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Does a Music Teacher Need a Web Site? Hundreds of music teachers have joined this cyber revolution, and set up web sites of their own. Some teachers offer online music lessons, others sell their books, games and CDs. But the big question is: does a music teacher really need a web site to be successful? To answer this question, let’s take a look at 4 major functions of a web site for music educators: 1. Selling products and services to customers all over the world. If you sell CDs, tapes, music activity books, lesson plans and other music-related products, having a web site will help you reach a wide audience. Although it will provide you with an additional source of income, it won’t do much to bring students into your practice. Most self-promotion by music teachers must be done locally, in order to reach students within a 5-mile radius. 2. Promoting your music-related services to people in the States and other countries. A web site is great to have if you are a performing musician, and don’t mind traveling outside of your city or state. I have seen many teachers who are giving online music lessons, and remote mentoring or tutoring to students. Some are conducted over the telephone, while others utilize instant messaging and e-mail. If you decide to add music mentoring to your list of services, a web site is a great way to promote it. 3. Establishing credibility in the eyes of your prospective students. A web site usually says, "I am serious about my business", especially if it’s well designed. A web site that is used for developing trust and credibility should have your credentials, achievements, testimonials from other students and parents, your photo and contact information posted. Your web address should be included on your business card, your flyers, and any other promotions you do. 4. Serving as an expanded brochure about your music studio and a resource for your students. Whenever prospects ask you for more information, you can point them to your web site. When parents want to find out when your next recital is, they’ll check out your site, as well. Your can post practice tips for students, resources for parents, articles written by and about you, a schedule of your performances, and current tuition fees on your web site. If you set up a web site to sell your products or remotely conducted music lessons, additional marketing will need to be done on a consistent basis. But if you use your web site as a tool for establishing your business and providing your students with a useful resource, you can incorporate it into everything else you do in your business. The decision is ultimately yours. My guess is: if Mozart had a web site, he would have died a little richer." Milana Leshinsky is a music teacher, an entrepreneur, and the author of 77 Ways to Build Your Music Practice. Visit her web site at http://www.buildyourmusicpractice.com/order.html
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