what up with lesson price ^^^ ???

[iBass88]

i live in ct.. i used to take lessons sometime ago in a local music store for about $22 and hour...(3 years ago) ,so recently i called back to check in and maybe start again with the lessons.. the local music stores had a slight price adjustment from around 20$ to about $40/hour!!! i dont know if its just my region, but i think that's crazy... maybe its about time i became a teacher..lol not such a bad job after all to sit, play and get paid 40 buck an hour can anyone relate??

[steveb98]

Sound like the going rate these days. Double it for well know players who teach. Master level lessons go even higher. Teaching in a store the store is taking a cut.

[tr68gt]

I have been studying with the owner of a local music store (he's an accomplished player) at a rate of $20/half hour. I also teach part-time (not music) for a comparable rate. So I guess it's the norm.

[SoComSurfing]

Where I used to teach it was $17.50/half-hour lesson. That was 2 years ago or so, so it wouldn't surprise me if they were up to $20/lesson. It was the cheapest store in town, and had by far the best teachers. (myself not included!! )

[JoshC]

I only took 2 years worth of lessons in 2 different places. They were $11 and $15 per half hour, the $11 was shared with another begging student. So I can kinda see $40/hour for someone who's good.

[AxtoOx]

Depends on the region. I was paying $35 a lesson in San Diego. Here in Oklahoma, I was paying $11, and I liked the teacher here better.

[202dy]

Some teaching economics:

$40.00/hour X 2000/hour/year= $80,000.00/year + No Benefits.

How much do the school districts pay the teachers in your area? Odds are they pay a little less. But their benefits package (Hospitalization, insurances, retirement pension, sabbatical leave, etc.) will put them far above the private music teacher's earnings. School teachers typically work ~187 days a year. That is approximately 1500 hours per year.

Someone mentioned that if the teacher is working out of a music store that the store will get some of the money. That is how it should be. When a store hires a teacher it is the store's reputation on the line. If the teacher is not effective the store looses money. If the teacher cannot retain students the store has to advertise for more. If a teacher does something untoward to a student it is the store owner's liability that will come into play. Music store owners and music teachers like to eat and have a roof over their heads the same as anyone else. They are business people and simply are selling their wares.

The thing is, why would anyone want a cheap education? (Gee, does anyone know where your might find a crummy bass teacher, cheap? .) Is one's love for the music and the instrument such that cheaper is better? It is a good wager that there is not one among us that does not dream of a $3000 custom instrument and an amp of similar value. But cool stuff doesn't make you a better player. Following the advice of a good teacher does. All you have to do is put in the time.

[MichaelScott]

I pay $40 an hour and also drive an hour to get to him.

Good teachers are worth the price.

[tplyons]

That's still a good price. Rock bottom around here is about $50/hour. I had a buddy who paid $120 an hour, twice a week.

He had a 2nd job just to pay for lessons.

[steveb98]

Originally Posted by 202dy

Some teaching economics:

$40.00/hour X 2000/hour/year= $80,000.00/year + No Benefits.

I don't know any non-school music teachers that teach 40 hours a week. Then stores are taking a cut of the lessons at least the ones I have taugh at for them handling the business side. Signing up students, collecting money, paying me, and keep studio clean. So to me it was worth the cut they were taking.

[dougness]

I understand the $40/hour shock. Paying out an additional $160/month is tough, there's no doubt. When I was a kid, lessons were around $7.50 per half hour, so $20 per half hour seems like a lot.

But, you don't really need lessons forever. If you apply yourself and use what you're learning when you play, you can absorb an awful lot. At some point, you know enough about theory, technique, and your role as a bass player to just get out and do it. After that, you can learn on your own from books and transcribing other players lines. So really it's a short-term investment for long-term gains.

Dougness

[Pruitt]

I'm in CT also. That sounds about right to me. About a year or so ago I was taking lessons privately from a fairly well known guy. He writes for magazines, has many books out, and is a monster player. I'd probably still be going to him if not for the drive. I was paying $50/hr. I think his rates have increased $5-$10 since then.

I just started lessons again with a guy more local to me at a music store. There I'm paying $115/month for 4 1/2 hour lessons. I plan on switching this to hour lessons every 2 weeks if I like how the guy teaches after the month is up. I'm supposed to go for my second lesson with him tonight, but we're getting an ice storm at the moment, so I think they'll be cancelled. lol...

If it doesn't work out with the local guy, I'll be going back to my old instructor and just deal with the drive. Heh heh...

[SteveC]

What is my education, experience and time worth to myself and a student? I have no problem asking for $40 an hour. Actually, if I start taking students again it will probably be in the $50 an hour range.

I have a BS (save the jookes) Degree in Music Education. I am a professional, trained teacher. Not to say that you need a degree to teach, or that because you have a degree you will automatically be a good teacher, but chances are I know a little more about teaching than the self-taught dude in the next studio. As a parent sending a child to me, or an adult looking for yourself, I think the fact that I am a professional is worth something.

I have been playing for over 25 years and teaching for 17 years. I have probably picked up some wisdom in that time. Again, I believe that experience is worth something.

