Cost of Your Lessons

[Glyptodont]

I was just wondering what piano lessons cost nowadays, and have added a few additional questions about teachers and lessons.

I will ask the questions first-- then answer them as applies to my own situation.

------------------------------------------

1.  How much lesson time do you get each week?  [E.g., one half-hour lesson, one hour lesson, two lessons of an hour each, or what?]

2.  How much does your teacher charge?  And for how much time?

3.  Do you know your teacher's credentials for teaching?  If so, what are they?

4.  Any distinguished accomplishments by your teacher that you know about?

5.  Are you reasonably satisfied with the lessons you are receiving?

----------------------------------------------

Here are answers for my specific situation:

1.   One half-hour lesson each week.
2.   $10 per half-hour lesson.  Payable beginning of the month.
3.   Music degree from Oberlin College.   Many many years of teaching piano.
4.   Trained several competition winners, who then soloed with local symphony.
5.   Yes, quite satisfied.

I am curious, and hope we get a few responses - - - -

 

[pianonut]

if you take lessons through a university, you'll pay less than the individual lessons from a  professional pianist.


1.  one hour (but could request more if i was as advanced as some of his students).

2.  probably about $50. per hour or more for private lessons vs. semester lesson.  i prefer semester lessons because you often get to hear other students play, go to concerts, go to some of your teacher's concerts (not that you couldn't privately) and generally see more music people in action.

3.  doctorate degree from julliard.  extensive solo playing, competition winning, and accompanying.  excellent pianist.

4.   he is beginning to also distinguish himself (fairly new to west chester uni) as a teacher.  he is very to the point.  you either improve very quickly, or you die (figuratively speaking)  i'm sort of in-between (with 3 year old at home).  the amount of practice is very important.

5.   extremely satisfied.  just wish that i could do everything at once.  be a good mom, be a good pianist, have time to study, practice, (not to mention the hour drive each way from where i live).  play lots of classical music on the way to and from.

*the only thing that i wish is that my teacher could couch his words in a less pointillistic way.  it's either good or trash (which is probably the truth) but am sometimes reduced to feeling very badly about my practice.  maybe this is good motivation because i hate for someone to think that i don't take time to think out the flow of my pieces.  i think my technique has improved, but my feelings are looking around for solace, comfort, and some glimmer of hope.  i don't want my teacher to adulate my playing necessarily (that was splendid!  i see you'll be a concert pianist in a matter of days) ...but maybe just to say  "i see you put some time into that, keep it up."

[celticqt]

Interesting questions!

1.  They are supposed to be one hour lessons, but I'm usually there at least an hour and a half.

2.  When I started with my teacher about 6 months ago, he said, "I'm already rich.  Just pay me whatever you can afford."  So I try to give him between $40-50 per lesson (the laborer is worthy of his hire, and all that).

3.  He has a diploma from a music school in Italy and concertizes extensively around the world.

4.  Well, #3 seems to be a pretty awesome accomplishment to me.  Also he is happily married for 10 years.  That takes some work also!

5.  Yes, very satisfied, or I wouldn't be there.

*the only thing that i wish is that my teacher could couch his words in a less pointillistic way.  it's either good or trash (which is probably the truth) but am sometimes reduced to feeling very badly about my practice.  maybe this is good motivation because i hate for someone to think that i don't take time to think out the flow of my pieces.  i think my technique has improved, but my feelings are looking around for solace, comfort, and some glimmer of hope.  i don't want my teacher to adulate my playing necessarily (that was splendid!  i see you'll be a concert pianist in a matter of days) ...but maybe just to say  "i see you put some time into that, keep it up."

I totally hear you on this, pianonut.  I am also trying to juggle a husband, house, part-time job, and three hours of practice time per day - it's not easy, but it's so fulfilling.  My teacher is good about telling me I did a good job (or put in good effort, at least) without making it sound like I'm ready for Carnegie Hall.  I would have a really hard time if I didn't get some affirmation from him (like what you were talking about).  My teacher in college sounds like your teacher - if I wanted to hear any sort of compliment whatever, I had to try and dig it out of him.  I loved him, but he drove me nuts!!  

