Well, here we are, in another recession. I think this is the fourth or fifth since I began teaching. We always pull out of them and come back stronger than ever. History, recent history, proves this. Anyone recall the down days when unemployment was in the double digits AND so was inflation? I do. So don't take this "worst economy ever" yammering to heart. I have a couple of students old enough to have endured The Great Depression. They laugh at all the recent hair-pulling.
Now don't get me wrong - things are NOT hearts and flowers financially. It's definitely time to curb excess spending and not buy things that are merely nice, things that are frivolous. May I take some of your time and explain why I think piano lessons should NOT be on your chopping block?
The reason is simple, and easily explained by a termed I borrowed from the financial world: ROI. That's "Return on Investment" folks, and piano lessons provide a tremendous ROI to each student. Here's how, using a kinda "balance sheet" to illustrate:
Cost of Piano Lessons:
Charges per lesson or month of lessons.
Cost of gas to drive to teacher's studio.
Cost of music books.
(I'm going to assume you already own an instrument. If you do not, however, please read next week's blog post which will cover what's out there, pros and cons. The bottom line (pun intended) is that you are much better off with cheaper instruments and better lessons. No, you do NOT have to buy a huge, multi-thousand dollar piano to gain the benefits of lessons, despite what piano store salespeople tell you. And hey, if you simply must ask me something about buying an instrument, then email me immediately and let's have a conversation.)
Return from Piano Lessons:
Personal satisfaction for something well done.
Free distraction from troubles at work or with money, all without drugs of any sort.
The deep down good feeling of doing something you've always wanted to do.
Free entertainment for your family.
Free entertainment for yourself.
Savings on going out to a movie, a show, to eat, mini-golf, whatever expenses you USED to use as family and/or personal entertainment. All those expenses - GONE !
Endless improvement.
Boy, how else and where else can you get all that good stuff for the cost of a restaurant meal a week? That food is soon gone but piano improvement lives on and on and on.
See what I mean?
Now don't get me wrong - things are NOT hearts and flowers financially. It's definitely time to curb excess spending and not buy things that are merely nice, things that are frivolous. May I take some of your time and explain why I think piano lessons should NOT be on your chopping block?
The reason is simple, and easily explained by a termed I borrowed from the financial world: ROI. That's "Return on Investment" folks, and piano lessons provide a tremendous ROI to each student. Here's how, using a kinda "balance sheet" to illustrate:
Cost of Piano Lessons:
Charges per lesson or month of lessons.
Cost of gas to drive to teacher's studio.
Cost of music books.
(I'm going to assume you already own an instrument. If you do not, however, please read next week's blog post which will cover what's out there, pros and cons. The bottom line (pun intended) is that you are much better off with cheaper instruments and better lessons. No, you do NOT have to buy a huge, multi-thousand dollar piano to gain the benefits of lessons, despite what piano store salespeople tell you. And hey, if you simply must ask me something about buying an instrument, then email me immediately and let's have a conversation.)
Return from Piano Lessons:
Personal satisfaction for something well done.
Free distraction from troubles at work or with money, all without drugs of any sort.
The deep down good feeling of doing something you've always wanted to do.
Free entertainment for your family.
Free entertainment for yourself.
Savings on going out to a movie, a show, to eat, mini-golf, whatever expenses you USED to use as family and/or personal entertainment. All those expenses - GONE !
Endless improvement.
Boy, how else and where else can you get all that good stuff for the cost of a restaurant meal a week? That food is soon gone but piano improvement lives on and on and on.
See what I mean?
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