[Woodcarver] charges for teaching

[Marcia Berkall]

Hi, Helen,

I have been teaching here in my home/studio for over 10 years now.  I 
charge $12 for a 2 1/2 - 3-hour class.  That includes blanks,use of 
whatever tools are needed here and coffee/tea/snacks.  I, too, will touch 
up the tools for them, but only after I know they can do it themselves.  My 
students have become my friends, and I enjoy every minute with them.  Some 
don't call when they can't make it to a class, but most do.  Rarely do I 
have a full class (8 students), but that's ok....I think 6 is ideal.  I 
look forward to my Wednesday nights, and so do they.  I have learned as 
much from them as they have learned from me.....works out great! :)

What has started happening is they now clean up after class......they bring 
snacks...they bring cd's to listen to ...and they bring new students.  I 
get so much satisfaction and enjoyment from this group that often I tell 
them I feel guilty taking money from them :)....and I really do!

I used to set up 6-week classes, and charge $65 or $70 for the course. That 
is especially good for beginners....and because they pay up front, they are 
more apt to attend all of the classes. Lately I have just been putting 
beginners right into the on-going Wednesday night class.  There's a mix of 
experience and skill levels in that class.  I think it's nice for beginners 
to see what they will be doing and how long it has taken some of the others 
to get where they are.  I also find that the students who have been with me 
longer start to help and encourage the newer students.  I like 
that.....they all benefit from that.

These students are all adults.  Some are retired.  Some come after 
work.  They all look to this class not just for instruction, but for 
friendship and "R & R".  It means a lot to me that they are spending that 
time here...time being such a scarce thing these days.  I wouldn't want to 
have to rely on the income from my classes to put food on the table, but it 
does help and I get so much more than money from them.  I don't believe 
there is any one way to deal with teaching.  We each have to determine for 
ourselves what is most important.  For me,  there is no amount of money 
that can equal seeing the look on the face of a new student who has 
finished his/her first carving..or second, or third......or....or...

Sorry...I'm rambling :)

Marcia Berkall
South China, Maine


Visit Marcia's  Whittlins 'n Wood  web site at:
http://www.pivot.net/~whitwood
http://community.webshots.com/user/cahvah

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