 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2012-04-23 12:02
I got an email from someone interested in clarinet lessons for her 7 year old daughter (almost 8).
In my reply I explained that her hands may not be big enough to handle a standard Bb clarinet. (although they may be)
I gave her some options...
Eb clarinet/kinder-clari
Lyons C Clarinet
Or Recorder
Then I strongly suggested the recorder since it is the cheapest option, easiest to play and she would have no problem covering the holes.
As of right now, I have had 1 student (10 yr old) who is my friends daughter. I go to her house and do not charge. I did it to build my confidence for when I get some "real" paying students. We both are doing great (although this is not my first teaching experience - I taught several different ages about 10 yrs ago).
anyway - she asked if I could come to her house and how much a 30 minute lesson would be.
I dont really like the idea of traveling all over - and I do have a studio in my home and a waiting room. so I told her she would have to come to me.
I told her it is $25 for a 30 minute lesson. Does this sound reasonable to you?
I fear that I might have put her off by
suggesting her daughter start on recorder
asking her to come to me
charging too much
did I do the right thing?
Janlynn
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Author: kdk
Date: 2012-04-23 12:51
Everyone wants the teacher to come to their house. But they still want to get a price that's competitive and generally don't want to pay for the travel time, which can be considerable. Since you have a studio in your home, it's completely reasonable to expect the student's parent to bring her to you.
You won't be sure about the recorder suggestion until you see the student, but it's likely her hands are too small. I like the idea of starting on recorder, probably because that's what I did. It *is* the least expensive option and the recorder can always be useful, where a small clarinet designed for small children will eventually be outgrown. I've never seen the result of having a small child start on an E-flat clarinet, so I don't really know how well that works. But my reaction based on my own experience as an adult player with E-flat clarinets is that they have difficulties of their own that may be harder for a young child to get past than the size problem of a B-flat. And in any case, the parent will still need to buy a B-flat clarinet when the child is old enough to want to play in a school or other band program.
Price depends on the going rate where you live and the student you're hoping to attract. Parents of beginners often find anything more than "free" to be too much, and they only make a decision to pay it after they ask around and find the lowest rate anyone is willing to offer. So it's a completely local issue that you will need to investigate a little, particularly if this student doesn't end up studying with you.
Karl
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2012-04-23 13:59
Hi Janlynn,
When asked if I can travel to someone's home I explain that in doing so I lose the half hour immediately before and after. If they want to pay three times the lesson then more power to them.
When my studio is full I won't even consider that -- I would rather teach three different students from my home then one student for triple the cost. Most people recognize the business aspect of the arrangement.
I agree with Karl's assessment that price is determined greatly by local factors.
I charge $30/half hour in an affluent town. I have university teaching experience and sub professionally.
You have to determine what your time is worth, what your market will bear, and whether your pricing is competitive enough to allow you to build a studio faster.
In general I think your advice and approach are very similar to what I would have done!
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-04-23 14:32
Be very careful with how you handle this. There is a scam that I've run across before that starts with this query. The scammer will send a cheque for more than the agreed amount, with an explanation as to why this was done and a request that you refund the difference and deposit it in a nominated bank account. The cheque is bad, but if you're sufficiently gullible you will have already made the refund before you realize this. It sounds too simple to work, but the scam has been around for a while now, so obviously they must catch some people.
See:
http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=217447&t=217445
http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=221288&t=221288
and lots of others.
Tony F.
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2012-04-23 14:54
Thanks for the heads up Tony.
yep - ive gotten that scam before.
I'm pretty sure this one is legit.
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Author: Nessie1
Date: 2012-04-23 16:15
I would say that you did the right thing for you at this time, which is all you can do, with a "side order" of sensible advice about the pupil probably being a bit small for B flat clarinet as yet.
As I think I may have said on this board before, there are many parents out there who like the idea of their little darling becoming a virtuoso on whatever instrument they choose but are not prepared to support it by travelling to lessons and other music-related activities and by foregoing some other activities which may clash from time to time. They may also not realise that the teacher is not only giving expertise and experience but also time, of which we all only have 24 hours in the day.
Another point is that many parents do not realise that a good teacher is worth paying more for and travelling further to!
I think sometime a good teacher shows confidence by turning down some pupils.
Vanessa
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2012-04-24 14:58
ya so i lost that potential student as they emailed and said they decided to wait until she gets a little bigger.
