Here we summarise the results of our recent survey of tuition fees paid to self-employed visiting music teachers in schools. Almost 1000 music teachers took part in our survey of teachers’ fees, which is the largest of its kind in the UK. The survey was carried out for us externally in October and November 2013 by independent statisticians at the University of Reading. We asked musicians about what they charged for individual music tuition in September 2013. We have also published a summary of the survey responses about private teaching rates and our recommended rates for employed visiting music teachers.
These survey results are not recommendations. Competition law prevents us – and other trade associations and organisations - from recommending rates for musicians’ freelance work. For our advice about setting your own fees, please go to our advice page Fees for tuition: items to consider in setting your rates.
Survey results for self-employed visiting music teachers in schools
In September 2013, most self-employed teachers in schools charged between £25 and £35 per hour. The mid-point (in the sense that half the teachers charged more and half charged less than this figure) was £30, the same figure as in our previous four surveys, carried out in 2011 and 2012.
The survey shows that teachers in independent schools earned a higher rate than those working elsewhere. We have, therefore, put all other types of school and music services and hubs together in one group.
The table below summarises the survey results.
Self-employed music teachers in schools: lesson rates in September 2013
£ per hour
Mid-point*
Central range**
Overall UK
£ per hour
£ per hour
all schools
30
25-35
independent schools and specialist music schools
33
29.50-36.50
all other schools, music services and hubs
28
24-30
London
all schools
34
25-39
independent schools and specialist music schools
36
33-40
all other schools, music services and hubs
25
24-30
Rest of UK
all schools
30
25-34.50
independent schools and specialist music schools
32
28.50-36
all other schools, music services and hubs
28
23-30
*Half the respondents charged this amount or more and half charged this amount or less.
**Most respondents charged fees within this range. (Only 20% charged more and 20% charged less).
Fee increases
Almost half (45.5%) of self-employed teachers reported that their school teaching rate had risen over the previous twelve months. For those reporting an increase, the average rise in rates was £1.40 per hour.
A smaller (37.6%) proportion of respondents expected an increase in their rates over the 12 months to September 2014.
Comparison of self-employed and employed rates
The survey shows that self-employed visiting music teachers’ rates in schools were higher than rates paid to employed visiting music teachers. Overall, survey participants who reported fees for both self-employed and employed work are estimated to have earned £2.36 per hour more for self-employed than for employed work in September 2013.