Episode 2: Why the Cost of Living Crisis Isn't Yours to Fix
Something happened on social media recently that I haven't been able to stop thinking about. I posted about why music teachers undercharge, and the comment thread that followed said everything about where so many of us are right now. This episode is the extended version of that conversation.
If you haven't raised your rates in years, or if the cost of living crisis has become the reason you're holding back, this one is for you.
In this episode:
Why the belief that music lessons should be accessible to everyone is a lovely instinct being funded entirely by the teacher
The real cost of frozen rates: not just in your bank account, but in how you feel at the piano bench on a Friday afternoon
Why we're almost universally guessing at our students' finances, and getting it wrong
The difference between your standard rate and a private conversation with a family who is genuinely struggling
Why the teachers with waiting lists are rarely the cheapest ones
What raising your rates in line with inflation actually says about you as a professional
Links mentioned:
If this episode made you feel a little less alone in this, or a little braver about having that conversation with your parents this September, that's exactly why I recorded it.
If you're ready to look at what a rate rise would mean in practice, the Monthly Billing Transition Toolkit has a calculation tool and email templates to help you do it. And if you'd rather talk your specific situation through properly, that's what mentoring is for. Both links are above.
If you're enjoying the show, a review on Apple Podcasts helps other music teachers find it, and I'm genuinely grateful for every one.
