Copyright law is a complex subject, but music teachers must grapple with it every day in their studios and classrooms. While copyright law encompasses a broad range of issues, music teachers frequently encounter the same situation repeatedly during their career, such as photocopying print music for students, performing music at concerts and events, or using sound recordings for instructional purposes. Copyright law anticipates some of the circumstances that teachers face daily, and therefore, provides exceptions where teachers can use musical works without the permission of the copyright owner. Such exceptions include the use of works in the public domain, or the use of works under the doctrine of fair use. The reality is that music teachers often need to reproduce copyrighted works as a necessary and fundamental part of their jobs—the key is how to do it without infringing someone else’s copyright.

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This article is for informational purposes only, and not for providing legal advice. Use of
this information does not create an attorney-client relationship. Readers should contact
an attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue.

High moral and ethical standards are absolutely essential for running a successful studio. In a professional context, ethics can be described as a code of conduct deemed acceptable by a group of people practicing a particular profession. Many professional associations, such as the MTAC, have a non-binding Code of Ethics to provide guidance for teachers. The goal of ethics is to assist professionals in navigating a complex web of relationships in order to preserve and protect mutual interests for the betterment of all.

Relationship with Students and Parents
As a studio teacher, the most significant relationship is between you and the student (and by extension, the student’s parents, especially if the student is a minor). Music lessons often involve a long-term commitment, easily spanning a decade from when a child begins at age 6 and ends at age 16. Ethical teachers are keenly aware of the profound influence they can have in a student’s life, and carry this responsibility with great care, understanding that being a teacher includes being a positive role model.

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Music teaching is a craft that you have spent decades honing: first, to command demonstrable mastery of your chosen instrument, in itself a lifelong process, and second, to develop and use compelling pedagogical methods for transmitting that knowledge, skill, and artistry to your students. As a music teacher, you are already wearing two very large hats. But as an independent studio teacher, you also wear a third equally-large hat—that of a business owner. To protect your passion for music and teaching, you have to protect your business too, and one of the best legal protections available to independent music teachers is the Studio Policy.

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This article is for informational purposes only, and not for providing legal advice. Use of
this information does not create an attorney-client relationship. Readers should contact
an attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue.