I know many teachers charge a separate recital fee when recital time rolls around. Personally, I really like the simplicity of charging an all-in-one tuition rate. Other than the yearly registration fee (which is charged in the Spring, reserves the student's spot for the fall, and covers the cost of books & materials for the whole year), everything is included in the annual tuition rate. Parents like knowing exactly what they owe each month. There's no surprises, and no extra bookkeeping.

If you charge for the entire year, how do you adjust it when someone comes in after? If someone drops mid-way? If someone alters the length of their lesson?

Seems like it could be a pain. I do it by semesters because it's just easier. I do the same number of lessons in the fall & spring, so the tuition stays the same anyway. The summer I still get paid because they pay for summer lessons whether they take them or not. It also serves as a "catch" if someone wants to quit, they usually do so right before summer which lets me know how many open slots I can fill.

Also, it seems like it's asking someone a lot to commit an entire year as opposed to a semester at a time, which I think is easier. Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of yearly payments, but I just wonder if it makes the paperwork difficult. I still get monthly payments, year round doing it by semester. I guess it's the closest thing to yearly payments.

I think perhaps you misunderstood, misslaluna. Correct me if I'm wrong. I set an annual tuition rate by considering how many lessons I plan to teach all year, what recital expenses I might encounter, how many group lessons I plan, etc, etc, etc. But parents pay either by semesterly payments or monthly payments. If a student decides to increase from 30-minute to 45-minute lessons, they just have to start paying the 45-minute lesson rate the next month.

In addition, I do not ask for a year's commitment. Students have the right the terminate lessons at any time. I do encourage that they give me 30-days notice prior to ending lessons, but do not necessarily require it.

alidoremi, does your recital fee cover your time or other costs?

It covers my time and any costs associated with my recitals (programs, any certificates or awards given, etc...). I figure it almost equal to what a lesson would cost, so it covers quite a bit. And I make sure and tell parents that they are paying for the recital, whether they attend or not.

Read Tuition responses hoping to get some idea about fees piano teachers charge. Could be just monthly, by the semester, 10 months, yearly. One teacher in our area pushes for us to raise our tuition more often than we feel comfortable in so doing. But she thinks our tuition is tooooo low. How does $90 per month for a 45 minute lesson per week and $70 per month for a 30 minute lesson sound to some of you. I would appreciate your response.

Tuition rates rarely widely depending on where you live in the US. In my town the going rate is $20-25 for 30 minutes. In larger cities the rate is usually higher; in small rural communities the rate seems to be lower. Just depends.

I really think it depends upon your part of the country, and what other teachers in your area are charging.

I have a semester tuition, but allow the students to pay it off by the month. They end up being a bit higher than yours.

I just did my calendar for the school year. Living in the L.A. area, I have students from several neighboring cities and their school districts are different. Often they also have different schedules. I found all the school districts my students are in and was able to download all their calendars but one. That was so helpful. Now I know when their breaks are, when they start, etc. I don't know why I never thought of that before. Helped so much with My calendar.

Yes! I also download the local schools' calendar and follow it as closely as possible for the studio breaks. It is easier for the families to plan, and there are fewer no-shows in general (although with my policy these are few and far between).

Regarding tuition policies, sometimes it also doesn't matter how clearly your policy is worded, even down to the "these are the days we have no lessons:" and "the studio breaks are already calculated out of tuition" and "tuition is the same every month/quarter regardless of the number of lessons. It is based on a 44-lesson annual tuition..." etc. etc.

--- Earlier I had a request from someone to "make June tuition a 'wash'" since they missed two lessons *during the spring quarter*. :\ Also, wondered "why kid #1's tuition is 'so much more expensive' than kid #2's?" (I gave a summer discount for new students, that's why.)

I had to explain, that, "no." This only came up because my billing co. wasn't able to collect from them in June as their card had expired and they usually pay quarterly. So they are late paying me and would like a discount? Plus I am being extra-flexible with summer scheduling to the point that students can schedule their seven lessons for any "open" spots on the online calendar (which they can self-register for!), or just have a regular weekly time.



Sorry for the rant! Really just enjoying a little free time and happy to come and visit my Piano Club friends who I haven't seen in ages.