What price comfort? - Independent Music Teachers Forum - Brief Article

American Music Teacher, Feb-March, 2002 by Kenneth Lee

So, at least a few of you have happened upon the IMTF columns and begun to respond. Some questions and concerns emerged that have played a large part in guiding the design of Professional Studio Saturday (formerly known as the Business Expo) and the IMTF sessions on Monday at the upcoming MTNA National Conference in March 2002. The IMTF Advisory Committee certainly appreciates your input.

A major issue seems to be that of being comfortable with what professional independent music teachers charge for our services. I was very surprised to learn of the important role comfort levels play in establishing our tuition rates. Recently, I presented my local association with a list of five reasons for not charging higher tuition and asked them to choose the one most relevant to their situation. Over 80% responded that they were comfortable with what they charged. One teacher said she already charged "a lot." Another asked what I meant by "comfortable," and I suggested, as one possible meaning, that she was paid what she thought her time was worth. She responded that there was a big difference between "being comfortable" and "being paid what she was worth." My impression was that she was comfortable being paid less than her worth.

I wonder what percentage of us is comfortable charging less than we are worth? I also wonder why we would be comfortable in this circumstance.

For many years, IMTF Advisory Committee member Beth Gigante Klingenstein, NCTM, has sought to understand the dynamics of our tuition rates and our (and others') perception of those rates. She has spoken on these and related topics at many state and national conferences. She has written extensively on the topic, such as her article in the December/January 2001/2002 issue of AMT.

When discussing the question of comfort, Beth raised a few salient points. She feels many independent music teachers do not rely on their income as a primary means of support. She believes many of us fear that if we charge too much, only the "well-off" would be able to afford music lessons. And she feels we are still struggling to escape a tradition of many years standing in which earning "cookie jar" or "pin" money was the norm. She asks the question, "How can we call what we do a profession if one cannot earn a living doing it?"

Other members of the Advisory Committee contribute their additional observations concerning the necessary expenses and all the things that must be provided--time, facilities, technology, materials, insurance and so forth--before tuition honestly is reduced to income. What we charge is not what we get. Many independent teachers are concerned that a particular student or students, often the most deserving in the studio, could not afford lessons at a higher rate. There are ways to handle this, and almost every other studio-teaching dilemma that our colleagues may have already discovered. We need to talk with one another about solutions to our common problems.

On page 34 of this issue, you will find detailed information about the sessions comprising Professional Studio Saturday. The three sessions concern different topics, in direct response to the questions and concerns that have been raised as we all try to navigate our way to a viable professional career. The presenters hope to give you new ways to think about what you charge for your time, studio policies developed in response to the problems we all face and pre-emptive steps to safeguard our abilities to teach from our homes. We need not be so independent that we cannot profit from the experiences of our colleagues across the nation. Please consider the Professional Studio Saturday sessions, or the IMTF sessions on Monday, as a possible source of insight and inspiration. We'll see you there.

--Kenneth Lee National IMTF Chair, Vienna, Virginia

He is an independent music teacher who instructs clarinet.