Other thoughts on fee structures etc. from the teacher point of view:
1. This is my profession. This is what I do provide for myself and my
family (even more now, since my husband is only just getting back into the
job market after a successful treatment of Hodgkin's disease). In short,
teaching singing is my job! The fact that I am fortunate enough to be in a
profession which I love, and which brings joy and value to others, is
wonderful, but it needn't mean that I must earn less than those who do
things they don't really like!
2. While there are some exceptions, (sliding scales have been mentioned
and some folks seem to make them work, but I honestly don't know how I would
choose who would pay more and who less - a very subjective process, not to
mention how complex the bookkeeping would be for such a system), most
non-salaried professionals do seem to charge by a fixed hourly rate, with a
number of different billing procedures (session, weekly, monthly, term,
etc.). The expectation is that they will be paid for services rendered, and
most do not negotiate the amount based on what a person can afford to pay.
A tutor, a doctor, a foreign language instructor, a psychologist, a reading
specialist, a piano tuner, a learning center specialist, etc. have set fees
and "customers" choose one based on their own set of criteria. They make
active choices about where and how to spend their money and it seems to work
well.
3. There seems to be an inherent problem, when it comes to music
teachers, that our profession is somehow less professional than others of a
similar ilk. I base this upon observation, but also on a study that was
printed in my National Music Teachers Assoc. magazine which showed that both
the public perception of the job and - this is the startling part - the
perception of other MUSIC TEACHERS, tended to undervalue the service we
perform and to charge less than plumbers and auto mechanics! The stereotype
of the little old lady music teacher giving a few lessons each week in her
home, but living primarily off her husband's income, was very much alive.
Now don't misunderstand me! I don't mean to denigrate any females who do
teach in such circumstances! I only mean to show that our concept of the
job hasn't kept pace with the reality of the 21st century. There are many
of us out there teaching full-time, as well as performing on the side, and
who have legitimate businesses going.
4. I too was very poor when I was young. I got lessons that we could
afford, and traded some for babysitting. If a family or student is truly
motivated to get good instruction, and wishes to study with someone who
costs more, there are ways to make it work. I currently trade cleaning with
one student, computer work with another, have bartered for construction work
with another in the past, and have at least 15% of my students on a monthly
plan by request. I also offer lessons with my assistant at a lesser rate,
and group classes which are very affordable for those who wish to spend less
but still receive excellent instruction. I am not insensible of their
needs, but keep my own needs in mind as well.
It has taken me a long time to learn to value and appreciate the worth of
the work I do, and to be comfortable with charging accordingly, but I
recommend going through the process of self-evaluation so that each teacher
can find the rate with which he or she is comfortable! (and I think that's
kind of how we got started on all this - so - now that we're full circle,
I'll hush up!).
Sharon Szymanski
The Szymanski Studio -"encouraging excellence in the vocal arts"
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