Piano lessons in oxfordshire

[ukoz71]

I live in Woodstock, Oxfordshire and I would like my two kids (ages 6 and 8) to learn the piano. I've done a quick google search and discovered the lessons are very expensive, some around £30-35 an hour (assuming that my two kids would have 30 min lesson each once a week). Also, there would be another surcharge on top if they come to our home (which I can fully understand! I wouldn't be travelling to someone's home for nothing either!). We have a piano at home so thought this would be easy option. Any ideas for a teacher or student to visit us for private lessons?? - just without the hefty price tag!!

[fizzycolagurlie]

You should go along to the music dept of local colleges and A level collages and look at their noticeboards - often people giving lessons advertise here and you can probably find a better price.

[ukoz71]

Thanks - great idea. I wonder if oxford uni music students would have such a notice board...

[fizzycolagurlie]

I expect so - if there's a music dept in some of the colleges certainly -

[Lonecatwithkitten]

I live just South of you and have to say £30 to 35 for an hour is cheap the local county music service charges £21 per half hour when you attend their location. Private singing lessons for my DD when attend teacher's house are £17 per half hour.

[FriendlyLadybird]

Sorry -- I'm paying £40 an hour and I think that's good value. Piano teachers have worked to gain their qualifications and experience and they deserve to be paid properly.

Visiting the teacher's home for lessons is standard practice -- it would be most efficient to arrange for your DCs' lessons to be one after the other though.

[ukoz71]

Absolutely agree - of course the teachers have worked hard for their qualifications - but just want to get ideas and thoughts on prices etc as we are a family who has moved to the UK from another country so we are naive to prices!

[Ferguson]

Do you play yourself, and if so what is the level of your knowledge and skill? (I'm speculating you might, otherwise why have a piano?)

If you do play, and have some knowledge of music, then I think it is perfectly feasible to start beginners off yourself. There are many tutor books, often with a CD illustrating what the music should sound like, for an outlay probably less than the cost of one hour with a private teacher. Also, there are on-line demonstrations of piano for young children, and adults, though some are possibly not all that good.

I ran a keyboard club with Yr6 children, did recorder groups for ten years, and also coached children to play percussion to accompany the Christmas production each year. There seems to be an aura of mystery surrounding learning an instrument, as if it were beyond the capabilities of mere mortals!

Certainly, to get to the higher Grades, and a knowledge of Theory, does require study, practise, and dedication over a number of years. But to introduce students to the first rungs of the musical ladder - whether children or adult - to start to experience the pleasures of making music, could be within the grasp of many people.

Precision and accuracy are important aspects, and just because early pieces might be easy, they should still be played with as much feeling and sensitivity as later difficult pieces. Also listening to as wide a range of piano and other music, thinking constructively about the piece, its rhythm, speed, phrasing and overall 'feeling' of the music, is useful.

Is your piano acoustic (and in reasonable condition and in tune) or an electronic instrument? It doesn't really matter which, but good condition is necessary to make it easier for the beginner.

[meandjulio]

Maybe see if a teacher would take your children to teach together?

[fizzycolagurlie]

in Los Angeles where we live, the normal rate for a piano teacher (part of an accredited music school, teaching for 10-30 years etc) is $28-30 per half hour. That's probably around $20-23 give or take the exchange rate. There was one piano teacher, very elderly lady who only took on a few students and she charged $60 per half hour. This was an exception and considered hugely expensive. I think that's the equivalent of about 40 quid. It goes to show that its very much set by local rates. OP is likely to find her local UK rates high if she's come from anywhere that has rates closer to those we have in LA.

[fizzycolagurlie]

sorry I meant 20-23 Pounds Sterling. I do not have a pound sign!