9 ‘Sneaky’ Costs That Ambush Piano Parents

One of the main concerns holding parents back from giving their kids piano lessons is the cost. Even when parents do resign themselves to the high costs of piano lessons, they still continue to be ambushed by many costs that they simply didn’t think would come their way. 

Not only does this result in much hardship for the family, but also could end up shortening a child’s piano education quickly. 

So what is the best way to avoid such a thing from happening? 

The best way in my opinion is to know these costs upfront and not be taken by surprise. Another good alternative is to budget for these costs where they are unavoidable and to have them waived or reduced. 

If it is that simple, why don’t more parents do that?

Well, it is because piano studios can often ‘sneak’ in those costs and in this post, I’m going to highlight many of the most common costs, so as to reduce the damage it can do to your budget. 

Instrument Upgrades

This is by far the most costliest. 

Often families may have just an electric keyboard or a hand me down old piano when their kids start learning to play the piano. 

However, if it is an electronic piano, there is a good chance that they will outgrow it very fast, or will need to upgrade. 

And doing so can be a major expense. 

So what do you do? 

Speak to the music teacher. Describe the instrument you have, ask how long he/she thinks this instrument will suffice and start planning ahead of time for the upgrade. 

Basically don’t let the upgrade ‘sneak’ up on you. 

Books And Resources

These costs may not seem like a lot at the start, however, they can quickly add up. 

Also, some piano studios tend to insist that books and resources are purchased from them and they often include their own markup. 

They may not allow you to reuse books that were previously used by older kids. 

Sometimes, they deliberately recommend expensive books and materials, which result in them getting a percentage of the sales price. 

So what do you do? Ask the piano studio about book costs, if there is a stipulation that you have to buy from them, if you can reuse the books, if you can sell back the books that are in good condition etc? 

Also, do your best to ask for discounts off the marked price and don’t be shy to ask to buy used books.

Exam Fees

Many parents want their kids to face music exams, but don’t realize that it requires extra practice and classes (especially if the exam material isn’t covered during the usual class). 

Thus, again increasing the cost. 

Besides all of this, when registering kids for exams, you have to pay a separate fee that you may not have thought about. 

As in all the previous cases, ask about these costs and also ask for alternative ways to reduce these costs. 

Competition Fees

Parents love to see their kids take part in competitions and win. 

However, these competitions often require a registration fee, they also require extra work and practice, work that may not be covered in the usual piano classes. 

There is absolutely nothing wrong in wanting your kids to participate in competitions. 

However, you need to be aware of the costs involved for the competition, costs of extra piano lessons, travel costs and much more. 

So find out all the costs involved and budget for them, find alternatives where possible and start saving the money. 

Concert/Recital Fees

Piano studios often charge fees for the annual concerts and recitals. 

These fees can be in the form of fees for the equipment and facilities being used. 

Also there can be stipulations about the attire, and you may have to invest in new clothes for your kids. 

Recitals may require extra classes and practice, which can result in more costs added to the monthly tuition fees, as well as more time commitment on your part to transport the kids, and wear and tear on the vehicle as well as gas and mileage etc. 

Again, planning and budgeting ahead of time will definitely help you get these costs in hand. 

Annual Registration

There are some piano studios that require you to pay a registration fee not only when starting piano lessons, but every single academic year. 

Not all piano studios may require it, but there are a significant number that would and therefore, it is important that you ask about these fees and request for waivers and discounts wherever possible. 

Paying For Summer Months

Many piano studios I know of, also require you to pay full months tuition even for the summer months. 

One that I know of provides 4 lessons that can be scheduled anytime during July and August and requires that parents pay 11 months of tuition, instead of 10. 

Likewise, there are other schools that require full months of tuition for December and March even though they may not have 4 weekly lessons as in the previous months. 

Also remember, you have to pay for lessons even if your child is sick and you are unable to get a rescheduled class. 

When signing up for lessons, always ask about these policies, summer month payments and classes, sick days, rescheduling classes etc before you commit to the piano studio. 

Equipment Fees

Studios have tons of overheads that they need to pay for, and those costs have to be passed on to the students. 

One such cost is the cost of equipment. 

There are many studios that I know of that also charge a one time annual fee for equipment that is used within the studio. 

If this cost is not included to the monthly tuition fee, like some studios do, then it can be a nasty surprise when you are asked to pay. 

So, please check with your studio and make sure you are not going to have to pay any such fee. 

Cancellation Fees/Penalties

Piano studios often budget for the whole year and assume your child will be attending classes for the entire year. 

Therefore, if your child or children have to drop out for some reason, then they may charge you cancellation fees, or if you pay for a full year up front, you may not get back the full amount you are owed, rather there maybe penalties deducted. 

If you pay for an exam, a competition or a recital and your child cannot participate for some reason, again don’t expect a full refund, there is a strong likelihood there will be penalties and cancellation fees. 

So how do you avoid these?

First of all ask your teacher about it, and think long and hard before you commit to any of these. 

Next, try your best to ensure your child actually participates once the fees are paid. 

Which one of the above costs have ‘sneaked’ up on you? Have any other costs that I didn’t cover in this post ’sneaked’ up on you, in the past? How did you handle it and what did you do? Please share your experiences because I would really like to know.