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I live in CA and between my son and I, count 13 music teachers in my life over about 40 years. Only one of mine didn't charge by the lesson. Our present piano teacher charges monthly for a required 40 week year for the son and charge me by the lesson. As for qualifications, proficiency etc., one of my recorder teachers was head of all musical education for (IIRC) the Claremont USD. as well as being the head of music for Ren Fair and a prominent recorder teacher. The other recorder teacher is co-chair of early music at USC Thornton. One of my cello teachers had a degree in education and worked part time doing educational outreach for the LA Phil. My 2nd drum teacher had a doctorate in ethnic music, went to Ghana with Mick Fleetwood and through that trip received a fellowship from the university of Ghana to research and preserve their percussion history. At the risk of patronization I would remind some of you that there's a huge world of music education that isn't entirely dependent on packing as many 6-16 year olds as possible into a work week and getting as many of them possible into certificate of merit programs. My long experience in this musical universe proves to me that teachers that charge by the lesson don't automatically fall into the category of under-qualified, hobbyists.
kurt
********************************************************************************************************** Co-owner (by marriage) and part time customer service rep at an electronic musical equipment repair shop.
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Only one of mine didn't charge by the lesson. Our present piano teacher charges monthly for a required 40 week year for the son and charge me by the lesson. As for qualifications, proficiency etc., one of my recorder teachers was head of all musical education for (IIRC) the Claremont USD. as well as being the head of music for Ren Fair and a prominent recorder teacher. The other recorder teacher is co-chair of early music at USC Thornton. One of my cello teachers had a degree in education and worked part time doing educational outreach for the LA Phil. My 2nd drum teacher had a doctorate in ethnic music, went to Ghana with Mick Fleetwood and through that trip received a fellowship from the university of Ghana to research and preserve their percussion history. At the risk of patronization I would remind some of you that there's a huge world of music education that isn't entirely dependent on packing as many 6-16 year olds as possible into a work week and getting as many of them possible into certificate of merit programs. My long experience in this musical universe proves to me that teachers that charge by the lesson don't automatically fall into the category of under-qualified, hobbyists. And is there something wrong with "packing as many 6-16 year olds as possible into a work week and getting as many of them possible into certificate of merit program"? Teachers who choose to charge by the hour (not by month, semester, or year) may simply mean they have another job that pays their bills. Alternatively, they may have a spouse who makes enough money, and thus don't need a steady stream of income. I live near teachers whose spouses make so much money, they don't really need to work. So they can afford to charge low rates, or charge nothing at all! Some of them are also way, way past retirement age, and they keep teaching because they'd be bored otherwise.
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At the risk of patronization I would remind some of you that there's a huge world of music education that isn't entirely dependent on packing as many 6-16 year olds as possible into a work week and getting as many of them possible into certificate of merit programs. My long experience in this musical universe proves to me that teachers that charge by the lesson don't automatically fall into the category of under-qualified, hobbyists.
kurt It sounds as though you are insinuating that many of the teachers here who propose charging by the month fall into this former category of just wanting to pack as many kids in as they can and churn them out with certificates. Perhaps that's not what you meant, but if so, rest assured that if a teacher is bothering to post and read on here with any regularity, they actually care about each of their students and are trying to find solutions that suit the individual, while trying to also remain in business in this economy. The vast majority of serious teachers that I have encountered that are not met on a "consulting" or "coaching" basis charge by the month.
Last edited by Morodiene; 12/29/12 11:18 AM.
