What do you pay for private instrumental lessons?

[momtolgd]

I want to start giving clarinet lessons, but the band director asked me to let him know what I charge, and I just have no idea what the going rate is anymore...last time I took lessons outside of college was about 13 years ago! Then I paid $8 for 45 minutes...and I know that was a great price then.

So what do you pay?

Also where do the lessons take place? The only place I have is here at our apartment and I'm not sure how I feel about that?

Thanks. :)

[Daisy]

I pay $20 for a weekly 30 minute private piano lesson. I count myself fortunate as most are more than that in my area (SoCal).

[Plaid Dad]

Our local music school charges $48/hr., but I'm sure there are private instructors who charge less.

[Holly IN]

For us it is $12 for 1/2 hour here in Indiana. She is GOOD!!! Very strict and orderly. We love her. I babysit her kids while she teaches.

Holly

[Amy in Orlando]

My son recently started taking piano lessons. He's 15. Every instructor I talked to charged at least $50/hour. I finally found a wonderful young woman that teaches out of her condo - she's a grad student, newly married with a new baby. She agreed to $30/hour with me being flexible on lesson times (given her class schedule and the new baby). I also agreed to pay cash for at least 4 weeks at a time.

She's wonderful and my son is learning so quickly. I've referred three new students to her since he started.

[readwithem]

If you don't want the students to come to you, could you go to them? I have a friend who teaches private violin lessons about 6x per week and she goes to the students' homes.

[momtolgd]

For us it is $12 for 1/2 hour here in Indiana. She is GOOD!!! Very strict and orderly. We love her. I babysit her kids while she teaches.

Holly


That sounds around what I was thinking...I'm in Ohio.

[momtolgd]

If you don't want the students to come to you, could you go to them? I have a friend who teaches private violin lessons about 6x per week and she goes to the students' homes.

That is an idea...I will have to give some thought to that and talk with DH about it. I wouldn't have much problem having students come here, except that would mean DH would have to take the kids elsewhere during that time. Plus I don't know how I feel about students knowing where we live...

[readwithem]

Plus I don't know how I feel about students knowing where we live...

Another thing is that you would be in the drivers seat as far ending the lesson :) My dd's former piano teacher had a student who was perpetually late, then he would want to stay later to "make up" for the lost time :confused:

[angela in ohio]

We pay $55/mo for a half-hour each week for piano. We also pay $16/wk for 45 minutes of flute each week. They both take place at the techer's house, though I would love someone to come here! I know many piano teachers that travel.

[Melora in NC]

We pay $10 for a half hour lesson once a week (usually we have 4 lessons per month/$40). The teacher is very good, but we live in a rural, "backwoods" sort of area.

[Rhonda in TX]

We pay $20 for 30 minutes once a week. The lessons are given at the local high school, in the practice room. Our private lesson teachers work primarily with the public school students, but we are allowed to have our lessons there, too. We have, on occasion, gone to one of the teacher's home for a makeup lesson. He would charge extra to come to my home.

[Sixmeadows]

My 12 yo son is taking classical guitar.
CHERI

[MNClaire]

My son started piano lessons this year with a woman who is part of the Minnesota Music Teacher's Association and has a Master's in Music. She charges $10/hour for a 40-minute session (which generally goes over). I thought that was a bargain, but after reading the responses, now I KNOW it is!:)

[Lux Et Veritas Academy]

I pay 50.00 an hour for harp lesson- She is worth it. I used to pay $15.00 for piano for .5 hours and 15.00 for violin. But they were not professionals like our harp teacher-:D

[lynn]

My son's guitar teacher is in his 20's and teaches paino, guitar, drums with a group of 3 other kids his age. They are very professional in their business and are very popular to take lessons from. I don't know to what level they can teach to but for my son just starting guitar they are great.

[Susan in IL]

$15 for 1/2 hour for violin.

[momtolgd]

Thank you all. I think I will start out by saying $12 for 1/2 hour and $16 for 45 minutes...I hope to get a few students soon! :)

[Anne/Ankara]

We pay about $40/hour, but that is a Suzuki music school, so it has lots of extras built into the tuition. We have been doing it for 11 years now, so that is something! Amazing.

[Patty Joanna]

This is much more in line with what we pay around here. I have a feeling that this is largely 1)regional and 2)based on supply and demand. I know of teachers who charge a LOT more than we pay, even as much as we pay, and they have a long waiting list--because they are great teachers.