[ryno200sx]

Hey great idea for a thread! I am finding the replies informative and it helps me to have perspective on my situation so keep up the replies everybody!!

I have 30 minutes per week of instruction.

My teacher charges $20 per half hour (I would prefer a little bit of a cheaper price so I could afford more time/lessons).

Music Degree from Berklee College of Music
Does extensive gigging in the area (mostly as a jazz pianist)

Yes, I am satisfied. The main reason is that I recognize that I am only with my teacher for 30 minutes a week so I take all of the responsibility for my progress in learning the piano. I view my teacher as a facilitator only.

One advantage I have with my current teacher that I think is unique is email support. When I have questions, I email my teacher and usually responds with some advice for me. This is good because I don't have to wait all the way until the next lesson and burn valuable lesson time on questions that can be quickly addressed via email and also he does not charge me for this. I email him a copy of the score and explain the issue I'm having and what measure it is located in. Does anyone else have this type of arrangement?

Thanks and I hope to hear more replies to this topic,

Ryan

[whynot]

I'm going through a degree program right now, but if I paid my teacher privately, I guess it would be 50-75/hour.  I'm scheduled for an hour a week, but usually it runs longer, plus if I ask for it, I can always get an extra lesson, no charge.  I do not abuse this!  I have asked for extras only once or twice in several years, if there's something big looming and I'm worried (and then I bring a thank-you gift).  But he does make the offer periodically, which I find so encouraging that it makes me go right home and practice.  His credentials are that he's a fairly high-profile soloist and has won some international competitions.  About the satisfaction rating, he's attentive and encouraging, not "rah-rah, you're great," more like I can just tell that he believes in me and my ideas, and my ability to solve problems.  He doesn't say much, but his suggestions are excellent.  For technical problems, he tends to frame things in the sense of, "you already know how to do this, you just don't realize it," then shows me some small thing that changes everything.  I'm lucky, because I missed so much normal training, and he's filling in the blank spots without making me feel like I'm behind.         

[BoliverAllmon]

------------------------------------------

1.  How much lesson time do you get each week?  [E.g., one half-hour lesson, one hour lesson, two lessons of an hour each, or what?]

I get an hour and twenty min.

2.  How much does your teacher charge?  And for how much time?

Because it is through the school it is just part of tuition. If it was privately it would be 30 bucks

3.  Do you know your teacher's credentials for teaching?  If so, what are they?

Right now, I don't know alot of my teacher's credentials. He received his doctorate at Rice University and teaches there at times.

4.  Any distinguished accomplishments by your teacher that you know about?

nope, just started with this new guy

5.  Are you reasonably satisfied with the lessons you are receiving?

yep

----------------------------------------------

[clariniano]

As I take lessons on two instruments (clarinet and piano), I will answer for both.

1.  How much lesson time do you get each week?  [E.g., one half-hour lesson, one hour lesson, two lessons of an hour each, or what?]

My clarinet lessons are one hour, I generally see my teacher about once a month. (but am working on Grade 10 and ARCT repetoire. My piano lessons are currently twice a week (August exam), for 45-60 minutes.

2.  How much does your teacher charge?  And for how much time?

Clarinet-$40/lesson. Only his beginners and intermediate students pay month in advance. For my piano lessons, I actually barter my lessons (only way I can afford both), but I do a LOT for him, like designing posters and programs for his solo concerts, do his music purchasing for him and his other students, create and post ads for lessons, among other things. In the past I've also re-did his music resume, which successful landed him one of the best-paying church music director jobs in Toronto, out of 16 candidates. But I know he charges $23 for a half hour or $42 for a full hour.

3.  Do you know your teacher's credentials for teaching?  If so, what are they?

Yes--clarinet: B. Mus. Performance from University of Toronto; piano, B.Mus. (Toronto), M.Mus (California), ARCT (piano and composition)

4.  Any distinguished accomplishments by your teacher that you know about?

I know he once received an award for "Best Musical Direction" for a choir he conducted many years ago.

