What Your Tuition Covers
Time spent with the student. Lessons, classes, group lessons.
Time spent in preparation for the student. Searching for music, lesson planning, bookkeeping, development of curriculum, etc. It has been cited by professional music journals that for every hour enrolled in piano lessons, you are investing in at least 2 hours of your teacher’s time!
Your teacher’s training and experience.
Recital costs and preparations. Programs, refreshments, facility rental.
Professional organization memberships. Memberships are maintained by the teacher to enhance their teaching skills and provide the student with opportunities for festivals, competitions, and performance events.
Studio expenses. Copying, computer software, incentive programs, instruments, tunings, repairs, newsletters.
Professional journals. Publications to stay current on new teaching materials and trends.
Music books, supplemental materials, studio licenses. Materials purchased by the teacher to keep costs low for students including digital music that can be printed at the lesson.
Property taxes, self-employment taxes, insurances, business licenses, retirement. The independent music teacher has no employer to assist in providing health and life insurance by matching funds. Tuition helps cover the increased living costs of your self-employed teacher.
Continuing education. Lessons and classes that keep the teacher current on methods and techniques to help your child succeed!
Certification costs. Independent music teachers pay to be recertified every five years provided they have met all the continuing education and studio requirements. This keeps the teacher accountable to a professional organization.
