Wenjen Piano Studios

2010 Monthly Tuition-Piano Lessons & Performance Workshops

Testimonials

Piano Lessons: An Investment for a Lifetime

Have you ever wondered exactly what your monthly tuition buys?  Most parents aren’t sure exactly what the tuition covers.  Private music instruction seems expensive, but lesson fees include much more than my music expertise and actual lesson time.  

Approximately fifty percent of the money coming in goes out for expenses.  Expenses are high due to the variety of opportunities that my studio offers.  These costs include: student awards and certificates, recital expenses, monthly workshop expenses, repairs and maintenance of (4) pianos, professional association memberships, special music certification fees, home-business licenses, music publications, competitions, festivals, and auditions (in most cases, a student fee and a teacher fee is required for each event), website fees, computer equipment upgrades, music theory and composition software, sheet music and CD’s for the studio, and continued teacher training (private coaching lessons and music seminars.)  These expenses are in addition to the normal business expenses a proprietor incurs.  After my studio expenses are cleared, I pay and additional 15.3% self-employment tax in addition to my regular tax payments.

Did you know that your piano tuition pays for more than my time at the lesson?  Not only is time spent preparing lessons, evaluating new music, and studying the most current interpretations and editions; time is also spent planning recitals and festivals, and scheduling lessons and annual events.  

 Time is also spent keeping you informed of studio activities through the studio newsletters, the Wenjen Piano Studios website, and e-mail reminders.  In addition, I must type at least one application per student plus judges’ papers for each event a student enters.  I am also required to volunteer many hours to every organization that provides these student opportunities.  

I’ve held the Board office of 1st Vice President for the past ten years, Webmaster, and Directory committee for the Music Teacher’s Association of Long Beach and was the Piano Auditions Chair and Ensemble Auditions Chair for the California Association of Professional Music Teachers. These are all unpaid positions in which I volunteer my time.  I also serve as an adjudicator for several events, which requires a full day of evaluating and only a few hours of monetary compensation. I also have to attend music conventions, enroll students in events, and keep up my own performing in order to maintain my national certification status.   I believe in complete professionalism and only the highest standards in my studios.

Music education is expensive, but it is a lifetime investment.  Studies have shown that students who practice a keyboard instrument at least 15 minutes daily have scored up to 47% higher on tests than those who do not play an instrument.  It is also said that keyboard engages all parts of the brain.  

Most importantly, music is a universal language that we can all share, as audience or performers.   Music is as diverse as the many cultures that exist and its people.  It can help to heal sadness, express emotions, and can even tell a joke. I’ve never come across an adult who was sorry that they had taken piano lessons.  Some wish that they had practiced more.   Others have humorous or unusual memories of studying piano with their first music teacher.  However, they all feel fortunate that they got to experience a little bit of the magic of music.

So please remember that you have provided a special gift for yourself or a loved one:  One that can be enjoyed over a lifetime—music.

I am privileged to be the piano teacher that you’ve chosen to help bring music into your lives.

Noreen Wenjen, N.C.T.M.
Wenjen Piano Studios