How Much Do Flute Lessons Cost? (Helpful Examples)
Whether you’re new to the flute or finally need some structure to learn, you may wonder how much flute lessons cost.
Here’s how much flute lessons cost
Flute lessons cost as little as $15 or as much as $50 or more per lesson. Group classes and pre-recorded lessons usually cost less than private lessons.
Read on to learn what makes some flute lessons more expensive than others.
Factors that affect the cost of flute lessons
Be it an individual, a music lesson studio, or a store that offers lessons, a lot of things go into how much someone charges for flute lessons. Keep the following in mind when comparing teachers and their rates.
Location
One of the first things to consider is where you live and where your teacher lives (especially if they’re not local and teach you online). If you live in a big city, like NYC or LA, you can expect to pay more for lessons than someone in a rural area.
The teacher has to make enough money to afford their bills. So teachers in cities with a higher cost of living will usually charge more, even if they’re teaching you online and you don’t live in as expensive of an area.
You’ll also want to think about currency conversion if you’re studying with someone in another country. That means the rate you pay in your currency could vary from month to month.
Lesson spot
Along with the general location, you should think about the specific venue a teacher uses to give lessons. Teachers may offer music lessons at their home, students’ homes, a music lesson studio, or online.
If you work with a teacher who uses a studio, they may charge more to cover whatever they pay the studio to use that space. Teachers who work for a music store will usually charge rates set by the store, which may be more or less than an individual’s rates.
A teacher that travels to you will also likely charge more to cover gas and travel time.
Education and credentials
Another thing to think about is the teacher’s educational and professional background. I’ve studied with music teachers who had anywhere from a bachelor’s degree to a doctoral degree.
The teachers who have doctorates in music almost always charge more because they have more education. Similarly, teachers who have been in the business for decades will charge more than recent music school graduates.
You may also want to think about whether the teacher has any special credentials or training. Some teachers are trained to use the Suzuki method or the Blocki Flute Method, so those teachers may charge more for that experience.
Instructional method
Enrolling in private lessons is the most popular way to learn to play the flute. But more and more teachers offer group lessons, which can cost a bit less per student since you have to share the lesson time with another student.
Some teachers also offer pre-recorded courses that you pay to access one time or monthly. Group instruction and recorded courses can be more economical, and you can still learn to play the flute well.
Lesson length
The next factor that can influence the cost of flute lessons is how long those lessons last. A 30-minute lesson is plenty of time for a beginner, and it can work for a year or two of learning the flute.
Eventually, though, you may want to switch to 60-minute lessons. Because they’re twice as long, they’ll almost always cost twice as much as 30-minute lessons, but some teachers offer a slight discount.
Studio extras
Some flute teachers or lesson studios include extras in the cost of your lesson tuition. These extras include things like:
- Masterclasses
- Chamber groups
- Recitals
- Sheet music and method books
- Piano accompaniment fees
Before you start lessons with a teacher, ask what all comes with the money you pay. Some teachers might charge extra for these lessons, but others may have a higher rate that accounts for certain events and materials.
What should you consider when choosing a flute teacher?
It can be overwhelming to learn how many people teach the flute, especially if you live in a city. However, that variety means there’s a teacher for everyone, so you should consider a few things to help you choose the best teacher.
Teaching experience
One of the most important factors to consider is how much teaching experience someone has. Not only that, but you should look at whether or not they’ve taught students in your situation.
Some teachers focus on younger beginners, while others prefer to teach adults. Depending on their experience, a teacher may know what problems you can expect to encounter, and they can help you get over those humps.
Now, everyone starts somewhere, and just because a teacher is new doesn’t mean they’re not good. But they may not have as many resources to help you learn.
Personality
I’ve taken flute lessons from five people, and all of them are different. Early on in my flute education, I didn’t take the teacher’s personality into account, but that changed when I auditioned for graduate school.
You need to make sure you and your teacher work well together because you’ll spend 30 to 60 minutes with them each week. If you don’t feel comfortable in lessons, find another teacher.
Do a few trial lessons to find a teacher who suits you and your needs as a student.
Read also: 7 Must-Have Flute Accessories (Ultimate Guide)
How long does it take to learn to play the flute?
You can learn the basics of playing the flute in a few months. However, it will take at least a couple of years (if not longer) to master the instrument and play more difficult works.
The exact timeline depends on how much you practice and how well you practice, as well as any previous musical knowledge you have.
Where can you find affordable flute lessons?
You can find a lot of affordable flute lessons online. Consider the following lessons and courses if you’re on a budget.
1. Udemy
Udemy is a great place to find affordable flute courses because there are multiple instructors on there, and the platform runs frequent sales. You could get a flute course for as low as $10 at times.
Also, with Udemy, you can preview the course and take a few free lessons to make sure you like the instructor and materials.
Taking flute lessons can be a great way to learn how to play the instrument. Each lesson on Udemy gives you a preview of the course before you decide to purchase it.
This way, you can make sure that the course fits your needs and is taught in a style that you like.
I’d recommend any of the courses from Angela McBrearty because she’s an experienced teacher. But read the reviews of any course you’re considering to see if it will work for you.
This course includes three hours of on-demand video and three downloadable resources. If you’re just getting started on the flute, it is a great way to learn the basics and get comfortable with playing.
