My last post about how much guitar lessons cost has proven to be pretty popular… So I thought I should do a follow-up with a little more detail (for all of you informed consumers).
Last time we gave an overview based on certain criteria (e.g. lesson length, in-studio vs in-home). This time we’ll try to break it down by, “what you get for the money”…
NOTE: Just as a good musician does not equate to a good teacher. Cost is not an indicator of a good teacher, I’m just generalizing here to give you an idea of what to expect.
$10-$20 Lessons
I’ve seen lessons going for $10 a pop on craigslist. This sketches me out a little. These are probably teachers who do a part-time kind of deal (nothing wrong with that). I’m guessing you’ll probably get a 30 minute lesson. You know my feelings about 30 minute lessons.
$20-$40
This is probably the most popular/widely used price range. Again – you’re still talking about 30 minute lessons. These lessons are probably conducted at the teacher’s location (home or studio). This is probably the best bang for your buck if you don’t have a lot of time, money, and don’t mind driving to a location.
I also like to note: Be aware of what you’re paying for and who you’re paying. When taking lessons at a music store or studio with multiple teachers – only a percentage goes to the teacher. This could mean:
1) That your teacher is interested in teaching and doesn’t want to mess around with managing schedules, marketing, and attracting new students (again – not a thing wrong with that).
2) It could also mean that at a lower price point, the music store isn’t attracting top teaching talent (this, on the other hand, could be a bad thing).
That being said – though I’m not a fan of 3o minute lessons – $35-$40 is probably an appropriate price.
$40-$60
This is a nebulous price range. Certainly on the high end for 30 minute lessons. On the lower end for 45 minute or hour-long lessons. I’ve generally found that lessons in this range are conducted by private teachers (i.e. “not at a music store”). These are also likely to be done in a teachers home or private studio.
$60-$100
With lessons that run more than $60, you’re most definitely working with a private teacher (or elite teacher at a music school). It’s likely that these lessons run no less than 45 minutes (a good thing). These lessons could either be in a teachers home or studio – or these could be house-calls done in the student’s home.
Full disclaimer: This is generally where my lessons fall including (1) 45 minutes – an hour and (2) lessons done in the homes of my students.
$100 or more
I don’t see these often, but it’s not unheard of. These lessons are likely very specific to a certain niche (e.g. ONLY classical guitar, or a very specific type of jazz). That’s totally fine. These are teachers with a specific skill-set and knowledge base, who cater to students who desire that knowledge.
Conclusion
So there you have it. You can see where my preferences lie – but also what is out there. The important thing is to find a teacher you enjoy working with and a price point for which you are comfortable. You’ll pay more to have a teacher travel to you (but you get the convenience of not having to battle traffic/parking). You pay more for a specific skill. You play less for a shorter amount of time. It’s a balance of priorities. The good news? You have tons of options – find one that works for you!
I didn’t touch on music classes – if anyone has experience with these feel free to leave your comments below – or hit us up on Facebook.