Money in music

Summer has come and students who are not taking classes this hot season are either taking pleasure in the pristine beaches or meshing themselves in summer jobs.

A summer sideline can be anything you want to keep yourself busy and avoid the boredom of the summer heat, that is, if you don't feel the waves. If you think you'll spend too much money submitting all the requirements needed to work in a fast food, and you have a knack in music, you can employ yourself to some music lessons.

Sharing your talent in music is a good way to make money this summer. It could be singing, dancing, or playing musical instruments that you know well- acoustic guitar, bass guitar, violin, piano, drums, etc.

Nineteen-year-old Sherwin Jim Flores, a junior Industrial Engineering student of Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT) started sharing his talents in playing musical instruments last summer of 2003. He trained his fellow youth in guitar, bass, drums and keyboard in their church. It was free at first because he was the one who proposed to have a music training that summer. "Free lang to kay ako man ang ni-suggest na mag-train ko nila," Sherwin said. He had five trainees during his first music session, ages ranging from 14 -18 years old.

Being a musician, he began to think that he could actually earn from it. Last summer 2005, he was hired by Compassion, (a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults) to teach music to the children for two weeks. And when asked how much he got after two weeks, he smilingly said he was paid well, he got P5,000.

If you were indeed a music lover, there shouldn't be any drawbacks that could stop you from coaching. Sherwin explained that he neither see nor feel any disadvantage on his part tutoring music. "Willing man gyud ko motudlo, ako gyud nga desire ba," he added. Since he is also a fulltime student, his music lectures would also depend on his free time. He teaches young kids and teenagers alike, and had even once tutored his 58-year-old "nanay" (his aunt). He charges P50 per hour and tutors once or twice a week, two hours every session. "Dili man enough ang one hour kay ang bata gud usahay daghan og alibi, moinom og tubig, mag-CR," he stressed.

As a music teacher, you've got to have patience and confidence. Patience in dealing with your students specially at times when they don't seem to listen at you or they don't understand what you are talking about; and confidence, that you are teaching them right and that they should learn it right from you.

It's not always necessary to own an instrument for one to be able to teach. If someone wants you to teach him/her, you can also ask that someone to find an instrument. And if he/she already has one, you can make arrangements on your practices. You can either go to their residence, or you can ask your student to come to your house, or whatever arrangement works best for both parties. Then you should also concur on the number of hours and the tutorial fee. You can choose to collect every after session, weekly, or monthly, depending also on what you have settled.

Coaching music has been a big help to Sherwin both to his academic and personal needs. He said, since last year, his gross income from this tutorial job has reached P10,000. With the money he got, he was able to buy a keyboard of his own, and had gone outing to Bohol to beat the summer heat.

Sherwin had already taught 19 students in a row, the last two were six years old in drums and eight years old in keyboards last April. He is again looking forward to another round of music training this May to the Compassion kids.

It feels good to share. But it feels better to see your students play and apply what they have learned from you. "Ang motivation lang gyud nako kay para makat-on sila and para sad magamit sila sa church," Sherwin stated. Now, his first batch of students is already part of the Praise and Worship team in their church.