Fair Price for Lessons?

Subject: Fair Price for Lessons?
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 07:22 AM

What's the going rate for private lessons on a musical instrument? Frank is an expert bass player, and has been asked to give lessons on occasion. What would be the typical cost in the U.S.? Does the price vary by instrument? (He could also teach banjo). I'm looking for ways to get him retired like me, and maybe giving music lessons might facilitate the transition. Or would that ruin the fun of the music? Comments welcomed.

Subject: RE: Fair Price for Lessons?
From: Kim C
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 10:04 AM

My fiddle teacher charges $35 an hour, which I understand is pretty inexpensive. It is not her main means of income; she has told me she just plain likes to teach. But it is her time and expertise, and certainly she deserves to be paid for it. Teaching could be a lot of fun, and a source of money on the side. Go for it!

Subject: RE: Fair Price for Lessons?
From: Mooh
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 11:56 AM

There's no typical price for lessons. Variables like frequency, length, resources, expertise, market forces, location, overhead, teacher and student demands, instrument requirements, and so on, will affect the charge.

I charge $20.00/hour, every second week, cash up front, for guitar, bass, uke, mandolin and banjo lessons, in rural southern Ontario. The same service in an urban setting would net me considerably more, but I like where I live and the overhead is quite low. My price will rise in the fall by about 10% because I've kept it artificially low for two years in order to compete in the marketplace and to attract students. This will no longer be necessary. I've also kept a lid on my business at about 20 hours per week this year but that too will rise next fall. The only reason I don't do it full time is because I like the safety net provided by a part-time job with pension and benefit plans, which I might leave in the future when I decide to semi-retire. I charge more for extras sometimes, like self-recorded backing track cds, instrument repairs, band coaching, etc, but I just as often teach overtime for nothing, and provide tons of free written materials.

Using the internet I have researched prices for music instruction and have found I'm at the low end for what I offer, but I had to enter the local market competitively, and that market was underpriced.

My location is only providing me with 3 bass students at the moment (compared with 40 on other instruments), though the city would provide more. If Frank enters the market at the same prices as others, he'll likely reduce someone's waiting list. Networking with the competition can be beneficial.

Good luck.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Fair Price for Lessons?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 12:06 PM

$30 US up front for a 45 minute lesson. Schedule them at one hour intervals. If an appointment is missed without a 24 hour notice then $15.

Subject: RE: Fair Price for Lessons?
From: NELLIE
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 12:54 PM

Average price for music lessons here in the uk is around £14 - £25 per hour (sorry don't know the exchange rate)

Jenny

Subject: RE: Fair Price for Lessons?
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 01:33 PM

I teach private lessons on occasion and keep the price at between $25.00- $30.00 an hour. My reason for the price is that it weeds out less than serious students. I also make sure that the person asking about lessons knows what style I play. If someone's coming to me for learning jazz techniques, for example, I can explain that I am the wrong person to teach them.

Subject: RE: Fair Price for Lessons?
From: GUEST,Mark Ross
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 04:51 PM

I was only able to get $15 a lesson up in Butte, Montana, and I couldn't get enough students. Here in Eugene, Oregon I'm getting 25 a session(no particular time limit)and I'm up to between 3 & 8 lessons a week.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Fair Price for Lessons?
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 09:02 PM

Thanks, folks. This sounds like something worth trying. (And I could give lessons in how to find things for OTHER people to do...)

Subject: RE: Fair Price for Lessons?
From: Mooh
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 06:22 AM

Barbara.

Yes indeed! I never have to remind myself that it's the best job I've ever had. Let us know what happens.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Fair Price for Lessons?
From: GUEST,lu
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 04:32 PM

my flute teacher charges £20 an hour, whaich is the going rate for private lessons here (UK) hope that is some help to you if you can work out the exchange rate lu

Subject: RE: Fair Price for Lessons?
From: 53
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 10:43 PM

I charge $20.00 an hour for guitar lessons. I live near Myrtle Beach S.C. Bob