Our oldest daughter started private flute lessons tonight. She has been playing in school since fifth grade and is now a sophomore. She recently was placed into the school's advanced level concert band as third chair flute. The band director was very impressed with her skills having not had private lessons.
We want her to advance and enjoy playing her flute even more, so we are paying $20 per half hour lesson. I think we are all excited about her potential to improve and progress further in the next few years.
We are also going to be looking into getting a new flute that is better set up for her advanced skills. The flute should have a silver head joint. Yes, that precious metal that is increasing in value. We will be shopping a few music stores in the area to see what our options are.
We will hold on to her current flute, since it is better for marching band, when one is out in the rain and putting the instrument on the field during practices.
For now the outflow of money just increased by $80 a month. I think we will see quite a bit of progress for that money!
Do you pay for music lessons for a child or grandchild? Did you play an instrument as a child?
An Investment In Our Daughter
November 13th, 2012 at 01:28 am
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November 13th, 2012 at 03:52 am 1352778752
My especially musical third daughter also played the violin for a while (she's been first chair bass clarinet in our school's highest level band since 1oth grade.)
Between the instrument purchases and lessons (and reeds and music and repairs and service...,) music has been definitely an investment in my girls!
Yay for your daughter - I bet she's excited!
November 13th, 2012 at 03:06 pm 1352819176
My oldest son has some academic struggles, so we encourage his love of the arts. He is in the school band (his second year) and we paid $14 per week last year for a 45 minute group lesson (all trumpets) and then 30 minutes of whole-band instruction. We rent his trumpet for $20 a month, so it cost about $76 a month last year. This year I paid the band fee upfront and saved 5%. For private lessons for my daughters (Irish dance) I pay about $30/1/2 hour (though no private lessons for championships this year as they're skipping).
I definitely think it is worth it.
And a big KUDOS to your daughter for her accomplishments! We've got the Christmas Band concert on 12/4 and I'm looking forward to it!
November 13th, 2012 at 10:20 pm 1352845236