Misconception About Consultation Lessons? Options

[DocOx]

Hi,

I am new to the 'game' of finding a teacher (no such a thing where I come from!) and, after some research, I believe to have found a couple of (piano) teachers which I think might be good for me.

I have contacted one of them and she suggested having a consultation lesson. Maybe I am being naive, but I somehow assumed that such a lesson would be the occasion for her to 'sell' herself to me, and this at no cost to me. Anyway, now that we have finally agreed on a date and time, she's telling me that the consultation lesson will last 30 minutes and that it will cost me £25 (I am based just a few miles south of Oxford, in case it matters). Now, I have no idea whether this is 'normal' practice, hence I would appreciate you guys' view/experience on this matter.

Just in case, I am expecting (based on what I have read here and there) to have to pay £20-25 per hour for a 'proper' lesson, and I am completely 'OK' with that. I guess I just didn't expect having to pay £25 for a 30-minute consultation lesson.

Cheers, Alan.

PS: now thinking about it, maybe I should have inquired about costs before booking anything... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[maggiemay]

It may be partly a matter of terminology, Alan. (

I do not charge for a preliminary meeting. We can discuss any aspect of teaching that you like, and I will answer questions and ask you to tell me about yourself, but there is unlikely to be any actual teaching.

I charge for a 'trial lesson' or consultation lesson, if you like, at the normal rate. The concessionary part of this is that the student can book a one-off and there is no commitment.

This is how I regard it. The first is an opportunity to find out if you would like to book the second: not all potential students bother with a meeting, but many do and seem to find it helpful.

I hope this is at least partly useful. Other teachers may have their own descriptions and their own procedures which will be different from mine.