5.  Are you reasonably satisfied with the lessons you are receiving?

Clarinet: quite satisfied. Piano--he's really taken my playing to a completely different level, as well as really challenging me. (like thinking this one piano part one of my clarinet students was going to play for her talent show in a week and a half, I thought it was too difficult, but I learned it in 3 days!)

Meri

[Glyptodont]

This has been very interesting, and I hope we get a few more responses. 

I had not appreciated how advanced some of the fellow visitors to this forum really are. 

I see myself most akin to "WHYNOT" in that we both take short lessons, and because of the limited time, we both see our teacher time as precious.  WHYNOT sees his teacher as "facilitiator," and I see mine as "coach."    Probably because time is so short, there's quite a limit as to how much we can ask of them.

My teacher is headed for the green pastures of retirement pretty soon, I think.  She is very old.  I'm guessing, older that 75 -- but who could be sure.  I believe that is why her lessons are just $10 per half-hour.

PIANONUT, I do feel a bit badly that your teacher is a bit brutal in criticism.  The rare compliment and the more frequent "biting criticism."   We all admire your motivation, being a mom, a professional, and a very SERIOUS pianist. 

Are you trying to get a college degree in performance?  Your commitment is so great, I can't see your piano as just a pastime or a hobby.

I suspect you are locked into this particular teacher.  But I know we all feel "dashed" when our much-practiced piece comes off poorly at the lesson.

One problem that I have, I play a beautiful 5'8" grand in my home that is well tuned and very very nice.  Then I go in and take my lesson on a mediocre Asian upright, and the room just tiny, about like two broom closets.  And with cheap, fiberboard walls and lots of ambient noises.  Sounds of pianos in other rooms come through the flimsy walls.

It is surprising how -- unconsciously -- our playing a piece confidently involves hearing back the sounds we are producing.  That is, a kind of feedback effect.  On this sad little upright, in this poor little tiny room, the sound I produce is so wierd or "odd" - - - --   sometimes I hesitate or stop, or my fingers tremble over a chord, because my auditory feedback is telling me "wrong, wrong!"  But the teacher says, "No . ..  that's RIGHT.  Just PLAY IT."

The ideal arrangement would be to have a teacher make house calls, and you could play your lesson on your own piano.  But that would be too much like a dream come true, I suppose.

Thanks, all. 

[eins]

I may be the only real adult beginner in this thread. I started 8 weeks ago after I bought a piano. The first four weeks I taught myself, then the long-awaited college semester started. This leads to my answers:

1. I take group lessons twice a week, 1.5 hrs each. During one semester, I get at least 15 minutes private time with my teacher. The teacher also comes around and checks us individually, correcting us where needed.

2. The semester is $36 in total. That is only six weeks, though.

3. I don't know of any credentials other than her 20+ years as a music teacher at the college level

4. don't know

5. Yes, am happy with the teacher and the way the classes are set up. I intend to take a second semester right after this first one ends, then find a private teacher once a week or so.


Pianonut, do you think you could talk to him and explain how demotivating his high expectations are for you? Once he understands his impact, maybe he can manage to adjust a little (for his own good).

Ryno, my teacher also gives us email support. It helps her keep the class streamlined and not hold us all up for the question of an individual student.

[ranakor]

nope you're not the only one adult beginner here add me to the list i started last week of january this year

1) private lessons 30min/week (but he usually stays much longer i'm his last student of the day)

2) paying yearly not too sure how much it makes per lesson

3) no clue i know he is a solfege teacher with a diploma in that but that's about it

4) no clue

5) very happy he's not stubborn on particular ways to do things & adapts to me well i think i'll have fast progress with him & i'm planning on getting in piano much more seriously next year taking 1.5 or 2 hours /week & working accordingly beetween lessons

[pianonut]

dear glyptodont,

thanks for the encouragement!  when i think about things, it's actually ok.  i told my teacher i'd rather hear criticism since it's better than adulation.  it's what i'm paying him for anyway.  also, he's too good looking to just quit on. 

house calls?  yes.  despite the fact i like my piano, his is much easier playing - so he can show examples of how things 'can sound' better on his own piano.  plus, if he made a house call the neighbors might think something.  he wouldn't come anyway.  he's too busy, and is very professional, too.

