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Piano Lessons

July 10, 2007 at 6:23 PM

I have been considering taking piano lessons againg the only problem is it's 30 mins away and $75 a month for 4 30 min lessons. This seems short to me since my previous piano teacher, Jamee Stiff, was kind enough to charge $10 a lesson for 1 hour when I started piano. So I'm in a dilema since I won't be able to get my license untill October because of state law stating that I must have my permit for 6 months. And this piano teacher makes you lock in a date and time. So I'm feeling really frustrated.

From Albert Justice
Posted on July 10, 2007 at 6:50 PM

Negotiate twice a month for an hour, and work very hard on your own. That will help with the commute, and if you are disciplined (and a little lucky at your age), you can pull it off.

The same routine for violin applies to piano--maybe even more so: scales, arpeggios and exercises. If you have good form, posture, and hand behavior, you actually would make yourself or break yourself with these alone--which you in reality do not need a teacher breathing down your neck all the time for.

If you want to play, you will.

From Patricia Baser
Posted on July 10, 2007 at 7:18 PM

Can't your parents get you to the lessons? You are right that if you are planning in majoring in music, then you should be taking 60 minute lessons. However, you shouldn't be expecting a qualified teacher to only charge $10 an hour (unless that teacher has a scholarship policy for which you qualify). Have you asked the prospective teacher for a 60 minute slot? (you would have to pay for it, of course). Or, can you call them again when you can drive yourself? In the meantime, you could put yourself on a regimen of scales, etudes, etc. to keep your chops going until you can get going on the lessons. Anyone who teaches lessons as a primary source of income is going to ask for a regular commitment, so that teacher is being perfectly reasonable (so is the quoted price btw).

From Richard Hellinger
Posted on July 10, 2007 at 11:11 PM

that is about what I pay for violin lessons ( a little more). And I have to travel about an hours (an I can't get my license 'til october)..

In washington it is where you have to HAVE your permit for six months? that sucks... Here in NY you only have to wait until you are 16 and a half years old..

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on July 11, 2007 at 4:12 AM

I'm a violin teacher, and I generally require lessons at the same time every week. I have one student who varies his lesson times from week to week, but he is very reliable and lets me know in advance when he will be available. I also have a few students who come for lessons every other week because that is all they can afford. You may be able to do this, too. You'll have the teacher's assignments as well as your self-assignments of scales, exercises, etc. to keep yourself busy and learning fruitfully. One more suggestion: I sometimes give a lesson for free in return for labor. If you have a specialized skill such as IT or home repairs, your teacher may be very happy to accept some of your work as payment for some lessons.

From Sarah Montoro
Posted on July 11, 2007 at 5:29 PM

I used to pay about $160 for 1 month of 1 hr. lessons

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