Printable View
so our tiny little town will finally have something for toddlers to do besides playgroup as kindermusic is coming to town *woot*
so what I want to know as the lady running it is away for another few weeks
- anyone know tuition costs
- would you recomend it
- and does your child enjoy it
I looked into it a few years ago when it first came to our town and it was going to be $300 per term (running with the school terms) and I decided that it was too exxie for the age they were at the time (toddlers) and TBH I don't know one single person who has been happy with it actually (around here anyway, but I think it might have more to do with the teacher than the program itself) and it's all defunct now because the women I know who were doing it were unhappy that it was just nothing, one of those vague things that they don't really learn anything at kwim?
that expensive hey *eek* if she comes back with figures like that I doubt we will be doign it :( oh well I will be going toplaygroup this year and doing a thing called kinder gym which is a 64km drive to get to but thats ok
I don't know if that's a standard price or not - that's just what was being charged out here. I think the teacher might have been trying to capitalise on it being new and having it become the *in* thing, cause that's all she did for a living was teach music.
Rach - Miss A's been doing Kindermusik since she was 7 weeks old and loves it!!! We're on holidays from it until February, and she's constantly asking on Fridays (lesson day) to go to see Eunice (her teacher).
For the next semester (2 terms - 16 lessons) we have to pay $225. That's the lessons and the At Home Pack which includes 2 books, 2 CD's of the songs that are sung during the semester, and At Home Book which has all the music plus lots of extra activities you can do at home and a carry case and an instrument that goes with the semester's curricula. I know at the studio we go to, they can organise payment plans, etc so it's not a big upfront cost - but you have to pay the deposit so you get the At Home stuff in time for the start of semester.
I would absolutely 100% recommend it - our experience has been really positive and we'll continue going until she's at least at school (they run programs up to 7 years old). HTH.
The way I see it is there is SO many free things, or really cheap things for littlies, that is is rediculous to charge that much for something like music!
We go to kinda gym which is $3 for 1.5 hours. We go to 2 playgroups both free. We go to rock and rhyme at the local library which is 1 hour of songs and music and they can even play these little shakers and bells. We go to story time which is also at the library and it's 45 minutes of story books.
I would prefer to save my money and send them to proper music lessons if they like when they are at school.
JMO of course ;)
thanks shar
the cost isn't a big deal its more like *woah what if he hates it IYKWIM!!!!!!!!!!!
mel the only thing we have is playgroup which is run by a bunch of mine snob wives :lol: very clicky group...we are going to do kindergym this year but it is a 64km drive one way...seriously we dont even have a childcare centre
I should add when I looked into it, you had to pay the full $300 a term (3 terms here) and if you missed any lessons, tough luck. If you had to stop going or they hated it, tough luck. This is the big reason why I didn't go ;)
We love our kindamusik... all three littlies go to three different classes (Emily is now in junior piano, so it does build them up for skills for real music). I would call and ask the teacher because I am sure you can join in for one lesson for free.
It's no where near $300 per term here, and our teacher does make up lessons.
Rach - They usually offer a free trial class to give you an idea of what it's like. Then you can check out the teacher as well and see if Jack likes it. For us, it's been brilliant. Miss A's gotten so much out of it - her vocabulary is absolutely outstanding, she loves singing and dancing, has a brilliant sense of rhythm and beat and has made some great friends and a really great relationship with the teacher.
The thing with missing lessons is the same here, but the teacher goes out of her way to make sure you can make up the lessons you've missed. And it's completely understandable why they do it - they've gotta make money out of it too - and it's kinda hard for that to happen when people miss lessons left, right and center.
ETA - Oh and the extra bonus of the brain development side of things is great as well (but that's just the teacher coming out in me ;))
thanks girls
Shar I have a coupon for a free lesson so will do it, it just seems like such a lot of money I could buy some great musical stuff for home for that $$$$
Hi Girls :D
For "Australia's leading music program for kids' - and considering this is what I do for a living, I hadn't heard of this specifc program :redface:... so I looked it up!
I used to do my own version of what basically seems like the same thing - and from what I can gather, I think it used to be called something else a while ago, which is why I didn't recognise the name ;)
Had a look through their site - professionally speaking, I can say it looks pretty good... there are a few things that I don't personally agree with, but every teacher is different, and every set of parents will be looking for different things that they're hoping for their children to gain from a program like this one ;)
I have to admit, I think the baby one is a bit much - I personally wouldn't take babies, because although I think its important to start music as young as you can (I played classical music to Luke in the womb as soon as I found out I was pregnant... and other things like that throughout pregnancy/early stages) - I don't believe a regimented program & taking $$$ from parents for children of that age is necessary, beneficial or worthwhile. (JMO ;))
That part of the program to me looks like a money maker for the teacher in my opinion... but thats ONLY my opinion!
Looking at the other programs & their age groups, it looks fairly close to what I was doing (I don't do the little ones anymore because I don't have the time to put into it whats necessary) and it all looks pretty good to me.
After checking on the site, I noticed a few teachers that I used to work pretty closely with (one lady in particular)... and I can say if they have their names to the program, then its a respectable one ;)
Can't find out about $$ on their site, but can you guys tell me, the price you're paying - is it for a group session or individual? And how long is each session?
There seems to be a little difference just between you guys, so I'm wondering if they are teaching private lessons but under the regime of the program?
