Private music teachers often struggle with pricing their music lessons, especially when starting a music school or becoming a private music teacher. The temptation to charge less than the competition to attract students can lead to unintended consequences. This article aims to show why undercharging is a detrimental strategy and tips for pricing and managing your music lesson studio.
Why undercharging for music lessons is a detrimental strategy
It’s a Race to the Bottom
If you undercut a music teacher’s prices, there is a good chance they will do the same if you succeed. Eventually, you’ll stop getting students via this strategy, and as your students inevitably leave, you will have difficulty replacing them. This is sometimes called the “race to the bottom” because it ruins the business for everyone. It’s a vicious cycle that perpetuates itself, leading to a downward spiral in the quality and value of music lessons being offered in the market.
Ultimately, a race to the bottom serves no one’s best interests. It undermines the reputation of the music education sector and compromises the livelihood of dedicated music teachers. Instead, focusing on delivering exceptional quality and maintaining a competitive yet fair pricing strategy will benefit music educators and their students in the long term.
You Will Eventually Suffer Burnout
Lowering your fees might appear as an attractive strategy to attract a larger student base initially, but it can ultimately lead to burnout and cause negative consequences for your music teaching career. While it may seem like a quick solution to increase student enrollment, it can create a vicious cycle that negatively impacts your overall effectiveness as a music teacher.
Attracting low-paying students can result in a schedule filled with numerous lessons, leaving you with little time for other crucial aspects of running your music teaching business. Essential tasks such as marketing your services to reach a wider audience, managing bookkeeping to keep track of your finances, and investing in your personal growth as a music educator might take a back seat. This lack of balance and the overwhelming workload can lead to exhaustion and stress, potentially affecting the quality of your teaching and student interactions.
You’ll Struggle to Attract Serious, Long-Term Students
Charging a higher rate attracts students genuinely interested in learning music and committed to their musical journey. Conversely, students who choose a teacher based primarily on cost are more likely to give up when something interferes, such as other activities or unexpected expenses. Music lessons aren’t cheap, but serious students and parents know that and have already accepted a higher cost; price is generally not the most significant factor. Yes, it’s a factor, but availability, personality, and skill as a music teacher are considerably more important.
Your Professional Image Will Suffer
Charging low prices might give the impression that your teaching quality is also low. Students and parents may question the value they will receive from your lessons, leading them to choose a higher-priced teacher with a perceived higher level of expertise.
Establishing a competitive rate as a music teacher communicates professionalism and confidence in the value of your lessons. This sends a strong message to potential students and the community that you take your career seriously and are committed to delivering high-quality education. A relatively high but still competitive rate helps position you as a reputable and trustworthy teacher, attracting students who are serious about their musical journey. It also contributes to a positive reputation within the community, leading to word-of-mouth referrals and increased student interest. Setting a competitive rate demonstrates your dedication to providing valuable music lessons, ultimately fostering a more prosperous and fulfilling teaching experience.
Strategies to consider when pricing your music lesson business
Provide Longer Lessons: To improve clarity and coherence, consider offering longer lessons, such as 45 or 60 minutes, instead of the standard 30-minute sessions. The 45-minute duration strikes a balance, as 30 minutes can feel rushed, while 60 minutes might be too lengthy, especially for younger students. With a 45-minute lesson, you’re providing 50% more teaching time than a 30-minute one, which justifies charging approximately 25% to 50% more per lesson. This approach helps you to achieve your revenue goals with fewer students, ultimately reducing your workload and creating a more sustainable teaching practice.
Price According to the Competition: Some studies have been performed to get an idea of what music lessons cost. However, music lesson prices change, so you’ll need to research pricing in your area to get an accurate, up-to-date idea. Conduct thorough research on other music schools and teachers in your area to determine the prevailing rates. Charge at or above their prices to position yourself as a reputable and professional music teacher. Don’t be afraid to be at the higher end of the spectrum.
Offer a Unique Selling Point: You can offer a unique experience as a newer music teacher. Emphasize qualities such as being friendly, available, effective, and convenient. Consider providing in-home lessons, which can be a significant advantage over larger music schools. Students and parents often appreciate the convenience and are willing to pay more for this personalized service.
Consider Charging Higher Fees for Peak Times: Recognize that some time slots are more in demand than others. Students and parents often prefer after-school hours, particularly from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Don’t undervalue these peak hours; charge appropriately for their convenience. By doing this, you will still likely fill up your peak times, but you might fill up some off-peak times with students who have a little more flexibility and want a lower price.
Focus on Efficient Scheduling: When offering in-home lessons, schedule students who live close to each other to minimize travel time and expenses. If you provide online lessons, try to schedule them during your off-peak times. You could target students in other time zones. Wherever you live, it’s later when you look to time zones to the east of you. Your 1:00 pm is a student’s 4:00 pm if that student lives three timezones eastward of yours. By targeting other locations to market online music lessons, you could seek places where music lesson prices are generally higher than where you live.
This efficient scheduling allows you to maximize your teaching hours and increase your income.
Offer Discounts Strategically: Charging a reasonable rate enables you to offer attractive discounts to new students, which can be an effective music lesson marketing strategy. Consider providing discounted trial lessons or promotional packages to entice potential students to try your music lessons. Partnering with platforms like Groupon can also help attract new students, although they may take a cut of the revenue. If you charge too little to begin with, offering discounts may be difficult or impossible.
Conclusion
Setting the right price for your music lessons is crucial for the success of your teaching career. The appropriate fee for music lessons depends on factors such as your experience, location, and the demand for your services. Research competitors’ rates in your area and consider offering competitive pricing while valuing your expertise and time. Aim to balance attracting students and ensuring fair compensation for your teaching.
You can establish a successful and sustainable music teaching business by charging a fair and competitive rate, emphasizing your unique selling points, and efficiently scheduling lessons. Remember, your expertise is valuable, and students and parents are willing to invest in their musical education when they experience the value of your lessons. By offering a superior experience and tangible results, teachers can build a loyal and satisfied customer base willing to pay a fair price for the value they receive
Do you want to get more students and grow your music teaching business?