, and how that can help you stand out in a crowded local market and […]
STG 051 : How To Optimize Your Sales Funnel To Attract More Guitar Students
Is the process of attracting new guitar students and generating referrals baffling to you? Maybe it’s because you don’t have a high-level understanding of how marketing works in your teaching business. This episode will explain exactly how! I’ll get into the 6 stages your STUDENTS go through as they become customers in your teaching business, […]
STG 050: 7 Things You Might Be Doing To Drive Your Guitar Students Away
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG050.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS Are you losing guitar students on a regular basis, but you don’t really know why? There’s a good chance you might be doing something to drive your students away! In this episode, I’ll get into 7 different ways guitar teachers can unknowingly […]
STG 049 : How To Have “More Than Enough” In Your Teaching Business
There are two different ways you can choose to view your guitar teaching business…and the world. You can look at things from a mindset of SCARCITY (where there’s never enough of ANYTHING) or from a mindset of ABUNDANCE (where you always have MORE THAN ENOUGH). The choice is up to you, and the mindset you […]
STG 048: Fretboard Theory – Interview With Desi Serna
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG048.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSAre you tired of not having a good understanding of music theory, as a player and a teacher? It’s hard to teach these things to your students when you’re still struggling with them yourself…but that doesn’t have to be problem for you any […]
STG 047 : How To Attract The RIGHT Guitar Students
When it comes to attracting new guitar students, QUALITY is more important than QUANTITY. It’s pretty easy to get a bunch of new students through advertising, but many times the students you GET are not the students you WANT. In this episode, I’ll explain why you need to focus on teaching the RIGHT students, and […]
STG 046: 7 Ways You Can Succeed as a Guitar Teacher In the New Year
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG046.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSThe new year is already here, and it’s the PERFECT time to re-evaluate your teaching business and focus on a few areas that can bring you some strategic growth. In this episode I’ll give you 7 specific areas you can focus on to […]
STG 045 : How To Write A One-Page Business Plan That Will Grow Your Teaching Business
Failing to PLAN is really planning to FAIL! Instead of letting your students and the economy take your business where you DON’T want it to go, a simple one-page business plan can change your future and put things in your favor. In this episode, I’ll give you a FAST, EASY and SIMPLE technique for creating […]
STG 044: 7 Tips To Help Your Students Practice Guitar More Effectively
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG044.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSHelping your students practice guitar more effectively is the SECRET to becoming a better guitar player. If your students don’t practice, they won’t IMPROVE…and they probably won’t STAY with you for very long. If you want to succeed as a guitar teacher, you […]
STG 043 : Four Key Business Metrics For Guitar Teachers
Do you ever feel like you don’t have any CONTROL over your teaching business? Almost like your driving down the highway with your EYES CLOSED…HOPING you’re heading where you want to go? Well, you don’t have to WONDER and GUESS any more! Tracking a few key BUSINESS METRICS for your teaching business will help you […]
STG 042: Guitar Teacher Success Story – Interview With Austin Jones
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG042.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSIn this episode, I’m doing an interview with Austin Jones…a Group Guitar Launch Formula owner and guitar teacher from Texas who’s a perfect example of the kind of success you can have in your teaching business if you apply the information taught here […]
STG 041 : Liability Insurance for Guitar Teachers
In this episode I’m going to tell you all about business liability insurance and WHY you need to have it as a guitar teacher. Insurance is one of those boring things that nobody wants to hear about, but the truth is that it could literally SAVE YOUR BUSINESS one day. There’s no reason why you […]
STG 040: 10 Characteristics of a Perfect Guitar Student
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG040.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSIn this episode we’re going to turn things around and focus on what makes a guitar STUDENT good and successful. This is valuable information you can use to ATTRACT the perfect students for your teaching business, TRAIN the students you already have to […]
STG 039 : How To Improve Your Search Engine Ranking With Google Plus
The website you use for teaching guitar only helps you if prospective students can actually FIND it…and ranking highly in the search engines is the way to make that happen. In this episode, I’ll tell you all about how using a Google Plus social media account can help you improve the search engine rankings for […]
STG 038: Teaching Music Theory -vs- Teaching Songs
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG038.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSIn this episode, I’ll be talking about two very different approaches to teaching guitar: leading off with music theory or going with songs, instead. There’s quite a bit of contention about this and lots of guitar teachers who fall on one side of […]
STG 037 : How To Stop Procrastination From KILLING Your Teaching Business