private piano/voice teacher FT
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I live in CA and between my son and I, count 13 music teachers in my life over about 40 years. Only one of mine didn't charge by the lesson. Our present piano teacher charges monthly for a required 40 week year for the son and charge me by the lesson. As for qualifications, proficiency etc., one of my recorder teachers was head of all musical education for (IIRC) the Claremont USD. as well as being the head of music for Ren Fair and a prominent recorder teacher. The other recorder teacher is co-chair of early music at USC Thornton. One of my cello teachers had a degree in education and worked part time doing educational outreach for the LA Phil. My 2nd drum teacher had a doctorate in ethnic music, went to Ghana with Mick Fleetwood and through that trip received a fellowship from the university of Ghana to research and preserve their percussion history. At the risk of patronization I would remind some of you that there's a huge world of music education that isn't entirely dependent on packing as many 6-16 year olds as possible into a work week and getting as many of them possible into certificate of merit programs. My long experience in this musical universe proves to me that teachers that charge by the lesson don't automatically fall into the category of under-qualified, hobbyists. kurt It sounds like most of the teachers you've described have other jobs that pay the bills; teaching, for them, is more of a philanthropic activity. Goody for them; wish I could also be in such a cushy position. Unfortunately, teaching is my only source of income. Charging by the lesson would be disastrous for my studio (and my budget), as it would lead to cancelled lessons and no-shows. I would always have 'spaces' in my teaching day and income that would fluctuate from week to week, month to month. No thank you. I also live in CA and I can guarantee you that 90% of the teachers in our music teachers branch charge lessons by the month or semester, not on a 'per lesson' basis.
Music School Owner Early Childhood Music Teacher/Group Piano Teacher/Private Piano Teacher Member of MTAC and Guild
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I live in CA and between my son and I, count 13 music teachers in my life over about 40 years. Only one of mine didn't charge by the lesson. One ponders what your musical skills might be if you had sought out top-notch teachers whose primarily livelihood was studio teaching. BTW, the editor of Clavier Companion has several choice words, by inference, for these non-professional teachers in his editorial comments this month. Worth a read.
"Those who dare to teach must never cease to learn." -- Richard Henry Dann Full-time Private Piano Teacher offering Piano Lessons in Olympia, WA. www.mypianoteacher.com Certified by the American College of Musicians; member NGPT, MTNA, WSMTA, OMTA
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Ok thank you all for your wonderful input. Very diverse I might add. I did not mean to open a bad canon worms here. I am just frustrated after 22 years of the same old recurring problems! Here is the situation for some clarification. I have been teaching privately for 22 years or so. I do not have a issue with weekly, monthly or quarterly, I have done all three and whatever works for each individual then so be it. Monthly just happens to work for me.
My problem and it will never stop or be solved as long as private lessons happen, but it is the missing and the "make-up" issues! I hate it...... When I taught 75 students per week, I did not make up. But now with a full time public school teaching position a d a three year old at home, I don't have time again to give makeups, but for some reason, people are just ASSUMING that I can or have the time to do make ups. S I am re writing my studio police for 2013 and revising the make up policy.
Again thanks for the input.
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Sorry for the typos ......dang auto correct gets me
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Ok thank you all for your wonderful input. Very diverse I might add. I did not mean to open a bad canon worms here. I am just frustrated after 22 years of the same old recurring problems! Here is the situation for some clarification. I have been teaching privately for 22 years or so. I do not have a issue with weekly, monthly or quarterly, I have done all three and whatever works for each individual then so be it. Monthly just happens to work for me.
My problem and it will never stop or be solved as long as private lessons happen, but it is the missing and the "make-up" issues! I hate it...... When I taught 75 students per week, I did not make up. But now with a full time public school teaching position a d a three year old at home, I don't have time again to give makeups, but for some reason, people are just ASSUMING that I can or have the time to do make ups. S I am re writing my studio police for 2013 and revising the make up policy.
Again thanks for the input. Cindy, I think it's wise to not do make ups in your case. People assume because they don't know your schedule, but I'm sure if you explained to them what you are doing and that any time given for "make-ups" would cut in to your already diminished personal time with your family they would get it. One alternative is you could have people volunteer to be on a swap list with other students that they could call to swap lessons with them if there's a conflict they know of in advance. You will want to have some guidelines like swapping must happen at least 48 hours before the first of the two lessons in question, and the swapper must notify you once the swap has been made, things like that. That way it's up to the student to do the change. I found many people didn't take me up on this because it was much easier to work around their lesson than to call another student an inconvenience them.
Last edited by Morodiene; 12/30/12 09:50 AM.
