How much do you pay for lessons?

[Definitely]

Posted, then realized this was DB, sorry.

[mcnaire2004]

I've never paid more than $40 an hour. Though I must say that some of the best lessons I had where at $20 an hour (and those usually lasted more than and almost two hours). But then again I live in a area where to cost of living doesn't even come close to a place like NY or Chicago.

[tjnkoo]

$45 for upright from my teacher who has a performance master's degree. He's about 35 years old.

$60 for my electric teacher who is considered one of the top bassists in the city of Atlanta (so quite worth it). He's about 52-ish?

[tcl]

$60 for a very experienced jazz teacher - not a bassist. $100 for a grammy winning jazz bassist. Both worth every penny in my estimation.

[fender099]

I pay my bass teacher 50$ per hour. I'm learning a ton.

[jmattbassplaya]

Can I ask what exactly you guys are gaining from lessons in the $100+ an hour range vs the $30-$40 an hour range? I understand having a good teacher is invaluable if you want immediate help, direction to your learning, a solid networking connection, and more intimate knowledge of the actual music business, but with things like the internet and Youtube you can gain a lot of the theoretical and technical knowledge for free. I'm genuinely curious about this because I've thought about getting lessons, but I want to know if they're worth it because I can honestly teach myself the theory and technique stuff on my own.

[fender099]

Well you're right, but by being instructed by my bass teacher I can be accepted into musical colleges and work at recording studios more easily. That's the main reason I pay for lessons.

[MostlyBass]

I'm someone that charges on the high end of the spectrum. What do my students gain?
-I have a degree in music education and a degree in music performance.
-I have over 16 years experience teaching public school, college, and private lessons. I have taught students from 6 to over 60.
-I have a well balanced curriculum for students which addresses everything from tuning to reading to improv, ear training, and having fun!
-I know how to address and fix issues but I my teaching is designed so that technique issues don't arise in the first place.
-I spend time outside of the lesson preparing materials and lessons.
-I have a proven track record of students succeeding. A recent student got a full scholarship to music school and a former student is now a conductor and professor in Italy. I also have students that are now music teachers and others that find enjoyment in bar bands.

Is this worth what I charge? Depends on your goals and how serious you take your musical education and desire to improve. If not, there are plenty of teachers at lower price and experience levels.

[the_stone]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

Can I ask what exactly you guys are gaining from lessons in the $100+ an hour range vs the $30-$40 an hour range? I understand having a good teacher is invaluable if you want immediate help, direction to your learning, a solid networking connection, and more intimate knowledge of the actual music business, but with things like the internet and Youtube you can gain a lot of the theoretical and technical knowledge for free. I'm genuinely curious about this because I've thought about getting lessons, but I want to know if they're worth it because I can honestly teach myself the theory and technique stuff on my own.

I've paid anywhere from $30-50 locally (Dallas-Fort Worth) area for lessons, but when I lived in NYC, I paid $125 for sporadic lessons from a teacher in the city, and considered it one of the best investments I've ever made. This person was (and still is) a long-time member of the NY Philharmonic, taught at several of the well-known music schools up there, and is well-respected as a master teacher. I was actually surpised they took me, since my background is in jazz. I came to them wanting to address some specific issues, but received a ton of extra information, which I'm still working on to this day.

Theory you can learn on your own if you really want, but for double bass technique (and even electric technique), there's no substitute for having a real, knowledgeable person standing next to you during a lesson (in my opinion).

Like others have already said, the price you're willing to pay will entirely depend on you. $125 a lesson (for around 1-1/2 hours) was expensive for me at the time, but the information I gained was well worth it, not to mention just the experience of talking with a consumate professional that had been at that level for a very long time.

