How do we, as experienced piano teachers get our own pupils into the gentle art of piano teaching, with the object of turning out qualified teachers?

Are our students genuinely interested in teaching, or do the just need the money and something to put on a UCAS form?

Not all students make good teachers. If you have a suitable student who is eager to teach&--8230;Teach them Grade 6 theory (MUCH more enjoyable thanks to the new AB workbooks.) There is a lot to be gained here, even if your student is not going to teach.

When somebody phones you that you have no space for, make the usual preliminary enquiries - do they live near to one of your students? Age? Have they got an instrument to practise on? Previous experience, including any other instruments learned, etc

If everything seems to be in order, pass on the phone-number of your young teacher. Make sure that he/she knows where to start.

You will have to be prepared to spend part of every lesson on discussion of his/her pupils' progress.

Word gets around very quickly - young teachers rarely have just one pupil for long. As their own experience grows, so does their confidence.

If things are not going well with a particular pupil, be prepared to invite them to bring that pupil to you, and give him/her a "make-or-break" lesson.