[HomeOnTheRanch]

We started a year ago with a high school student (very good!) teaching 3 sons violin & piano (only one was taking piano). We paid $45 for a total of 1 1/2 hrs of instruction. She moved away to college, so now her younger brother teaches violin, her younger sister teaches piano to the youngest, and her mother teaches piano to oldest. The mom said they should only get $10/half hour due to lack of experience and the mom has me split her pay between her two kids. I'm paying $40 for 2 hours of instruction. I would pay more in a heartbeat, but that is all they will accept. They are a homeschool family and really click with my kids.

[Riverfront Headmistress]

Suzuki violin $18 for 45 minutes

[Free Indeed]

We get a 45 minute violin lesson each week for 2 children and pay $30 a month. She is young, but she is very good. I also pay $40 a month for a 30-45 minute guitar lesson from my son once a week. We have it good!:D

[EKS]

We pay $30 for thirty minute violin lessons. Our teacher is a professional violinist. She has the lessons in her home. She has a music room in a daylight basement.

[amanda]

My husband is a guitar teacher and he charges $100 a month for a weekly 30 min lesson.

[Mom2GirlsTX]

I pay $10 for 1/2 hour for my daughters piano lessons, but I know this is cheap. Her teacher is wonderful, she has been teaching 30 years and knows she is cheap but is retired and has no desire to change her fees. The typical rate is about $20 to $40 for 1/2 an hour.
I've checked on violin lessons, I'm finding the typical charge is about $30 for 1/2 an hour.

[Kathy in MD]

nt

[Jann in TX]

We pay $40 an hour for a professional (actively performing) clarinet teacher for my dd.

My dad is a former PS band director (clarinet) and charges less than $15 an hour for lessons...he runs a HUGE homeschool band group in Oklahoma and just can't charge homeschoolers more...(what a softie!).

I guess I'm a softie too because I only charge $10 an hour for tutoring homeschoolers...must run in the family!

Back to your question... I would be willing to pay up to $20 an hour for an experienced clarinet player to give my dd lessons. There is a difference between a player and a professional...I played clarinet from grade school through college--I'm still just a player. My dd's instructor is a professional clarinet player (how he supports his family) and he is also a gifted teacher.

It really depends on your level of experience and the 'going rate' in your area.

[Tammyla]

Our piano teacher comes to our home;) I gladly pay $5 extra a month for this service.

The price varies around here, but this is pretty typical. Suzuki lessons are much higher here.

[Tracey in TX]

We currently pay $25 half/hr for guitar lessons.

Piano was $20/half hour, at our home.
Guitar and piano at the conservatory was $50/half hour lesson.

[Kristiana]

and charge $30 an hour and I have a music degree. I think I'm cheap compared to lots around here. There's quite a range and I don't understand it. The principal cellist in the Utah Symphony only charges $40 an hour, and I know several Suzuki teachers who charge much more, though I don't think they're better players or teachers than he is.

I don't depend on it for my livelihood, it's just for extra money, plus I enjoy it. I used to drive to students (pre-children) but just can't do that anymore, except for one afternoon a week I travel 60 miles and teach 5 students at my parents' home and my kids get grandma time.

[Katia]

I haven't taken the time to figure out what our "per hour" rate is, as I don't wish to have convulsions :) but we pay:

$310 per month for harp lessons - 2 one hour lessons per week - this teacher has her Masters and is REALLY good

$72 per month for piano lessons - 1 ninety minute lesson per week - bargain for a fantastic teacher

$270 per semester for recorder lessons - 9 one hour private lessons and 9 one hour ensemble rehearsals

$20 per each 40 minute voice lesson - these are professionals that teach at several area colleges, but since they homeschool themselves they want homeschoolers to be able to afford the lessons

We pay extra for any competitions/auditions/festivals, etc. but recital fee are covered in the monthly tuition. Oh, and we usually pay a music/library fee once a year.

I think your fee should depend on your training (degrees), if this is something you are doing for the income (a job) or for the enrichment of others lives (a side-line hobby), and who your clientèle is (what can "they" afford?).

[TCoppock]

We are paying $30 for a half hour in Miami, FL. The lessons take place at a music store in the back classrooms.

[Sugarfoot]

We pay $12 for 30 minutes of piano lessons once a week here. We're in a mid-size college town.