Hourly Rate For Lessons?

[Arizona Jones]

What are people paying for an hours worth of bass lessons?

Just trying to get a general idea, as I'm looking to start taking some.

Thanks.

[wld3]

Rates vary, of course, but I have found rates in my area range $20 to $35 for a half-hour and $40 to $60 for an hour.

Some people will have a per session rate and you simply pay as you go, others will want you to pay a month at a time. Some of them will discount a bit for paying in advance.

It can be a bit of a crap-shoot finding a good bass instructor. Some guys can play well but can't teach their way out of a wet paper bag. Some are quite methodical and professional while others... not so much.

Some guys will be solo, offering lessons via bulletin boards and Craigslist, others will be connected/affiliated with a music school or a music store. The arrangement can have an impact on the price. As an example, one guy I know on the other side of town teaches lessons using a music school's facilities. Since he has to pay them to use their rooms, his rate is higher than average.

One more consideration: Most bass lessons are offered by guitarists who teach guitar and bass. That's not necessarily a bad thing, however, I found that having a bass instructor who is a bass player to be immensely valuable.

Many instructors will let you have a meet/initial lesson without charge. Don't be shy to take advantage of this and try out two or three before committing to anyone. Even with the one's who don't offer this, pay for a 1st lesson separately from any potential future arrangement by the month, etc., so you can check them out.

Look for someone who listens and shows a genuine interest in teaching you. If an instructor says, "Hi, let's get started" and then flips open a beginner bass book by Mel Bay, you may want to keep looking.

[Mingus]

I used to get $90 for two hours (1 for electric and 1 for upright) from my teacher. $50 if I only took an hour's worth. I wish I could go back .

My teacher is an upright bassist first though. He taught me mainly theory on the electric

[DudeistMonk]

I pay $40 for an "its over when its over" lesson which translates to somewhere in between an hour and three hours, half of which will be BSing and the other half will be playing and musical conversation...well worth it.

[Croox]

I pay for 80 a month for half hour lessons once a week, I think that's easiest way to do it. theres only a little bit of bs, its all work.

[CapnSev]

I do private lessons at $40 an hour. My School of Rock wage is $20 an hour + bonuses.

[pedro]

Originally Posted by Croox

I pay for 80 a month for half hour lessons once a week, I think that's easiest way to do it. theres only a little bit of bs, its all work.

I'm curious who you study with? Please feel free to PM your answer if you feel it appropriate.

[Joel S.]

Most places out here are ~$15 a half hour.

[nathanmcnathan]

$25/hour

[Arizona Jones]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm going to check out a $40/HR guy who is willing to do the lessons at my place.

Being that I live in LA (very high cost of living), and he has to drive to my house, the price sounds about right.

Thanks again.

[pinkzepphish]

20 for half hour

[David1234]

My rate varies by location (in aussie dollars):
- at a private school, $32 per half hour and I keep $30 of it but have to follow the school's ever-changing timetable and when I'm using their amps I often have to turn up early to find things
- at a music school attached to a shop, $24 per half hour and I keep about $18 of it, and for that cut the manager goes and finds students for me and takes care of the room.
- on occasion I teach at home for $50 per hour, casual lessons from half an hourto 2 hours.

I'm a bass specialist and do more gigging than teaching, but sometimes I have to teach lesser instruments such as guitar and keys to pay my bills, especially since my powerpop band isn't in profit territory yet.

[David1234]

One more comment: when shopping around for a teacher, remember that your own time effectively comes at a cost - make sure you're getting the best teacher for you, not just the lowest bidder!

[Arnold]

Originally Posted by wld3

Look for someone who listens and shows a genuine interest in teaching you. If an instructor says, "Hi, let's get started" and then flips open a beginner bass book by Mel Bay, you may want to keep looking.

Strongly disagree!!!!!

When I go to lessons I pay the bargain rate of 75$. I've paid more than that for one-off lessons and it's been worth it each time.

If a teacher flips open beginners book and insists that you learn to read, understand musical concepts, play with correct technique, you may be in the right place. At least if you hope to play somewhere besides your own bedroom. Remember, if you could already play the bass, you wouldn't go, so find a teacher who teaches music and do what they say to do. If they say "what would you like to play today?" you may want to keep looking.
Peace.
ASG

[wld3]

Originally Posted by Arnold

Strongly disagree!!!!!

If a teacher flips open beginners book and insists that you learn to read, understand musical concepts, play with correct technique, you may be in the right place.

I'm not certain what you strongly disagree with from my post. What I stated and what you state are not the same things.

I refer, in brief terms, to someone who, in an initial session, says, "Hi, let's get started" and then flips open a beginner bass book as potentially being someone that might prompt you to continue looking. I wholeheartedly stand by that assessment.

In my experience, a good instructor will want to find out something about you. They want to assess where you are as a player and what your goals are for lessons and for playing an instrument. They will have a lot to share with you, most of which they will not read from a book.

An instructor might very well utilize a book, or loose sheets, or some other printed material while insisting, as you suggest, that one learn to read, understand musical concepts, and play with correct technique. That is something different. The material is being utilized by the instructor in the process but the material itself is not the main source of instruction.

I do agree with your statement: "If they say 'what would you like to play today?' you may want to keep looking."

An good instructor is much more than either a page-turner or a show-a-song/play along person.

[Arnold]

Cool,
I have yet to find a better book than Mel Bay, especially now that every new book I look at contains tab which I won't allow any of my few and infrequent students to consider. Perhaps we agree or perhaps not. This is the place for healthy disagreement, right?
Peace.
ASG

[wld3]

Originally Posted by Arnold

Cool,
I have yet to find a better book than Mel Bay, especially now that every new book I look at contains tab which I won't allow any of my few and infrequent students to consider. Perhaps we agree or perhaps not. This is the place for healthy disagreement, right?
Peace.
ASG

Yeah, of course. I see lots of disagreement here all the time - healthy and otherwise.

Regarding books, I happen to like some of the books I've seen by Mel Bay as well as the Hal Leonard Bass Method series.

As for instruction, I suppose, ultimately, that the most important thing is to find someone who teaches in an effective manner; in a way that moves one forward as a player.

[nathanmcnathan]

A teacher who can teach reading music quickly is really important. I think teachers shouldn't teach TAB, because that's somehting anybody can learn on thier own in 5 minutes. I'm currently taking lessons with Damian Spaulding, founder of the Spaulding School of Music. The first lessons, he got me to play, and analyzed what I was doing in order to guage how well I understood what I was doing. That's considerably more beneficial than somebody just starting teaching without getting a feel for the student's capabilities.

[tranceFusion]

I don't think whether Mel Bay books are good or not is really at question.. but you need to have a program tailored to you. A Mel Bay book should only be a portion of that program.

To me, while the long term result from somebody whose goal is to be able to jam with anyone and someone who wants to read sheet music in a formal band setting may be similar, the approach is probably going to be different to keep them motivated and pushing forward on a weekly basis, and that stuff needs to be accounted for by the teacher.

I am on my third teacher and the first one sat there and nodded or shook his head while i played out of a mel bay method book.. the 2nd one just basically had me jamming with him on whatever song he felt like playing at the moment.. I am now on my 3rd and it is great - I tell him what I am trying to do, let him know of any questions I might have, etc. and he pushes me forward as far as technique, rhythm, theory, etc. go.

If I am picking something up right away, he glosses over it.. If I am having trouble in an area he gives me more assignments, whether its a page from the book, sheet music, audio clips, handwritten notes, etc..

[motoman]

$15.00 for 30 min