What to do in college?

[sinspawnammes]

I'm sure there will be plenty of grands inside of practice rooms where I am going.  However, do you think it's advisable to purchase in a good weighted electronic to practice inside my dorm room, or should I stick to the pianos available at the university for my music needs?  Also, being the broke student that I am, what is a good way of paying for lessons?  I haven't had any since I started, and I am in desperate need of a teacher, but being that I will probably not major in music, I will have to finance all the lessons myself.

Blargh, it stinks to not be a millionaire...

[musik_man]

I was fine just using the practice rooms while I was on campus.  I'm buying a digital this summer though, since I'm moving off campus.  You can always try the practice rooms and if they aren't sufficient buy a digital later on.

[ivoryplayer_amf]

This is going t o sound odd probably, but you would be surprised how many teachers cut a deal with students.  But not just any students.  Students who truely show a deep love for piano.  Most of the crabby teachers who dont care will want the money.  But you will find quite a few who not only love the money but would rather see a bright young man or woman succeed towards something they love then get paid the full amount they are asking.  You should talk to several different teachers, and when they tell you their price, be HONEST with them. 

"I charge 20 dollars per lesson, thirty mins, once a week"

you be honest:

"Oh wow.  Well I definately dont have that kindof money right now, but Iwill definately keep you in mind."

This is where you make or break the deal.  If you have showed them that you are passionate about learning and if they are the type of teacher that would do this, then they will work something out with you.  Its not always going to happen, but its happend to me more then not.  Most of the time they will ask me what I can afford.  Or they'll make a little side comment like, "Well, dont worry about it, we will work out something".  Just give them a chance.  Dont give them false hope that you can pay something you cant and wont.  Be true and they will also

[e60m5]

Purchasing a digital piano for use at university does not limit its life to your time at university.  If you can see yourself purchasing a digi sometime later in life, why not take the plunge now?  You will get some good use out of it at college.  One of the reasons behind my purchasing a digi for my time at uni was that I have always wanted a digi at home that I can practice late at night - so this investment will satisfy that need later in life, too.

[Bob]

If you own it, you will always have access to it.

If you're not a piano major, they may not even let you in to the grands.  You would need a friend, but that's a hassle.

Digitals don't exactly feel like real grands either but they can be close.

[moi_not_toi]

I've heard that you only have like 12 hours of class/week not counting practice and concert time. That's plenty of extra time to have a night job.

[Tash]

i have a digital in my room but that's more for composition and stuff rather than actual practice, or maybe if i'm bored, or feel like sightreading something...meanwhile those who do live at uni i believe are quite happy just using the practice rooms

meanwhile there are 2 things i can think of if you can't afford lessons- either if you can play another instrument find a good pianist who wants to learn your instrument and do a swap- i'm doing that with a friend, she teaches me flute and i teach her piano; or find a piano teacher who would let you clean their house or do some random jobs like gardening, cleaning the car, etc. in return for lessons

[cjp_piano]

Maybe you can take lessons as part of your college education? elective?   Some schools offer that.

[alwaystheangel]

Maybe you can take lessons as part of your college education? elective? Some schools offer that.

yeah, a but at least at my university, the lessons are not part of tuition.  You have to pay extra out side of tuition for the mandatory course!

That made me kind of mad.    I can't take piano now at the U.

[kardshark87]

I'm having the same problem. I asked about taking piano lessons as an elective course. I was halfway politely told that I would be put on a list and they would contact me if a teacher was available. That was a couple months ago. So basically at my school they won't look at you for lessons unless you are a music major.

[pianistimo]

never fear.  there are always excellent students willing to teach (and that are right on the spot).  take a student-teacher.  just get moving.  once a uni teacher hears you play half-way decently - that's when you get the 'break.'

[alwaystheangel]

shes totally right, many students are desperate for any sort of income that comes their way.  Check bulletin boards for people that are offering to teach.  You can also look at the adverts for accompanists, many of them are of a very high callibre and some teach aswell.  So If you want one thats been trhough the music degree, check out an accompanist.  At My uni, there are some absolutely phenominal ones with an inordinate amount of education behind them.

[dnephi]

Study.  Eat. Sleep.

[Bob]

There are "college" jobs.  Those are the ones that you sit there and do absolutely nothing.  Easy.   At that job you can work on homework and earn some money -- and really do very, very little actual work for your employer.  You just need to man a desk or something.  Cake.

I agree about getting a student to teach you.  Find someone who has some interest in teaching.  Maybe a piano performance major who knows they will teach.  Maybe a music ed person who plays piano well.  Watch out for a performance major who isn't interested in teaching.  Watch out for someone who is just stringing you along to make money.  And see if you can find someone who has a professor as their teaching mentor so that mentor can guide your teacher.

[elspeth]

While I was at uni I used to teach flute to help make ends meet - if there's a uni music society, put a card on their notice board, or put a card on the music department notice board. If you have any skills you can offer in return you'll be surprised how cheap lessons can be... even something as simple as typing up essays. If you find someone who's involved in organising a student society, offer to help do the boring bits in payment for lessons. I used to run a student orchestra and would give my students a free lesson in return for helping me publicise my concerts, writing my programme notes, running the interval refreshments, helping me set up the stage, giving me a lift home after rehearsals... I used to find all sorts of jobs for my students in return for tuition.

So far as pianos to practise on go - it's worth checking any churches on or near campus. Many churches have pianos and will let you play them in return for either a nominal fee or some sort of payment in kind. I used to teach flute in a church, so I had a piano for accompanying or demonstrating if I wanted it, and they used to let me teach there in return for helping out with coffee mornings and other events. It was great, the accoustic was wonderful...

A note about practise rooms though, even if you can get the use of one to practise, if you get a student teacher you may find the university won't let them teach in the practise rooms (the logic being, the university is laying on facilities and someone is using them for personal gain. You can see how the university accountants will find that thought upsetting!).