[chrissi]

And another adult beginner......

I started last  year in May from scratch. After years of only dreaming (no time, no idea how to start) my Christmas-gift in 2003 was a keyboard. I think my husband didn’t have a clue what he would cause with it  . After trying to learn all by myself I decided that for learning seriously I needed a teacher. But where to find??  Then in May last year friends of us got married and at the wedding party music was performed by a brilliant entertainer. After the party I found out at the internet that he also works as a piano-teacher, so I called him up. That’s how we came together.

To the questions:

1. and 2.: I pay € 75,- monthly for one hour lesson per week. But this hour has mostly 90 – 120 minutes.      I am the last student that day and he never looks on his watch. First we have a little cup of coffee together so that I can recover a little bit from job (where I directly come from), then we work about 60 to 90 minutes.

3. He has a diploma as a music teacher and he worked in former times for many years as a music teacher at schools in Poland and later in Germany (where I live). Now he is 67 years old, has some students and has sometimes engagements as an entertainer.

4. When I saw him playing at the wedding party, I was really thrilled. Of course I am no expert, but for me it was great. And: It was plain to see that he loves playing!!

5. Yes, I am very satisfied! He is perfect in music theory and knows always the right moment to give me some new informations and he is very dedicated to find music suitable for me. He loves to have an adult student who is really willing to learn and to practise and he encourages me very much. Sometimes he plays for me just for fun and I enjoy these little private concerts.  So we both are happy with each other and I think that is what counts.

....... also, he's too good looking to just quit on.

Pianonut, I can understand you absolutely! Mine does not, but one cannot have it all 

Best wishes,
Chrissi

[kghayesh]

1. A couple of one hour lessons per week. I think that's a bit above average than what i saw here but it is really good and rewarding.

2. I pay about $ 48 per month which is so much less than other people here but that's because i live in Egypt

3. I know that she graduated from the conservatory at Tashkent, Uzbekistan but don't exactly know more coz there are some langauge barriers.

4. She teaches at the local conservatory here and is a well-known teacher in the musical society here. She also teaches voice beside piano and she is brilliant at both in my opinion.

5. Yes so much. My performance has gone to another different much higher level since i have started taking lessons with her (about 8-9 months)

[ryno200sx]

ranakor said:

2) paying yearly not too sure how much it makes per lesson.

trouble with division? 

[nanabush]

I used to get 2    1 hour lessons per week, but I had to shorten to 1   hour and  a half lesson once a week...Anyone here heard of the IB program?  It ruins lives I tell you..

[abell88]

Anyone here heard of the IB program?  It ruins lives I tell you..

My best student is in the IB program, and her progress at piano has slowed tremendously because of it.

[ranakor]

ranakor said: trouble with division? 

nope i simply happen not to know how many lessons i pay for yearly since it's only during scholar time & i'm not scholarized><

[newt]

This seems to be a really interesting topic. Er, sorry if I seem terribly ignorant, but just what is the IB program?


1. Two lessons per week, each from 2-4 hours. I'm just realising now that they're really long compared to the average. meep. But sometimes it just gets so interesting or exciting and time slips away.

2. The equivalent of $35 USD per lesson.

3. Not too sure, but he graduated from the Conservatory.

4. In my humble opinion, I think he's amazing. He was a true virtuoso at the Conservatory, and he probably wouldn't be a teacher now if he hadn't lost a finger in an accident years ago. So he's trained numerous music students who are now off in Europe giving concerts. He participates in concerts and has produced recordings, sheet music and musical software for all the schools in the state at the request of the head of musical education. Probably other stuff, but I don't really know too well.

5. Yup. Much like what Chrissi said, his musical theory is great. he can be rather blunt at times, but directness when you do things wrong is useful in the long run. He's also very good at explaining things, and it's incredible inspiring to watch him go: "Just wait until you can do this!" and then proceeds to turn the music upside down or transpose to wherever he likes or play backwards with something I've been struggling with for weeks.

[abell88]

This seems to be a really interesting topic. Er, sorry if I seem terribly ignorant, but just what is the IB program?

