Vocalist.org archive


From:  Mezzoid@a...
Date:  Wed Mar 6, 2002  2:40 pm
Subject:  Re: [vocalist] can we discuss lesson prices?

In a message dated 03/05/2002 10:52:26 PM Central Standard Time,
sopran@a... writes:

<< However, I do believe that pricing one's services is a more subjective
matter
than you and some others seem to imply. >>

Hey, when I was looking for a teacher in the mid-80s, there were 2 teachers
here. One charged $25/hour, the other $40. The first was a private teacher
and frankly, I wasn't that impressed by some of the students she had that I
knew thru Florentine Opera chorus. The 2nd was a university professor with
an international career and had some fabulous students. So I went with the
2nd.

Turned out the first shared my opinion of her students. She opened a
Chicago studio as well as her Milwaukee one, became affiliated with the
Lyric, dropped all the students who weren't cutting it, cut her days in
Milwaukee back to one per week and had a waiting list as long as my arm. She
wound up leaving Milwaukee altogether and is a famous international teacher.
Her name: Diane Forlano.

The 2nd was a lovely woman who worked very well with people who already had
their technique in line. We never seemed to click. I worked with her for
about 2 years and left when she assigned me "O don fatale." (I'm a lyric
mezzo.)

I regret very little in my life because I believe every choice leads to
something else. However, I do regret that I went by the price and the name
recognition and just didn't go for cheap (which I usually do). Then again,
who's to say she wouldn't have dropped me? Things were different for me
then.... but I really wish I'd explored that option. Dang.

Christine Thomas
Wauwatosa, WI
<A HREF="http://hometown.aol.com/mezzoid/myhomepage/profile.html">
http://hometown.aol.com/mezzoid/myhomepage/profile.html</A>

"I love to sing-a, about the moon-a and the June-a and the spring-a"



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