All About Choosing Piano Schools And Teachers

[Dreamaurora]

waiyean:

Dreamaurora:

Waiyean, I know there are teachers who charge $80-100 flat rate for beginners to diploma. These teachers are more qualified and has good track records for sending students to festivals and competitions. I have none of those yet, in fact only this year that I have my first grade 8 batch and first student entering national competition. So I am considered still very green compared to the more established ones, hence how I arrive at my charges. Will be curious to see other parents sharing about their kids' teachers' charges so I can have better indication of market rate now.

Most of the music schools are charging between $160-200 for 4 x 30 mins lessons for beginners. Most of those teachers are not as qualified as you are, and some of them have less than 3 years of full time teaching experience. Yes, these are music schools, so you might say that it's different. However from a parent's perspective, there are really not much difference between a music school and a private teacher with his own studio. In any case, if you have a grand piano in your studio, it's already much better than most music schools that has mainly uprights.

In comparison, I do also know of YST's fresh graduates who command $80 per hour, even for teaching grade 1.

Hmm, i see, didn't realise price has gone up so much these few years. There are cases of parents calling me up last time, asked for my fee, and when I explained my fee to them they said it's too expensive and hung up. And there were parents who switched their kids to travelling teachers from me because they could find same price but travelling to their house. So I am quite reluctant to charge more.

[sleepy]

waiyean:

I do also know of YST's fresh graduates who command $80 per hour, even for teaching grade 1.

As far as I know, they charge by time. Regardless of grade.
Engaged 2 YST graduates (for different instruments) before for my kids.

Somehow I have the impression they don't intend to stay as music teachers long term. Eventually would go overseas for further education.

[crm]

Dreamaurora:

crm:

Why do you guys think so? By looking at the his stu's playing? Actually none including his own playing impressed me

Hi crm,

as I mentioned before I only consider myself as an average amateur teacher, hence my low fee. I am aware that my own playing and my students are nowhere near the best players and students in the city, so I understand where you are coming from. I am thankful to be where I am today despite my late start as a pianist, and I cannot ask for more. I am still continually improving my own skill as a pianist and also my teaching craft. Hopefully one day I can achieve the same heights as those established teachers and pianists I admire.

Hi I din mean to offend you, noticed that you never boast yourself, you just simply want to get some students. just seems many others think your teaching is supreme that is where I m from

[Dreamaurora]

crm:

Dreamaurora:

[quote=\"crm\"]Why do you guys think so? By looking at the his stu's playing? Actually none including his own playing impressed me

Hi crm,

as I mentioned before I only consider myself as an average amateur teacher, hence my low fee. I am aware that my own playing and my students are nowhere near the best players and students in the city, so I understand where you are coming from. I am thankful to be where I am today despite my late start as a pianist, and I cannot ask for more. I am still continually improving my own skill as a pianist and also my teaching craft. Hopefully one day I can achieve the same heights as those established teachers and pianists I admire.

Hi I din mean to offend you, noticed that you never boast yourself, you just simply want to get some students. just seems many others think your teaching is supreme that is where I m from[/quote]I don't think that a lot of people think very highly of my teaching, after all I don't have students who are highly acclaimed yet like those who won prizes in competitions. There are more qualified and established teachers than me obviously, and the discerning parents who want the best for their children would research all the established teachers thoroughly.

[Maple Oak]

Hi all,


Thanks to crm and dreamaurora for being able to speak their minds and converse with honesty and civility over some potentially touchy subjects. I’m glad to see that.

Can I add that, yes, I think speed of progress and getting good grades in exams/competitions, do matter, and do have a role in helping us gauge teacher quality/cost… it is an incomplete metric in discussing about music, and musicianship.

In fact, in a hyper competitive atmosphere where getting that distinction or first prize is all that matters, qualifications qualifications qualifications, very often, music is the first thing to suffer.

Teacher cost will always hover around the 40-80 - 120 ++ mark depending on how "elite" the teacher is, but I think the more important questions will still be:
1) Is my child growing in his/her appreciation and understanding of music?
2) Is the teacher-student interaction resulting in a growing of my child’s character?
3) On a gut level, is the teacher someone I (as a parent) can trust?