Time is most valuable to me. I have my day job and gigs. Most importantly I have my family. It has to be worth it for me to take time away from them. No one wants to waste money or time. I want students who are there to work and are serious. If you are paying a good chunk of change to see me every week, hoprfully you will be motivated, practicing and learning.

As is often the case with music and the other arts, people view it as something fun that we like to do. True, it is. But for some, it is a profession as well. You wouldn't dream of going to the least expensive doctor, or dentist, or (insert any other professional) but when it comes to teaching and arts, people don't seem to make the connection. If more of us start demanding to be treated as professionals, maybe that preception will change.

[202dy]

Originally Posted by steveb98

I don't know any non-school music teachers that teach 40 hours a week. Then stores are taking a cut of the lessons at least the ones I have taugh at for them handling the business side. Signing up students, collecting money, paying me, and keep studio clean. So to me it was worth the cut they were taking.

Exactly! There are a few who teach privately forty hours per week but they are rare. Those that do are not paid as well as most professionals. To teach music lessons privately for less money is idiotic. It means taking time away from your family or something else that is important. The reality is that when you leave the house to go teach you are going to work.

As far as the services the music store provides, it is worth every penny of the split.

[H2ODog]

SteveC.

Sent you a PM.

[ii-v]

As a teacher I relate to what you are saying, but ask you to consider another point of view:
I am able to teach full time and prepare lessons that help students gain scholarships into higher education programs.
I am able to play about 50 to 60 hours a week and help keep students up on modern techniques.
I give away a $2,500.00 bass through a scholarship program to one student every year.
I place students in bands and have helped several students draw income from those placements.
I have 22 years of experience as a player and 5 years as a professional musician and hope I offer more than the average teacher caught up in another job with far less time to study various styles of music, technique and theory.
I teach methods to avoid things like Bursitis and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Although sometimes people do not have the wear-with-all to avoid pain (this is a tough instrument).
I bring in top professionals to do clinics to inspire students and foster their dreams.
I have utilized my company to help furnish instruments and amplifiers for local high schools.

I simply do not believe asking for $20.00 an hour I could afford to do this as a sole means of support. This would have ramifications on my students, myself and the community I hope to make a difference in. Teachers actually would like to live a "normal" life where they can afford to buy a house and a vehicle to drive. It is extremely difficult to have an eighty student load with half hour lessons. Probably not hard in some communities but in Salt Lake it is next to impossible. Physically once you reach 50 students it becomes incredibly tough. Once again I reiterate that I do see your point, but I think you should consider the plight of someone actually trying to teach an art that is perishing in our public schools west of the Mississippi. This is not people trying to make a quick buck and give nothing back to the community. If you honestly feel music is not worth even $160.00 a month don't take lessons. Put that money into some books and study real hard. That will not be a substitute for having a good instructor, but is a start and is far more affordable.

Thanks,
Russ

[Eilif]

I understand the sticker shock of 40 bucks and hour, but like everyone is saying that's pretty standard. As you progress, if you really want to study with great musicians, you may pay 80 bucks an hour or more.

At the 40 dollar price, there is a range of teachers though, so do your research, ask around, and don't feel bad about trying a few different teachers until you find the best teacher for you.

Though I never applied myself (and have kicked myself for years over it)in the mid 90's I studdied with a retired principal Bassist of the CSO, Warren Benfield. He was giving lessons for 40 dollars and hour, and that was considered practically a give away. He could have easily charged double or more.

It may hurt your wallet, but if you love the music it's worth it to buy the best lessons you can. I wish I had enough time in my life now for the practice that would be required to make taking lessons beneficial...

[Freddels]

I was paying $80 per hour just last year for bass lessons.

[CamMcIntyre]

Both of the guys that i have studied with in Chicago charge $50/hr. The money is more than worth it. Back in Lafayette i paid $20-30/hr. I think the last guy i studied with in Lafayette is now $40/hr.

I study with one focusing on upright and jazz. My teacher is amazing, he's really opened the doors for me into the world of upright bass playing. I'm no longer a guy who plays electric & sorta plays upright. I now *play* both. This is the teacher i study with through school.

The other one-i haven't quite had the time/money to study with this semester, but we focused on electric and pop.

Both of them are amazing teachers and i feel blessed to have the opportutnity to study with them. I look forward to being able to study w/the 2nd one again-hopefully soon.

I think the money spent on bass lessons is money VERY VERY VERY well spent. It's an investment in my career. I've learned concepts and corrected aspects of my technique that i simply could not have learned from a book.

Dougness-i do not think we ever reach a point where we don't need to take lessons. I feel that we do reach a point where we are able to perform without struggle, but-there is always more to learn.

Making reference to the teachers i have studied with-i consider those guys really sick mofos when it comes to bass. Both of them are professional musicians-one has been around the Chicago musical scene longer than i've been alive and the other has played professional and taught professionaly for longer than i've been alive. They both still take lessons. The musical theater guy trades lessons with a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Pretty hip ain't it?

[morf]

Personally I wouldn't pay more than 30 bucks an hour, unless its with someone REALLY worth it. And I'm talking private lesson with Marcus Miller worth it.