Where Does My Tuition Go?

“Where does my tuition go?” Brochure

Are you a piano parent?

Congratulations on choosing to participate in music lessons! Music has been found to enrich the lives of all who participate in its creation or in its enjoyment.  When you choose to take music lessons, you are choosing to learn a skill that will benefit you and bring you joy your entire life! No price can be put on such a beautiful art as music. Yet, obtaining the skill will certainly require assistance from a professional—your music teacher.

Your teacher has chosen to make music their business and their occupation.  As with any business, costs are calculated to both ensure that the highest quality product is given and that the business makes enough profit to continue providing their services.

Are you a piano teacher?

Send your students to this page or get the “Where Does My Tuition Go?” brochure to give to your prospective and current families. We have a free, older brochure that you can download, or get the editable modern artistic version here.

Give the “Where Does My Tuition Go?” brochure to your families every time you send them your new policy or hyperlink to this page so that they can understand the value of what you give them.

So what does my yearly tuition cover?

where does my tuition go brochure for piano lessons
Click this image to get the old, not-editable brochure free!

All independent music teachers (IMTs) differ in methods of operation. However, the tuition of nearly all teachers covers the following:

  • Time spent with the student
    Lessons, performance classes, group lessons.
  • Time spent in preparation for the student
    Trips to the music store, 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 the teachers time!
  • Your teacher’s training and experience
  • Recital costs and preparations
    Programs, refreshments, facility rental.
  • Professional organization membershipsMemberships are maintained by the teacher to enhance their teaching skills and provide the student with opportunities for festivals, competitions, and performance events.
  • Professional journals
    Publications to assist the teacher in keeping current on new teaching materials and trends.
  • Studio expenses
    Copying, computer software, incentive programs, instruments, tunings, repairs, newsletters.
  • Music books and CDs
    Materials purchased by the teacher to keep costs low for students.
  • Property taxes, self-employment taxes, insurance, business licenses, retirement
    The IMT has no corporation 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
  • Certification costs
    Professional IMTs pay to be re-certified every five years provided they have met all the continuing education and studio requirements.  This keeps the teacher accountable to a professional organization.
  • Book and music club memberships
    This enables many discounts to be passed to students.

How do I know if music lessons are worth the price?

Shop around! Not every teacher is right for every student. You will want to be sure that your music teacher provides that things that are important to you as well as the things that are important to student’s musical developments.

Start by interviewing several music teachers to learn more about their:
Education
Goals and Expectations
Philosophies of music education
Teaching experience
Curriculum
Studio Policy

Above all, find out how they demonstrate commitment to excellence in music education.  No price can be put on such a beautiful art as music, but by investing in your child’s music education, you can provide them with a skill they will enjoy for a lifetime!

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