Holiday Tipping: Piano and Guitar Teachers - YouLookFab Forum

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Holiday Tipping: Piano and Guitar Teachers

Anonymous

What's the protocol at Christmas regarding private music teachers who also celebrate Christmas? Is it necessary to give them a money gift? I'm not going to burden them with treats or trinkets, but I know cash always fits and is never returned. But not sure it's even necessary ...

Thoughts?

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20 replies

Latest reply was from nancylee

Raisin

Veteran

Tough call. Are they long time teachers or just new? I would say if you feel the need maybe a small gift card to a coffee shop or something. I know it's so hard to know sometimes who you need to gift at Christmas.

Laurinda

Veteran

I tip the cost of one service at the holidays, but the only 'service' person on my list this year is the industrious lad who helps shovel snow and rake leaves.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I do what Laurinda says - tip the cost of one service at the last appt/service before the holidays. I usually put it into a holiday card/envelope, addressed to the recipient (just their name), and include a short note inside saying, "Thank you for ___________, and I hope you have a wonderful holiday" or something along those lines.

Anonymous

I don't consider private music teachers to be service people ... not sure why, but it seems different.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

You might have a point there Anne...hadn't really thought of it that way. I am not sure what I'd do if I had a music teacher (re: holiday tip). A bit awkward, isn't it?

I'll be tipping the guy who trains/walks my dog, and my hairstylist. This might not be the same as a music teacher...hmm...hopefully someone else might chime in on this one.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I have played piano for 13 years and have never "tipped" my piano teacher. I helped out with her Christmas recital and brought in treats for that - also; I gave her my soul for 13 years, so, I say we're about even.

Gaylene

Veteran

If you know her well, or have taken lessons for several years, a card might be OK, but I think teachers, private and public, would be taken aback at student handing them cash, even if it was tucked inside a card. Most teachers consider themselves professionals, like doctors and lawyers, and charge for their services without the expectation of tips.

Anonymous

Lyn and Gaylene - that's kind of my thinking, too. But I didn't know if I was right and didn't want to unintentionally offend our teachers. I haven't given gifts in the past, but got to thinking about it this week and thought I better make sure I wasn't being rude.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I have never accepted gifts from patients (although have been offered a lot) - I think it's kinda tacky.

That being said; I remembered a lot of other students giving the teacher gifts at Christmas time, as well as money. I think it depends on the culture of the place and the individual preferences of the teacher.

If my kids had music lessons, I wouldn't tip the teacher :p Likewise, I wouldn't tip their school teacher, either!

Gaylene

Veteran

I don't accept gifts from students and most of the teachers I've known find it uncomfortable as well. A card, expressing appreciation, is nice, though.

ETA: My sister is a former teacher (now in administration); I started giggling at the thought of her reaction at getting a tip from a student at the end of a class.

Anonymous

As a former private piano teacher, I can say that I always appreciated being thanked for a job well done, and was happy when my students practiced and came to lessons prepared. I never expected gifts; just acknowledgement of all the hard work I did. I don't think very many people realize how many hours go into lesson preparation. I spent a lot of my time selecting repertoire, specific books, etc. to personalize each student's lesson based on his/her musical tastes and skill level. Many hours went into that!

Anonymous

Thanks, everyone.

Just an aside - I think it's fine to give school teachers money at Christmas. They work hard and are often spending money out of their own pockets for the classroom. 75% of my immediate family are public school teachers and wouldn't turn down a gift card or donation to be used for the classroom. I think the worst gifts are the candles, crafts, cookies, lotions and other useless knickknacks people like to bestow on teachers.

Just my two cents. It's not a tip, it's a recognition that school teachers are dipping into their own resources and an appreciation of gratitude to help alleviate that.

Astrid

Veteran

I wouldn't tip my clarinet teacher. Saying thanks and appreciating the effort, like Ruth says, is a different thing. I can see how it may be alright to tip school teachers when they have to pay for the classroom out of their own pockets, but here that's not the case. My dad teaches maths and physics and he has a fairly large budget to pay for extra classroom materials. The stuff he needs in everyday class is completely free anyway. He also is in charge of the things they need for experiments and all expenses are covered by the school. He would never accept money, because he wouldn't be able to spend it on the classroom, even if he wanted to.

Anonymous

@Anne: As a private piano teacher, I dipped into my own resources to buy music, keep my piano tuned and in excellent condition, pay music teacher association membership dues, etc. The amount I charged for lessons didn't cover all of my expenses, and Uncle Sam took a big chunk as well. If you make over $400/year, which isn't difficult to do, you have to pay a self employment tax on top of the regular income taxes you already pay. Because of that and because of the tax bracket my DH and I were in, at least half my take-home pay went straight to the government. I went back to working in an office where I have a steady salary and fringe benefits.

I personally would buy a gift for a piano teacher. I always bought gifts for my piano teacher, who instructed me year 'round for 11 years. That said, I don't think it's necessary, and I don't think piano teachers expect you to do it. All of the ones I know are like me--they just want respect and appreciation.

Hope this helps.

Anonymous

Thank you, Ruth, for that perspective!

Anonymous

I know a school art teacher who said her favorite gift was when a group of parents treated her to a mobile car detailing -- the company came to her house and detailed her car. She loved it, and it was a luxury she wouldn't have given herself.

Anonymous

I am curious about the price of a service. My hair costs $120+ every 6 weeks. Am I supposed to tip my stylist that much? That seems excessive

velvetychocolate

Veteran

A,

You could always tip a holiday-ish amount...like $25 or $50 or along those lines? If the cost of your usual service is fairly expensive, then I'd suggest that a tip that seems fitting with the season might work equally well? Just a thought.

Anonymous

Thanks Velvety, I was feeling terrible guilt. I tip every 5 weeks and I tipped cash this week plus a 25$ gift card to the liquor store (LCBO for the Ontario gang)

I feel that is plenty but second guessed when I read everyone's notes

nancylee

Veteran

I usually give gift certificates to those who provide "services" throughout the year (hairdresser, etc.).

Is there a local music store where you could buy a gc?