I wouldve loved to get my first paying student - but after reading the comments here - I know I did the right thing.
thanks for the guidance clarineters
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Author: mvjohnso
Date: 2012-04-26 18:04
I think 25 is a lot to teach recorder... clarinet yes though. Also, I think that those bamboo (Xaphoon's are good) saxes are a MUCH better tool for learning that a recorder. The Xaphoon uses a tenor sax reed but it will get the student more used to a reed than a recorder.
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2012-04-26 18:07
I also told her the fee was negotiable. which it is. you gotta start somewhere.
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2012-04-26 19:25
no... they want to wait. i respect that and think its a good decision.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2012-04-27 04:04
In the meantime, if I were you, I would do some research on what to charge. FWIW (and I'm sure I'll get plenty of disagreement), I think $50/hour is on the high side for someone with your resume if you are trying to build a studio -- even a small one. I know people with a lot more experience both teaching and playing who don't charge much more than that (and some who charge considerably less).
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: oca
Date: 2012-04-27 05:33
Keep your price high if you must.
I would by her a few clarinet books/videos as a goodbye gift for being the student that you worked with to gain confidence in teaching.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2012-04-27 06:03
>> I gave her some options... Then I strongly suggested the recorder <<
I know you had your reasons, but FWIW I wanted to play clarinet when I was about 6. The first conservatory said I was too young/small and suggested some other instruments (they allowed 10 year olds start clarinet). That did nothing but make a young kid cry... Another teacher suggested an Eb clarinet. It wasn't easy to find one since we had none in my country and this was before the internet too... The entire process of finding a teacher, getting the clarinet, etc. probably took more than six months but completely worth it in the end. I remember I started just before I was 7. Of course the situation with your potential student maybe have been different but just something to consider...
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2012-04-27 12:26
OMYGOSH .....I dont charge $50 an hour and never would. Not around here anyway.
My own teacher only charges $45 hr. I take 1 1/2 hr lesson for $65
I thought $25 for 30 minutes
and $35 for an hour
I do think the $35 is reasonable but perhaps $15 -$18 would be more suitable for the half hour.
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2012-04-27 12:29
oca - the student I took to gain confidence in teaching is still my student. she is doing great! and I LOVE teaching her.
This other person was inquiring about lessons and I suggested recorder. so I have never even seen them in person.
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Author: Nessie1
Date: 2012-04-27 13:16
I would suggest that if your charge is $35 for an hour, you should go to somewhat more than half that for half an hour - it is less time but still a lot of the same bother and commitment to you. May be $20 or $22.
Vanessa.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2012-04-27 16:28
You have to stop second-guessing yourself. 25 and 35 were reasonable (25 and 40 would have been better).
And ... If you can actually _teach_ recorder playing, up to and including some beginning concerto pieces, then your prices were most certainly in line. Just because an instrument might not be expensive (in its plastic form) doesn't mean that interesting, complex music can't be played on it!
I would have paid a lot more than 25/hr to get lessons from Paul Butterfield, though that harmonica wouldn't have cost much more than 10 bucks...
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Author: mvjohnso
Date: 2012-04-27 20:10
And, I would pay $50 to get a lesson on mowing my lawn from Eddie Daniels, but I don't know what that has to do with the discussion. The thing is that (1) she is not at the same level as Paul Butterfield or Eddie and (2) the recorder isn't that hard (they make books that will teach you). Also, it is pretty useless, you cannot play it in an ensemble and you aren't going to jam out with your friends or by a campfire like you would with a harmonica. As such, if I were a parent I wouldn't want to pay $25 for useless (no direct uses) skill. Though, you may state that it can teach beginning skills well (covering holes and blowing) there are other things that are similarly priced that one can learn better from (Xaphoon). Btw, 20 and 35 sound like great prices to me, before I didn't know about the price break at the hour mark. 25 could work but I think that you will scare some clients away (especially for the recorder). I paid only 20 for a half hour for lessons from someone more skilled that the professor I had in college (this was only 4 years ago). Recorder is a toy in the minds of non-musicians and many musicians (to me it is simply outdated and has had any use replaced (less anyone who plays like this).
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2012-04-28 00:28
there are recorder ensembles in my area along with music schools that teach recorder. The kids here start recorder in 3rd grade and by 5th they begin band instruments. i played recorder in college and did not consider it a toy. we played some very interesting baroque music.
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Author: eac
Date: 2012-04-28 22:10
It might be a tough sell to the parents but offering to teach music fundamentals like rhythm/percussion, maybe on a small xylophone (which would also introduce the keyboard layout) could be a real head start for any later choice of instrument. One can never know too much about rhythm. I wish I had more exposure when I was a kid!
Liz Leckey
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