Anxiety over cost of SHMs
Found in: Fees Rates & Cost
Marsha L., Virginia
I find myself personally going through “sticker shock” with the cost of Student Home Materials and it’s making me feel scared to tell families what they are required to purchase without apologizing for the cost. It’s also making me hesitant to include any of the supplemental programs which I purchased myself and want to include, but feel hesitant to ask families to purchase. I’m wondering if any other teachers experienced this and how they overcame it?
I think my problem stems from comparing it to my previous program where families were paying $35 to $45 every year (or two) or materials which included physical books (with well over 100 pages in them), CDs, flash cards, and free reminder videos online. Now I’m asking them to pay more than that every few months for digital materials they have to print themselves.
I saw the price in the student brochure before I did my training, but I didn’t realize how quickly students typically completed a level. I added up the materials I want to include in my studio the first year and it came to $200! I know I need to be confident and unapologetic and emphasize the value of the product, but I’m having a hard time because I see other programs that seem to have equal value but cost significantly less. I also know that tuition alone is a stretch for some of my families. I have been in their shoes and remember disliking it when I had to buy my daughter new materials for $20 every year or so.
On the same topic, how do you handle asking families to order materials? Do you have them order multiple programs at once when they begin a new foundation level, or do you spread it out and ask them to purchase something new every couple of months? I would prefer to have them buy special programs at the beginning of each foundation level so it doesn’t feel like I’m constantly asking them to make purchases, but maybe it’s better to spread it out.
Joanne D., Australia
From my experience (I switched over 7 years ago to SM from traditional lessons) I have never had an issue with complaints about cost of materials. I usually ask families 1-2 weeks before they are needed to order them online. Some order the day of the lesson we are needing them as they are available instantly. I wouldn’t ask parents to purchase programs ahead of when you need them.
Mark M., New York
It’s also never been an issue with my students/families either. With this–just as with delaying reading, or other “unusual” aspects of teaching this method–it very often turns out that discomfort on the part of students/families originates with the teacher’s own discomfort. So it’s great that you’re self-aware about all this. As you’re guessing, increasing your own comfort level will translate into comfort throughout your studio.
Also important to note is that the Special Programs and Supplemental Programs “slow down” how quickly you go through all the materials. You provide a richer, more varied experience, and students don’t have to get brand new materials as often because you’re wringing out real potential out of all the materials they do pay for.
Megan F., Nebraska
I tell people up front at my introductory sessions how much the materials cost, and give them a range of what they can expect to spend in a year. of course it depends upon the pace of the lessons. I’m just matter-of-fact about it. I think knowing what to expect before they being prevents the sticker shock that might happen otherwise. And if it’s too much for them, they can opt not to enroll.
I also point out what they get in the materials–it’s not only music, but so much more. None of my families have expressed having an issue with the cost of materials, though I do try to spread it out so they’re not purchasing more than one program at a time. If the timing works out that I would like to start more than one program around the same time, I’ll ask them first if they’re okay with that.
My most advanced group is only in level 5, but I’ve noticed that the cost for the development levels goes way down, so the overall cost of SHM should go down as they continue in the upper levels.
Kerry V., Australia
I am coming from another perspective. As you grow to have the confidence in SM, so does your confidence in accepting payment for your value. This is a huge issue for a lot of people, but especially in the caring, healing, and teaching sectors. We have so much we want to give and then when it is time to accept payment, we can find this extremely challenging.
Looking into your feelings, emotions, and experiences of money and accepting money will make a huge difference in the way you speak about money. The more confident and assured you are, the less people will want to pull the wool over your eyes, and there will be so much more respect from others as you give that respect to self and money. Remember, money is simply another form of energy, exchange, and the acceptance of a service you provide. Nothing more and nothing less. Once you have your confidence, speaking about money will be but a blink of an eye.
So build confidence in the method (remember why you wanted to teach SM in the first place), build an understanding into your emotions about money, and build a wonderful studio filled with people who want to give you their money, and enjoy accepting the money!
Laurie Richards, Nebraska
A few thoughts:
- I’m not sure how you calculated $200/year, but that seems super high to me. I have included in my Studio Handbook that families can expect to spend around $100 per year on materials. It’s pretty typical when starting out to go a bit too fast through the materials with students.
- Keep in mind that some of the Special Programs don’t include a SHM component, and those that do are quite inexpensive and last for quite some time.
- The printing part is optional – many of my students just view the reference books from their tablets.
- I think it would be extremely difficult to find another program that provides anywhere near the value of Simply Music.
- in 14 years of teaching honestly I don’t recall one single complaint about materials cost.
I can understand why you feel the way you do, when comparing prices to a former method. But in all likelihood it is not a fair comparison. With Simply Music your students learn lots of musical styles, play immediately, learn to accompany, compose, improvise, write and read music, play blues improv and jazz, play with and learn from others (if you teach shared lessons). They benefit from having involved parents who learn about and appreciate the reality of what it takes to succeed in any long-term endeavor including piano.
And they have you to guide them through all of that, and you have Neil’s amazing training and insights on relationships to guide YOU through that. And you have a more dedicated student body and high retention. All you have to do is follow the training! Not always easy but worth it!
Joan H., Canada
Since we are also teaching arrangements, this definitely slows the pace, and the only cost is to you as the teacher, no student materials for that. This provides more depth and slows things down.
Julia B., Canada
In year 1, I am usually just using Foundation 1 and 2, Accompaniment 1, and Songs for Children. When students come in with prior knowledge, they will get into Foundation 3 earlier, but I choose to challenge them more with comp & improv, arrangements, and blues, rather than get into the reading program too quickly.
In other approaches we tend to use materials once and move on, other than going back once in a while to a favorite piece. In contrast, I always let my families know that we will be using these materials for years to come, e.g. we use the entire Accompaniment 1 and Songs for Children books again when completing Accompaniment Variations down the road. Students refer to chord descriptions at the back of Accompaniment 1 to add color to accompaniment pieces of their own choosing.
I also frequently have students go back to their earlier levels and play along with the CDs to strengthen their playlist. Reference books are pulled off the shelf periodically to review strategies or generate their own ideas for diagramming their own compositions. Early level foundation music books are used in the reading program. And of course, there are the students who get holes in their playlist and then the online videos are invaluable.
So I think we bring added value to the cost of the materials by training students to use them to their fullest potential and viewing them as ongoing resources.