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I'm wondering what is the most professional way to ask for a review for the online tutoring site I joined? At what point should I begin to ask for reviews?

I'm confused by your question. If you "joined" an online tutoring site, did you not join as a student? Why would you be asking other students for reviews? Reviews of what? the site? your playing?

Regards,

Or are YOU one of the instructors on this tutoring site? Definitely need some clarification...

Looks like you have some reviews already on your Take Lessons page, so you must have asked students for them, right?
Your page also mentions a BA in Music from UCI "June 2018 - present" which isn't exactly standard formatting, but I am guessing that you have recently enrolled in the program. You would do well to check some resume writing resources for how to present qualifications.

https://takelessons.com/profile/alec-w6

Also if you aren't qualified for the position that you want, it is honorable to do work that you are qualified for while you build your qualifications for your dream job. More honorable in fact than pretending to have qualifications that you don't have.

If you are indeed just entering college, you are better off practicing and improving your piano skills instead of trying to teach anyone. Worry about making money later.

I didn't start taking a bunch of students until grad school, and it quickly became a revolving door of students whose parents just wanted to sign their kids up for piano lessons "for fun." And, trust me, it is no fun to teach these kids. I didn't get very serious students until I basically doubled my rates.

There are also significant discrepancies between your personal Website and Take Lessons in terms of your teaching experience.. Pretending never ends well..... you will develop a negative reputation that will follow you.

Now, I’m done: your approach and discrepancies is a turn-off.

Alec - your reluctance to demonstrate your piano playing abilities, qualifications and the level you have reached doesn't inspire confidence. And the reviews you have could have been written by anyone. As for when to ask for reviews, perhaps your business experience would tell you that?

You can always email your students send a link and ask for reviews, Be aware though that on the Platform lessons sites it is really difficult to get onto the first page. You would be better off with your own website.

I agree however that if you are in college and need to make extra money teaching is probably not the best way to go. Why not play to earn the extra cash. Pick up a church gig, a restaurant or go on one of the weddings platform sites. Great pay, flexible and you can work when you want to.

Best Wishes,

You should be playing gigs anyway, for cash and to expand your skills. A friend of mine paid his way through music school playing accordion - your piano skills will transfer quite well, your musician skills will need to be built.

I stumble upon Josh Wright episode yesterday about "how to be a better teacher and how to get students?". I'm not a piano teacher and will not be, but I find this interesting.
He said that he, himself, start teaching at 13. He got his first students from neighbors, then from advertissing lessons after a church gig. He talks about a few other things. Could be very interesting to you to go check that.

I must say congratulations on getting a degree. It will help you greatly to attain your goals. I salute the fact that you are trying to do everything necessary.

Hmm - on another thread didn't he say that the B.A was what he intended to work towards?

What's the connection - if there is one - between Josh Wright and the OP's (Alec Weesner's) question and what he (Weesner) wrote on another thread?

Regards,

Maybe my English is bad.
I've understood that he decided to start a program in college. Which I think is a good idea. That's all I meant.


The link is that Josh Wright is giving advices on how you can find students. And he got his first students very early on, so I thought some of his advice could be useful to the OP, who hasn't much experience and diploma.
I don't get what I said wrong that we think I'm out of the subject...

I thought too that the video was easy to find with what I've said, but maybe I should link it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Kwwl0Ammpc


Do you still think it is out of the subject?!

Thanks Jouishy for posting your thoughts and the link to Josh Wright. There really is no "right" answer. It all depends on each individual.

Before you can make any money you need to be good at something.

At this point, the most important thing for the OP to do is to practice and get better at piano. Everything else is of secondary importance.

My first semester of pedagogy was just learning the basics- reviewing and evaluating curriculum, different ways to teach and demonstrate technique, artistry, theory, hand and body posture, etc...We had to turn in a detailed binder and the professor read every singe page and made comments.

Second semester, we had our own students (college age, mostly rank beginners) and we had to deal with the flakiness of students that thought lessons from a potential friend would be cool, fun, jam out sessions. Frustrations abounded when WORK had to be done. We also had copies of music with her own teaching notes on it- what to watch for in difficult passages, different approaches to take, music tidbits... And, we had to document everything.

Third semester, we were allowed to teach local grade school students that came to our practice rooms on campus. We had to keep good records, and once a month, we gave 15 minute lessons in the choir room in front of our classmates, student parents, and our professor. We had to take notes. Again, the teacher read every single page, and made comments!

Observing each other was such a benefit, because piano teaching is party of one. (Yes, now you can see videos, but I predate the internets.) . Plus, we all had known each other now for at least a couple of years, and had survived Theory, Music History, Juries, etc...and could see how we had grown and developed. It was scary, but encouraging, and a phenomenal learning experience.

Today, there is rarely a lesson that I do not do or say something directly from my pedagogy professor. All of her work pouring into us is what she expected from us in return. And we did it.

Anyway, all of that to say that you have to learn how to be a teacher. Even if you have a natural gift of teaching, there is so much more to learn!

Also, being a great pianist does not automatically make you a teacher.

Being honest is a great start. You don't know what you don't know. Keep asking. Keep learning.

As to your original question, I would take it the same as a job reference- you must know the person in a professional setting/relationship for at least two years before you can list them as a reference.

It just takes...time. And hard work. And learning.