New Teacher

powayflute01 · Post by **powayflute01** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 7:40 pm

Hello, I am a principal chair flautist at my high school (I''ve been
playing 7 years) and I am going to start giving flute lessons to local junior
high and elementary school students. I was wondering what a reasonable rate to
charge would be. The average rate for lessons from professionals in my area
seems to be around $20 per half hour lesson, so I was thinking maybe $10 or $12
for a half hour lesson. Does this sound unreasonable? Too cheap? I have no idea,
so please let me know. Thanks![:)]

fluteluversmom · Post by **fluteluversmom** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 8:08 pm

Hi~ Welcome to the board. My daughters teacher charges
$10.00 for 1/2 hour, $15.00 for 45 minutes and $20.00 for an hour. I think a lot
depends on your experience and location. My daughters teacher's rates are
pretty much the going rate for someone with her experience and skill level in
this area. She has been playing for about 10 years and is a Flute performance
major in college. Kim

krzymunkey · Post by **krzymunkey** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 10:35 pm

whoa...[:0] and I thought my old lessons were cheap.. 30
bucks an hour... 15 for half an hour. but, he changed the price to 40 an hour,
so i switched teachers, she charges 32.75 for 45 min. and 37.75 for an hour, she
has been playing for 25 years, she plays professionally, maybe that's why..
whatever, im confused, anyway, back to the subject: don't you think that that
is a little cheap? but, i have no clue about this teaching stuffs so i'll leave
it to you[:knockout:] [:bigsmile:]

MattMom · Post by **MattMom** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 10:54 pm

As a parent, that sounds reasonable to me. Once you develop
a reputation (as a teacher, not just a player) you can adjust your rates
accordingly. If you are doing a good job, and the kids are learning, no one will
complain. Good luck!

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 6:43 pm

You have to check by region. In this area $12 would be alot
for a student with no teaching experience to charge. 7 or 8 would be about
right. But then you can get an excellent professional for 15-18. If you can get
students to pay 12 then its probably fair for your region. Myself I would think
its better to start too cheap than start at a price people might think is too
much to ask.

MattMom · Post by **MattMom** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 11:06 pm

Penny has a good point - I was speaking for my geographic
area (NY/NJ Metro). Charges here range from 20 to 30 dollars per 1/2 hour
(although I have to admit that I've found instructors that are generous with
their time) Oooh, that brings me to another point - If you are thinking 1/2 hour
lesson, it's really tempting to book everyone on the half hour. You might try
actually booking at 45 minute intervals. That way, if you are in the middle of
something, you aren't holding someone else up, nor do you have to kick out your
current student.

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 12:49 pm

Excellent point. I think it is pretty well expected that
half hour means 45 min and that if you rush kids out exactly at a half hour you
will get some hurt or disappointed people. Yes like housing or any other
services, in the NYC commuting area things are more expensive. On the other side
of the coin in rural areas of the country $6 is about the going rate. Heck I
have seen $2 although I think that person was older and just liked the company.
Was a good teacher though. You might call around and find out what the
professional teachers are charging and ask about half or less of what they ask.
So if teachers in your area are 20-25 per half, your 10-12 might be about
right.

willi139 · Post by **willi139** » Sun Dec 28, 2003 6:48 pm

Just remeber a teacher and a flutist are very different. I
taught with one of the best french horn players in the world after she retired,
Although a wonderful person she was a terrible teacher "shes doing much better
now though"

dancingflutist3000 · Post by **dancingflutist3000** » Sun Dec 28, 2003 8:23 pm

Congrats first of all for deciding to become a flute
teacher! I believe that it is a good way to earn money in high school and if
your town is anything like mine there aren't that many "cool" flute teachers
(all of them are old-fashioned teachers) and I know that I would be a cool
teacher. Anyway, I think it would be good to start at $8-10 a half hour. Like
Penny said, its better to be too cheap (at least you'll get customers) than to
be over priced. My first private teacher charged $12 an hour and my mother
raised it because she felt he was a good teacher (he was!). And don't think
your fee will be all you get. When it comes to teaching it really is quality
that matters because if you are a very good and patient teacher, your bound to
get lots o' tips!