Teacher Habits

This is an overview of our shared teaching culture, expectations, and community values. It is not meant to limit your individuality as a teacher, but to create consistency, trust, and a great experience for students, families, and staff.

1. Teaching Culture & Lesson Experience

Core Teaching Habits

  • Bring a positive, prepared, and supportive attitude to every lesson.

  • Start and end lessons on time.

  • Lessons should be conversational—students should feel safe asking questions.

  • Ask students what music they are listening to and try to find material they are most likely to practice.

  • Establish and develop a musical mentor framework for teaching.

    • We are not gatekeepers to learning; we are all still learning alongside our students.

  • Encourage creativity, exploration, and curiosity in every session.

  • Clearly explain goals in language students can understand.

  • Strive to understand each student’s personal goals and make practice enjoyable and rewarding.

Lesson Structure & Quality

  • Every lesson should follow a clear, intentional structure.

  • Listening is essential—speakers should be used in every lesson room. (TBD)

  • Teachers keep a Spotify playlist for each student when appropriate. (TBD)

    • Spotify playlists should be shared with the front desk.

  • Teachers communicate new songs and practice goals with parents.

  • Teachers discuss upcoming events and recitals with students and parents.

  • Teachers will occasionally receive “talking points” sheets to support consistent event communication.

  • Weekly written lesson notes should be kept neatly and consistently.

Curriculum & Materials (TBD – pending teacher input via survey)

  • Method books are highly encouraged, especially for younger students, even if they are not the sole lesson material.

  • Teachers should recommend books stocked and sold at the front desk.

  • Additional books can be ordered if needed.

  • Shared curriculum documents will live in Google Drive (TBD).

  • Teachers are encouraged to contribute exercises and ideas.

  • Curriculum support across instruments (TBD).

Creativity for Every Student

  • Every student should have access to creative outlets.

  • Encourage composition, improvisation, and experimentation.

  • Possible opportunities (all TBD) include:

    • Record of the Week Club

    • Milestone recordings

    • Duet lessons and student pair-ups

    • Age- or instrument-based student hangs

    • Valentine’s Day duet show (2027!)

  • Reduced-rate rehearsal and recording time may be available monthly.

2. Community and Events

Student Community

  • Encourage students to join bands when appropriate for their growth.

  • Encourage all students to participate in recitals.

  • Support smaller recitals and milestone events (TBD).

  • Help foster shared performances and group experiences.

Teacher Community

  • Get to know teachers across instruments.

  • Participate in instrument-section happy hours when possible. (TBD)

  • Support each other’s gigs and shows.

  • We hope to host teacher-support hangs, where staff attend a teacher’s show together.

  • Let students know who their substitute will be and offer words of encouragement by speaking positively about the substitute teacher.

3. Professionalism & Communication

Parent & Desk Communication

  • Communicate face-to-face with parents after lessons when possible.

  • Communicate clearly about:

    • New songs

    • Practice expectations

    • Upcoming events

  • Trial lesson goals should be clearly defined.

  • If a parent asks about scheduling, refer them to the desk or the online portal:
    themusicspace.opus1.io/login

  • Reinforce that multiple teachers and teaching days exist at TMS and that having a substitute teacher offers valuable insight.

    • Reinforce that our teachers have shared values.

Studio Responsibility

  • Return any borrowed equipment to where it was taken from.

  • Notify the front desk if common areas need cleaning.

  • Let the desk know if:

    • Trash needs to be picked up

    • Bathrooms need attention

    • Something is out of place

    • Something is missing or broken

  • Interns and desk staff are here to help—please communicate your needs.

  • Anyone using studio computers must follow file-naming rules.

4. Time Off, Scheduling & Reliability

  • Please give as much notice as possible—ideally at least two weeks—when requesting time off.

  • We respect vacations and personal time, but advance notice helps support students and staff.

  • Teachers are expected to be reliable and available for their full scheduled shifts.

  • The desk will do their best to minimize gaps between lessons.

  • Notify the desk the day before if you would like a schedule cleanup for a specific day.

5. Employment Structure & Operations

Pay & Scheduling

  • Teachers are employees, not contractors, as of January 1, 2026.

  • Pay is biweekly on Tuesdays (this may change to weekly!)

Accountability & Systems

  • Teachers who take on greater roles may have Asana accounts that must be checked regularly (TBD).

  • Shared file drives must be kept organized—files should live in your folder, not on the desktop.

  • Job scorecards and accountability charts define expectations (TBD).

6. Growth, Brand & Promotion

Promotion & Marketing

  • Teachers may create promo videos for the studio YouTube (TBD).

  • Business cards may include personal QR codes or UTMs (TBD).

  • Teachers who take on greater roles may receive an @themusicspace.com email address.

  • Professional email etiquette and timely responses are required.

Career Growth & Opportunity

  • Teachers may help run group classes and lead programs.

  • Teachers may be involved in curriculum development.

  • Reduced-rate rehearsals and recordings may be available.

7. Community Contribution

Help Us Out

  • Be the ears of the studio: share feedback about processes, culture, or general vibes.

  • Be the eyes of the studio: communicate anything that needs attention.

  • Add your shows to the whiteboard calendar at the front desk.

  • Share ideas and suggestions—we are building this studio together.

8. Culture, Values & Intent

  • We aim to build a unified teaching culture with room for autonomy.

  • We value integrity, balance, mentorship, and trust.

  • Our goal is to make music fun, meaningful, and lifelong.

  • As the studio grows, teachers grow with it.

This is OUR studio.
Thank you for helping make it a welcoming, inspiring place to learn and create music.