ISM MUSIC JOURNAL MARCH/APRIL 2022 | LEGAL & BUSINESS
ISM annual fees survey Statistician Alix Naylor of Naylor Research Partnership provides a summary of this year’s findings Sample overview This year’s survey of fees charged or earned by ISM members for teaching, accompanying and examining was open from 16 September 2021 until 17 December 2021. There was an increase in the number of respondents compared to the previous year, most likely due to the relaxed lockdown measures, though the submissions were still well below pre-pandemic levels, suggesting that the profession has yet to recover from the impact of COVID-19 restrictions. Above: Alix Naylor
As with previous years, more than 40% of the sample is from London and the South East of England, so the results from the survey are likely to be overrepresentative of the situation in this area. Respondents’ teaching experience was similar to previous years, with the majority of people having been teaching for more than 15 years. The trend of recent years for a reduction in the proportion of teachers with less than five years’ experience continues. This might suggest a drop in the number of new teachers entering the sector, though it is possible that there may be less of a propensity for younger teachers to respond to the survey. Piano or organ is once again the most common instrument. As might be expected there were fewer woodwind teachers, though vocal teaching has maintained its popularity.
Private Teaching The number of private teachers able to do some face-to-face teaching recovered almost to pre-pandemic levels (89%), with a corresponding reduction – to 70% – in those doing remote teaching. Median rates for face-to-face and remote teaching are now the same. It appears the concept of online teaching is now firmly established with both teachers and pupils, despite the reported difficulties in providing remote teaching such as poor connectivity and sound quality.
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The overall median rates for private teaching increased by 6%, well above the official UK inflation rate which was 2.9% to the year ending September 2021. In regional terms, London as usual has the highest median rate, but there has been no increase on last year’s £40 per hour. Regions outside London have caught up to varying degrees, with the West Midlands up by nearly 8% and the East of England enjoying a 13% rise. More than a third reported that they had increased rates, but many teachers did not do so due to the impact of COVID-19. Although rates are rising, some respondents noted that the pandemic had resulted in fewer opportunities, a reduction in students, or both, with a concomitant reduction in overall income.
Teachers Employed in Schools A quarter of respondents had taught as an employed teacher in a school or other educational establishment since September 2021. This was almost the same as the previous year, maintaining the 6-7% reduction on pre-pandemic levels. The most common employer remained independent schools, still markedly higher than in pre-pandemic surveys at 42%, but there was a notable increase in the proportion of state school employees, bringing this figure back to pre-pandemic levels. Around a third of employed teachers reported a pay rise this year. The overall median rate increased by more than 10% to £33.85 per hour, although this figure may be explained by the large increase in proportion of respondents working in London. As expected, rates continue to be higher in independent schools than state schools, by around £6 per hour, and rates remain lower in music services and hubs. 36% expect their rates to increase over the next year.
