Nevertheless, one learns and carries on. And those bumps add up to something that is called "experience." And presumably, the more experience one attains, the more adept they become at their vocation; this above and beyond the initial pieces of paper one receives after graduating from higher places of learning.
So the combination of these two things creates what may be defined as a professional environment. Doctors and lawyers have them and so do some musicians, including those who opt to open a studio or music school.
A lot of work has been accomplished behind the scenes. At times, we may make it look easy, but we didn't get there by accident. And the lack of acknowledgement to this fact by the lay person can be frustrating.
For example, a parent may want to sign up their child for piano lessons, but they want a "deal." "Your rate is too high," I might hear or, "This other teacher down the street charges less than you do." Sigh. There are reasons some teachers are less expensive, the main one being lack of the aforementioned training and experience. Another reason is that some folks shouldn't be teaching and do so anyway, muddying the waters for those who are specifically trained to specialize. (I heard about an extreme case once, where a grade six piano student was hired by a commercial music studio to teach a grade seven piano student. But at least the rate was cheap!)
During an initial conversation with some parents, I can try to insert my credentials into the conversation stream, but the same question of money comes up again and again.
And the result? In two out of three conversations, if I don't pony up said lesson rate before said conversation ends, I will not hear from them again, even though I offer to discuss that very thing with them during a complimentary meet and greet.
Isn't experience, education, and success at least as important to discuss as how much I charge?
