Opinion

Have your say: letters to the editor, November 2024

Edward Maxwell asks whether VMTs should be charged for their teaching rooms
Adobe Stock / Dmytro Panchenko

Being charged a fee to hire our teaching room is a contentious issue for self-employed VMTs. Are we seriously expected to pay for the privilege of providing a service from which the school benefits?

Some years ago, at a private school where I worked, the bursar (from his plush office which the school provided for him free of charge) announced to the VMTs that he was going to charge us a ‘commercial’ rate to rent our rooms (which he deemed to be worth £5 per hour). I was aghast and a tetchy email exchange ensued.

The idea of a commercial rate was problematic. The teaching rooms were assorted sizes. Would those of us in a smaller room pay a smaller fee? Would we pay less if we didn’t use a piano? Presumably the percussion teacher would have to pay a small fortune to hire the huge battery of school percussion instruments he used for his teaching.

Register now to continue reading

Register to the Music Teacher website today to read more of the latest news and developments from the world of music education.

You’ll receive:

  • Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month

  • Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector

Register

Already have an account? Sign in here