Piano is an expensive hobby!!

[classicarts]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[lisztisforkids]

Hobby?? How about a living.

[m1469]

Yes, it is.  As one young student of piano proudly said at a summer program I attended a few years ago : "Let's face it, piano is a rich man's game".  He clearly felt he was a part of a club that not many others can be a part of.

That's one way to look at it, I suppose.  I don't really have that choice, however, and get along with the attitude of making choices in my life.  I choose to purchase books, teaching supplies, pay for lessons and masterclasses, and all of the etc.s,  instead of taking trips and buying clothes and so on.  Perhaps at some point I will have it all, but for now, piano/music is simply my priority, and as long as one is wise about the purchasing that is done, one can get by.

Also, there are ways to purchase discounted items.  For example, used book stores will not only have books on music and composers and so on, but often they will have cd's and sheet musics as well.  Also, at some places, if you are a teacher, they will give you discounts on materials.  Not to mention the considerate and nice things that teachers and other people have done for me along the way in terms of helping me acquire the necessary training and materials.  There are generous people out there and I am deeply grateful to them  .

It's a matter of funneling the efforts, and funneling the resources.  Just because for many of us, everything cannot be purchased at once, does mean one cannot get by.

hmmm...


m1469

[steve jones]

I think the internet has helped significantly though. Being able to download free sheet music, midi files, mp3 along with tutition material must have cut the cost down considerably.

[rc]

What's so expensive about it?

At the bare minimum one could get a decent digital piano + headphones for $2K. From there the sky's the limit, but that's true of pretty much anything.

As I see it, smoking cigarettes is more expensive, driving a car is more expensive... If you want to play piano, finances is a non-issue.

[steve jones]

I guess if you want to study with the best, then its going to put a hole in you pocket (or should I say your parent's!).

But for the mere mortal, I agree, piano is very accessible. I literally havent spent more than about 50 since I started playing just under a year ago. Got an old upright from my sister along with some basic tuition and a load of music books, bought a few other books secondhand off Amazon, downloaded loads of midis, pdfs, and mp3s... now Im all set!

Having a social life - now THATS an expensive hobby.

[pipples]

Midi file are useful as you can run them through score writing software. This will give you the sheet music. However once you have made a fairly substancial purchase, it's more or less easy sailing after that.

[joachimf]

Having a social life - now THATS an expensive hobby.

ditto

[infectedmushroom]

Well, here in The Netherlands Piano lessons mostly do cost a lot. The teahers near my place ask 37,50 Euros for an hour and that's not even a private lesson (37,50 Euro is about 45 Dollar I think). A private lesson cost more than 50 euro... It's kinda expensive, but you do get lessons from a very good teacher and the teachers near my place teach in the same room, with two of these babies:



Steinway all the way. 


But I think the lessons are really the expensive part of playing the piano.

[maul]

Infected Mushroom... as in the band? Good music eh?

[classicarts]

Yes, it is.  As one young student of piano proudly said at a summer program I attended a few years ago : "Let's face it, piano is a rich man's game".  He clearly felt he was a part of a club that not many others can be a part of.

That's one way to look at it, I suppose.  I don't really have that choice, however, and get along with the attitude of making choices in my life.  I choose to purchase books, teaching supplies, pay for lessons and masterclasses, and all of the etc.s,  instead of taking trips and buying clothes and so on.  Perhaps at some point I will have it all, but for now, piano/music is simply my priority, and as long as one is wise about the purchasing that is done, one can get by.

Also, there are ways to purchase discounted items.  For example, used book stores will not only have books on music and composers and so on, but often they will have cd's and sheet musics as well.  Also, at some places, if you are a teacher, they will give you discounts on materials.  Not to mention the considerate and nice things that teachers and other people have done for me along the way in terms of helping me acquire the necessary training and materials.  There are generous people out there and I am deeply grateful to them  .

It's a matter of funneling the efforts, and funneling the resources.  Just because for many of us, everything cannot be purchased at once, does mean one cannot get by.

hmmm...


m1469

m1469, how much do you charge if you don't mind me asking?

[infectedmushroom]

Infected Mushroom... as in the band? Good music eh?

Awesome music indeed. 

[m1469]

m1469, how much do you charge if you don't mind me asking?

Well, I don't mind you asking, but my answer may not be very satisfying.  I don't charge enough, at this point (and feeling slightly mad about it at the moment).  Anyway, I charge *very little* more than the bottom fee (that I am aware of) for lessons around here.   


m1469

[classicarts]

Well, I don't mind you asking, but my answer may not be very satisfying.  I don't charge enough, at this point (and feeling slightly mad about it at the moment).  Anyway, I charge *very little* more than the bottom fee (that I am aware of) for lessons around here.   


m1469

Have you thought of teaching online?

[m1469]

Have you thought of teaching online?

hmmmm.... only secretly and subconsciously.  I don't really know too much about it, actually.  It's an interesting idea though. 

[steve jones]

Awesome music indeed. 

Lol, I never thought Id seen psy-trance getting a mention here! Excellent

[classicarts]

hmmmm.... only secretly and subconsciously.  I don't really know too much about it, actually.  It's an interesting idea though. 

Think about it.  You can make some extra or even good money doing it, and reach students all over worldwide.   

[sharon_f]

I never think of it as a hobby. To me it is something I need to do, something essential to my life. My lessons are expensive, but I have a wonderful teacher, so I am willing to make the sacrifice.

[m1469]

I never think of it as a hobby. To me it is something I need to do, something essential to my life. My lessons are expensive, but I have a wonderful teacher, so I am willing to make the sacrifice.

