Private music teachers' fees: Our survey results 2021
The survey was open from 6 November 2020 to 10 January 2021. 71% of respondents had conducted some private face-to-face teaching since September 2020, just over 20% less than at the same time last year, reflecting reduced opportunities for in-person teaching due to coronavirus restrictions. To get a better idea of the extent of private teaching, respondents were also asked about any teaching done online, which 89% of respondents had provided. In total, 65% had conducted both in-person and online teaching since September.
Most respondents who had taught privately provided their hourly rate which ranged from £14.40 per hour to £85 per hour, this was the same for both face-to-face and online teaching. The median rate for online teaching was only slightly lower, £32 compared to £33 face-to-face. The average rate charged was just over £34 for both face-to-face and online teaching, a very slight increase on 2018 and 2019.
The bottom 20% and top 20% of rates charged, along with the median, are shown in the table below.
Hourly rate for face-to-face private music teaching by region(not including Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Yorkshire)
| Bottom 20% | Median | Top 20% | |
| Inner London | £32.40 | £40 | £47.60 |
| Outer London | £32.20 | £40 | £44.60 |
| Elsewhere in South-East England | £32.00 | £36 | £42 |
| North-East England | £28.60 | £32.50 | £36 |
| West Midlands | £29.60 | £32 | £36 |
| North-West England | £30 | £30 | £32 |
| South-West England | £26.21 | £30 | £36 |
| East of England | £28 | £30 | £37.20 |
| East Midlands | £30 | £30 | £32.20 |
| Overall | £30 | £33 | £40 |
Rates change over the past year
Of the respondents that had done any private face-to-face teaching since September 2020, nearly a quarter (22.7%) said they had increased their rates since September 2019. The median increase was £2, exactly the same as in 2019, however 10% fewer respondents this year quoted an increase (22.7% compared to 32.8%). As with 2019, the average increase was higher in London (£3.08 compared to £2.37 elsewhere).
In addition to the usual recording of increase in fees, we also asked respondents whether they had reduced their fees during lockdown, when teaching was only possible online. Just 40 had done so.
Another extra question asked this year was whether respondents had noticed an increase in the number of adult clients they were teaching (given that many adults were furloughed from work); 59 people said yes.
For our full survey results, including our online rates see The ISM’s annual survey of teaching, examining and accompanying rates: Conducted November 2020 - January 2021.
