Hey- girl who’s bussing tables at the local sports bar or nannying twin toddlers on a Saturday night through college, this message is for you. I’m going to introduce you to the best college side job you can have while getting your degree.

What if I were to tell you there’s a way that you can have a decent amount of income, work your own hours, and have fun while doing it? Well, kiss the babies and disgusting non-slip shoes goodbye! You just found your pot of gold!  

Side Hustles for College Piano Majors 

Two words: Piano teacher. Before you roll your eyes and think about how boring it would be to teach the beginning steps of piano, let me enlighten you on a little something…

There is a fun way to teach piano.

Don’t believe me? Watch this video. 

As you can see in this video… my student, Jonah and I had SO much fun not only learning this piece but adding the personality to it! Teaching piano can be fun, exciting, upbeat and lively! Two of my students had a blast performing this Inspector Gadget duet. They messed up a few times but got right back up and played for fun and with confidence! The whole audience had a blast watching these two!

You just have to know how to play the right songs for your audience! That’s what music is all about, isn’t it? Piano doesn’t get the credit it deserves and you could be the one to start showing everyone else how cool it is, #TrendSetter. 

How to Make Money in College WITHOUT A Job

Once you learn how to teach piano in a fun and exciting way, you won’t consider this a job. There are a few things you’re going to have to do in order to start this epic college side hustle (suggesting that you already know how to play piano yourself). 

1. Learn how to teach piano the FUN way.

This is the SECRET SAUCE to your piano teaching side hustle. In order to separate yourself from other experienced piano teachers, you need to have a differentiator that makes you the right fit for their child. If a parent knows anything about putting their kids in piano lessons, they know they can’t sign them up with a teacher that has zero personality. That’s why you’re going to be the perfect fit because you’re going to be the FUN piano teacher!

How do you teach piano the “fun” way? By getting certified in the Cascade Method Teacher Training Program. This program is exactly what you need to teach piano effectively and with fun! There is no easier way to have fun with piano than learning this method. Get more  information on the Cascade Method enrollment or read our in-depth blog on the online piano training program!

2. Decide when YOU are open for business! 

The best part about becoming a piano teacher while you finish college is you are in control of your schedule. You get to decide when you’re open and when you’re closed… (Hello, Saturdays. I’m back!) You can work as little or as often as you want! Let’s say you have Tuesdays and Thursdays off from class. You could take your time getting up in the morning and schedule as many as three to four after-school/evening lessons on each of those days! You’d be doing pretty well for yourself, and having fun!

Not to mention, you get to decide what your pricing is. I started teaching piano at 14 years old so once I was in college, I was charging $20 an hour for my students. Granted, I had years of experience. If you’ve been playing piano your entire life and you are Cascade Method-Certified, you could set a pretty good hourly rate, my friend.

3. Go pitch yourself to local families!

This is the part that you’ll find the hardest but it’s truly the easiest. Even though I had been teaching piano since I was 14, I went to college in a different city. I had to seek out new families! I moved down to Los Angeles to go to school at Chapman University and I hung up paper “ads” (more like flyers) for piano lessons and babysitting around several schools. It paid my way through college! I gained a large group of piano students while I was down there and it all started with flyers.

Once the families saw how I was teaching their kids piano the fun way, it was only a matter of time before they were referring me to their friend’s kids. Before I knew it, I had a pretty packed schedule… there’s always room for growth in this side hustle! 

A Message for the Broke College Student

I know it’s hard to step out of the box and do something different from what your friends are doing. I also understand how it feels to be bored and broke. One thing I can’t say I ever dealt with was dreading going to work. Teaching piano is all I’ve ever known and I’ve never wished that I didn’t have to go into one of my lessons. I’d be lying if I said I never had an “off” day, but the truth is… after every lesson on those “off” days, I end up feeling better. 

That’s the kind of side job you want throughout your college years, isn’t it? 

The Next Steps to the Best College Side Job

If you have any further questions about how to get started on making money in college, don’t hesitate to comment on this post or direct message me, Tara, on my Cascade Method Instagram! I’d love to chat with you and help where I can. Be sure to check out the Cascade Method Training Program and start teaching piano the FUN way! You might just learn a little something while you’re in the program yourself! 😉