Vocalist.org archive


From:  "Pepijn van der Laan en Else Kramer" <else.kramer@p...>
"Pepijn van der Laan en Else Kramer" <else.kramer@p...>
Date:  Wed May 2, 2001  6:07 am
Subject:  Re: [vocalist] Re: cost of lessons


One of my current teachers uses a similar monthly payment system ('buy' four
lessons in advance) which I think is a real headache. We are forever trying
to figure out how many paid lessons are left, when the next payment is due,
and how many 'missed' lessons are still left. My work has been very busy
lately, which makes it almost impossible to make up for missed lessons. I
have had to cancel a lot of lessons at the last minute (which of course I
pay for), and this has resulted in a major row because my teacher insisted I
turn up anyway simply to hand in my advance payment for the next batch of
lessons...Very depressing.

My other teachers use the pay as you come system which is great for me, but
may be a problem for kids: you might not want them to run around carrying
lots of money every week...

I think one of the problems with paying your singing teacher (or, more
generally, any 'personal' trainer/coach) is that you can develop very
personal relationships. I have been very good friends with most of my
teachers so far, in fact maybe a bit too much because some of them always
confide in me when it comes to personal problems, which takes a lot of time
off lessons (must be my friendly aura)! And singing is SUCH a personal
thing...most lessons are not only about technical stuff, but also about
feeling, daring, etc. Paying your teacher suddenly reminds you that you are
having a business relationship too, which can be a bit sobering.

Happy singing,

Else Kramer

----- Original Message -----
From: "Karen Mercedes" <dalila@R...>
From: "Karen Mercedes" <dalila@R...>
To: <vocalist-temporary@yahoogroups.com>
To: <vocalist-temporary@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2001 11:00 PM
Subject: Re: [vocalist] Re: cost of lessons


> My previous teacher had me pay her monthly, which always led to
interesting
> calculations when I had to miss a lesson I'd paid for, or she did. We
were
> always struggling to keep track of lessons I had to make up, etc., and
when
> I left her, she had to actually send me a refund check (she had her
> students pay in advance at the beginning of the month).
>
> My current teacher uses a "pay as you go" scheme. Yes, it means writing
> more checks, but I think this works much better for her and for me,
because
> we're never having to deal with who owes what to whom. When she goes on
> vacation - or I do - I don't pay for lessons I don't take, then try to
> figure out when to make them up.
>
> I know why my old teacher - and why many teachers - bill by the month, and
> often in advance: it's because they need a predictable income flow. But
> I'd strongly urge teachers who can manage to keep a "cushion" in the bank
> to go to a "pay as you go" scheme with their students. For one thing, you
> can stop worrying about billing your students (or their parents), so your
> administrative overhead goes down.
>
> By the way, ALL the coaches and accompanists I work with are "pay as you
> go". I could never figure out why teachers don't work the same way.
>
> Karen Mercedes
>
>
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>



  Replies Name/Email Yahoo! ID Date Size
11548 Re: cost of lessons John Link   Wed  5/2/2001   3 KB

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