$400 lesson

[bort]

Phil Myers charges that to discourage people from haranguing him for lessons (which he doesn't particularly enjoy teaching).

That was my first guess too. It's saying 'no' without actually saying 'no.'

[DaTubaKid]

It's simple economics people. Supply and Demand Graph yo.

There's some curve that I would rather not even considering figure out which explains the correlation between the price of lessons and the number of people willing to pay that price for those lessons. The curve is downward sloping (aka as the price of a lesson increases, the demand for those lessons decrease).

Now, lets say he wants only teach a certain number of lessons, that translates to the graph containing a supply curve which is actually a horizontal line. No matter how much he charges for lessons, he will still supply that many lessons. You simply look at the graph and see where the demand curve and the supply curve intersect, and you get the appropriate price that he should charge. If he supplies less, the price increases, if he supplies more, the price decreases.

Econ 103 baby.

[bttmbow]

Ron,
I would happily pay you $50 for an hour lesson.
Respek!

I also ONLY teach lessons that are two hours long; that's it, 'cept the rate is less than qouted.

Also, if I had as many students coming to me as Joe and Phil, I would charge MUCH more than them!!!!! (Props to those who manage their time effectively.)


CJH

[pulseczar]

Is there any way to factor in the cost of living? I know in Silicon Valley the prices are jacked up pretty high and so for the privately teaching tubist to live, the price would be high.

I believe Jeff Anderson of SFSO is charging $200 as well. I also heard that some 14 year old kid or whatever's parents thinks their kid's a prodigy and makin him/her get lessons from Jeff Anderson.

[brianf]

High lesson prices by major symphony players has been going on for years and it is not just in New York. Yes, it is supply and demand but look at who is paying these prices. Is it the regular students? No, they are covered through their schools. If they come back for a refresher lesson, I really doubt if they will be charcged the full rate.

There are students who take a lesson or two from these guys so they can write on their resume "studied with _____ and _____ and _____ ." These are the people that get major players ticked off. There are those who claim to be students of them but they don't remember the day they passed through their studio. This has been going on for years, it really cannot be stopped. Making them pay a high price for the lesson keeps the number of these people down.

[Tubadork]

Hey
FWIW,
Chris Hall's lessons are somewhere in that ballpark ($$) , but they are usually 2 hrs+ and he will only give you lessons every other week (so you have time to absorb the info and to give you time to practice to make the changes) and IMHO worth the money. You figure, if you had one every week at $75 for an hour vs. a 2+ hr every other week for $150, it works out to be the same. I learned a bunch from Chris and am glad I had a chance to take some lessons from him.

[David Zerkel]

My question is not to the value of a $400 lesson from anyone, but what is the return on that investment. Can a $400 lesson with Alessi really reap more rewards than four $100 lessons with someone the caliber of Dave Zerkel? (note: I don't know what Mr Zerkel charges, just using for comparison)

For $400, you could get 10 lessons from me. If I teach a two hour lesson, the rate goes up to $60.

Dave "who doesn't think his time is worth a dollar a minute" Zerkel

[ASTuba]

My question is not to the value of a $400 lesson from anyone, but what is the return on that investment. Can a $400 lesson with Alessi really reap more rewards than four $100 lessons with someone the caliber of Dave Zerkel? (note: I don't know what Mr Zerkel charges, just using for comparison)

For $400, you could get 10 lessons from me. If I teach a two hour lesson, the rate goes up to $60.

Dave "who doesn't think his time is worth a dollar a minute" Zerkel

I'd argue that point, even though I only had one lesson with you before my time in Atlanta ended.

[timayer]

Along the lines of "everyone would go to them for a lesson if it was cheaper," the fact that these guys charge so much is almost a favor to everyone else in the area who is trying to keep a private studio. Many young kids take lessons for say $25 an hour with a local college kid or a young pro who's just starting out. How fair to them would it be if the major orchestral player charged the same amount? We wouldn't get any students. So it's a favor to themselves to keep the demand on them down, but it's also a favor to anyone else trying to teach because it keeps us in business.

Tim Ayer

[ASTuba]

For $400, you could get 10 lessons from me. If I teach a two hour lesson, the rate goes up to $60.

