Hi all, I
am very new to english forum. I live in zurich area for past 6 moths and really love it. I decided to start giving private piano lesons form home. Does anybody know if I need to be registered somewhere and if there is something like swiss music authority..etc... it would really help.
I would be very gratefull for any information...
Thank you

Katarina

Hi Katarina,
Welcome to the Forum and good luck with the music!
I`m pretty sure you should be registered to be teaching here but there are plenty of people on this forum who will be able to clarify it.
Cheers,
Basher

hey Basher,
thank you for your post...
I work as a teacher anyway so it is extra piano teaching ...
hope I can get some Info

Hi, you do not need to be registered to teach piano privately, but check your rental agreement first (assuming you are renting). Some (mine for instance) have clauses saying things about musical instruments and your neighbours may complain. If you do it without permission you may get thrown out.

I had to ask my landlords who initially said no, but after another letter from my Swiss wife they relented and said that I could teach guitar on a limited basis as long as the neighbours didn't complain.

Actually, you do need to be registered to teach privately. You have to be officially registered as self-employed. And, as mentioned, you will need to have permission from your landlord.

Of course, you could start without either of these requirements, but I really don't think it's worth it, considering how strongly Switzerland feels about Schwarzarbeit.

This also means you will probably charge more than if you were doing it all illegally, but I think it's so much better for everything to be above board.

I don't like moving introductions but this really about employment.

Katarina - could you perhaps post a new Introduction without asking questions about lessons etc. and then you'll get the welcomes you are entitled to.

I do work from home, but i have an agreement with my only neighbour...so thats fine, I am registred as self employed but i was wondering more about...how qualified do you have to be to be able to do it...I feel happy and confident about it but i would like to do things the legal way...what about giving grades etc..?

You don't need to be qualified to do it. If somebody wants to pay you to teach them the piano then that is ok. Obviously the tax side of it needs to be covered.

When I started teaching here privately I asked an established piano teacher for help and she said you don't need a qualification or to be registered and in 30 years nobody asked for her certificate.

Hi katarina, there is no official Swiss music authority to test you on your competence to teach. As long as you are registered as being self employed, have your own piano and have the ok from your landlord/neighbours, you are off to a good start.

With regards to giving grades, are you referring to the UK equivalent of ABRSM? Like Grade 1 to 8?? As far as I am aware, most European countries dont practice this, definitely not widely in Switzerland but there is a minority who choose to down that route simply because they like to have something tangible to work towards in the very near future.

Of course you have to be reasonably qualified to teach - you cant teach advanced level students if you are also just advanced yourself. Or you cant teach beginners if you only had a few years of music playing behind you. You need to be advanced to teach a beginner the basics to make sure that they start off their musical journey with a strong foundation and know when its time for them to progress. You also do need to be well informed of the various teaching methods out there in order to know what works best for each individual student - especially beginners. Different strokes for different folks. Having said that, qualifications isnt everything. From my own experience, there are students with PhDs in Music and other equally impressive CVs but are terrible teachers.

At the end of the day, personally, it all boils down to your passion, ability to motivate the student constructively, communicate effectively and your interest in the long term development and nurturing of the student, rather than just earning money off them. Good luck.

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Hi Katarina, Summerrain is spot on. If you've never taught privately before then I would really research this, especially when it comes to teaching beginners. You have to have a really strong methodology as you are laying the foundations for these students, and it is too easy to not do this properly.

Most recently I had a new student start who had already been learning for a year in America but could not name a single note, despite having worked through most of a book. It's too easy to always show a student what to do instead of giving them the strategies to be able to work it out for themselves.

I use the gradings as a guide for students but don't think they are particularly necessary for becoming a good player/musician. Instead I have regular recitals for my students and make sure I incorporate theory and aural training into my lessons.

Good luck with your teaching.

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