One of the complaints I hear from parents over and over again is that private music lessons are so expensive and take a huge bite out of their budget. Therefore in the last few blog posts, I have been discussing why that is so and what you can do to reduce the cost. 

In this post, I’m going to hone in specifically on why private music lessons are unaffordable, so you can identify, exactly what is costing you and then do something about it immediately. 

Once you’ve read this post, if you are still not sure how to reduce the cost of private lessons for your entire family, I have provided links to previous posts I have written giving exact steps on what you can do, to reduce the cost. 

So even if you can’t identify the specific problem that is resulting in high costs for you, you can still implement some of the strategies suggested in the previous posts, to reduce the cost. 

As a first step however, I suggest that you read this post and try to identify the problem that is unique to your family. 

Lack Of Focus

When I refer to lack of focus, I’m not talking about your children’s inability to focus for too long on a specific subject. That actually is problem we all face. 

On the contrary I’m talking about the focus on musical learning in the family. 

If each child in the family is focused on learning a different instrument, then that is definitely a recipe for high costs of music lesson. 

In your family are you focused on learning just one instrument or are your children learning a variety of different instruments?

Studio Lessons

Most parents like to opt for studio lessons, because of the benefits of having kids learn on professional instruments, the opportunity to perform at the year end concert and so on. 

But did you know that the tuition often includes costs of overheads, which include but are not limited to just rent, but rather for all the musical instruments and audio equipment and much more that your children may not even be benefiting from?

Do your kids learn at a studio? What overheads do you think are included in the tuition? Do you think if you changed studios or had a teacher visit your home to teach your kids, the costs could be reduced?

Individual Lessons Per Child

Having individual one on one lessons per child can also be very costly. 

If this is one of the reasons that your family’s music lesson costs are so high, it maybe time to look at alternatives such as group classes for the kids who are closer in age. 

Starting At The Very Beginning

There is a common myth that private lessons are the best, and for very young kids and even older kids from the very beginning lessons should be face to face. 

This is not always true and actually using online courses to learn the basics can be very cost effective, thus saving much money, which can then be used for private lessons, when the children reach an advanced stage. 

If your kids are interested in learning to play the piano, then why not enrol your kids in my FREE Read Music Notes & Play The Piano In Five Days course and shave six months of private piano  lesson costs. 

Buying Instruments For Different Ages

This is another huge cost factor. 

When kids are learning different instruments, it is necessary to buy different instruments thus increasing the cost of music lessons in the family. 

Also if kids are learning to play instruments like guitars and ukuleles buying age appropriate sizes is important, but it can also result in high costs for the family. 

Is this an area where costs are sky rocketing for your family? 

Want to know how you can fill your home with instruments without actually spending too much? Then you should read my posts 

9 ‘No Fail’ Ways To Fill Your Homeschool With Musical Instruments

Desperate To Play The Piano, But No Piano/Keyboard At Home?

Lack Of Planning

Parents go head long into paying for music lessons often based on the monthly cost. 

However, they forget to factor in the costs of musical instruments, concert fees, books and material costs and much more, and often see their family budget for music lessons shattered, when these unplanned costs pop up. 

Has this happened to you as well? If not, remember it still can happen, so before you go any further, have a chat with your children’s music teacher and discuss upcoming costs. 

Find alternatives to incurring those costs, wherever possible.

Lack Of Sharing Knowledge

In families with multiple kids ranging from teenagers to really young kids, there are many opportunities for sharing knowledge. 

Knowledge that the older kids have, which can be imparted to the younger ones is very valuable

Not making use of these opportunities also ends up costing families a pretty penny in the long run. 

Not Asking For Discounts 

Often, having different teachers for each of the kids’ is another reasons music lessons cost so much. 

If you can have just one teacher for all your children, then you can request a family discount or double up learning time and/or have group classes etc to reduce the cost of the lessons. 

Not Being Creative

Parents forget that one on one music lessons are not the only way to provide their kids with a musical education. There are numerous ways in which to provide a musical education to kids. 

Kids can join the church choir and be trained to sing for free. 

They can join a local orchestra etc. 

Can you think of some creative ways, how you can bring music lessons to your kids without private music lessons? 

Want ideas? 

The read my post 5 Creative Ways To Add Music To Your Homeschool.

Not Practicing

When children don’t practice and review what they have learned, they will be often be stuck in one section and not progress. 

Does this frequently happen to your kids? If so, this is another reason why you will end up paying much more than you should, for your children’s music education. 

Not Supplementing Learning

Parents don’t often think of supplementing their kids music lessons with additional online courses etc. Remember, not all music education needs to be gained with a face to face teacher. 

Music theory for instance can be learned online, so why waste the one on one music teacher’s time learning music theory and paying for it, when you can just learn that component online?

Now it is your turn to chime in and let me know, which of the above mistakes you have made and what you are going to do in the future, to reduce the cost of private music lessons in your family. 

Want to read more about how you can reduce the cost of private music lessons for your family? Then you should read my previous posts

10 ‘Ridiculously’ Simple Ways To Make Music Lessons More Affordable

11 ‘Amazingly’ Simple Ways To Have Affordable Music Lessons For The Entire Family