Dave "who doesn't think his time is worth a dollar a minute" Zerkel

****, at those prices I'll bring the beer!!!!

You'll be seeing me soon!

Robert I. Coulter

One of the most underrated teachers/players we have in our industry, IMO.

[Frank Ortega]

Hmm...$400....Well, if you're a young player with alot of money Ron's a fantastic player with alot of knowledge that you're not gonna find anywhere else!

I say, go for it! You'll definitely learn.

[iiipopes]

Then again, some people really don't want to be bothered, so they raise their price to a point they actually lower demand accordingly to no more than they want to take on.

[Dennis K.]

$150/ hour is not at all unreasonable considering the cost of living in NYC. You could spend 1/3 of that parking (unless you wish to lug your tuba many, many blocks), another $30 for lunch (2 dogs and a soda from street vendors will run you $10), $15-20 in tolls getting into and out of the city. Heck, there's $100 and you haven't met the guy yet.

Different scenario - You've paid $100 to apply to Julliard. You've bought the plane ticket and hotel room in Manhattan. You are about to invest $30,000/year in school. It is understood that people who have lessons with the teacher beforehand have a better acceptance rate and get better financial aid packages than the 50 other players at the open cattle call auditions. How much is that instrument you are playing worth????

$150 is small change.

Would I pay that for a lesson w/ the 2nd trombonist of the Titipu Town Band? Of course not! Should some high school schmuck playing a fibreglass sousaphone pay that for a lesson on their band music? Of course not!
How 'bout someone that has been advancing in professional auditions?

$150 is small change.

[Mark]

For $400, you could get 10 lessons from me. If I teach a two hour lesson, the rate goes up to $60.

Dave "who doesn't think his time is worth a dollar a minute" Zerkel

Seriously, you are under-charging.

[Tubadork]

For $400, you could get 10 lessons from me. If I teach a two hour lesson, the rate goes up to $60.

Dave "who doesn't think his time is worth a dollar a minute" Zerkel

Seriously, you are under-charging.

SSSSHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! Quiet!
we have a good thing going on down here,

I've also been lucky enough to have some lessons with Dave and he's a great teacher.
Bill "who would be kinda bummed if Dave's rates went up, but would still go out to Athens as much as I could/ afford" Pritchard

[Scott C]

I'm not so sure that $400 is reasonable, but for the right person, a $200 lesson might be just the right wake up call. I got myself a lesson with a big name west coast teacher and he pulled no punches. He called me on my sh%* right away. I went away and worked my butt off. He had really great things to say that affect my playing every day. Was it worth it... You bet!!! I wasn't getting what I needed from my university teacher or others who "knew" me. If it's a monetary sacrifice that's needed, so be it.

[Dennis K.]

I also have this new technique for rearranging the molecules of any brass instrument by plugging it into a modified battery charger. Absolutely amazing.
email me off list some time, maybe a hang,
ron

If you also freeze the horn, then give it a name from some long lost religion (perhaps call it the 'Thor Treatment), then get someone to say "It makes my sound so much darker"(whether it does or not), you may be able to go up to $600.

[clagar777]

What do the other major orchestral tuba players charge for lessons? Would you be ok with paying Carol Jantsch the same price that you would pay Gene Pokorny for a lesson?

[MartyNeilan]

Here's a bargain tip for some folks in NJ, NYC, CT, NY, PA area. Pasquale (Pat) Landolfi from New Jersey Symphony. He's 74 now and studied with Jacobs and I think Lavotny. He has some interesting breathing and playing techniques, and musical as a MoFo. Don't go to him to learn Flight of the Bumble Bee. But if you want to learn how to turn phrases...

Ditto!! Pat Landolfi is one of those "best kept secrets" but he is the man! (I can't believe he is 74 already.)

[brianf]

Would you be ok with paying Carol Jantsch the same price that you would pay Gene Pokorny for a lesson?

If I had to choose between Carol and Gene? Young 20 year old girl or bald old guy?

Ouch!
Gene, now that it's on Tubenet, it's official - you're an old bald guy! Just like one of your heros, Curley of Howard-Fine-Howard fame.

When lurking Tubenet, remember you saw it here!