went into things like , should we exam or not exam ? What are the pros and cons with online teaching ?
All of these four summits are still available on our website at UltimateMusicTheory . com . They ’ re an amazing resource for educators to just think outside the box .
CMT : Regarding the UMTC Elite Educator Program , it ’ s not just aimed at teachers , but also the owners and managers of music schools . It offers lessons on both teaching and running the business . So , are there a couple business lessons , or key themes within the lessons , that you ’ d be willing to share as an example ?
St . Germain : For sure . So , one of the things is I ’ m a neuro-linguistic programming practitioner ( NLP ). “ Neuro ” means how we think , “ linguistics ” means how we communicate , and “ programming ” is how we get the results that we get . It ’ s important to teach in all three modalities . As you ’ re going through the Ultimate Music Theory program , we ’ ve incorporated nine mnemonic devices that help students learn faster .
I remember when I was writing the lesson on modes , and to this day I receive multiple emails from teachers saying , “ Oh , my goodness , I never really understood modes . I took it in college , but I didn ’ t really get it . Then I read your Ultimate Music Theory book and it introduced modes , and within one page , I completely understood it .” That ’ s how I ended up with my editor , Shelagh McKibbon-U ’ Ren - she bought the book and then went , “ Aha , here ’ s how you teach modes .”
So , what I want to provide educators with are the shortcuts of how we can teach more effectively . For example , one of the reasons why we have answer books for each Ultimate Music Theory book is not because the teachers don ’ t know the answers , but what I want to provide you with is effective teaching tools . Because let ’ s face it , after teaching for six hours , your brain is kind of on pause . And parents are paying you for a lesson , they ’ re not paying for you to sit there , read the question , and then figure out the answer , and mark the student ’ s book . Simply by picking up the answer book , opening it up , boom , you ’ re done [ and you can stay focused on teaching ].
Inside the UMTC Elite Educator Program , which includes the Ultimate Music Theory Certification course for teachers , we provide you with all the lesson plans ; marketing materials ; the NLP training on visual , auditory , and kinesthetic learners ; and how you can identify those .
ULTIMATE MUSIC THEORY STUDENTS
One of the first things you ’ re going to learn is , what ’ s your learning style ? Many people might think they ’ re one learning style – I always thought I was kinesthetic until I took my NLP training and discovered I ’ m a visual learner . There are certain words that students will use that will identify their learning style , and you might miss that if you ’ re not trained and don ’ t have that knowledge . I provide you with that so that you go , “ Oh , that ’ s why the student always wants me to play it for them , because they ’ re an auditory learner ,” or “ that ’ s why my student never looks at me , because they ’ re a kinesthetic learner .” So , there ’ s a lot of information in there that ’ s been years in the making .
CMT : What have you found are the biggest barriers to sustainable profitability for lessons programs ?
St . Germain : I ’ m going to be brutally honest with you here — I think the biggest barriers to success are not necessarily profitability for lesson programs , I think it is our mindset , strategies , and tools . It ’ s PMA , which is “ positive mental attitude .” There are millions of students in the world , you can make millions of dollars , you can easily make a six-figure income teaching 10 months a year , simply by understanding how to teach and how to get students . What is the marketing that you need ? What is the language that you need to use ? I think the biggest barriers are not sitting down and mapping out your plan .
As you know , I ’ m a business . I run the Ultimate Music Theory program , I ’ m also a publisher , and an author . I also have my own music teaching studio , and I ’ m a coach . Through all of those , each one of them must have a plan . You need to plan quarter one , quarter two , quarter three , and quarter four . It doesn ’ t matter whether you ’ re an independent music educator , or whether you ’ re the lesson department , or whether you ’ re the retail department . I think simply by mapping it out , and being open to learning and to having a conversation . If you ’ re struggling , maybe go talk to somebody who isn ’ t and ask , “ What are you doing ? Do you mind sharing your secrets ?” I ’ ll tell you , if anyone asked me what I do , I am happy to share everything . I ’ m not afraid that you ’ re going to go steal all my ideas ; I ’ m giving them to you for free and I ’ m happy to share . That ’ s how I ’ ve learned because I connect with people who are like-minded .
I think the biggest barrier , honestly , is yourself . Really , there are no barriers . If I can be successful in this business with how I got started , anyone can . I ’ ve gained a lot of education since , but I started teaching when I was 16 years old , and I didn ’ t know anything . I thought I was a big shot because I was 16 and going to pay cash for my first little car , a VW Bug . But I think it really comes from continued education and being open to trying different things . If that doesn ’ t work , try something else .
CMT : Is there a secret to keeping kids wanting to take lessons long-term ? And just as importantly , their parents wanting to keep their kids in lessons ?
St . Germain : I think one of the key factors here , is the conversations . I learned this from my daughter , Sherry , who is an amazing music producer in L . A . and an incredible performer . She ’ s performed in Las Vegas at the Aria in [ Cirque Du Soleil ’ s ] Viva Elvis show , where she ’ s played the flying piano .
When she was home visiting and teaching some students , they ’ d come in and the
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