[Freeheart]

My wife is an accomplished musician and a guitar instructor. We are wondering if there would be opportunity to make a living as a guitar instructor in New Zealand. Does anyone have any experience with music lessons? Is there interest or a demand for this sort of service? What do music instructors typically charge per lesson in New Zealand?

[Jon-and-Lou]

Music is certainly alive and well here in NZ. I am in the South Island, and live music is quite popular, and judging by the music shops and trademe, there is quite a trade in guitars, instruments and sheet music etc.

Not sure what the going rate is for music tuition - hopefully someone will post soon, as I'd be interested both as a student and potential tutor myself.

If you are likely to end up here, check out christchurch school of music: www.csm.org.nz. Might give your wife some ideas?

Lou

[Kerry and David]

I wouldnt know for sure on the charges but I do know that most of the schools in this area offer optional tuition to students. My son has just started learning the guitar and it is an outside tutor who comes in to the school.

A guy we know who plays the guitar does gigs at the local bars. I think he once said that he charges $500 to do a wedding. Will try and find a link for you on his services which may give an idea.

[BkyMonster]

I saw job ads on....seek or trademe I forget, for music lessons via a music store here in Christchurch. It was very part time work and they recorded the lesson on video and sold it to people. Guitar was one of the ones they were looking for (also looking for people with British or American style accents for some reason). I considered it briefly but they weren't looking for violin so only vaguely remember the details, sorry!

[JandM]

My son in Auckland has been taking guitar lessons for several years (but I don't know what he pays). There is a LOT of music around, he says. The teacher has a small school, staffed by him and another tutor.

I just found this site. http://www.findatutor.co.nz/ Tutors seems to be charging anything between $20 and $60 an hour - I suppose it will vary with their location and expertise, and also maybe if they have premises, or go to a client's home.

I'd also be interested to know what people are paying, where in NZ. Giving classes in various subjects is one string to what I do.

[Carey]

Did a term of guitar classes at local school run by the Council I think; only $75 for 8 week term.

[richard]

...
Does anyone have any experience with music lessons? Is there interest or a demand for this sort of service? What do music instructors typically charge per lesson in New Zealand?

I have done two different beginners classes through adult education. The second one finished last night and was only $30 for 8 one hour lessons!

The first one was last year and was $65 for an 8 week course. Surprisingly the cheaper course was a lot better. It was run by an ageing rocker who seems to be doing it more for the fun than for the money.

[ljrobin]

At our daughters' school, they have an itinerant music teacher who teaches the students for 20 minutes per lesson during school hours, he charges $15.00 per lesson. For a private 30 minute lesson he charges $19.00. I've heard that it is typical to have an itinerant music teacher at the school to teach music, usually piano, keyboard, or guitar sometimes drums.

[JandM]

Anything run by the council or adult education for prices like those mentioned by Carey and Richard is likely to have been subsidised by somebody, or else those prices were for one member of a group all taught at once. A teacher couldn't live at that rate.

Also, even if the transaction is between friends (and this says something about human nature, unfortunately), if you don't put a reasonable value on your time and expertise, either in money or favours returned, before too long you start being taken for granted and messed about. What people have paid for, they respect. When I started working on my own account, I used to be shy about asking for my fair dues, but I soon learnt the hard way.

[Freeheart]

Thanks for the responses everyone! I agree JandM, I'm an artist and I have done some (very few) works for friends at discounted prices, I certainly would not make a habit of it! And thanks for the website, we will look into it.

ljrobin, my wife taught at a private school here for a while a few years back. I think that is something we would look into doing in New Zealand. My oldest will be starting school this year, it would be ideal if my wife could find a job as a guitar instructor at the same school!

Does anyone know of any job openings in schools for a guitar teacher such as ljrobin mentioned?

[Freeheart]

Also, Lou, thanks for the link! It seems that the Christchurch School of Music is more of an orchestral institution, my wife does teach classical guitar as well but I think she might be interested in something a little less formal. I'll pass on the link to her though! Maybe she could create some kind of mix between teaching classical and contemporary styles.