It's all your business: a final overview of professionalism in the music studio.(Professional Resources)(Column)

Over the last 30 years I have been fortunate to learn a great deal concerning professional issues. From my first year of charging $2.00 an hour and keeping no records to the present, it has been an exciting journey! By conducting teacher surveys, doing research, giving presentations, networking with other music teachers and writing articles and books, the area of professionalism in the music studio has become one of special interest to me. In this, my final column of "It's All of Your Business," I offer a brief overview of what I consider to be the essential elements of a professional studio. It seemed impossible to list them in order of importance, so this order is completely random.

Professional Attitude

Music is a necessary part of our culture, and it is grounded in the work that we do in our studios. Our job provides a valuable service to society, and we need to reflect that by thinking, looking, speaking and acting professionally. There is little chance that we will be perceived as highly accomplished professionals if we do not first perceive ourselves in that manner.

When we view what we do with pride and project that pride to others, they will see us far differently than if we act as if our work is insignificant. "I run an independent music studio" sounds quite a bit different than "I just teach piano in my home." Keeping studio space well organized, dressing professionally, using professional speech, separating teaching time from family time, keeping lesson time uninterrupted by outside distractions, and paying attention to the other nine items ...