Author: JEG ★2017
Date: 2010-07-02 01:16
That article reminds me of the only parent I ever lost it on when I was teaching clarinet and saxophone. This woman lived in one of the upper middle class Boston suburbs. I taught her daughter for two years, I think, then after a few years was asked to start her son on clarinet. I taught him for a school year, and then the following September she called back asking me to teach him again, but at a reduced rate because he was "only a beginner" and should merit a lower rate. At that time, about 30 years ago, my rate was low enough. Needless to say, she was the recipient of a not-sympathetic response and the relationship ended there. Incidentally, she was a Juliard graduate and an active piano teacher, and at the time my students included children and grandchildren of Boston Symphony members. So, you see, people can be ignorant even when they're in the business.
I don't know anything about the publication this woman wrote the article for; it may have its own agenda, even though I think I'd have to agree with Ed Palanker. I had over 40 students at various times, but when you factor in absences, holidays and summer vacations you quickly come to realize that for most musicians teaching is not lucrative. I wasn't living in a big house and had trouble making ends meet, as was true with many of my colleagues, in spite of the supposedly high rates we charged.
Now that I'm in IT I don't make near the hourly wage as teaching but the income (for now, anyway) is steady and much better. And there are a lot of former professional musicians who are doing what I do. And I don't have the stress of dealing with various parents and students.
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The Clarinet BBoard
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