The Value of Music Lessons

I'd say one of the most common questions I get is "What do you charge for lessons?" It's truthfully probably only second to "What do you do with a music degree", but the answer to that question is a different blog post altogether. I want to discuss the first question.

I spend a lot of time researching. And about once a year, I evaluate my lesson fees. I look around at what others of comparable education and experience charge. I look at what those with more education and experience charge. I look at what those with less charge. I look at what is the average in my area and I look at other similar locations. There are a lot of different resources for me to find this information.  I would hope that in your search for a music teacher, you are doing your research as well. Of course, I also take into account how much I might be paying for studio space rental, supplies and time outside of lessons preparing materials and curriculum. And of course, I need to know how much I need to pay my bills.  This is, after all, my job; my primary income.

So those are the things I consider when selecting my lesson fee. What things should you be considering when you are deciding if music lessons are "worth" it for you and your child? I've done significant research in this area too. I'm going to present you with some data that is more on the scientific side.  But I'd love for you to read this blog post from a parent's point of view. Click HERE to read why this parent thinks music lessons are a sound investment.

Here's what you get for you money when you pay for music lessons:

• "Music learning supports all learning. Not that Mozart makes you smarter, but it's a very integrating, stimulating pastime or activity", according to Kenneth Guilmartin, cofounder of Music Together, and early childhood music development program for infants through kindergarteners.
• A study by E. Glenn Schellenberg at the University of Toronto at Mississauga, as published in a 2004 issue of Psychological Science, found a small increase in the IQs of six-year-olds who were given weekly voice and piano lessons.
• Studies show that students in elementary schools with superior music education programs scored around 22 percent higher in English and 20 percent higher in math scores on standardized tests, compared to schools with low-quality music programs, regardless of socioeconomic disparities. 
• "Growing up in a musically rich environment is often advantageous for children's language development," according to Mary Luehrisen, executive director of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation, a not-for-profit association that promotes the benefits of making music.
• Group music lessons enhances teamwork skills and discipline. They also help children develop social skills.
• "Music performance teaches young people to conquer fear and to take risks. A little anxiety is a good thing, and is something that will occur in life. Dealing with it early and often makes it less of a problem later.Music contributes to mental health and can help prevent risky behavior such as teenage drug abuse", according to the Children's Music Workshop.

As you can see, your child gets so much more out of music lessons than just learning to make music. 

Don't just put your child in music lessons because you think it will improve their chances of getting into an Ivy League school. Put your child in music lessons because you want your child to have fun and enjoy music. Put them in lessons so they can learn about different types of music. Put them in lessons so they can be exposed to musical traditions of various cultures. Put them in lessons because you want them to learn to love something and to succeed in something. Put them in lessons because music can be a safe haven for them.