There are copious reasons why you might want to consider giving private drum lessons in Ireland. Ireland continues to leave its mark on the international music scene with some respectable performances across some of the biggest stages over the past few years in particular.
The upcoming Irish musicians today have been influenced by different styles from all over the world without losing our own flare in the process.
The Bodhrán is a traditional Irish drum that has been part of the nation’s country’s culture throughout history, we even have our own styles of music that are culturally significant and exclusive to us. The Bodhrán is world-famous and is even practiced across the world in countries such as America and Australia.
It is understandable why you would want to take the first or next step in your tutoring career and contribute to something so exciting.
The purpose of this article is to help you to arrive at a competitive hourly rate so that you can make a living doing what you love!
Try not to worry too much about the level of your students too much, most students take up playing the drums as a hoppy and like to keep their training light-hearted and enjoyable.
The number of tutors giving lessons on how to play the drums across the island of Ireland is rising and has been for some time now. For that reason, it is certainly worthwhile exploring all of the options and teaching methods available to you such as on a one-to-one basis and online via webcam.
Specifically, how much you should charge and how much you stand to earn: teaching in a school, going independent; maybe even setting yourself up as an online drum tutor.
That being said, you might have considered melding your passion for playing the drums with your need to earn your living, but wonder about the finer details of establishing yourself as a drum teacher.
And how much is it going to cost you to become a drum teacher of any stripe?
Together let’s look at the logistics of establishing yourself as a percussion instructor of merit, all while avoiding the starving artist aspect of paying your dues as a teacher!
Teaching Drums in a School
Did you perhaps graduate from BIMM or the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin? Or maybe some other illustrious music school?
If so, you are one step ahead of any drummer who is self-taught – good as s/he may be!
If you are looking to teach in any public school, university, or music concern, you must have at least a Bachelor’s degree – a criterion that costs thousands of pounds to earn. You will also need to dedicate an average of four years to studying if you want to make it as a music teacher.
If you plan on teaching drums for the foreseeable future, then this expense could certainly be considered an investment into your future earning potential.
The average music teacher’s salary in Ireland is around €27,000 – €30,000 a year; This may deviate to some degree, with slightly higher rates in larger cities such as Dublin. When you are trying to arrive at a salary or hourly rate for your teaching, the local area and its cost of living are important factors to consider!
Thankfully landing a job teaching percussion in a secondary school will mean that the equipment will most likely be provided for you, and your curriculum will already be outlined.
It is also important that you know your worth, skilled teachers are always in demand, and being a competent drum instructor could be leveraged in helping you to negotiate a higher salary!
The beauty of teaching students music, or drums more specifically is you will have the option to supplement your income by teaching at night or on weekends.
These are all aspects of teaching that Mr Holland had to contend with!
Setting your hourly rate
Perhaps the most important considerations for you when trying to arrive at a flat rate to charge your students are the tutor’s experience, the price of other tutors, their qualifications (a qualified teacher can charge more than an undergraduate student who's tutoring for some extra cash), travel costs and even the student’s level.
For one, you get to set up your curriculum and accept students as you see fit. For example:
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you may take on students as young as three, provided that they have the strength and coordination to play
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you may use a variety of tools to teach, not just a drumset
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a practice pad and electronic drum set come to mind!
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You may teach at your home or studio, at clients’ homes; in a music store, or in a rented space
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You may host seminars, workshops, and clinics on specific aspects of drumming
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You may teach drum rudiments to beginners as well as any style of music to intermediate drummers
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You may communicate features of drumming that are generally not taught in formal classes, such as warmup exercises and drum tuning.
Naturally, establishing yourself as a drum teacher takes time, effort, and a bit of money so it is important that you also factor in these expenses in your rate!
How do your services stack up compared to theirs?
The average price for one hour of drum lessons is about €20, with some more experienced teachers in bigger cities such as Galway or Dublin charging up to €50.
How many students would you have to tutor to earn a living wage at that rate?
Another potential for earning is for you to go to your students’ homes, in which case you might add a few pounds to your fee for your travel expenses, depending on how far you have to go.
Teaching Drums Online
The concept of learning how to play the drums through your computer screen at home would have been completely alien to most people only a few years ago. Fast forward to today, where tutors and school teachers alike are turning to video format and one-to-one webcam lessons to help their students learn remotely.
Quite a few drum teachers have made the leap into the digital realm by uploading instructional videos and hosting classes online.
Could you see yourself joining them?
Over the past few years, we have seen a shift in learning models around the world, accelerated by the ongoing pandemic, the amount of resources and courses available to students online continues to increase.
By opting to teach drums online you would be opening yourself up to countless students who are looking to learn to play the instrument from all over the world. You also wouldn’t have to worry about commuting to your lessons and could fit more lessons into your schedule!
The average hourly rate for online drum lessons is about the same as in-person, averaging about €20 per hour in Ireland. But of course, you could charge more, depending on your level of education and experience – including any teaching experience you may have!
It’s no wonder why so many teachers are turning to online alternatives to make a living teaching what they love.
You could also provide value in other ways, such as maintaining a blog on your site: don’t you think your future students would like to read about your passion for drumming and any bands you jammed with?
As long as you provide them with a memorable learning experience and keep your students motivated, as long as you teach drum fundamentals and beyond, your remuneration could be what others call a decent living!
Earn more money teaching drums with Superprof!
As a site dedicated to connecting students with teachers, a Superprof profile will afford you just about the same benefits as setting up a website but without the cost.
Finding the right tutor to teach an instrument such as the drums is often a tall task for students and it often proves to be a difficult process, particularly for students that are just starting out. This is why you should consider listing your private drum tutorials on platforms such as Superporf. It will make it easier for students to find you and you will earn more as a result!
Not all of your students will have dedicated several months or years to playing the drums and may require a lot more assistance than others. The requirements of each of your students are likely to deviate to some degree with each session, and this should be factored in when arriving at a flat rate to charge for your services per hour.
While this hourly rate is likely to fluctuate depending on your own respective experience, it will provide you with a great benchmark to arrive at a fair price. Just a short browse through the tutors operating across the island of Ireland and you’ll find out what you can charge in your area!
The selection process is made a hell of a lot easier with Superprof, the platform makes what is typically a difficult task rather easy for students, giving them the opportunity to refine their search according to their own personal needs. Saving you and your students a lot of time.
Superprof has an established network of millions of tutors just like yourself all around the world and has a strong presence within Ireland. With countless qualified instructors teaching drums both in-person and online, you’ll waste no time finding the right fit for you! Your students will be able to find you with just a few simple clicks of a mouse.
The right students are waiting to be though how to play the drums on the platform. Kickstart your journey with the help of Superporf in Ireland today!
Can I still teach drums without qualifications?
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