Breaking Through Limiting Beliefs in Music Education

Breaking Through Limiting Beliefs in Music Education

Hey there, music teachers and music school owners! Today, I want to share with you a conversation I had with a member of the Build A Music School community. We discussed something that I believe is extremely practical and important for all of us in the industry. So, let's dive right in!

This member, who is running an amazing music school on a tropical island, shared with me that he was following the traditional methods of teaching that had been passed down for generations. He believed that this was the only way to do things and that it couldn't be changed. This got me thinking about the limiting beliefs that we all have in our minds.

We all have these beliefs that hold us back from reaching our full potential in our businesses. Whether it's about the size of our school, the prices we charge, or the model we operate, these beliefs can be detrimental to our growth. I hear about these limiting beliefs every day from music teachers and school owners.

But here's the thing: many of these beliefs are not true. They are based on outdated ideas and misconceptions. Let me share a few examples from my own journey in building my music school to help you understand what I mean.

When I was teaching drums on my own, I had a waiting list of 15 students that I couldn't accommodate. People told me that I shouldn't hire someone else to teach these students and share the workload. But I didn't believe that. I knew that by hiring someone and focusing on the aspects of teaching that I excelled at, I could provide a better experience for my students. This decision led to the growth of my team from just myself to 60 members. So, the belief that no one would want to work for you or learn from you is just a limiting belief.

Another example is our music buses program. People told us that it was impossible to put instruments in buses and teach music in schools. They said it was too difficult to get into schools and that the curriculum was inflexible. But we didn't listen to those limiting beliefs. We figured things out, talked to people, and now our music school has five buses going into 40 schools a week, teaching over a thousand students. We solved the problem of lack of space and created a convenient and cost-effective experience for students. All because we didn't let limiting beliefs hold us back.

Group lessons are another area where limiting beliefs persist. Many people believe that one-on-one lessons are the only effective way to teach music. But that's not true. If you know how to teach groups well, they can be amazing. Don't let others tell you that it's impossible. There are thousands of successful music schools around the world that offer group lessons.

Let me share one more example with you. We decided to move our lessons from 30 minutes to 45 minutes, which meant raising the prices. People told us that no one would pay more for longer lessons and that it would be a mistake. But guess what? It turned out to be a win-win situation. Students got a better experience, we had less marketing to do, and our income increased. Don't let the mindset of "this is how it's always been done" hold you back from making positive changes in your school.

These are just a few examples, but the point is clear: limiting beliefs are holding us back from reaching our full potential. If we want to create a better future for ourselves, our students, and our businesses, we need to break through these beliefs.

So, how do we do that? We need to think big and have a clear vision of what we want to achieve. Don't listen to those who say it can't be done. Henry Ford once said, "If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses." Don't settle for a faster horse when you can build a car. Surround yourself with people who think big and are willing to challenge the status quo.

If you're ready to break free from limiting beliefs and join a community of like-minded individuals, I invite you to check out #BAMSQUAD. By joining our community at buildamusicschool.com, you'll have access to resources, support, and inspiration from over 300 music schools in 25 countries. Together, we can achieve greatness and make a positive impact in music education.

Don't let limiting beliefs hold you back. Think big, take action, and let's build a better future for music education!

Thank you for reading and don't forget to join the #BAMSQUAD at buildamusicschool.com!