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how much do lessons cost?

Author: nahya^^
Date: 2002-08-02 20:13

generally, how much would a lesson cost coming from a student?
and how about professional instructors?

and how much and how often should a complete newbie get lessons?

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RE: how much do lessons cost?

Author: Dee
Date: 2002-08-02 20:19

Weekly lessons of about 1/2 hour for a beginner.

Cost, well you will just have to check your local area. It does vary. However, if you get them from a high school student, I wouldn't go over $10 per lesson and you could probably get it for less. If you get it from a local school band director it should be a bit higher.

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RE: how much do lessons cost?

Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2002-08-02 20:23

In the 1960's, my teacher, a local pro who played sax, clarinet, flute and violin, in various local bands, symphonies, wedding gigs, bar mitzvahs, etc; classical, jazz, whatever, and who had an ed degree in music but hadn't taught in a school system for years, charged $8 for a 40 minute lesson... and he came to the house! I think when I started with him, he may have charged only $6.

I think rates have gone up a little since then:-)

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RE: how much do lessons cost?

Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2002-08-02 20:26

Hmm... Judging by Dee's post, which came while I was still typing mine, lesson fees haven't gone up that much. No wonder you can't make a living in music!

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RE: how much do lessons cost?

Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2002-08-02 21:06

Here is a survey of rates (from about 4 years ago), conducted by David Blumberg:

http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Music/Blumberg.html#rates

Good pro teachers in St. Louis start around $30 per hour and go up from there. As Dee notes, 30 minutes/week is probably about right at the beginning.

A list of teachers from "around the world" is here:

http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Study/Teachers.html

I don't know whether any are close to you but it might be worth a look.

If your school district has a band, contact the band director for leads. If you live near a college/university that has a music department, contact the chair to see if they have a clarinetist on faculty.

While I am sure there are many high school students (probably mostly juniors or seniors) that would be good teachers, I am also sure there are many more students (some even in College) who, regardless of how well they play, don't have a clue how to teach proper clarinet playing, particularly when it comes to subtleties like embouchure, tonguing, proper hand position, etc. IMO, it's better to start out right than to develop alot of bad habits that hold you back and have to be extinguished eventually. If it has to be a student, look for at least a junior or senior in high school who is taking lessons. Then ask for references from his/her teacher.

While they are no substitute for a live teacher, there are instructional videotapes for the beginning clarinetist. Fred Weiner http://www.weinermusic.com (or 1-800-622-CORK) has one by Jack Brymer, an eminent British clarinetist. I have seen others on eBay (but couldn't find anything with a quick and dirty search).

Best regards,
jnk

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RE: how much do lessons cost?

Author: James
Date: 2002-08-04 01:30

If you are in chicago.... we are talking big bucks. My a member of the cyso who I play with takes from John Yeh and hes like $120 an hour. I have taken from several different teachers in the chicago area, and prices have varied from $50-90 an hour.

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