[waiyean]

crm:

Hi I din mean to offend you, noticed that you never boast yourself, you just simply want to get some students. just seems many others think your teaching is supreme that is where I m from

I wasn't trying to judge any teacher by their playing or how their students perform when I said that Dreamaurora's fees were below market rate. Just stating my observation based on what I know from a parent's view. Also, the numbers I mentioned are not from hearsay, but from real numbers that I have paid / am paying to teachers.

Nevertheless, I think we all can agreed that Dreamaurora has been a good resource of information here on this forum, and his willingness to share is very much appreciated.

[Oh My Gosh]

Dreamaurora:

Waiyean, I know there are teachers who charge $80-100 flat rate for beginners to diploma. These teachers are more qualified and has good track records for sending students to festivals and competitions. I have none of those yet, in fact only this year that I have my first grade 8 batch and first student entering national competition. So I am considered still very green compared to the more established ones, hence how I arrive at my charges. Will be curious to see other parents sharing about their kids' teachers' charges so I can have better indication of market rate now.

Dreamaurora, does your students have to go to your studio? Do you teach at the student's place?

[Dreamaurora]

Oh My Gosh:

Dreamaurora:

Waiyean, I know there are teachers who charge $80-100 flat rate for beginners to diploma. These teachers are more qualified and has good track records for sending students to festivals and competitions. I have none of those yet, in fact only this year that I have my first grade 8 batch and first student entering national competition. So I am considered still very green compared to the more established ones, hence how I arrive at my charges. Will be curious to see other parents sharing about their kids' teachers' charges so I can have better indication of market rate now.

Dreamaurora, does your students have to go to your studio? Do you teach at the student's place?

All have to go to my studio. If you are looking for those who travel to your place normally the teachers will charge additional 10-20$ per lesson to cover transport and time travelling. I suggest you go for those full time with permanent studio if you don't plan to change teachers anymore. Travelling teachers are normally fresh grads and part time piano teachers, so there are possibilities they may not be able to teach long term.

[Dreamaurora]

waiyean:

crm:

Hi I din mean to offend you, noticed that you never boast yourself, you just simply want to get some students. just seems many others think your teaching is supreme that is where I m from

I wasn't trying to judge any teacher by their playing or how their students perform when I said that Dreamaurora's fees were below market rate. Just stating my observation based on what I know from a parent's view. Also, the numbers I mentioned are not from hearsay, but from real numbers that I have paid / am paying to teachers.

Nevertheless, I think we all can agreed that Dreamaurora has been a good resource of information here on this forum, and his willingness to share is very much appreciated.

Thanks Waiyean for the kind words.

It's very hard to compare teachers from the way their students play anyway. I have a Youtube channel, but 90% of teachers out there most likely do not post freely their or their students' playing for general public to see. Even a lot of teachers still have the policy of not allowing parents to sit in. Also, even if a teacher is very skilled, but the students not those ambitious or competitive type, also cannot reach very high standards.

So I think at the end of the day, it is still important for parents to be discerning. Observing trial lessons of different teachers I think are the best way to compare the quality of the teaching and the chemistry between the teachers.

[Dreamaurora]

Maple Oak:

Hi all,


Thanks to crm and dreamaurora for being able to speak their minds and converse with honesty and civility over some potentially touchy subjects. I'm glad to see that.

Can I add that, yes, I think speed of progress and getting good grades in exams/competitions, do matter, and do have a role in helping us gauge teacher quality/cost... it is an incomplete metric in discussing about music, and musicianship.

In fact, in a hyper competitive atmosphere where getting that distinction or first prize is all that matters, qualifications qualifications qualifications, very often, music is the first thing to suffer.

Teacher cost will always hover around the 40-80 - 120 ++ mark depending on how \"elite\" the teacher is, but I think the more important questions will still be:
1) Is my child growing in his/her appreciation and understanding of music?
2) Is the teacher-student interaction resulting in a growing of my child's character?
3) On a gut level, is the teacher someone I (as a parent) can trust?

I think Singaporeans tend to be very practical people and if they are paying what they perceive as big bucks for piano lessons they want to see definite return on their children, most of the time this means finishing grade 8 strong.

That being said, I do agree chemistry between teacher and student is often more important than the end result. Parents often ask me if they should change their children's teachers to technically more skilled ones for better results even though the children love their current teachers. The answer to this is really not straightforward. Do you take risk to upset the established dynamics with the hope that children play better in the future or accept some compromises in playing quality/exam result but the child continues to love lessons and playing. Grass is always greener at the other side, but the latter option is often my advise.