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)

[Bass Clef]

(I would think it to be a bit expensive for a beginner, and the lesson a bit short, no?)

This does seem expensive, then again I once went to a teacher who charged £35 for 45minutes and I guess that works out similarly, and I know of teachers who charge £75+ for an hour. If I were you, I wouldn't think of it as 'expensive for a beginner'. When I was new to lessons I chose the cheapest teacher I could find, thinking that as a beginner it didn't really matter because anything they could teach me would be stuff I didn't know before. However, now I think that it is important, especially for a beginner, to go to the best teacher you can find (and afford). If you build up good habits as a beginner, you will progress so much better in the future. Now, there may be amazing teachers who charge very little, just as there certainly are not-so-good teachers who charge a lot, but if this teacher that you go to does turn out to be amazing, it doesn't seem like too much to pay.

[DocOx]

(I would think it to be a bit expensive for a beginner, and the lesson a bit short, no?)

This does seem expensive, then again I once went to a teacher who charged £35 for 45minutes and I guess that works out similarly, and I know of teachers who charge £75+ for an hour. If I were you, I wouldn't think of it as 'expensive for a beginner'. When I was new to lessons I chose the cheapest teacher I could find, thinking that as a beginner it didn't really matter because anything they could teach me would be stuff I didn't know before. However, now I think that it is important, especially for a beginner, to go to the best teacher you can find (and afford). If you build up good habits as a beginner, you will progress so much better in the future. Now, there may be amazing teachers who charge very little, just as there certainly are not-so-good teachers who charge a lot, but if this teacher that you go to does turn out to be amazing, it doesn't seem like too much to pay.

Yes, this is the way I am currently looking at it. Now, all I have to do is to have that consultation lesson (Saturday next week) and see how it goes... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)