Can help you guys more if I know a little more :D
It's about $300 here for a term, and it's in a class. I'm not sure how big the class is. Nina loves music, so I'm looking into taking her, but I'm waiting until she turns 3 so she can get more enjoyment and knowledge out of it.
its a class here :) About 10-15 kiddies, parents are there too. And the last time I checked which was about a year ago it was $300 a term, 3 terms a year.
I think any lessons like that for over 4 years is well worth the $ if they show that they are interested in music, under that age it is a big fat rip off IMO.
So that makes it roughly $30 per lesson (averaging a 10 week term) - IN A CLASS????!!!!
**** thats expensive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How long is each session? (Not that it really matters because for the age the kids are, the attention span is limited. For toddlers even in a class session 40 mins is really pushing it. Its an absolute waste after 30 mins with kids under school age... IMO and in my experience)
I charge $30 per half hour/$60 per hour - AND THATS FOR PRIVATE TUITION - one on one. (FWIW I have the highest level of qualification & letters after my name... and my prices compared to everyone elses are expensive... and thats for private tuition. The only way I could charge more would be if I were teaching from the Conservatorium.. or in City Sydney.... hhhmmmm)
IMO its ridiculously expensive - but will wait for more details ;)
Can anyone tell me how long the sessions are for?!
Each lesson is 45 minutes long.
Thanks Jodi ;)
Honestly, then? Its ridiculously overpriced.
Like I said in my previous post - anything over 30mins for under school aged children is a waste of time, they have NO attention span.
If your children ARE school aged....Even this length of time is crazily priced when your children have to share it with others in a class situation.... they could be having private tuition for the same price (or less, as I said, my fees are more expensive than most and these are my prices for private tuition).
I appreciate that there are books/cds etc... FWIW, my students get all of that from me either free or at an extremely minimal price.
When I was in my busiest time with early childhood classes, I was going into preschools etc doing them - worked out to be about $5 per child (max 15 children, and that included having 2 other pre school teachers there to help keep kids under control)
The $75 (roughly) was what I got per class... out of that, I gave out music, books, and it covered the room I hired at each preschool and the use of 2 of their teachers for the 30-40mins I ran the class for..... my prices with what other teachers I knew doing the same thing were fairly standard....
ETA - PLEASE don't take offence personally to anything I've written - every parent chooses what they wish for their children, and I'm by NO WAY having a go at anyone for parenting choices etc.... please remember this is only my PROFESSIONAL opinion - thanks guys ;)
as I am the OP all replies are great.........I seriously doubt I can justify $300 for 15 classes which is what I gathered from website as well, but for all I know it may be different when the lady gets back from holidays it all new in town when I heard we were too have something I was like cool...but for $300 as I said early I could buy a lot of musical stuff for here..........
yeah the lessons are 45 minutes. I think it's overpriced too but if parents have that sort of money to throw around, good on them :) I know I dont!
The cost is approximately $10 -$12 per lesson and runs for a 16 week semester (8 weeks each term). There is a maximum of 6 children in a class. The extra cost includes 2 CD's with approximately 25-30 songs on each CD that they learn in class. Plus 2 really good quality kids books, an instrument and a carry case. Then there is also a parent At Home Book that has all the music and lots of extra activities in it. A total cost of $225 a semester.
So far the only people who have said the price is less than $300 is people who actually take their children to Kindermusik. I don't know if the other teachers charge more :dunno:
As for attention span, yes, 45 mins can be a long time, but the lessons are full of change and transition, plus also quiet time. The total time spent on one activity is less than 4-5 mins usually less than that - so definitely within the attention-span of a toddler. If you're child is not into the lesson that day (yep, it happens sometimes, everyone has off days occassionally - no matter what your age), that's ok, 'cause you as the parent has learnt the activities and can go home and do things with them when your child is up to it.
I would absolutely not even consider private one-on-one music tuition at this age, the social interaction in the small-group is very appropriate and beneficial for this age-group.
Personally Rach, I'd just give it a try. Talk to the lady when she's back from holidays and find out for nyourself whether you think it's worth it. And try a trial lesson to see whether Jack likes it. There's a limit to how much you can find out from a website without actually experiencing it in person.
I just want to add, do you have 3 semesters/terms or 4? This could be why yours is only 225 and mine was 300.
Mum3girls - I'm so glad you posted, because the price PER SEMESTER is a good price - if it works out $10-$12 per lesson, thats quite average for these types of classes ;)
A semester is 2 terms, so that would seem reasonable to me ;)
Just wanted to say to everyone in case there was any confusion... I'm not suggesting private tuition for children toddler ages - was just explaining that for the same cost, people pay for private tuition... sorry if anyone misunderstood :redface::
I agree with mum3girls... private tuition at this age is lost on little ones, and is why programs like these are perfect for the introduction to music... and for a beginning ;)
I DID notice, on their website, though that age groups go up to children well into school age.... IMO private tuition would be a better option for those kids.... but thats when they're old enough to show a specific interest in a specific instrument IYKWIM?
(And I'm not sure there's anyone in this thread that this applies to at this point in time?)
If the price is per semester & includes the various additions (cds/books/etc) - I think its well priced & definately worth giving a go, Rach :D
If you have any questions feel free to drop me a PM ;)
thanks again girls we shall just have to see what she comes back with not sure if we will go ahead with it now as found out today am up for $1200 + operation for my dog on thursday *eek*