My Private Lessons - Teacher FAQ

Find a local music teacher, for free!

FAQs for
Teachers

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FAQs for
Students

Question: How does My Private
Lessons get me students?
Answer: We use search engine
optimization so that we show up in
web searches when students or
parents are looking for music
instructors. We engage in smart
online ad buys in targeted markets.
Plus, we get down in the mud with
grassroots efforts, such as working
craigslist.org and promoting the site
with fliers in music stores and
personal outreaches to target
students in music schools as well as
in the music programs of public and
private schools.

Question: Why is it free?
Answer: Our philosophy is that if
we build a really useful, easy-to-use
service, people will find it and like it
and use it. Sure, we hope to turn a
profit some day, but we're confident
that right now we should just worry
about building it and making it great.

Question: Why are you working so
hard to get me students?
Answer: We recognize that we
must continue to attract new
students so you'll recognize the
value of having your profile in our
database.

Question: I wants to "own" my
'hood. Can I be an exclusive
instructor in my area?
Answer: Yes, to a point, Snoop
Dog. We will only allow a limited
amount of teachers per zip code:
Approximately three instructors per
instrument per zip code (we'll allow
five instructors per zip code for
guitar). We won't do any of these
kinds of restrictions, however, while
the site is free.

Question: With whom am I
competing?
Answer: Nice grammar! No more
than two others for every instrument
and for vocal instruction -- except
for guitar instructors, where there
are four others. But again, while the
site is free, we're letting everyone
climb on board. We'll reduce the
number of teachers per instrument,
per zip code later -- when/if we ever
charge a fee.

Question: Can I upload my photos
and videos?
Answer: Heck yeah. You can
upload photos, as well as audio and
video files. In fact, we highly
recommend that you pepper your
profile with this stuff, because music
students want to hear and see their
teacher. (Be sure to upload your
coolest photos ... you've got to
protect your rep ;) If you have a
recording of you performing, or
perhaps a video of you at a recital,
those greatly increase your ability to
attract new students.

Question: Can I quit any time?
Answer: Of course. But we hope to
provide so much value that you will
be with us forever. Besides,
remember that it's free. We're not
planning to charge any time soon
(maybe never).

Question: Who are you people?
Answer: What kind of question is
that?! Well, we are musicians, music
instructors and entrepreneurs. We're
probably just like you. Contact us.

Question: Is My Private Lessons
free?
Answer: Yep, it's a free service for
music students. The music teachers
don't pay a fee either.

Question: Why are you working so
hard to help me find a music
teacher?
Answer: We'll, actually, it started
because we couldn't find good
musical instruction -- close to home
-- for our own kids. "Necessity is the
mother of invention," and all that.
We're doing this for free, as a
service to music teachers and music
students, although we hope that the
karma will shine on us and we might
be able to make a profit some day,
somehow.

Question: Why is it free?
Answer: Our philosophy is that if
we build a really useful, easy-to-use
service, people will find it and like it
and use it. Sure, we hope to turn a
profit some day, but we're confident
that right now we should just worry
about building it and making it great.

Question: Do you screen your
music teachers?
Answer: We don't do any kind of
screening, however, our music
teacher profile is pretty thorough
and you can get a good feel for not
only how experienced a teacher is,
but also what kind of teaching
philosophy they use. Want more
legal junk on this? Read our Privacy
and Legal statement.

Question: What other services do
you provide?
Answer: Soon, we'll be adding a
feature that allows musicians to find
prospective band mates by zip code.
Again, this feature was motivated by
necessity, because it can be difficult
-- especially for young musicians
who can't drive yet -- to find other
band mates nearby who can fill out
their band roster.

Question: Anything else?
Answer: Also, we'll be creating a
dedicated page for each instrument
(guitar, drums, violin, etc.) and
offering musician's tips & tricks as
well as recommendations on the
products they prefer, such as, their
favorite guitar strings, their
recommended drum heads, an
excellent vocal warm-up technique,
etc. Oh, also, we're currently
collecting from our music teachers a
list of the best music training videos.

Question: Who are you people?
Answer: What kind of question is
that?! Well, we are musicians, music
instructors and entrepreneurs. We're
probably just like you. Contact us.