Well, actually, I have been meaning to say this too.  I am talking about making a living with whatever one's dedication to piano studies are, and that is pretty expensive.  But, I will just add, because I simply want to, that while music is my living, it is also still a (out-of-control) hobby.  I make a conscious effort to maintain a certain element of that in my living it.  And even though I want continue to be a professional musician, I want it to always have an element of hobby for me.


m1469

[alzado]

After one has a piano that is in good condition, subsequent costs need not be high.

I can only see very high-priced teachers if you are training to be a professional pianist.

Some (not all) of the participants on this forum who pay very expensive teachers are persons very well off financially who can well afford it. 

For young adults who are pursuing a career in performance, then I think they should have the best teachers.  In university programs sometimes the lesson cost is included in tuition.

For an average person who just wants to "play the piano," I really question whether a person needs some superior musician who charges an arm and a leg.

Music stores that include studios for lessons will often have a listing of teachers available.   Get someone who has a professional background in music, and is halfway amiable as a human being. 

If you are playing at  --  say, early intermediate level -- you may just need someone to listen critically and tell you where you are going wrong, and what you need to do to remedy the situation.

If you are starting out with lessons, why not start with half-hour lessons? 

Just my opinion.  Speaking for myself,  I don't need a $50,000 plus grand piano because I just don't play that well.  For the same reason, I doubt that I need a teacher at $50.00 per hour.

I am an adult learner who just plays for enjoyment.  I have no interest in becoming a musician or music teacher.  My advice seems to make perfect sense for me.  But . . . your circumstances may be different.

[classicarts]

I never think of it as a hobby. To me it is something I need to do, something essential to my life. My lessons are expensive, but I have a wonderful teacher, so I am willing to make the sacrifice.

Sharon, I admire your dedication.  And I do know the meaning "essential."  I felt that when I was healthy, but now it's a different story.  How much are you paying by the way? I am looking for a piano teacher.

[nikanikitina]

Hmm... I just finished the New England Conservatory Prep School with some VERY wonderful teachers. The school's rate an hour is $80 / once a week.If youd like more lessons with these particular teachers.. at home they charge usually starting at 100/hour.   They do have a financial aid/scholarship  program. If you are promicing and need the money (which my family has none of! ) the lessons, (plus two or three masterclasses and workshops per simester) go down to around 60/hour. This is still a lot to a lot of families. So as a teenager ... instead of scraping money up for a car... or clothes or.. whatever the hell a social life costs...  everything goes toward music. Its a way of life, you decide what your priorities are.. and in that case... money/debt shouldnt be an obsticle. Luckily I have parents that back up my wannting to do this and out of all the debt they could be in.. this is one that is worth it.
    Good thing about living in Boston is that we  have the New England AND Boston Conservatory, which have some AMAZING programs/teachers and a WONDERFUL financial program. If you do not have the money but get accepted... for the better part State Financial Help will take care of some of the help you need plus the school will as well. THe rest is  fairly decent in what you are expected to come up with on your own through either loans/jobs/etc.
 
    For a hobby? Not expensive I dont think. But taking it seriously? You can still get by without  ripping a huge hole in you pocket... that is if your willing to sacrifice.

[ted]

I do not consider my music has been at all expensive. A good instrument cost me the equivalent of around a year's salary, I suppose, which I did not find difficult to save after working hard for three years in my early twenties. Mind you, I was living with my parents , paid only moderate board and spent very little on other things. Tuition from somebody with a few clues is more or less essential when you are young, and this would have cost about the same proportion of a salary as most people these days spend on takeaways.

So relatively speaking, when I think about what everybody seems to spend on running cars, trips abroad, playing sports, clothes, restaurants, fancy renovations and so on - no, even with the cost of a good piano and a few years' tuition from a first rate musician, the material cost of my music has been of little significance.

Having said that, if you want to have years and years of tuition and degrees from famous people and conservatories all your life, then yes, it would cost a hell of a lot. However, I have neither needed nor desired these things.

[classicarts]

Hmm... I just finished the New England Conservatory Prep School with some VERY wonderful teachers. The school's rate an hour is $80 / once a week.If youd like more lessons with these particular teachers.. at home they charge usually starting at 100/hour.   They do have a financial aid/scholarship  program. If you are promicing and need the money (which my family has none of! ) the lessons, (plus two or three masterclasses and workshops per simester) go down to around 60/hour. This is still a lot to a lot of families. So as a teenager ... instead of scraping money up for a car... or clothes or.. whatever the hell a social life costs...  everything goes toward music. Its a way of life, you decide what your priorities are.. and in that case... money/debt shouldnt be an obsticle. Luckily I have parents that back up my wannting to do this and out of all the debt they could be in.. this is one that is worth it.
    Good thing about living in Boston is that we  have the New England AND Boston Conservatory, which have some AMAZING programs/teachers and a WONDERFUL financial program. If you do not have the money but get accepted... for the better part State Financial Help will take care of some of the help you need plus the school will as well. THe rest is  fairly decent in what you are expected to come up with on your own through either loans/jobs/etc.
 
    For a hobby? Not expensive I dont think. But taking it seriously? You can still get by without  ripping a huge hole in you pocket... that is if your willing to sacrifice.

I admire your thrift and dedication.   And yes, you are absolutely correct about everything you've said.  I think I will be taking lessions soon, if my eye's don't go blind on me or crossed eyed.  Sometimes, my eyes act kinda funny, from all the extreme trance I've been under, and just lately, my hearing is kinda weird too.   My ears been kinda hurting.  And my hands just don't want to move, like I'm losing control and feelings.   I dunno.  I do love piano and music of it all.  It's kinda of an escape for me as well.    Might as well give it a shot and see what happens.