How to get music students using TikTok with Matthew Johnson
These days, social media is one of the best ways for music teachers to find new students and grow their studios. And one platform that’s really taking off, especially with younger folks, is TikTok. Now, I know what you might be thinking—TikTok is just for dance trends and funny clips, right? But actually, it’s a total game-changer when it comes to marketing your music teaching biz. In this post, we’re going to dive into how you can use TikTok to attract students and build your online presence. With some awesome tips from Matthew Johnson—a vocal coach who’s gained over 190,000 followers on TikTok—you’ll learn how to get music students with TikTok, even if you’ve never used the app before. Let’s get into it!
What is TikTok and Why Should Music Teachers Use It?
TikTok is a super popular short-form video app where users can post videos up to one minute long. It started as a fun platform for dancing and lip-syncing, but it’s really evolved into something much bigger—now, it’s a place for education, learning, and sharing skills. Matthew explains that TikTok is an amazing tool for music teachers because it helps you reach a huge audience without spending a dime on ads. Unlike other social platforms, TikTok doesn’t focus on how many followers you have—it boosts content based on engagement, which means your videos can go viral even if you’re just starting out.
TikTok is perfect for music teachers who want to grow their audience quickly and organically, especially if you’re not into the more traditional platforms like Instagram or Facebook.
Matthew’s TikTok Journey
Matthew got started on TikTok during the pandemic when many students stopped coming to lessons due to lockdowns. He wanted a new way to market himself as a voice teacher, so he decided to give TikTok a try. And guess what? Within just one week of posting his first video, he gained 5,000 followers! TikTok’s algorithm quickly boosted his content, and his audience grew fast as he shared helpful singing tips and voice techniques.
Here’s the best part—Matthew wasn’t even a social media expert! He’d tried Facebook and Twitter, but they didn’t really work for him. TikTok, however, gave him the boost he needed to connect with students.
Even if social media isn’t your thing, TikTok’s algorithm is designed to promote content that resonates with users, making it easier for you to grow an audience.
How to Create Content That Gets Views
So, what kind of content should you post to attract music students on TikTok? Matthew’s biggest tip: focus on what your audience wants to learn. For him, it was vocal tips and tutorials on how to sing like popular artists.
One of his most successful series was on belting techniques, which got over 250,000 views in just a couple of weeks! He also went viral with a video on how to sing like Freddie Mercury, which helped him connect with even more students. The key is to tap into what people are curious about and create content around those topics.
Some of Matthew’s hit videos include:
Belting Tips Series: A week of belting tips that racked up 250,000 views.
How to Sing Like Ariana Grande: Breaking down her technique, which attracted tons of viewers.
Freddie Mercury Vocal Technique: A fan-favorite where he taught viewers how to replicate Freddie’s iconic vocal style, which went viral.
Focus on creating content that addresses popular music techniques or answers questions your audience might have.
Engaging with Your Audience
Once you start posting, you’ll notice that people want to interact with you. Matthew found that his followers left tons of comments and questions asking for more tips or personalized advice. This inspired him to start live chats, where he answered questions and demonstrated techniques in real time. That interaction helped him build stronger connections with his followers, many of whom became his students!
For music teachers, engaging with your audience is so important. You don’t need to overthink it—just be yourself, respond to comments, and answer questions. This helps build trust, and people are way more likely to book lessons with you if they feel connected.
Use TikTok not just to post videos, but to engage directly with your followers through comments and live chats.
Turning TikTok Followers Into Students
So, how do you actually turn your TikTok followers into paying students? Matthew’s approach was simple—he responded to DMs from people who asked if he offered lessons. Once he got enough interest, he opened up spots for one-on-one lessons and filled them fast with students from around the world, including Germany, Italy, and even Saudi Arabia!
Matthew suggests starting small—you don’t need to advertise right away. Let your content do the work, and as your audience grows, people will naturally ask about lessons. When you’re ready, you can post about available lesson spots and even add booking links in your bio or DMs.
Build your audience first, and the students will follow! You can also experiment with offering group classes or memberships to manage growing interest.
Matthew’s Online Teaching Setup
Teaching online? Having the right setup makes a big difference. Here’s what Matthew uses for his lessons:
Dual Monitor Setup: One monitor for teaching, the other for sheet music or resources.
Blue Snowball iCE Microphone: A budget-friendly mic with good audio quality.
Roland FP Piano: A reliable instrument for teaching voice and piano.
Standing Desk: Allows him to alternate between standing and sitting, which is great for voice teachers who need to move around.
As for software, Matthew uses Zoom for its ease of use and recording features. He’s also checking out other options like Rock Out Loud, which offers awesome audio quality for music lessons.
A good teaching setup helps you deliver high-quality lessons and ensures your online studio feels professional.
Final Tips for Getting Music Students with TikTok
If you’re nervous about getting started on TikTok, Matthew’s advice is simple: just go for it! Post your first video, and don’t stress about making it perfect. TikTok is all about learning as you go, and as you engage with your audience, you’ll get a better feel for what works.
Here are a few final tips:
Post consistently: Aim for one video a day to gain traction.
Engage with your audience: Respond to comments and host live chats to build connections.
Experiment: Try different types of content to see what resonates with your followers. You’ll find your niche over time!
Ready to start getting music students with TikTok? Follow Matthew’s tips and start posting today—you’ll be surprised how quickly your audience grows and how many new students you can reach!
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