International Baccalaureate...it's available in certain high schools; basically if you graduate with it you will (probably) be admitted to most universities in Europe as well as North America.  My student says it's not that hard (admittedly she's very intelligent) but it's an incredible amount of work.

[thierry13]

I was just wondering what piano lessons cost nowadays, and have added a few additional questions about teachers and lessons.

I will ask the questions first-- then answer them as applies to my own situation.

------------------------------------------

1.  How much lesson time do you get each week?  [E.g., one half-hour lesson, one hour lesson, two lessons of an hour each, or what?]

2.  How much does your teacher charge?  And for how much time?

3.  Do you know your teacher's credentials for teaching?  If so, what are they?

4.  Any distinguished accomplishments by your teacher that you know about?

5.  Are you reasonably satisfied with the lessons you are receiving?

 
1. one lesson a week... the time... well she teach me as long as I can learn new stuff ... wich can last 3 hours.

2.30$ ( canadian, so about 20).

3. She went to university.

4.Well she won the provincial competition when she were young, and went to a masterclass where she was the only 12 years old, everyone else was 20-22.

5. Very satisfied.

[dveej]

1.  Lessons are one hour, and because I can't afford every week, I am doing every other week. She is willing to go longer than the hour, but I have to leave to go teach MY students, so it ends up being an hour.

2.  She charges $65 an hour. When I asked for lessons every other week because I couldn't afford it every week, she offered to lower it to $50, but I said I would pay the full amount; and later, when it gets closer to my Grade 10 exam, I'll take more lessons and maybe then $50 would be good. I just feel that she is worth it, and if I were in her shoes, I would want the full amount. Actually, with my own students, I AM in her shoes, so to speak.

3.  DMA from an American university.

4.  Don't know of any specatcular things she may have done. I found out about her through RACE, which is the Canadian exams for Americans. I want to earn an ARCT, and she thought that I should do the Grade 10 exam first, so that is what we are working on.

5.  I am happy with my lessons. She could be more bossy, though. but because I am older than her (I'm 43 and she is mid-twenties) and she is so nice, maybe she is getting to know me better before she lets fly with the full force of criticism. But so far she has been pretty picky, which is what I want.

[ako]

1. I take a 1-hour lesson every other week. It's hard to juggle going back to school, part time job and other family duties.

2. I pay USD 75 per lesson. It's well worth it. I always feel like I have been brought to a new level of understanding after each lesson...almost zen like.

3. She went to Julliard, and has a MA from Peabody. She serves as a judge in many local and state competitions.

4. Being a wife and mom to 2 kids besides being a former national competition winner. She also has time to record, perform and write/publish piano method books.

5. The most important thing is she is really a cool person. She gets her students and can always find a way to make you sound better than when you first came through the door. I have so much to learn from her. Yes,  I am extremely satisfied.

[aerlinndan]

Well, I just graduated high school, and my piano teacher was a part of the school, so I no longer take lessons from him. However, I'll answer for the sort of lesson situation I've been in for the past two years up until about three weeks ago.

1. I get a 1-hour lesson once a week and there is a two-hour studio class every Thursday in which various students play pieces for the group and receive the teacher's help - a sort of mini masterclass.

2. My lesson fees were included in my tuition but if considered separately would cost about $80 per week.

3. He attended Rice and CIM for piano studies. He has won several national competitions and serves as an adjudicator and instructor internationally. He is quite accomplished.

4. His full bio is here, actually: https://www.interlochen.org/academy/facuMuNa.htm

5. Not at all. I'm not going to engage in defamation (at least, not here and now) but there were a lot of philosophical and personal issues between him and me that never got resolved. He was strict in every sense of the term, and while rigor and highest expectations are important out of any piano teacher, there are certain lines that must be drawn, bearing in mind the fact that it is humans, individuals, that are taking the lessons and learning the craft of music.

[6ft 4]

I got me a music scholarship at University so my lessons are free

[danyal]

1. An hour and a half a week. Maybe more, mayve less, depending on what I'm practising for, and how close it is to the time.

