payment for sample lessons

rigaudon · August 2009

Ok, I don't want to initiate a discussion about the appropriateness of paying for sample lessons.

But I do have a specific question regarding sample lessons. Does anyone know of, or perhaps observed that there is any difference in the practice of charging for sample lessons by professors on the faculties of public universities as opposed to music programs that are part of private institutions? I don't mean to suggest that professors in state schools should or should not charge for the sample lessons, I just wondered if this occurs in the same way as it does in private colleges, universities or conservatories.

thumper1 · August 2009

We didn't see any "pattern" with regards to payment for sample lessons. DS had them at private and public colleges. Payment was requested by some and not by others. Some of the privates charged and some didn't. Some of the publics charged and some didn't.

Mezzo'sMama · August 2009

D had them at 4 places, all private, and was handed a bill in one place only, and that was Oberlin. Considering that her lesson was not supposed to be with that teacher (there was a mix-up on the part of the person who had been handling communications and with whom the lesson was originally booked, so that one (prof A), "rebooked" her with Prof.B, who had a bill all written up and ready to go!!). THAT was when I was glad of the part of my personality which makes me pack everything but the proverbial sink, because I had copies of the original e-mails, which I was able to produce when Prof A tried her best to tell us that the error was on my part, wrong day, wrong time, etc. I opened my file and whipped out the printed sheets! So, another piece of advice would be to carry copies of e-mails which indicate the arrangements that had been made for lessons, tours, meetings,etc. On another occasion, that also worked in our favor, getting D into the early meeting session, which she was scheduled for in the first place, as opposed to the afternoon time, which would have meant that we would have to stay over another night. Who's motto is "Be Prepared"? Sorry, I forget- one of those "senior-type" moments!

musicamusica · August 2009

For sample lessons (grad school voice) D only paid for one out of six. .This teacher happens to have an extraordinarily busy private studio on top of her University commitments . D ended up choosing this teacher.
( The rest where a mix of conservatories and publics.)

fiddlefrog · August 2009

I had 9 trial lessons and paid for one-- but I paid handsomely for that one. That was at Indiana. But it's nothing to do with the school. Teachers decide such things independently.

KeyofH · August 2009

Our experience the same as others reporting on this thread -- no particular pattern between private and public -- better or worse, etc. As fiddlefrog says -- practice lesson fees are dependent on the individual professor. I've often wondered what the psychology was, such as the professor's wanting to weed out the serious from the really serious students.

What was also startling was the variability in the professors' abilities to play the piano well enough to accompany and the cost of accompanists (in addition to practice lesson fees). By the way for those just getting started on this treck of finding a music school for a voice performance major -- be aware of one of the costs, not showing up in schools' listings of tuition and other expenses -- the cost of accompanists -- about $800-$1000 a year depending on the school.

-Allmusic- · August 2009

I always like to point out that we paid for practice lessons at most of the schools we visited (as well as with professors to assess his ability level), and my son was accepted everywhere. We found absolutely no correlation whatsoever between being asked to pay and whether that meant acceptance or rejection. Other people had different experiences.

We also found no correlation between fees for private vs. public (it was not only the privates who charged); the only tacky thing was one public professor who originally said he would not charge a fee and then emailed me afterwards asking for one....now that was a poor move, IMO!

binx · August 2009

Chiming in here: S paid for every sample lesson but one (Cincinnati was free). D paid for no sample lessons. No rhyme or reason; both kids were accepted almost everywhere. Whether to charge or not, and how much, is set individually by teachers, not by departments or schools.

violadad · August 2009

Whether to charge or not, and how much, is set individually by teachers, not by departments or schools.

Again, just to reinforce the institution specific nuances of the whole music admit process, take a peek at post #9 within the thread here http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/564382-no-sample-lessons-boyer.html?highlight=lessons

As a straight from the source comment on policy it is apparent that some institutions do have a sample lesson payment guideline structure in place.

I'd venture Boyer is not the only one. Trying to get full disclosure upfront may or may not be an issue at any particular school.

Mezzo'sMama · August 2009

KeyofH brought up an excellent point regarding the paying of accompanists. the policies in that regard are different everywhere, but some how or other, you do pay. Don't look at web sites or books such as the Peterson's Guide for that info, because it can chance quickly. I know of several kids at SUNY Fredonia who were surprised when presented with a bill the week before the Juries were to begin (actually, it was their parents who were the most amazed!). Others, who don't appear to charge have that fee bundled into some other fee or other, but I'd much rather know that upfront, Also, ask what having an "accompanist" covers. Some places it's just the lesson, others include more. My D is at CIM and there, your accompanist fee ( built into the cost) covers the lesson, an hour practice session during the week as well as auditions,, juries,etc.
I am wondering, do schools who offer a degree in collaberative pinao handle the procedure/ fees differently from those who pull their accompanists from a different area, such as solo piano performace?

violadad · August 2009

Just linking the thread http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/772662-accompanist-fees-year.html which expands on the accompanist fee perspective.

flutetalk · September 2009

At the schools my S applied to the pattern turned out to be that teachers at Conservatories or Schools of Music within private universities ended up charging for lessons, while private colleges that did not have a separate "school of music" per se did not charge. We always offered to pay and this is the pattern of how it turned out. S did not apply to any public universities so I can't speak to whether they would tend to charge.

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