People often imagine piano lessons as simply turning up, playing a few pieces, and heading home again. But there’s a lot that happens behind the scenes to make lessons personal, enjoyable, and tailored to each student. Here is what a typical day looks in my studio!
One thing many people don’t realise about music teaching is that it often involves antisocial hours. Most students want lessons after school or work, so evenings tend to be the busiest part of the day. As a morning person, this is honestly one of the most challenging parts of the job for me!
Because of that, I try to plan and prepare as much as possible earlier in the day, so that when lessons begin later on, everything is in place to create a relaxed and successful learning environment.
A typical day: Starting the Day
Most mornings, I’m up around 6:30 before teaching begins. Depending on the time of year, I’ll either head to the gym or spend some time at my allotment before properly starting work. It’s a nice balance to the time I spend indoors!
By around 8:30, I’m back home and getting ready for the day. I like to wear something that reflects my personality while still being comfortable enough to move around easily during lessons — something that’s very important when teaching!
Planning and Preparation
From around 9:30 to 11:30, I’ll usually be planning lessons, replying to emails, and organising the week ahead. At the moment, I’m also preparing for an upcoming performance, so alongside teaching I’ve been finalising advertising and rehearsals too. I’ve recently released some new music as well, so there’s always something creative happening outside the studio.
Around 11:30, I’ll stop for lunch and fit in a few household jobs like laundry or loading the dishwasher. One of the things I appreciate about self-employment is being able to weave some everyday life into the working week.
Depending on the day, I sometimes teach earlier afternoon students or travel to lessons, but this example is what happens in the studio on a typical Tuesday in my studio.
Creative Work and Practice
After lunch, I’ll often spend time researching new teaching ideas, or finding games and activities for younger students. I also keep my lesson database updated so I can track progress and plan future lessons effectively. On top of that, there’s usually blog writing (like this!) and admin to think about too.
And somewhere in amongst all of that, I try — though don’t always succeed — to fit in around 45 minutes of piano practice myself.
By around 3:00pm on a Tuesday, I’ll have a quick snack and a short break before teaching begins for the evening.
An Evening in the Studio
My first student of the day is currently preparing for a piano exam, so we focus on confidence, musicality, and polishing pieces ready for performance day.
After that, I teach a beginner who’s still getting to grips with note reading — but already has excellent taste in music!
On Tuesdays, I usually schedule supper between 5:30pm and 6:30pm because I prefer not to eat too late, and evenings are often the most popular lesson times.
Later on, I teach twins! They have separate lessons, but because they arrive together, we sometimes make the most of having four hands at the piano and play duets together.
After that, I teach an adult student who is working on improving their music reading skills. Together we focus on techniques and exercises that help make reading notation feel more natural and confident over time. It’s incredibly rewarding to see adult learners develop their skills and enjoy the process of learning something new.
Why I Like Teaching Piano
Every student learns differently, which is why I try to make lessons relaxed, encouraging, and tailored to the individual. Some students want to work towards grades and exams, while others simply want to play music they enjoy and build confidence at their own pace.
That’s one of the things that is fun about teaching piano — no two lessons are ever exactly the same.
Whether someone is a complete beginner, returning after a break, or looking to develop their playing further, my main goal is: helping students enjoy music and feel comfortable at the piano.
If you’ve ever thought about trying piano lessons, now is always the best time to start!
