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AIBU?

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Original poster

Music Tuition - AIBU

41 replies

PiriPiriMenopause · 28/05/2025 09:11

DC have been having lessons with the same music tutor for years. All great, no issues. This week I get a very (unexpected and out of character) formal letter informing me that prices are being increased, which I completely understand, by £10 per hour. Tutor is excellent, absolute top of their game, has done incredible stuff for DC and they love their lessons. One DC is planning on making a career of it after feeling so inspired and encouraged by it all. Subject choices have all revolved around tutor.

However, I’ve been given absolutely no advanced warning and this change is taking place from tomorrow. Plenty of communication opportunity to have been pre-warned.

It’s an extra £100 a month now and I’ve simply not got the finances this week, and will possibly really struggle to find the extra in future as things are just financially at crisis point just now.

Tutor is a very decent but equally very black and white kind of person. There’s no room for leniency with various aspects. “My way or the highway” which is all fair enough. Finding another one would be difficult. Stopping one DC is a possibility but it would very likely cause great upset.

AIBU to feel as annoyed as I do about how little notification I’ve been given and pressured into making a decision about what to do before tomorrow?

OP posts:
Runnersandtoms · 28/05/2025 10:39

It's very unreasonable to put prices up by so much. I increase mine by 50p to £1 every year or so. Especially with so little notice. But the problem is if most people will pay it anyway because it'd be hard to find a replacement teacher, there's no reason for them to reconsider. If you have a good relationship with them I would get in touch and explain this,will be hard/impossible for you to out in place straiaway with no notice. If people come to me with genuine money worries, I offer solutions like splitting the cost of a term into installments etc.

If you really can't afford this going forward you'll have to start looking for different teacher.

CrotchetyQuaver · 28/05/2025 10:32

I think you need to speak to the tutor and explain your situation , your DC sound like they're talented and those are the kids that they like teaching the best. Depends what "level" the teacher is, if conservatoire level, they'll never be the cheapest. But it might just be possible you can come to a compromise in the short term. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Mauro711 · 28/05/2025 10:20

Can you then book one hour a week and let the kids alternate so they have an hour every two weeks?

User79853257976 · 28/05/2025 10:10

YANBU

Could you reduce the number of lessons they are having?

TheMousePipes · 28/05/2025 10:06

Hiw much are the lessons weekly? As in, what percentage is the increase?

Original poster
PiriPiriMenopause · 28/05/2025 10:05

There’s no alternative other than weekly one hour lessons.

OP posts:
Catopia · 28/05/2025 09:52

PiriPiriMenopause · 28/05/2025 09:36

No, no missed letters or emails. Good communication is always weekly. There’s been no mention of a hike in price at all!

Im really blowed to have to make the decision to leave, we won’t find anyone nearly as decent or experienced in such a vast way. It won’t affect the tutor at all if we leave, as as far as I’m aware they’re full (possibly even a waiting list)

There’s definitely no scope for anything less than hour long lessons or one lesson a fortnight. It’s all or nothing and that was made clear years ago when DC1 first started. This has always been absolutely fine, until now.

Show quote history

Rather than leaving, why not drop down to every other week, and ensure they up their practice between lessons?

£10/ph increase with no notice is pretty unreasonable.

fruitbrewhaha · 28/05/2025 09:41

You have two dc doing 5 hours a month?

Could you drop one of the dc to half hour lessons instead?

Original poster
PiriPiriMenopause · 28/05/2025 09:36

utterlyfedup2 · 28/05/2025 09:27

Yanbu about the lack of notice. Have you definitely not been told/warned before? Perhaps in a newsletter or previous email?

If not then it's really not enough notice if the change is happening literally a day or 2 after the tutor issued the information. When was the letter sent and when is your next lesson? Have you been away on holiday and not seen the letter straight away?

Is there a possibility of having a shorter lesson or reducing the frequency of lessons? It sounds like you'd prefer not to just cancel all tuition.

No, no missed letters or emails. Good communication is always weekly. There’s been no mention of a hike in price at all!

Im really blowed to have to make the decision to leave, we won’t find anyone nearly as decent or experienced in such a vast way. It won’t affect the tutor at all if we leave, as as far as I’m aware they’re full (possibly even a waiting list)

There’s definitely no scope for anything less than hour long lessons or one lesson a fortnight. It’s all or nothing and that was made clear years ago when DC1 first started. This has always been absolutely fine, until now.

OP posts:
MuffinsAreJustCakesAtBreakfast · 28/05/2025 09:33

My dog daycare increased with a few days' notice as did my dog groomers fees. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I'm sure some people's energy bills have jumped by that much as well recently. Perhaps the teacher hasn't been very good about raising rates incrementally each year and has now reached an "oh $%*#" point.

YANBU about the notice, but it's not uncommon in this day and age. Sure, would have been nicer to have been able to plan.

Have a grumble to yourself (and in here!!) and then decide if it's a hill you want to die on.

sounds like it isn't and the tutor is very good and worth keeping.

DeborahVancesBeehive · 28/05/2025 09:33

That would be really disappointing. I'm a music tutor and I have a contract with the parent that says a terms notice will be given for any increase in fees. Likewise, they must give me a terms notice to terminate lessons. I've put up my fees by only £2 per hour next term as I recognize that everything else has gone up drastically for my parents, £10 is insane. Are you London based?

Basically, if you don't have a contract you can do what you want. And if you choose to stop lessons and they take you to small claims, the musicians union will only support them in seeking a month's payment. I would explain your situation and if they don't relent, seek alternative tuition. You will have loads of options.

Original poster
PiriPiriMenopause · 28/05/2025 09:28

It feels like a big increase to suddenly be spring on people. Tutor has always been a bit lax with this kind of thing before although I know I’ve been rigorous in making sure that I am never late paying and keep everything written down. I really don’t expect to be given any kind of discrepancies and wouldn’t ask, as there’s probably more to the reasons for this than meets the eye.

its just so very disappointing.

OP posts:
utterlyfedup2 · 28/05/2025 09:27

Yanbu about the lack of notice. Have you definitely not been told/warned before? Perhaps in a newsletter or previous email?

If not then it's really not enough notice if the change is happening literally a day or 2 after the tutor issued the information. When was the letter sent and when is your next lesson? Have you been away on holiday and not seen the letter straight away?

Is there a possibility of having a shorter lesson or reducing the frequency of lessons? It sounds like you'd prefer not to just cancel all tuition.

BusMumsHoliday · 28/05/2025 09:19

Yes I'd be annoyed at the lack of notice. But equally with that substantial an increase and no notice, you probably have the right to terminate with immediate effect.

If you don't think you can afford the increase, you have to say so. I think as you have a long standing relationship, it's best to be completely honest and say that. If you could afford, say £5, you could offer that. It may be that the tutor makes an exception for you as longstanding clients but they may not.

andtheworldrollson · 28/05/2025 09:18

A bit more notification would be good
i had
”new parents are now charged £35 an hour and from next term all parents will be charged £35 an hour “

so that’s a terms notice

ellesbellesxxx · 28/05/2025 09:16

I speak as a music tutor… I would give more notice AND I wouldn’t give such a big increase? I am increasing my prices by £3 an hour this year (which I will give two months notice of) but even if someone has a half hour lesson thats £6 extra a month not £100.
I also wonder if they would still hold anyone who now can’t afford it to their notice period…
so YANBU