I'm glad you asked! Every studio and teacher has different policies, and it's important to know what to expect when you're investing in music lessons.
I review what's INCLUDED in tuition costs on my Tuition page - here's a quick rundown of what's INCLUDED in tuition:
- Reserved regular lesson time
- Preparation for each lesson (I spend nearly as much time outside each lesson working on lesson plans & repertoire selection)
- Emailed materials (games, free song resources, etc)
- Continuing education & professional memberships for me to continue growing as a teacher. I never stop learning!
Here's a quick rundown of what's NOT INCLUDED in tuition:
- Method books (I am happy to provide ISBNs and recommend sites/links for purchase)
- Sheet music for repertoire outside method books that must be purchased (in most cases I will find the most economic option for the correct level/piece and order that for you)
I do NOT charge any of the following fees:
- Registration fee
- Materials fee
- Recital fee
- Lesson renewal fee
With all that in mind, there may be some additional costs to help ensure your student's musical success. While they may not be monthly tuition payments, it's important to factor them in when choosing whether to begin lessons:
- Instrument purchase, rental or repair - do you already have a guitar or piano/keyboard? Is it the right size for the player? Is it in good condition and ready to be played, or will it need a little work to get there? Will you need to upgrade the instrument as the student progresses?
- Instrument maintenance - acoustic pianos need to be tuned, guitar strings need to be changed, guitars may need setups. These aren't usually astronomical costs, but they are a financial factor. For example, living in Vermont means a lot of temperature and humidity changes. It made more sense for me to go with a digital piano versus the additional maintenance of tuning and humidifying an acoustic piano.
I'm happy to start most students with whatever instrument they have on hand at the time. As the student progresses, we may need to upgrade the instrument to ensure progress, and I'm happy to help find the best fit for each student.
In short: music lessons are an investment into a lifetime of enjoyment, and tuition/instrument costs shouldn't prevent anyone from enjoying music. If you've got questions about how online music lessons can fit into your life, contact me today!