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Thanks I did think of that and a former co-worker published her schedule and they did the swapping. Like you they thought it too much trouble ths what it was worth! Lol. I have just finished revising my studio policy for 2013 accompanied with a letter as to the newest guideline revisions, AND a late fee tagged on to late payments and no makeups! I just can't do it and I am going back to that policy this upcoming year. I worked for 15 years before and I am going to make it work again. Thanks for the input.
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Doesn't matter to me what the reason is for their desire/need to reschedule; sickness, shopping, etc. what's the difference really? Do parents really say, "Hi, Barb, little Janey won't be at her lesson tomorrow, because she and I are going some mother-daughter shopping in Santa Rosa. When can you do a make-up?" Oh, yes. Would happen quite frequently until I changed my policy. Most recent one was getting called two hours before with "he can't make his lesson because he has to help his father." Found out the "something" was turning pages for his father at a practice. Are you kidding me? (Father is a piano major who deosn't give his very talented son any encouragement!)I don't reschedule. My time is worth money especially when I have a hole in my schedule left from something like this.
Bachelor of Music (church music) Master of Church Music (organ, music education) Piano Teacher since 1992 Church Musician since 1983
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I live in CA and between my son and I, count 13 music teachers in my life over about 40 years. Only one of mine didn't charge by the lesson. Our present piano teacher charges monthly for a required 40 week year for the son and charge me by the lesson. As for qualifications, proficiency etc., one of my recorder teachers was head of all musical education for (IIRC) the Claremont USD. as well as being the head of music for Ren Fair and a prominent recorder teacher. The other recorder teacher is co-chair of early music at USC Thornton. One of my cello teachers had a degree in education and worked part time doing educational outreach for the LA Phil. My 2nd drum teacher had a doctorate in ethnic music, went to Ghana with Mick Fleetwood and through that trip received a fellowship from the university of Ghana to research and preserve their percussion history. At the risk of patronization I would remind some of you that there's a huge world of music education that isn't entirely dependent on packing as many 6-16 year olds as possible into a work week and getting as many of them possible into certificate of merit programs. My long experience in this musical universe proves to me that teachers that charge by the lesson don't automatically fall into the category of under-qualified, hobbyists. kurt It sounds like most of the teachers you've described have other jobs that pay the bills; teaching, for them, is more of a philanthropic activity. Goody for them; wish I could also be in such a cushy position. Unfortunately, teaching is my only source of income. Charging by the lesson would be disastrous for my studio (and my budget), as it would lead to cancelled lessons and no-shows. I would always have 'spaces' in my teaching day and income that would fluctuate from week to week, month to month. No thank you. I also live in CA and I can guarantee you that 90% of the teachers in our music teachers branch charge lessons by the month or semester, not on a 'per lesson' basis. Must be having a rough day, hmmm? I have it "cushy" because I work three jobs (including teaching 29 students) and work over 12 hours a day??? REALLY???????????? I give an invoice for the month and it is due at the first lesson. My policy (which is black and white) has cut down on the no-shows and make-ups. Not how I charge.
Bachelor of Music (church music) Master of Church Music (organ, music education) Piano Teacher since 1992 Church Musician since 1983
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I charge monthly tuition that is the same every month.
I set aside 5th days in the month for makeup lessons. If I have other openings in my schedule I make those available as well.
For my studio policy, whether they attended lessons or not is irrelevent for the tuition amount. They are enrolled in lessons and the same tuition is due as long as they are enrolled.
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I also live in CA and I can guarantee you that 90% of the teachers in our music teachers branch charge lessons by the month or semester, not on a 'per lesson' basis. I agree. Amost all of the local teachers where I live (also CA) charge monthly, or semester tuition.
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So I had my first lessons for the new year with a revised policy. So far so good. No "lip" or hassle yet.
My final decisions were the same as they have always been just stated firmer and more strict. No make up You pay for four lessons fifth is free tuition is due at the first of the month wi a late fee added after the 15th of the month, However ts did not solve my December problem of being cut one students tuition when she split for the last lesson of the month and has not returned calls or texts since then. So needless to say, I am short on student for 2013. But just more time to spend with my precious little one after a full day of teaching.
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