 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: personwithaclarinet
Date: 2014-07-05 08:55
So, I'm a sixteen-year-old high school clarinet player. I've been studying the clarinet for 4 years but have had musical experience other than that for much of my life and play as well as most of my peers who have been on their instruments for 7 or 8 years. (I'm learning the Brahms sonatas and such.) I've done volunteer work as a counselor at elementary- and middle-school music retreats, but I am thinking of trying to teach music lessons to younger students in order to hone my own skills, help kids learn clarinet, and maybe make a little money for myself and my school orchestra.
The question is: How much would be a fair price to charge, given that I am myself a student and am not even pretending that I can offer a professional quality of teaching?
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-07-05 09:01
Find out what the typical going rate is in your area, and if you feel that you don't deserve quite that amount, shave off a percentage. But keep revisiting that rate as you gain experience and have demonstrable improvement amongst your students (you want to maintain the standard rate in your area as much as possible so as not to diminish the earning potential of your pedagogical peers).
.............Paul Aviles
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2014-07-05 09:43
I'm curious to hear peoples' responses to this since I'm in the same situation (16 yrs old, have been playing for 4 years, previous musical experience, looking to teach private lessons.)
One thing you might want to look into is doing something through your school, even if it's not for pay. This past year, my band director began a volunteer program where top-level students from my high school band tutor elementary and middle school band students. Every Wednesday throughout the school year we met with our students and worked with them on technique, reading music, etc. Some of the elementary school kids were complete beginners at the start of the year, so it was fun to work with them and watch them grow as musicians over the course of the year. It was volunteer work, so I made no money from it, but it gave me the opportunity to learn how to teach clarinet, thus making it easier for me to begin teaching private lessons over the summer. Plus, I already have students interested in taking private lessons with me because I already worked with them during the school year.
Teaching private lessons is also fun because it makes you more aware of your own playing and technique. As you're teaching your students, you start thinking things like, "Wait... I'm telling them to support from their diaphragm... How well do I do that?"
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-07-05 15:29
The real secret to the lesson thing is that no matter WHO you are, YOU learn as much if not more from the experience than your students. Many a teacher had said, "we should pay the students."
And you can take THAT to the bank.
.............Paul Aviles
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2014-07-05 16:38
By the way - I'm the guy who did the Lesson Survey quite a few years ago.
I'll probably do it again soon, but it was enlightening. Survey is on my woodwind.org webpage and is from the late 90's - though probably teachers still charge similar rates it seems.
WHY????
Inflation gives you a pay decrease yearly. I only raise prices every 5 years, but that does happen.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: Bruno
Date: 2014-07-05 19:45
Quote: Author: DavidBlumberg (---.phlapa.fios.verizon.net - (Verizon FiOS) Newtown Square, PA United States)
Date: 2014-07-05 09:21
$12 for a 45 min lesson
David Blumberg
You can't be serious!
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Author: TJTG
Date: 2014-07-05 23:03
IMHO a high school student shouldn't be charging much for lessons. Especially because somebody with a BA can barely charge over 20 a half hour where I live.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2014-07-06 00:20
Most of the school districts in my area will not allow a HS student to teach lessons.
All of the districts in my area set the rates for private lessons held at the schools - $17-20 for 30 min. I'm not allowed to charge more that the school's published rate.
You'll also discover that lesson rates vary greatly depending on what part of the country you live in.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2014-07-06 00:34
Must be if they require lessons or something that they would have the sheer audacity to tell you what to charge.
So they hold the "referral" thing over your heads to force you to bend to their will.
wth?????
Should Ricardo charge the same as I do?
Should a beginning teacher charge as much as a seasoned world class professional with over 30 years of paid private teaching experience with multiple International Competition winners?
Insanity
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2014-07-06 00:43
The school district cannot get into the private affairs between two people. I think what you meant to say is that the school will not sanction the lessons.
If I'm wrong then lawyers would get involved.
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2014-07-06 01:23
I think I remember $5 for a half hr piano lesson at a private home in Houston around 1965. I'm too lazy to look up the CPI and correct for inflation to 2014. But I bet it's more than $20.
And I think my folks also paid $7.50 for a half hr organ lesson in the music store around 1967. I don't think any of my teachers were getting wealthy from lesson $ either.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: tylerleecutts
Date: 2014-07-06 04:25
Don't charge anything until you're in college and in need of cash flow. Offer your expertise to your fellow students for free and the benefits will be extraordinary.
