How much should I charge for lessons?

[syzygy]

I've been teaching at a local, family owned music store for the last 4 yrs. The owner charges $20/per half-hour, of which I net $18 per half-hour. I "rent" a small cubicle, & enjoy the relative luxury of not having to handle the logistics (accounting, scheduling, etc.) in exchange for walking in, teaching whomever shows up, & leaving with a check. To me, it's worth it. The vast majority are absolute beginners, with an axe, enthusiasm, & little else. Ages range from 5-50 so far, & I try to determine what I teach based on their musical tastes, aptitude & determination, & how far they want to go. It can seem wasteful of their time to get into theory if they just wanna play "Layla". The Hal Leonard method books are the core of my teaching, with barre chords, major, minor & pentatonic scales, the CAGED system, & an introduction to improvising for most. (Get used to the excuse "I didn't have much time to practice this week...") I ask they bring some songs in that they like, & try to use those as a means to delve into theory & basic technique as we explore how to play those songs. It can be difficult to stoke their enthusiasm at times, but it sure beats the day job I work Monday thru Friday. I have yet to "fire" a student, but have suggested to parents that maybe they bring their young prodigies back in a few years, when the Play Station's luster has worn off.

[screamndemon69]

Originally Posted by btangel

I'm having trouble deciding how much I should charge for lessons. My student is very young (she turns 7 in oct.) and she's a total beginner. I know the norm is around $30 for an hour of lessons, but this is my first time teaching so I don't think I can justify charging so much. I was thinking about charging about $10~15/hr. Any suggestions?

don't sell yourself short - you are either a teacher with the needed skills to do the job or not. if you have the skills then charge whatever the going rate in your area is.
i charge $20 1/2hr and $35 and hr. i am one of the few teachers that still teach 1/2hr lessons in my area.
i have been teaching for almost 4yrs now and have been teaching as my main income for over a year now - i love it. i make my own hours and am my own boss. the downside is no retirement or benefits and i'm not looking forward to tax time next year.

[Rotti]

I think a half hour is long enough. Especialy with young ones.

[btangel]

hmm I've begun teaching at $20/hr which is ok for now. I'll increase it if I start getting more students and gain more experience.

Thx a lot for the input guys.

[screamndemon69]

Originally Posted by Rotti

I think a half hour is long enough. Especialy with young ones.

i have found that a 1/2hr is as long as the younger students can handle per week as well. older students that are progressing regularly (moved thru basic excercises, chords, I, IV, V progressions, ect) get moved to an hour lesson every other week so they have time to practice and digest the material. a 1/2hr isn't long enough once they have some hand control and basic knowledge. by the time we really get into a lesson it's over in a 1/2hr - just not long enough to get thru the more complex stuff.

[Mystical Potato]

Half hour was fine for what I used to sit in at - time for discussing the lesson, going over it practically then being told I was doing it wrong etc lol. But you can cover most things in that time I think - enough anyway to take home and go over.

[BluePill]

Originally Posted by davester1234

haha, as a teacher I feel you man. But firing a student? That may be a blow to the ego.

75% of the time it stings them enought to start practicing. I do not do that to my adult students (16 and up). I just lay it down straight - "Hey dude your wasting your money" and we go from there.

[BluePill]

Originally Posted by syzygy

I've been teaching at a local, family owned music store for the last 4 yrs. The owner charges $20/per half-hour, of which I net $18 per half-hour. I "rent" a small cubicle, & enjoy the relative luxury of not having to handle the logistics (accounting, scheduling, etc.) in exchange for walking in, teaching whomever shows up, & leaving with a check. To me, it's worth it. The vast majority are absolute beginners, with an axe, enthusiasm, & little else. Ages range from 5-50 so far, & I try to determine what I teach based on their musical tastes, aptitude & determination, & how far they want to go. It can seem wasteful of their time to get into theory if they just wanna play "Layla". The Hal Leonard method books are the core of my teaching, with barre chords, major, minor & pentatonic scales, the CAGED system, & an introduction to improvising for most. (Get used to the excuse "I didn't have much time to practice this week...") I ask they bring some songs in that they like, & try to use those as a means to delve into theory & basic technique as we explore how to play those songs. It can be difficult to stoke their enthusiasm at times, but it sure beats the day job I work Monday thru Friday. I have yet to "fire" a student, but have suggested to parents that maybe they bring their young prodigies back in a few years, when the Play Station's luster has worn off.

I like your style - I guess I have been doing this too long and have grown impatient with the younger ones.

[Queens_Brian_May]

I used to own a music store, and I will tell you.... the only person making money was my guitar teacher (I sold the store in 2004..thank god) , but Nick, the guy who taught at my store, consistantly had 70 students at all times.

He charged $50.00 per month for 4, half hour lessons.

Easy math: 70 students x $50 each = $3500.00 in his pocket per month.

And what killed me at the time, is that not only do I have a background in teaching, and I know I was a better player than him (to which he agreed)... but being the store owner, I was lucky, seriously... to make $1,000 per month.

Of course everyone asked me why I wasn't teaching, and of course, I was too busy doing "owner" things...the advertising, the bookwork, waiting on customers, going to the bank..post office..blah, blah..

Now, 2 years later, I want to start teaching myself... and I have contacted all the other local music stores left here in town...but guess what, since I used to be competition, no one will have me at their store.

So now, since I have tapped out all my options of where I can now go to teach...and I know I don't want to rent a space (you will never see my name on a lease again) I have to decide if I want students in my home.

Where are you guys teaching at?

[nikster]

the first few students i taught i charged nothing! why? because if the IRS found out i would hav 2 work out all the tax and pay it bak. when i was studying music for 3 yrs my lecturer in music business ( who just so happened 2 hav written, recorded and done 3 world tours with a well known 70's rock band) said if u love it that much you'll do it 4 free!! my town wasn't big enough 2 support me full time as a guitar teacher so i still giv lessons 4 free now usually at the students house and u can guarantee at christmas the parents buy me a case of beer for my efforts it paid off though! i still get phone calls asking me to audition 4 bands or giv lessons at local schools. under cut everybody else in the area and the students will come flocking in!!!!

[Amy]

I just started teaching recently.

I am getting 110.00 month. Half hour increments, at 1 half hour lesson a week.

I do not have much time to teach, and only have 3 students right now.
This is here in the Bay Area-

[jwoods986]

Originally Posted by Amy

I just started teaching recently.

I am getting 110.00 month. Half hour increments, at 1 half hour lesson a week.

I do not have much time to teach, and only have 3 students right now.
This is here in the Bay Area-

Is the $110/month for all 3 students or per student?

[jwoods986]

Damn, that's good. If they're only doing 1/2 lessons, once a week, that breaks down to $27.50/half-hour. That pretty sweet.

[Amy]

Per student

110.00 a month. 3 students is 330.00 a month for income for me.

I am curious what others charge region wide-

This is here in the Bay Area.