[tcl]

So, sadly, my opinion is that most teachers are only so-so as teachers and I think they're worth $40 an hour for their time and guidance. An expensive teacher is one who can identify, well-articulate and demonstrate skills and concepts, and have a method for helping me replicate it. They have the practical experience to understand the crucial skills necessary to develop and understand how people learn to become musicians. An excellent instructor will have well-developed study aids that will help me leap forward, such as solo recordings for me to transcribe, of them playing the blues for 10 choruses, each one demonstrating a different feel, pattern or lick. So-so teachers only know one way of teaching and cannot explain complicated things like proper technique for bowing. In my opinion, we cannot teach ourselves proper technique. That requires a knowledgeable teacher who has already mastered the techniques themselves. I've run across many players who think that they can teach themselves technique. My opinion is that they're doing themselves a disservice.

[robobass]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

Can I ask what exactly you guys are gaining from lessons in the $100+ an hour range vs the $30-$40 an hour range? I understand having a good teacher is invaluable if you want immediate help, direction to your learning, a solid networking connection, and more intimate knowledge of the actual music business, but with things like the internet and Youtube you can gain a lot of the theoretical and technical knowledge for free. I'm genuinely curious about this because I've thought about getting lessons, but I want to know if they're worth it because I can honestly teach myself the theory and technique stuff on my own.

Interesting. I heard a story awhile back (I think on NPR, or maybe BBC) about kids in like Afghanistan or somewhere who had taught themselves cello and violin solely from youtube videos. They had to keep it totally secret. If the local warlords learned what they were doing, they might have had their hands cut off (not a bad idea in certain cases based on my freelance pit orchestra experiences in NYC, but I digress) Some were successful enough that they were brought to western conservatories and put on a proper career path. Sorry that my memory is sketchy about this. Anyone out there know more about it?

Edit:
Oh, Sorry. Main Point: Top players who have something to share about playing, music, and career have a right to charge top dollar for their time. Not all teachers are worth what they charge. Many undervalue their services. You won't really know until later I suppose who gave the best value, but it is an investment you just have to make.

[inthevelvet]

$20 per half hour. I get a lot out of it so I feel it is definitely worth it.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by DC Bass

You do NOT pay for lessons with money, you reserve your teachers TIME with money.

You really pay your teacher by being a good, attentive student who works hard, completes assignments, exhibits a positive attitude and shows musical growth.

This is an amazing statement. Can I copy it and post it everywhere? It's going up in my classroom.

[SteveC]

The last lesson I had was with Jimmy Haslip. $175 for 2 hours. Best money I've spent in a long time.

[MostlyBass]

I should also add that I don't schedule private lessons back to back so that we have the freedom to go over in time or if the student is late it works out.

[DC Bass]

Originally Posted by SteveC

This is an amazing statement. Can I copy it and post it everywhere? It's going up in my classroom.

Please, be my guest- but give credit to the great classical guitarist Benjamin Verdery, I got it from him in a master class back in the 80's. It's not an exact quote , but it's pretty close and conveys the heart of the idea.

Joe

[pocketgroove]

Originally Posted by P. Aaron

Expensive? It all depends upon how one uses the information provided.

I pay $25 @ 1/2 hour here in the metro-Detroit area. My teacher has helped me immeasurably. I think it's been beneficial.

In '79, I took a Jazz Guitar course at WCC in Ann Arbor. $35.00 a semester for a 2-hour a week class. That's a deal!

Plus, the teacher, John Lawrence is/was excellent. I haven't looked at a chord book since. Modes, theory, scales. It was all covered.

Might I ask who you take lessons with currently? I pay $16/half hour for lessons just south of Detroit, and I like my instructor a lot so far. $16/half hour seems to be normal for the small local shops. I didn't realize that people paid/charged upwards of $60 a lesson!

Edit: just realized this is DB side, but my instructor primarily teaches DB, and that price still stands. Of course, that explains some of the prices for lessons I've seen here.

[Jason Sypher]

Here in NYC it's pretty much $50 and up. $75 is not unusual.

[coldtrain]

I pay $80/hr here in DC. Worth every penny.

[kurt muroki]

I charge $50 tops in NYC plus room charge (usually $14) per hour.