How much should you pay for piano lessons?

[MollyE]

Would really appreciate a few pointers as I think we're over paying! Thanks

[bonaome]

They're very expensive. ?25 and upwards for half an hour!

[Pickle]

At least ?40 an hour, but more like ?50 for a qualified music teacher.

[Gubodge]

The musicians' union sets minimum rates depending on what grade is being taught, but as I'm not a member I'm afraid I can't access the figures. Around this area, for the lower grades, you should probably be paying around ?45 p/h. If it's much more than that then yes, you probably are being taken for a ride. And from enquiries I made, it's usually cheaper if they are coming to teach in your home.

[lorraineliyanage]

The SE22 Piano School charges ?25 for a 30 minute weekly lesson. There are several opportunities for our students (or any local pianist) to perform so we have a busy extra-curricular schedule to complement the weekly lesson.

http://www.se22piano.co.uk/events/

[nunheadmum]

If the children are at school, it may be worth checking if lessons are available in/around school time. My daughters do lessons this way and it is a little cheaper. Also for younger kids, they offer shared group lessons on some instruments - which can be a cost effective way to try the instrument.

[mayo]

We pay ?20 per half hour with musico south

[EmilyE]

MU rates are ?31/hr I think, though you'd be lucky to find that for half an hour. ?40/hr is probably realistic.

[Extend10]

The East Dulwich Academy of Music and Performing Arts charges a very reasonable ?17.50 per 30 minutes for a one on one lesson. Please look at www.eastdulwichacademy.org or contact us at [email protected].

[MollyE]

Thanks everyone, really appreciate your responses.

[EPB]

A qualified plumber can cost between ?60 and ?70 per hour.

[Flatforsale]

EPB Wrote:

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> A qualified plumber can cost between ?60 and ?70

> per hour.

Barristers, solicitors, management consultants, etc earn a lot more per hour.

Teachers, teaching assistants, nurses, firemen, policemen etc earn a lot less per hour.

Is your point to try to make a quick buck and ask for as much as you think you can get away with, or charge something that is fair, reasonable and affordable for families and that will allow the family to afford the teacher for a long time so that children, even those whose parents don't earn loads-a-cash per hour, have a chance to learn an instrument?

[Medusa]

There are more easily affordable teachers out there. My son's teacher charges ?15/30 mins. I don't know whether she's qualified, but she got him through his first grade with flying colours in a year.

I wish there was more subsidised music education. I wish it were available to all children at school and seen as an essential part of a broader education.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

Medusa, who do you use?

[Pickle]

I think (speaking as someone who worked as a music teacher for many years, but only in the weekend as I had a separate career in another field) the price will depend a bit on whether the teacher is doing it as a profession (as their main source of income), or to supplement other work. Full time teachers will operate more like a business, people like me will charge a bit less.

When I first started teaching I was only 16, and not yet qualified. I did it because I loved it, and my rates reflected that.

It's worth looking for enthusiastic students, grade 8ish standard, they can be excellent teachers for young children.

[Medusa]

Yes, I'd second what Pickle has said.

This is who has been teaching my son:

http://gunelmirzayeva.com/index.html

[Coach Beth]

If you are looking for a good, all-round instrumental music education for your child, I think the new East Dulwich Academy for Performing Arts is pretty good - my son is going there and basically, you get 3 hours of music tuition a week for ?25 per 3 hour session. The 3 hours includes: 30 minutes on your primary instrument (in his case drums/percussion), 30 minutes music theory, 30 minutes keyboards and 45 minutes wind band. As mentioned above, you can also book individual music lessons. For more information http://www.eastdulwichacademy.org/

My partner is a professional musician and I do think that we completely undervalue musicians and the hard work they have put into all their years of study to get to where they are. It's fairly specialist knowledge and experience someone needs to be able to teach a child a musical instrument.

Personally, I think it's not feasible for someone on a self-employed basis to charge less than ?30 an hour - particularly if they are having to travel and go to pupils houses.

What is good is that if you can afford individual music lessons at home, you can access subsidised music lessons at schools - at Goose Green students can have individual music lessons in a range of instruments including piano, drum kit, flute, clarinet, brass instruments for ?6/$7 a lesson. If your child's school doesn't offer this, I would put pressure on them to do so.