Music lesson hidden fees

[Anonymous]

Hi,
My kid takes private piano lessons and I recently found out that the fee we pay for registering for theory tests, piano recitals, competitions, is actually double the registration fees (so $100 in registration fees ends up being $200 paid to the teacher). I was wondering if this was common practice in this area?

[Anonymous]

Seems shady.

[Anonymous]

Of course it goes to the teacher. Do you have the smallest clue what planning is involved in preparing the student for these exams, the lesson planning, back end paperwork. My goodness, do they not deserve a living wage. Why on earth would you be cheap with domeone you tryst with your kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi,
My kid takes private piano lessons and I recently found out that the fee we pay for registering for theory tests, piano recitals, competitions, is actually double the registration fees (so $100 in registration fees ends up being $200 paid to the teacher). I was wondering if this was common practice in this area?[/quote

Yes, nirmal and expected.]

[Anonymous]

Is this for a private studio or a music school?

Music schools are notorious for taking a giant cut of whatever parents pay, for salaries of administrators, maintenance fees of the building they own or rent, and general administrative overhead.

If it's a private teacher who is taking a 50% commission for test or competition registration fees, or rent of recital venues, that's not OK. It should be much less. Our private studio doesn't charge extra for reserving the recital venue, just asks for at-cost participation from every family. Since it's a violin studio, we also all pitch in for the pianist. We register on our own for any competition we want our kids to participate in. The teacher also helps his families find quality instruments, and takes about 20% commission for sourcing them, since most good violins are in NYC. This is understandable and standard in the violin industry.