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wy yung
Guest
I charge $60.00 per hour. $30.00 per half hour. Everyone seems very happy.
@bigd , thanks for the response! Yeah, I paid for one lesson (which is tomorrow) to get a feel for the guy, but I doubt I will be sticking around.
So just got back from lessons about an hour ago and I gotta say, I had a great time. He spent some time asking my about my influences and where I wanted to be with the instrument. I played for him for a few minutes and then we got cookin' with some fundamentals. What I came away with was some new information and some I already knew. But! A clear understanding of all of it. It might be too beginner-ish for some of you fellas but I feel good about it.
Well, i guess the question as to "how much is too much" for drum lessons, can be kind of a relative thing. I suppose one might be more inclined to pay $35 or more if one was to study with Joe Morello or a "name" drummer. I don't think many people would wince at that. But, for taking lessons from a "music store teacher", where the store takes its percentage from the student, and then, to not know "which" teacher you're getting, i'd go... Hhhhhhmmmmmmm..... I live in Omaha and teach drums and charge $20 per hour per student. I have another job so it's not my total living... Would i pay $35 to some "guy"?? ...Not a chance. On the other hand, i think a teacher should charge what he believes his knowledge and time is worth. The teacher should feel good about what he's getting without the student feeling that he is being raked over the financial coals.
Mike says:
You won't get a lesson for $35 from Joe Morello,
Kelly: Of course Mike, I said, "$35 or MORE"... Of course these guys are going to cost more. :>) I'm mainly referring to guys who teach out here in Omaha. Trust me, they're not worth the gas money is costs to get out to them and Omaha is a small city and you can get across the city in about 15-20 minutes.
Mike says: It just depends on what your goals are, your budget and your level of committment. $20-25 is too little for a professional (meaning that music is the sole income for the teacher).
Kelly: First, the guys i teach have a high level of commitment with goals and frankly, out here in this economy, $20-$25 is about all these younger guys can afford and i'm giving them a service that they can't get elsewhere in town. I'm from Los Angeles originally and studied with Murray Spivack, Hank Bellson (shameless name drop), among others, and have had lots of studio and live playing and teaching experience and am firmly and realistically making something available to these guys that just doesn't exist out here. You'd be surprised at some of what passes for a quality drum education here. Second: A "professional" is someone who makes a living or receives payment for playing music on a regular basis and not necessarily someone who makes their "sole living" playing music.
I should say that in life in general you get what you pay for. Anybody no matter how good or clueless can teach drums and charge whatever they want, but inspect the goods (teacher) ahead of time so you have a pretty good idea of what you're getting.
Uh hey fellas!!!... Orange agent -- the guy who started this blog with a question about teachers.... remember him? :>) :>) He just posted that he got back from THAT lesson that he was going to go to and gave a real good response saying he came away with things new and old and now knows where he's heading. He's happy. Some of us are arguing here and I just thought everyone should know that our guy is getting what he wants to get! Ok, now back to the fighting.....
Sounds great. As long as you feel you are getting something out of it, it is worth the money. As others mentioned, the teacher probably does kick back about a quarter to a third of that to the store. So the teacher is probably getting a decent rate and you are getting the instruction that you want. Keep us posted.
Jeff
Glad your first lesson worked out. Depending on where you are in Montgomery County, you should also check out Victor Litz Music in Gaithersburg. I take lessons there with Mike Smirnoff, who is an excellent teacher and drummer. I could not be happier and could not recommend him more. Runs $25 for a 30 minute lesson.