Piano lessons...

[melodymelancholy]

I don't think $30 for a 1/2 hour piano lesson is unreasonable.

Yep, $30 is not unreasonable specially when you yourself sees the progress of your child. also, having piano lessons at your home is really good for your child. they won't feel like they are being looked at (it's because it is at home) and can progress a lot faster with it.

 

[marcyinPA]

My DS10 takes private drum lessons from a woman at our church. She charges us $15 for a 45 minute lesson. She is trained, and a professional. She teaches lessons because she wants kids to learn music. This isn't her only job...it's kind of her passion...her love.

My advice is to check with people who you know, at church or at school. You never know if that person may give lessons, or know someone who does. Also, you will pay more for lessons at a music store. The music store usually gets a cut. My oldest DS took trumpet lessons from a guy who taught in his house a few days a week, and at a music store a few days a week. The music store lessons were more than the ones he gave at home.

 

[happymommy]

I pay $40 for 45 minutes per week for my DD. It does add up, plus my son has a tutor (wonderful retired school principal) 6 to 9 hours a month ($45 an hour). It all adds up, and my DH sometimes asks where I spend our money?! Not like I'm at Nordstrom buying designer jeans, nope, it's the kids!

To the OP: I am not sure if this is for a child or adult piano lessons.

I was just glad to find a nice teacher for my DD, as she really WANTED to take piano lessons, and kept asking me to get her a teacher. She started at the beginning of fifth grade (this past September), which was a good age in my opinion. I had my DS take lessons for a couple of years, much younger, and he didn't like it, hated to practice.... My DD practices daily without me ever saying anything, so as long as she is motivated and enjoying it, I am glad to give her the opportunity! It is a blessing, but yes $160 a month is a lot to most folks. I'm grateful that my DH provides so we can do this for her (he never had any opportunities like that growing up).

 

[Pixiedust34]

Our kids just started piano lessons. I shopped around, and $20 for a half hour is the lowest rate I could find. We were lucky to find a fantastic teacher and that's the rate we pay. It's a budget-buster, but learning to play an instrument is a good skill to have.

 

[tar heel]

I'm shocked to hear that anyone good is charging $15 per half hour . . . Once you take self-employment tax out of that, it's a pretty lousy salary.

We pay $25 a half hour, but my son is 15 and only does two lessons a month at this point. His teacher teaches piano, guitar and voice, and DS is working on his singing now, too. We (DH and I as well as DS) love his teacher.

 

[EcbLovesMickey]

We pay $20 per 1/2 hour lesson once a week, plus we rent a piano for about $50 a month... it does all add up, but it is a wise investment

 

[DizzyFORDisney]

Three of my 4 boys take lessons...$195 per month. I guess we're on the cheaper end of the spectrum but I HATE writing that check each month! But it is really cool that the kids can play...and play WELL!

 

[solfan68]

Husband of a music teacher/piano & voice coach. We live in a small town and DW doesn't charge $30. That said, some things to think about... if you are lucky enough to get a good teacher, they probably have more than a few people who would also like a bit of their time each week. In our case, DW also has to regularly prep her private students to play for recitals, or for district festivals. All of this, of course, takes away time from the family. DS and I are not crying "poor me", just something to throw out there. DW has a real passion for her students, both in - and out of - school. So we wouldn't have it any other way.

Heck... even if you get a student-teacher they need to balance homework, a social life, and possibly some other kind of part-time job. There's also the reviewing of where the student is in their lessons, and having several "next logical steps" in place, depending on how their practicing and advancement are going. So these folks need to weigh several factors to determine what their time is worth.

To all of you, and your kiddos, who are pursuing piano lessons. You have my admiration. I love singing along, but just don't have the dedication to be the next piano man.

 

[marcyinPA]

I'm shocked to hear that anyone good is charging $15 per half hour . . . Once you take self-employment tax out of that, it's a pretty lousy salary.

We pay $25 a half hour, but my son is 15 and only does two lessons a month at this point. His teacher teaches piano, guitar and voice, and DS is working on his singing now, too. We (DH and I as well as DS) love his teacher.

In the case of our teacher, who is also a friend...she does it for the love of it, and to give kids opportunity to learn. She wants it to be affordable for people. She KNOWS she can charge more...because I've so much as told her so! But she refuses to do it. Like I said, this isn't her only job...

She teaches percussion, voice and piano...she is wonderfully qualified and is just a terrific person. She invests a lot in the kids, and even prays with them before their lesson. She's really more than a music teacher...she's a mentor to some!

 

[Pixiedust34]

we rent a piano for about $50 a month... it does all add up, but it is a wise investment

Pianos are expensive. Sometimes used ones are available, but not always.

Have you considered a keyboard? We bought this one

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Casio-PX130-88-Key-Digital-Keyboard-105486419-i1466876.gc#read-reviews

and it works really well! It sounds like a real piano and has 88 weighted keys, a metronome, and a pedal which is what our teacher said that the kids should have. If you're doing lessons for a while, you could get ahead by getting a keyboard and paying it off rather than renting.

Maybe someday we'll get a real piano, but for now the keyboard works well and I don't know yet how long (beyond a year or so) our kids will be taking lessons.

 

[HLDisney]

We live in Mets territory, too and my DD takes lesson from a young woman from our church for $25/hour. I know we're fortunate, though, because I have friends in NJ who pay $40/hour per DD for their two DDs

Helen

 

[mafibisha]

We pay $20 per 1/2 hour lesson once a week, plus we rent a piano for about $50 a month... it does all add up, but it is a wise investment

Check Craigs List. People are always giving away pianos FREE, or for a small charge. Not always the best looking but if you have them tuned (regularly) they're just fine for the novice and would save you $50 a month. Also check your music stores and local schools, as both frequently sell pianos, and at very reasonable prices.

 

[aladams2]

WOW!! We have it good. I pay $10 a 1/2 hour for piano lessons!! I have two kids taking lessons every other week. So it's $40 a month!! I should be very excited about that seeing these other prices! YIKES!!