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Author: MSK
Date: 2014-07-06 04:36
The going rate for private lessons is going to vary tremendously in different regions of the country as well as urban / rural etc. I would think a high school student should charge something closer to what teens get at other jobs in the local community. $12 would be way too high in my small town where the professional music teachers with degrees only get $15 to $20 / half hour.
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2014-07-06 16:30
My teacher charged fifty cents for a half hour. (But that was in 1934).
richard smith
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Author: J. J.
Date: 2014-07-06 21:06
Anyone offering dollar amounts without an in-depth knowledge of the going rates in that area is being irresponsible. We don't have to give an answer here if we don't know. Speaking in generalities is far more useful to "person."
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Author: Bruno
Date: 2014-07-06 22:00
Quote:
Author: pewd (---.dsl.rcsntx.swbell.net - (AT&T Internet Services) Arlington, TX United States)
Date: 2014-07-06 00:20
"Most of the school districts in my area will not allow a HS student to teach lessons."
That's about as un-Constitutional as it gets. It's none of their business what students do in their private lives.
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Author: Bruno
Date: 2014-07-06 22:02
Quote:
Author: DavidBlumberg (---.phlapa.fios.verizon.net - (Verizon FiOS) Newtown Square, PA United States)
Date: 2014-07-06 01:24
1930 Bonade was charging $10
Right. And eggs were 5 cents a dozen. Literally.
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Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2014-07-06 22:10
pewd wrote: >All of the districts in my area set the rates for private lessons held at the schools<
Bruno, I believe Paul was referring to students not being allowed to give lessons for pay at the school. The schools certainly have the right to decide who teaches on their grounds. I would imagine a section leader or more advanced player would be allowed to tutor another student unpaid. Although, now that I think a bit more about this they might not allow it depending on how afraid they are of being sued if something happens.
I actually like the idea of students helping their peers for the experience at least for awhile, FWIW.
Post Edited (2014-07-06 22:12)
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Author: 47tim
Date: 2014-07-06 23:06
My teacher charges $45 for one lesson. But then again everything where I live is expensive
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Author: kdk
Date: 2014-07-07 00:42
Keep in mind, the OP wants to teach younger students - probably (I'm guessing) first or second year elementary school students whose parents want them occupied during the summer and, while they're at it, to advance a little on their instruments. He isn't talking about teaching his age peers and charging them for it.
Karl
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Author: rgames
Date: 2014-07-07 05:47
Business 101:
The question "How much should I charge?" has the same answer regardless of what you're selling and where you're selling it. The answer is: it depends.
It depends on two primary factors:
1. Your goals
2. The market
Usually the goal is to maximize profit (but not always). If that is your goal then you guess a price and enter into the market. You then start a process of adapting to the market response to try to maximize your profits by continually adjusting your price. Therein lies the essence of running a for-profit business.
If your goal is to get experience, then you'll probably use a lower price. However, price your service too low and nobody will take you seriously, so free is not a good idea.
The market determines how much money you make but you determine what you charge. Nobody can tell you what that price point is: it's your job to figure it out!
rgames
____________________________
Richard G. Ames
Composer - Arranger - Producer
www.rgamesmusic.com
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Author: tylerleecutts
Date: 2014-07-08 19:29
Free is never a bad idea for lessons. They will take you seriously and appreciate you as a teacher for that as a young person. Remember- the kids the student is talking about are people he associates with on a daily basis. If he has to charge them money in order for them to take him seriously, then that is the real problem.
If you are a worthy tutor and player, they will know it. If you aren't, they won't. Teaching lessons and tutoring is the best way to get community service as a musician, besides public performances. As soon as you view teaching as a service and not as a profit scheme you'll be heading in the right direction. The fact is- you can't claim to have professional experience as a high school musician. We can't sit on this thread and say "Well, XXX teacher charged XXX in XXX", because those teachers had professional experience.
Do you love and enjoy teaching, or do you just want to make money? If it is the latter, then I would recommend a good part-time job. It would offer you more money and experience working than any amount of lessons you could give in your high school years.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2014-07-08 21:01
46tim - expensive is relative.
In NYC that would be a bargain with a good teacher.
Yesterday in a lesson with a new student, I changed his sound and tonal concept completely in 10 minutes.
5 of that was explaining the concept, then boom - instant progress.
He had studied with "2 professionals" previously.
There can be a vast difference.
So if you spend $25 a lesson for 6 months = $600, or a lesson for $100 in which you make much more progress, which is the bargain then?
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2014-07-08 21:17
In many settings, free or low cost works poorly for all concerned, if the true value of the product or service is actually much higher.
