Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Teachers Forum What to charge a to an eager parent?

I have a problem.
I have a parent who has a 2.5 year old. They want to start piano lessons and they want me to come to their house. Now for a few years now, I have not taught below 3.5 and I teach exclusively at my home with the exception of my boss's son. "If" I were to take on this student and go to their house, how much more should I charge? I definitely won't do this for the same rate I charge at my home.

I would never advise teaching a 2.5yr old for a myriad of reasons and issues...the obvious ones being: focus and concentration ability, conceptualisation, co-ordination, discipline and self-discipline, communication skills and comprehension, not to mention temperment and emotional vulnerability, the ability to handle the instrument (finger strength to press piano keys), etc...the list is long.

This child is only 30 months old and likely can't even count that high. This student...toddler for the sake of a more realistic term, in my opinion, is better suited to a Suzuki group class scenario geared towards young children.

My two cents

What makes them think their child is ready for piano lessons at that age. You say, "They want to start piano lessons and they want me to come to their house." What they want may not be the best or realistic, and when that's the case, it's up to teachers to set them straight.

I agree 2 1/2 is awfully young to be teaching a little one. If you do it would have to be for a short period of time say twenty minutes 2 -3 times a week so that they don't forget what you taught them. Then you have to take into consideration the time involved to get there and back, gas, inconvience of travel time. Would it really be worth it to you? If you really want to try it you might tell them it is on a trial basis for 1 month and then re-evaluate the situation. See then if the time and effort has been worth the charge. But definitely it needs to be more than what you are getting in your studio.

Roxy, I like your idea of a 1 month trial. An 2-3 20 minute sessions is also a good idea. I'm really hmmming and hawing about the age. When I had those 3.5 year old's (that I'm coincidentally teaching today) they were a handful. A 2.5 year old? Yikes. But to consider it, I would imagine I would be charging at least the same as a 30 minute session for their 20 minute session. I'm trying not to think about how much profit I can get, but its a fresh client that hasn't been referred by a previous student. Potential to start a new branch of clients. Ugh...Really on the fence with this one.

I agree that is crazy young. I have never gone under 3, and even at 3+ it was challenging.
A month trial would be a great idea. I would imagine the child won't understand a lot of what you try to teach.

As far as going to their house, I would charge honestly for the travel time (15 min each way, charge for 30) and explain to them that you need to do that, because that 30 minutes would be another student. I wouldn't take into account inconvenience, gas and all the rest because it was my choice to accept it that way.

I would also not have a lot of piano playing/lesson time per say, but more fun stuff like different sounds, rhythms etc. It's doubtful, at that age, that their little hands can physically do much anyway.

Personally if you have reservations about taking this student I think it would be in your best interest to be straight with the parents and tell them they should hold off atleast 6 months. If they go find someone else then so be it, if they call you back then you can reconsider. Ethically I just can't get on board with parents willing to push a child that young into music lessons. Seems like a train wreck waiting to happen.

~Jennifer Eklund

You might want to suggest KinderMusik or some of the other group music classes geared toward kids that age. My kids went through it and had a blast, and the activities, which involved a lot of dancing and twirling in circles with scarves and the like, were just right for that age level.

Alternatively, tell the parents that 2.5 is exceptionally early for starting piano, and that before you could commit to taking on their child, you would need to do an in-home interview and/or trial lesson with the kid to make sure he/she had the attention span and other requisite skills for starting piano. You may feel more comfortable saying "no" (or, possibly, "yes") after interacting with the child for 30 minutes.

p.s. another option is to take the kid on, but insist that they come to your house for lessons, unless they're willing to pay a SUBSTANTIAL premium that will reimburse you fully for your travel time and inconvenience.

I agree, Monica. At this age they are in a developmental stage where just using their large muscle movements is a task. Playing piano requires small muscle movements, and they are very difficult to do. Ask this child to touch each finger to his thumb, and you'll see how hard it is for him.

Group music lessons like Kindermusik are designed perfectly for children in different developmental stages. I would have them be in this until at the very earliest age 4 1/2 before starting piano, and even then, that must be an exceptional child for that.

Does either parent play an instrument themselves? Have they known others who have started this early? How much do they know about what they are getting into? Will they be capable of monitoring the little one's practice should this go forward?

Honestly I have to wonder whether YouTube or even televised publicity of very young children playing advanced music has given some parents the idea that for little Johnny and Suzy to be "successful" in whatever endeavor, but especially music, they need to start taking lessons while they're in diapers.

I would not teach a 2.5 year old. I think that's just asking for headaches.

About 6 years ago I accepted a 1 year old and 3 year old. It was pretty stressful for me. It ended after about 6 months and I also never saw them again. They also didn't have a piano! I am much more choosy with new students because of my various schools of "hard knocks!"

I would suggest Kindermusik. It is exhausting trying to keep anyone younger than 5ish engaged.

Some years ago I took on a 4 3/4 year-old boy who begged for lessons after his 7 1/2 year--old sister had been taking lessons for about 2 years. He had been bugging his Mom for a good six months so I reluctantly said, "Ok, but only a 15 minute lesson." He loved it, and has taken lessons now for a number of years, passing NYSSMA Level 2 with an O.
His baby brother (about 2) greets me when I come in the house with "Pianos!" and always has to be encouraged away from the older sibling's lesson. I always give him some attention and now he sort of finds Middle C with his pointer. Very cute. And I'm sure some day I'll have him as a student. But I can't realistically envision teaching a child under the age of 4 or possibly 3 1/2. The attention, understanding, coordination, etc. just aren't in that age.

I'm reminded of the scene in Zorba when, eager to see the butterfly emerge and fly, Zorba took him out of his cocoon too soon & destroyed him unintentionally. Not that it's that dire a circumstance, but better to wait until the child is a bit older.