2. Not sure really cos my school pays for my lessons at the university. About R150 which I guess is about $20

3. BMUS(UNISA)  MMus(UCT) DMus(UP) LM(UWITS:k-v) UVLM(k) KonzertDip(Wien:k),

4. He won the International Bosendorfer Piano competition, and is constantly performing all over the country. He lectures at the university of pretoria.

5. Absolutely! When I went to him, I went from playing the Rondo Alla Turca, to the Brahms op 79 no 1 Rhapsody in 6 months! MAybe thats just because I started heavily practising then... (Bad teachers can really harm one's inspiration, drive and love for music)

[nanabush]

It's not that the IB program is difficult, it gives you so much more work, and I made the wrong choice of taking a higher math course which I take lots of time studying, some kids don't study and have 100 in math.  That one class alone is killing me!  Dam It's hard, but supposedly it's worth it... so your student in the IB program probably has same problem as me, too much work, not extremely difficult, but just so much that you have to do.

[ranakor]

nope i simply happen not to know how many lessons i pay for yearly since it's only during scholar time & i'm not scholarized><

well checked & it's 32 lessons per year so around 16 euro per half hour

[offenbach]

1. One hour long lesson per week from private teacher 1 hr, however more times than not lasting considerably longer. $50.00, Masters in Music, won several competitions, student of Ozen Marsh, very satisfied.

2. 1 hour and 20 minute lesson per week from College teacher (however may break it into 2-40 minute sessions). During the summer sememsters around $100.00 for 6 weeks. During Fall and Spring semesters slightly over $200.00. Masters in Music, excellent, very satisfied.


O

[lauralouise]

1. I get half an hour lesson each week,..unless i miss a week then i get a double lesson for an hour.

2. My teacher charges £8..it used to be 5 but it went up a pound every time i got a higher grade.

3. I dont know

4. Dont know either.

5. i am very satisfied with my lessons..and i love my teacher 

[026497]

1. One hour/weekl
2. my teacher charges USD $33 per hour. i think it is cheap. In the past, my former teacher charged USD $65 per hour.
3. Master from a university in Australia, of composing
4. i don't know
5. i love her. she is the best teacher i've ever met(compared to 5 former teacher).

[BoliverAllmon]

1. One hour/weekl
2. my teacher charges USD $33 per hour. i think it is cheap. In the past, my former teacher charged USD $65 per hour.
3. Master from a university in Australia, of composing
4. i don't know
5. i love her. she is the best teacher i've ever met(compared to 5 former teacher).

does she teach piano, composition, or both?

[026497]

She teaches me both piano and composition.
She teaches me a wide range of music(from baroque to jazz). Not all piano teachers are open-minded to jazz. Some of them think jazz is not a "serious music", only play by beggars(i don't think i am a beggar).

[kelly_kelly]

1.  How much lesson time do you get each week?  [E.g., one half-hour lesson, one hour lesson, two lessons of an hour each, or what?]

One 30 minute lesson each week

2.  How much does your teacher charge?  And for how much time?

 $35 for 30 minutes.

3.  Do you know your teacher's credentials for teaching?  If so, what are they?

Absolutely no idea

4.  Any distinguished accomplishments by your teacher that you know about?

Again, I don't know, but considering that she is probably not much more advanced than I am, (I'm working on Fantasie Impromptu, and she has admitted that she cannot play it) I would guess no.
 
5.  Are you reasonably satisfied with the lessons you are receiving?

Absolutely not! (See above) Luckily, she is moving soon, so I don't have much more time with her.

[ryan2189]

1. I have a one hour lesson every other week, but soon that will be changed to one hour for each week.

2. $30 for one hour

3. Not exactly sure. I know she majored in piano and that she had played as a concert pianist. Not much else.

4. No not really, she might have some but we usually get right to work during our lesson time.

5. Yes, I am. At the point I am at now she is perfect for me, but as I get more advanced I might need to find someone who can help to fine tune my abilities a little more, not that my current teacher isn't doing so already. But I will eventually switch teachers when college comes around, because I know that I will not be anywhere close to where she is located.

[steinwayguy]

FREE, BIATCH


arts school.