All of us tend to place value on things based on what they cost us. If we get something for less than it is worth, we may give it less respect, time, and effort than it deserves. And we may never be willing later to pay the true value (if the free / low cost option goes away), even if that would be our wisest choice.
I can come up with several applications of this principal in my own experience without even thinking hard, both as giver and taker of the cheapened item or service. I bet you've done it also.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2014-07-08 21:29
David, I totally agree. And I bet the students you discount to- understand the true value of your lessons.
But there are grocery items I just won't buy unless they're buy one get one free, since that happens so regularly. Even when I'm thinking they're maybe worth the regular price and I do want them when not on sale. And I've also got regular commercial photo clients (bless em!) with deep pockets who lean on me for discounts even though my pricing to them is already a deal. Or so I'm pretty sure it is, LOL. Ah, the free market, gotta love it.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: tylerleecutts
Date: 2014-07-09 03:50
fskelley wrote:
> In many settings, free or low cost works poorly for all concerned, if the true value of the product or service is actually much higher.
>All of us tend to place value on things based on what they cost us. If we get >something for less than it is worth, we may give it less respect, time, and >effort than it deserves. And we may never be willing later to pay the true >value (if the free / low cost option goes away), even if that would be our >wisest choice.
>I can come up with several applications of this principal in my own >experience without even thinking hard, both as giver and taker of the >cheapened item or service. I bet you've done it also.
Have you even discussed with any students about what they would be willing to pay for lessons? This is the most important question. I had to teach almost 80% of my lessons free in my area due to this, just because the students were middle-school age and I didn't exactly live in a metropolitan area. But in Tampa where I go to college, this may be different.
One thing is VERY important: If you do decide to charge a small amount per lesson, ALWAYS make the introductory lesson free. This is a good insurance policy for you and the student if you aren't what they may be looking for.
One service that you could definitely offer for a cost is reed-balancing, if you are skilled. The benefits of a student learning on balanced reeds is immeasurable. If you have steady hands and the needed tools, instrument repair may be an appropriate business venture to try for your band program. You don't know how much my director appreciated having someone around who could do basic repairs themselves. It saves the director a lot of money, but could also make you some money as well.
I think 10.00 is a very fair rate if you did choose to charge, but remember that the proof is in the pudding. If you are a good teacher, students will always come for free. If you need community service hours for college scholarships, this is a great venture for that, if you choose.
I agree with the above comments on the benefits of cost towards a student's appreciation, but you have to have a lot of experience to make those statements more readily applicable.
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Author: dantheman
Date: 2014-07-09 18:50
Here's a parent's view...the guy that open's his wallet and pays for the lessons...
My daughter's private flute teacher gets $35 for 45 min. She's worth every penny.
Her piano instructor gets $15 for 30 minutes.
The flute instructor is a retired teacher and has an exceptional reputation in our area. Many of her students tend to excel in scholastic competitions.
Her piano teacher is very good and has a degree in music therapy and runs the activity dept in a local nursing home.
My son took guitar lessons from a college student who was a music major and a phenomenal jazz guitarist. He had an established reputation as a performer locally. He charged only $10 for 45 minutes
So as a 16 yr old, I think that you will need to be an experienced performer like my son's former guitar teacher to be able to charge much for lessons.
I guess the best advice is to build a reputation for yourself that the parent's of your potential students can relate to. Be it doing well in scholastic competitions, playing in community bands or pit orchestras and volunteering. Something that can be put on a resume.
$10 or $12 for a 45 minute lesson, that someone else suggested, seems to be the maximum I would be willing to pay for a 16 year old musical tutor. As you mature with age and your experience and musical resume grows with you, then you could and should command more coin for lessons.
Dan
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Author: tylerleecutts
Date: 2014-07-09 22:41
Well said, Dan.
I agree- 10.00 is a very fair rate. But like I said previously, always offer a trial. Lessons ARE worth paying for. But it feels so good for a student to succeed and all they have to give back to you is their enthusiasm and good sound.
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Author: FDF
Date: 2014-07-10 02:28
Also, PWAC, an endorsement from your teacher stating that you are capable of teaching beginners and starting them out on the right track would give both you and your students confidence in your ability.
Good luck.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2014-07-11 18:42
There is no easy answer to this because it depends on where you live, what the market will bear, what's fair to you and the student etc. You may find that a half hour lesson is enough for most younger children just don't be a clock watcher. Give yourself 10-15 minutes leeway if you or the student needs it. I've always done that, sometimes half and hour when teaching from my private studio on an hour lesson but I'm not teaching young kids. You should probably consider somewhere between $10 and $15 at your age and experience. That way too, you have a chance of building up a small studio.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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