Fees

[ajmarti6]

Hi

I'm sorry about bringing up the issue of tuition fees again but something really annoys me. I teach in the UK and have difficulties charging over £25 per hour for an hours lesson. I've been teaching for 12 years and have 3 degrees - 2 music related.

It really gets to me when people enquire about lessons and then complain about the cost - surely those who charge £4.50 per half hour will only be given that amounts worth of tuition.

I had a great deal of bad experience as a child of cheap teachers and feel that this was a contributary factors to the problems in technique that i experience when i first went to the Conservatoire.

My current teacher charges me £80 for an hours lesson. Not only is he an internationally renowned performer and a Professor at the Royal Academy, but sometimes i have to beg to be let out of his house after a couple of hours as i am afraid of the cost. Each time he still charges the basic £80 rate. In addition is the time he puts in arranging concert venues for me and his other pupils.

Surely you get what you pay for!?!

Andrew

[lostinidlewonder]

You cannot be so strict on your pricing that you are not willing to negotiate different prices, otherwise you lose students you would otherwise be teaching. Those with money dont care about the price just quality, those without lots of disposable cash will of course care about your pricing much more than your qualifications.

Even though it is clear you get what you pay for, when it comes to the piano, lots of students seaching for teachers are very much beginners, so the level of the teacher is at most of the times is unimportant. Almost everyone can teach beginners you dont need anything special, just general piano knowledge, at least grade 4 piano I was told. Because of that, 99% of beginners will go for teachers who are cheaper, simply because they dont think they can utilise a teacher who has a lot to offer. That rests then on your shoulders to sell yourself to your student, to make them realise why it is so important to pay x amount for lessons with you. Not so bluntly, but say things like; I will create lessons that are custom designed for your musical needs and that will make you progress. Something along those lines. Highlight you Do Not teach straight out of a book or a basic plan set out for everyone, that is what inferior teachers do. You constantly observe the student and take your time to work out a program for them every lesson, this helps them in what holes there are in their abilities. It is almost like a private doctor examining his patient, except you are more of a occupational therapist, but for piano That is how you can make the idea of paying more money more attractive.

Make students understand the unusual and unique part of studying music that is, there is no single right way to go about doing it. New ways are always coming up. Highlight there are ideas and only that, it is left up to the individual to discover what they like best, that is the second reason why it is important to have a good teacher and pay for it, because good teachers know what are good ideas and can examine them all under the microscope and help the students make revelations themselves.