Pros
- Variety of teachers and courses. You can choose from different teachers based on your learning style and goals.
- Frequent sales. The courses can be very cheap, especially if you wait for Udemy to offer a discount.
Cons
- No teacher vetting process. Anyone can teach on Udemy, so there’s no guarantee the course will have good information or be from a flute expert.
Pricing
Her beginner-level course starts at $55, which includes a certificate of completion. Also, if you are happy with the overall performance of the course, she created a more in-depth version of the course offered as a bundle.
2. First Flute
Possibly the most famous flute player of our time, Sir James Galway, offers a course called First Flute. You’ll get access to over a dozen video lessons as well as downloadable sheet music and playing tips.
He includes plenty of resources to get you started, such as downloadable sheet music, a dedicated practice room, and even an extensive glossary of flute terms. He makes sure to cover the basics of playing, as well as advanced techniques.
Not bad for a beginner course, right? Alright, let’s talk about what we like and don’t like about First Flute.
Pros
- From a professional. Sir James Galway has performed and taught for decades, and he’s worked with students all over the world.
- Unlimited access. You can watch the lesson videos as many times as you need to learn and retain the information.
Cons
- Yearly subscription. You have to keep paying yearly if you want to maintain access to the courses.
Pricing
One year of access costs around $100, and you can renew your membership if you don’t get through everything in a year.
3. International Piccolo Flute Academy
Before you enroll, you can access some lessons for free. This is useful since it lets you get a feel for the style of teaching before you commit.
The International Piccolo Flute Academy offers many courses from experienced instructors, but more importantly, if English isin’t your first language and you struggle with understanding the teacher, don’t worry because their lessons include English subtitles for easy comprehension.
That said, each class consists of several video-based lessons, as well as downloadable resources such as PDFs and audio files, and an easy-to-fill form to ask any questions to the instructor.
Pros
- Lessons from over a dozen teachers. You can watch lessons from multiple piccolo teachers so that you can learn how you best learn and from players you admire.
- Monthly and yearly plan options. You can start with a monthly subscription to test it out or pay yearly to save about 16% of the price.
Cons
- Cost is in Euros. While you can convert the currency, you may pay slightly more or less from month to month if you’re not based in Europe.
- Not for beginners. You should start on the flute before learning the piccolo, so this program is for current flute players.
Pricing
Whenever you’re ready to learn the piccolo, consider a subscription to the International Piccolo Flute Academy. You can pay a monthly subscription fee of €14,99 or annually to access lessons for €149,90 and save 16%.
Professional flutist Jeffrey Khaner offers a few video lessons through ArtistWorks. This is similar to the IPFA but for the regular flute, not the piccolo.
What’s nice about Jeffrey Khaner’s course is that it also includes a community of music lovers where you can connect with other students and ask questions.
But don’t worry if you’re still unsure, because you can get free samples of the lessons, isin’t that awesome?
Overall the look and feel of the website is quite nice, and it’s easy to navigate, and you can also listen to their podcast, something that other courses don’t offer.
Pros
- Affordable. The course is about $30 per month, so it’s much more affordable than taking private lessons.
- Access to a community. You’ll get to be part of a community of musicians learning all over the world.
Cons
- Only covers classical flute. If you want to learn other styles of music, this course may not be for you.
Pricing
For just $29 a month, you can have unlimited access to his library of recorded lessons that you can watch at your own pace.
Where can you learn the flute for free?
You can learn the flute by watching tutorials on YouTube. There are many channels dedicated to teaching the flute, such as The Flute Channel and The Flute Practice.
If you’re on Facebook, you can also join groups such as Flute Forum where you can ask questions and get tips and feedback on your playing.
Can you learn the flute online?
You can learn the flute online, but it will take a lot of dedication and consistency. Especially if you don’t take private online lessons, you’ll need to hold yourself accountable to practicing.
But if you can do that, with time, you’ll be able to learn foundations and improve your playing.
Read also: How to Stop Flute Keys From Sticking (Plus 8 Tips)
What age should you start learning flute?
You can learn to play the flute as young as 4 years old or as old as 104. If you’re at all interested in learning, start now so that you can start to get better sooner.
It’s never too late to start learning an instrument, so don’t let that stop you. However, if you have a young child, you may want to start them on the recorder and switch to flute when they’re a little older.
Which flute is suitable for a beginner?
There are many flute models that are suitable for beginners from brands such as Yamaha, Trevor James, and Jupiter. Look for a flute that’s all silver-plated with an offset G, closed hole keys, and a C footjoint.
Summary
Before proceeding to the conclusion, take a look at the main points that we discussed in this article:
- Flute lessons can cost between $15 and $50 or more per lesson depending on factors such as location, teacher’s experience and credentials, lesson length, and studio extras.
- When choosing a flute teacher, consider their teaching experience and personality.
- Online lessons can be a more affordable option for learning the flute.
- Suitable flutes for beginners include those that are all silver-plated with an offset G, closed hole keys, and a C footjoint.
Final verdict
Flute lessons can be expensive, but they don’t have to be. There are multiple ways to learn the flute without breaking the bank — all you need is some research and dedication, and that’s exactly what we’ve covered in this article.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out via our contact form. Happy learning!
Want to learn more about the flute?
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