It always tough for me to know how much unsolicited advice to give regarding an area that is peripheral to piano service. I did it a couple times, though, in an attempt to help. Generally I pointed out that by raising the charge for piano lessons by $1 per week, they could accumulate money (assuming they're disciplined enough to do it) toward the eventual purchase of a humidity control system or a better or even new piano. They could also buy first and make payments, but I rarely recommend this because I am negative toward buying things with money you don't have yet (other than a mortgage). So if a teacher has 15 students, $1 extra per lesson for 50 weeks would yield $750 annually. A complete humidity control system can be bought with cash well before the first year goes by, and a significantly better piano could be purchased in three years. But some teachers find raising their rates very hard to do. Clyde > Ron, it reminds me of the call I had 10 plus years ago. This woman 80 plus > years old and 50 miles away was teaching on this old upright with brass rail > action. Told her it would cost her over $100.00 to make repairs. She said > she was only charging $0.50 (fifty cents) a lesson. I advised her going > rates at the time were around $8.00 a lesson and she needed to charge more > so she could keep her piano in repair. Never heard back > > Ken Gerler
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