This could be one of the most important episodes of the STG podcast I’ve ever done! Procrastination has the power to KILL your guitar teaching business like nothing else can…it silently, slowly drains away your productivity and keeps you from taking the bold, positive steps you NEED to be taking to be as successful as […]
STG 036: How To Be a GREAT Guitar Teacher
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG036.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSIn this episode we’re digging into all the different qualities and skills that make a guitar teacher GREAT! One of the best ways to grow your teaching business for the long-term is to improve the QUALITY of the services you provide, and we’re […]
STG 035 : How To Improve Your Customer Service Skills
In this episode we’re going to be talking about CUSTOMER SERVICE…not just how to provide a good service to your customers (your students), but how to completely EXCEED their expectations and give them an experience they will never forget! I’ll explain all the benefits that good customer service can bring to your guitar teaching business, […]
STG 034 : Components of a Million Dollar Mindset
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG034.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSIn this episode, I’ll tell you about why your mindset is so important…it’s actually one of the most critical things to get right if you want to succeed as a guitar teacher! If you have the wrong mindset, you’ll never reach your full […]
STG 033 : Protecting Your Teaching Business With An LLC
In this episode, I’ll tell you all about LLC’s and other business entities you could use to protect your guitar teaching business from lawsuits and excessive taxes. There are TONS of benefits you can get by using a formal business entity to operate your teaching business, and also TONS of problems you can face by […]
STG 032 : 5 Challenges For Beginning Guitar Teachers
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG032.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSIn this episode, I’ll tell you about 5 challenges most beginning guitar teachers have to face. Starting your own teaching business isn’t always a bed of roses…but if you KNOW ABOUT the challenges ahead of time, you can PREPARE for them, OVERCOME them […]
STG 031 : How Competition Can HELP Your Teaching Business
In this episode of the STG podcast, I’ll be talking about how COMPETITION can actually HELP your teaching business. Most people have the WRONG IDEA about competition! They think every other guitar teacher in town is a THREAT, and that the only way to succeed is to DOMINATE everybody else. This is based on LIMITED, […]
STG 030 : 7 Lies You’ve Been Told About Teaching Guitar Lessons
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG030.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSIn this episode, I’ll be telling you about 7 very common misconceptions…LIES, actually…that a lot of guitar teachers have been told. A lot of the things we take for granted and consider to be common sense JUST AREN’T TRUE when it comes to […]
STG 029 : How To Be A Musical Troubleshooter
In this episode, I’m going to give you a HUGE SECRET for being a better guitar teacher…how to TROUBLESHOOT PROBLEMS with your student’s guitar playing. Troubleshooting skills are ESSENTIAL for helping your students overcome weaknesses and make better progress on the guitar…they really are one of the primary things that separate a GOOD guitar teacher […]
STG 028 : Why 50% of New Guitar Teachers Fail
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG028.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSIn this episode, I’ll tell you why over HALF of all small business owners (including guitar teachers) FAIL within the first 5 years, and some things you can do to avoid joining the ranks of the “bottom 50%”. You don’t have to become […]
STG 027 : How To Use Niche Marketing To Succeed As a Guitar Teacher
In this episode, I’ll tell you all about niche marketing and how it can benefit you as a guitar teacher. Niche marketing (as opposed to MASS marketing) is a great way to differentiate yourself in a crowded area with lots of other guitar teachers, and it can actually help you attract MORE students and be […]
STG 026 : Building An Emotional Firewall Around Your Teaching Business
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
https://media.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/content.blubrry.com/startteachingguitar/STG026.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSIn this episode, I’ll tell you about how important your emotions are when it comes to having a successful guitar teaching business. It’s possible to fortify yourself emotionally and build a “firewall” around your teaching business so that when tough times come your […]
Join The Conversation!
Connect with STG on the following social networks:
-
Rocksmith – A Guitar Teacher’s Perspective
-
Death By Guitar Method Book
-
The “Taylor Swift” Guide To Teaching Guitar
-
Sure You Can Play, But Can You Teach?
-
The Biggest Lesson I Learned In 2011
-
STG 140: G4 Guitar Network – Interview With David Hart
-
STG 139: How To Start Teaching Guitar On A Shoestring Budget
-
STG 138: Increasing The Lifetime Value of Each Student
-
STG 137: Marketing For Students – Should You Push or Pull?
-
STG 136: Beginning Guitar Teacher Questions Answered
-
donp: We\'ll don\'t fool yourself! Take this from a Meta...
-
Dean: Goals are important for achieving success as they ...
-
Paris Asuan: Indeed Positive Thinking is the best option to be ...
-
MyLittleEye: A late comment perhaps but another thumbs from a n...
-
DonnieSchex: Thanks for the validation, Bronwyn! Good luck with...