Setting up a studio - what gear do you need?

Your instrument.  That’s pretty helpful (although there have been occasions when my flute has had a little unintentional holiday…).  Really, it depends on what you’re teaching, what style of music you teach, and your style of teaching.

Music Stand

A heavy duty music stand is handy.  I used to use a collapsible stand, but after too many heavy folders, it…er…collapsed.  And not in the way the manufacturer had intended.  A heavy music stand does cost more than a collapsible one, but it will last for years and can withstand the beatings it gets from students.  Because, invariably, at some point, one of them will knock it over.  Fact.

A heavy stand is good because light can’t leak through it, making the music unreadable.  You can also use it to lean on when you write on the student’s music.

Sheet Music

You’re going to need something to put on the music stand.  Will you be responsible for providing the music?  Will your students have to provide their books?  I’ve said it before, and I’m going to say it many, many more times: be careful with photocopying.  If you do copy music, make sure you can legally do so.  If you get caught making illegal copies of music, there’s a fairly hefty fine coming your way.  But more importantly, don’t deny a fellow muso some income.

Chairs

Do you sit to teach?  You’ll need some chairs.  Or some kind of adjustable stool for all the tiny pianists you’ll be inspiring with your words of wisdom. Make sure the chairs don’t have arms.  You know how frustrating it is to try and play cello with the furniture getting in the way?  Don’t inflict that on your students.  It’s also a good idea to have somewhere for waiting parents to sit.

Metronome

Kinda obvious.

Tuner

See above.

Pencils

Because musicians NEVER use pen on their music.

Stickers

Can help with motivation.  Even high school kids like stickers (given in a completely ironical way…).

Tools

You’ll know what you need for your instrument.  And whatever else you need to fix the wobbly leg of the chair.

Desk

Pretty handy when you’re doing theory.

Manuscript paper

For when a kid needs you to transcribe that song for their school production which starts tomorrow.

CD player/speakers/iPod

Some kind of recording/playback device is always handy, either to listen to how the pros do it, or so the student can hear themselves.

Hand sanitiser

Because a kid is gonna sneeze on you.  Trust me.  They will.

Tissues

Because there’ll be a crier at some point.  Or, more likely,  if they don’t sneeze on you they’ll make that horrible snortally sound as they suck the snot back up.  Or they’ll sneeze in their flute.  Yes, that’s right.  In.