[qwerty quaver]

1. I have 1h 30 lesson per week (it's the set time for my level)

2. It's free since i'm in the Principality of Monaco (except for the photocopies  )

3/4.I don't really sure. But she has been through the big conservatoires in France, gives master classes abroad, gives concerts (usually chamber music), and has made recordings.

5. I am very satisfied as she is a very good teacher and also gives me moral support. (she also gives you sweets after each class )

[jam8086]

I thought this was a good topic to bring back, it's very interesting to see the wide variation in prices.

However, I don't even know how much my lessons are, my parents take care of all that! 

[mike_lang]

Emilio Del Rosario
$100/lesson
1 hour

Faculty, Music Institute of Chicago

BM, MM Peabody Institute
Artist Diploma from Santo Tomas University, Manila

Distinguished accomplishments - Carnegie Hall, National Gallery, BM/MM in 2 yrs total, 1st Beethoven concerto w/orchestra after 1 yr of playing, student in first studio of Fleisher, students have won prizes in most major competitions.

[dmthomas]

I split my weekly time between a piano teacher and a music teacher, 30 minutes each.  My piano teacher is $20AUD (~$15 USD) and my music teacher is $15 AUD (~$11 USD).  Bargains both, my piano teacher is very experienced and my music teacher is a University educated musicologist.

[mike_lang]

I split my weekly time between a piano teacher and a music teacher, 30 minutes each.  My piano teacher is $20AUD (~$15 USD) and my music teacher is $15 AUD (~$11 USD).  Bargains both, my piano teacher is very experienced and my music teacher is a University educated musicologist.

This is curious indeed - how does one divorce music from piano?

[lagin]

?

4.  Any distinguished accomplishments by your teacher that you know about?

Again, I don't know, but considering that she is probably not much more advanced than I am, (I'm working on Fantasie Impromptu, and she has admitted that she cannot play it) I would guess no.
 
5.  Are you reasonably satisfied with the lessons you are receiving?

Absolutely not! (See above) Luckily, she is moving soon, so I don't have much more time with her.

I agree you know when it's time to move on, but remember, piano teachers don't need to play what you play to be good teachers.  There is a difference between they haven't learned it before, or they could not learn it if they tried.  The first is fine.  The second, is iffy.  Sometimes you find great teachers that have hand injuries, ect.  But only you know your teacher.   

I also just switched teachers because my teacher has too many students to teach me advanced repertoire that she COULD play IF she had time.  For casual learning, that would be acceptable, but when I'm aiming for a performance degree, I need someone that has the time to become familiar with my pieces.  So I do understand.  I just was trying to avoid a "blanket statement," when there are exceptions to every rule, if you know what I mean.

[lagin]

4.  Don't know of any specatcular things she may have done. I found out about her through RACE, which is the Canadian exams for Americans. I want to earn an ARCT, and she thought that I should do the Grade 10 exam first, so that is what we are working on.

Just so you know, grade 10 exam is the manditory entry exam for taking the ARCT.  You need 75% overall or 70% in each section in it to be allowed to take your ARCT exam.  Supplementary exams are available if you need to bring up your mark in a certain section.  At least, that's how it works with RCM in Canada which is where RACE came from.  So your teacher knew what she was doing!

[kriskicksass]

1.  How much lesson time do you get each week?  [E.g., one half-hour lesson, one hour lesson, two lessons of an hour each, or what?]

One two-hour lesson

2.  How much does your teacher charge?  And for how much time?

$40 an hour ($80 a week for me)

3.  Do you know your teacher's credentials for teaching?  If so, what are they?

Undergrad at some college I can't remember. Spent some time in Vienna training with a teacher at their conservatory. Graduate work at Julliard with Abbey Simon. Postgrad studies with Jorge Bolet.

4.  Any distinguished accomplishments by your teacher that you know about?

Aside from teaching basically all of the local competition winners, he is frequently featured on the local concert series. He also reached the second round of the Beethoven Competition while in Vienna.

5.  Are you reasonably satisfied with the lessons you are receiving?

Yes. Very much so.

