Hi all,

I'm feeling a little nervous now - I am putting up my fees in September by a little more then usual and wondering how many pupils I could lose. I could do with losing a few of the more unreliable ones or the late payers anyway and I do have a waiting list. I'm not very good at the business side of things and always feel guilty about putting up fees, charging for cancelled lessons etc but I feel that I need to put my foot down now and be more business-like.

Does anyone else hate the business side of teaching? I am just trying to bring my fees more in line with other teachers in the area, I have just passed the CT and I do offer more flexiabilty than the music centre does.

Tasha

I was really scared when I gave all my students out contracts, with the whole "missing lessons" thing, but I have to say, not a single one of them cancelled, and they've all been very supportive. And certainly, none of them have messed me around since.

Just before the end of term, I sent out a letter too putting my fees up, and it's the first time I've done it since I started about two years ago. So I'm waiting to hear what the outcome is too. Hope everything goes well!

Gareth.

I always worry, too, when I hand out letters regarding fee increases, but each time I do, back they all come! You are quite right to do this, Tasha. If teachers don't value what they do by charging a reasonable amount, students won't, either.

I would make sure, however, in some not too obvious way, that your students know about your new qualification. I passed my Certificate of Instrumental Teaching with the RSAMD in May, raised my fees, and had new business cards printed which included the new qualification, and two cards went out with each student letter - one to keep, one to pass to a friend.

I hate it too, but it's a necessity. My letters will go out next week for a September increase. First of all I thought I might peg them this year in the face of the current economic climate. Then I thought, why should I? Everything is going up around me. I'm going to have to invest in a lot of new music because of the new singing syllabus. Everyone in jobs are getting annual increments, so should I.
The few who have asked have been told lessons will go up soon, and have said, that's fine - just let me know.

When I had a slightly larger than usual increase I included a note to the effect that I'd not had an increase for more than 18 months and that my fees were still a little under 'union' rate.

I did the same thing , but in my case I hadn't increased my fees for 3 years. I'm sure that if you say that you're keeping your fees in line with other teachers, then everyone will be fine with it. I didn't lose any students.

The fees we pay go up in September every year so it's never a surprise but expected. I think we pay £28 per hour now. To be honest, I think the teacher is so good I would happily pay more!

I was told quite firmly by my CT mentor and course leader that I should put my fees up, and will be sending out the letter next week! It does feel a bit uncomfortable, but we are providing a service like any other professional. When did you last question a fee increase for a plumber, electrician etc? Putting it in a letter is a good way of giving your clients the information in a way that gives them time to digest it. I intend to wrap mine up in a newsletter with my new qualification, recent exam and festival results, news about new equipment in studio etc so that they see that they are getting value for money. Good luck!

Thanks for all your advice and support as usual. I will be wrapping the fee increase up in a letter including other matters such as the forthcoming student concert etc but I hadn't thought of putting in my new qualification (I saw you at the recent ceremony Sue and gave you an extra loud clap) but I will do so. My fees are going to be going up from £9.50 to £10.50 for a half hour slot, this is on the advice of my mentor as well. She said we should "remember the dignity of our profession" and not undervalue ourselves (which is easy to do).

I still hate business though!

Many thanks

Tasha

Aw thanks!!

That is still good value at £10.50 per half hour. Assuming you are fully qualified, you should be getting a teachers salary. If you work a 35 hour week and work for 36 weeks of the year then anything up to £25 per hour is still good value. Very often like all teaching the half hour lesson does not end there. Parents will want to talk to you outside lesson time as well as time taken organising music, exams entries, festivals, concerts etc is all above this. Parents will expect this to happen and no bill is ever sent for these services. With a realistic fee your time will be covered in the lesson fee.

I send a letter home with my bills for the Summer Term detailing the fees for the following academic year. It gives parents enough time to give notice if they do not like it. My fees go up each September roughly in line with the teachers pay increase. If I have to round it slightly to make sense then I do so. I always put in the letter the anount the fees will be the following year and also detail the percentage increase. It is unusual it causes problems. If it does well the end of the road is reached. I had one this year who has left due to my extortionate increase....1.35% from £148 to £150 per term! I know there is a credit crunch but we still have to live and eat! I have 2 of my 5 children still learning and everything they do goes up each year, music, dancing swimming, so why not my fees?

Get into the swing of a little increase every year and they will come to expect it.

Hey Im a student. Well first,I think its okay if you want to add up the fees.I mean,if a student really wants to learn something,he/she will sacrifice his/her money,life,time,health to learn music right?(I did that=D)Dont worry if you loose your students because you will get others eventually...and talking about business why dont you just work in a music company that has music lessons(its much much better)? Although the fees are much expensive but I go for it because Im really determined and if your students are determined,than they will not quit although you are adding up the fees.Am I repeating ??HAHA.Anyways,good luck!

I am a newbie and live in an area where many of my students can afford up to 3 holidays over the summer
so I'm sure they can cope with an increase of a pound a year...lucky lot!

I do agree - the business side is sometimes the hardest thing to do!

I am also putting my fees up by 50p for half an hour. I had some doubts about doing this, but I spoke to a colleague at school, who more or less told me off because my fees are about £1.50 behind everyone else's. However, I don't feel it would be wise to increase by more at the moment. I sent my letters out at the end of the summer term. One parent looked at it and was fairly resigned "well, it's to be expected, I suppose".. But I was mightily encouraged when my new pupil's parent said that he was kind of expecting more, and that I was reasonable. So I think I'm in the right ball park for round here anyway.

My fee never went up in the three years I had my previous teacher, it was always £17 for a half hour.

Also i don't understand why teacher invest in lots of new music for students. I have always gone and bought sheet music when I have needed it, an additional cost to me on top of the lesson fees.

So longas fee increases are around the level of inflation I have no problem with it. However if it goes up by 10% or more I may query such a huge increase.

In the end music teachers do need to earn a living!