The Piano Guide Review

Piano Teacher Tuition and Taking Lessons Twice a Month by Georgia Zoe Schohl

Q. What should I expect from paying a piano teacher? I don’t know what types of questions to ask a prospective teacher about this matter. I'm embarrassed to inquire about rates right away, but that's all I think about.

Priya L. , San Jose, CA

A. First of all what is your main concern? I imagine with almost everyone, it probably is how much the tuition is and how the tuition is paid. Frequently (if not most of the time) the monthly fee is paid by check the first week of the month. Ask if they have a late charge if you do not pay on time. Some teachers will do this, so don’t be surprised. Keep in mind teachers have to pay their bills just like you!

To get an idea what the average tuition fee is for piano lessons, call some studios, music stores, and check online for websites that list teachers and their lesson fees. You can find out roughly what the tuition might be in your area.

Ask the teacher directly how the tuition policy works. Many teachers charge a monthly fee and it is usually expected on the first week of lessons. Most teachers teach four weeks per month, so if there are five Wednesdays in a month they will take off the last Wednesday of the month, for example. Teachers have lives just like everyone else and they are not glued to their chairs every day of the week!

Some teachers may charge on a “semester basis” which means that it will be comparable to the academic school year. This way you pay once for four or five months at a time. Many teachers with group lessons with other children together operate this way as it is easier to implement the tuition fees.

Also, ask if the teacher has a make up lesson policy. Some will still charge for a lesson even if a student could not attend that day, so be prepared for that. Or a teacher will require 24 hour notice if the student cannot attend. If you give plenty of time for the notice, the teacher will look out for a make up time for the missed lesson. The reason why the teacher needs at least 24 hours is that there may be another student awaiting a make up time, so the other student needs to be noticed in plenty of time for this time slot.

And lastly, if you have other questions about lesson policy be sure to make a list of questions before you call the teacher and ask.

Q. I am a returning piano student after a few years off. I found a teacher who is willing to work with me for a lesson every two weeks. I just can’t afford to pay for a lesson every week with a demanding job and family obligations. But I still want to begin piano again as I want to make the time for myself. I really regretted stopping the lessons. What’s your opinion of two lessons a month?

Roberto, email

A. Most, if not all teachers would agree that weekly lessons are a must. The reason is that you will not practice as much and give yourself more time “in between” practices. People who take casual lessons or every two weeks could be setting themselves up for failure. Not only that, they are probably wasting their time and the teacher’s time.

On the other hand, I had several students who did try lessons every two weeks. Oddly enough, it did work for them because they did complete their assignments. But I wonder how much further along they would have progressed if they had a weekly lesson. They did practice and completed their assignments before every lesson. The main reason why they had a lesson every two weeks was because of the busy school schedule and the transportation difficulty in getting the student to the lesson on a regular basis. You have to be disciplined not postpone practice time if you want to pursue more infrequent lessons.

So if you still are contemplating a lesson every two weeks, make sure you set up a longer lesson with the teacher so the teacher can give assignments/pieces that will keep you busy for the two weeks. Set up a regimented practice time for yourself and stick to it. See how this program works for you and discuss your results with the teacher.

Keep in mind that casual or twice a month lessons absolutely do not work for unmotivated and disorganized students. Do you want to waste your money? It’s better to wait until you are motivated and see if you can afford the weekly lesson instead.