[barnowl]

1.  How much lesson time do you get each week?  [E.g., one half-hour lesson, one hour lesson, two lessons of an hour each, or what?]

One hour

2.  How much does your teacher charge?  And for how much time?

$50/hour, but part of it goes to the school with which she is affiliated.

3.  Do you know your teacher's credentials for teaching?  If so, what are they?

No, but I haven't asked yet. However, she is very earnest, inordinately patient, and is teaching me the things I really must learn. My previous teacher didn't insist I do Hanon exercises, sight reading, etc., and she will not let me try pieces that are, at the moment , way beyond my skill level. (Which I am always trying to do - or was, anyway.)

4.  Any distinguished accomplishments by your teacher that you know about?

No. She has solo-ed in Russia, and when she plays for me (to demo what a piece sounds like, for example) she certainly sounds like a concert artists.

She and her husband have recently come from Russia. She speaks English very, very well for a newbie, and is almost certainly, the most beautiful piano teacher in the Western Hemisphere. (I kid you not).

Last Friday, I brought my pocket-sized Seiko metronome to the lesson. When I showed it, her eyes went wide. She'd never seen an electronic metronome before - just the wind-up jobs with the oscillating pendulum. It was a very cute moment.


5.  Are you reasonably satisfied with the lessons you are receiving?

Couldn't be happier. She's such a gentle soul, I work my tail off to be over prepared for my lesson and thus avoid avoid any possibility of disappointing her. This can only help me progress at a rate that was not possible before.

[rohansahai]

1.  How much lesson time do you get each week?  [E.g., one half-hour lesson, one hour lesson, two lessons of an hour each, or what?]
       4 hours a day ummm...5 days a week during a period of one and half months in the summer (10 and half months i'm without a teacher).

2.  How much does your teacher charge?  And for how much time?
         Not a single penny till now.

3.  Do you know your teacher's credentials for teaching?  If so, what are they?
      Doctrate from the Moscow Conservatory, studied under a student of Emil Gilels (!!).

4.  Any distinguished accomplishments by your teacher that you know about?
     Invited to perform the Tchaikovsky 2nd concerto with Mehta and the American Youth Symphony Orchestra at the Ambassador Foundation, Pasadena ....but refused, possibly due to a 'Glenn Gouldian' philosophy over public performance!

5.  Are you reasonably satisfied with the lessons you are receiving?
     Absolutely.

[amanfang]

1.  During the school year I get 50 minutes per week.  In the summer, I go about once every three weeks or so, but I drive two hours to go down to school.  Summer lessons last however long it takes us to get through everything we want to get through.

2.  My tuition covers cost of lessons during school.  He normally charges $30 per hour (super cheap!), but he doesn't charge me for summer lessons.

3.  He has a B.A. and M.M.  I know he's been at Interlochen several times or went there on scholarship or something.  I don't remember completely.

4.  Not sure.  He has a serious injury and cannot practice much anymore.  However, this does not mean that he cannot help me with my technique or musicality.  I do not believe a good teacher has to necessarily play everything his or her students play.

5.  Yes, very satisfied. 

[dnephi]

1.  How much lesson time do you get each week?  1 hour lesson
2.  How much does your teacher charge?  And for how much time? 40$/h

3.  Do you know your teacher's credentials for teaching?  If so, what are they? A couple of Doctorates and some masters degrees i think. 

4.  Any distinguished accomplishments by your teacher that you know about? She is a very advanced "pedagogist" ie she specializes in how to teach.

5.  Are you reasonably satisfied with the lessons you are receiving? Very.  When I follow what she says, I advanced technically and musically.  Even just little nuances like "use a metronome" really help my sound, technique, and stability.  In fact, she said that if I do my work in technique this summer I can be doing Liszt TE's in the fall  .

[gruffalo]

1. 1 hour a week.

2. 175 quid per term/symester *spelling?* (on a bursary).

3. Bmus at royal academy, Masters at Paris Conservatoire.

4. studied under last pupil of Ravel, well good pianist.

5. hell yea, ive advanced so much since being his pupil and i dont feel anxious as to where i am going with music, i know im in the right hands till i go to conservatoire.