About This Side Hustle
Online music instruction has exploded since the pandemic, and students now prefer the convenience of virtual lessons. Whether you play guitar, piano, voice, drums, or any other instrument, platforms like Lessonface, TakeLessons, and even Zoom make it easy to teach students globally. You can charge premium rates for private lessons while also creating group classes for passive income.
Earning Potential
Online music teachers charge $30-60/hour for beginners. Experienced teachers with credentials charge $60-100+/hour. Teaching 15-20 hours/week generates $2,000-6,000/month. Adding group classes and pre-recorded courses can push income to $8,000+/month.
Pros
- High hourly rates ($40-100+)
- Flexible scheduling
- No commuting required
- Rewarding work
- Recurring weekly students
Cons
- Audio latency in video calls
- Income limited by available hours
- Student cancellations
- Requires musical expertise
30-Day Launch Plan
Set Up Your Studio
Prepare your teaching space and tech
- Set up a clean, well-lit teaching area with your instrument visible
- Test your webcam, microphone, and internet connection
- Create profiles on TakeLessons and Lessonface
- Prepare a curriculum outline for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students
Find Your First Students
Market your lessons and get initial bookings
- List your services on local community boards and Nextdoor
- Post in music groups on Facebook and Reddit
- Offer a discounted trial lesson to attract new students
- Ask musician friends and family for referrals
Deliver Great Lessons
Teach your first students and refine your approach
- Prepare personalized lesson plans for each student
- Record lesson highlights for students to review later
- Send practice assignments between sessions
- Collect testimonials from satisfied students
Build Recurring Revenue
Convert trial students to regular weekly bookings
- Offer package discounts for monthly commitments
- Create a referral program with free lesson incentives
- Develop group class offerings for additional income
- Build a library of teaching resources and exercises
Tips for Success
- Invest in a low-latency audio interface for better sound quality
- Record lessons so students can review at home
- Specialize in a specific genre or skill level for higher rates
- Offer package deals to lock in recurring revenue
- Create a YouTube channel to attract students organically
Skills Required
Tools Needed
- Webcam and microphone
- Zoom or Skype
- Music teaching platform account
- Digital metronome and tuner