At Bowed Strings, private violin and cello lessons both start from S$50 for 30 minutes. Four things move the price from there: the lesson length, whether you learn with an instructor or the Head Teacher, whether you pay per session or per package, and, for adults only, whether you choose a small group. The fee page is the single current price table. This guide explains how to read it.
The starting prices
Private violin with an instructor is S$50 for 30 minutes, S$65 for 45 minutes and S$75 for an hour. Private cello is S$50, S$70 and S$80 for the same three lengths. Violin with Head Teacher Cheong Xin Jie starts from S$60 for 30 minutes. Adult beginner groups are sold as packages: Level 1 is four lessons for S$260 and Level 2 is eight lessons for S$520. These are beginner rates. Advanced players should ask the studio directly.
Lesson length moves the price most
The gap between a 30 minute and a 60 minute session is larger than the gap between any two teachers, so length is the first decision. The studio sets it by age rather than by budget. The youngest violin students take 30 minutes, because that is how long they can concentrate. The lesson then grows to 45 minutes, and from nine years old, adults included, it is an hour. The violin page lists the age for each band.
A young child therefore costs less per week than an adult, and the cost rises as the child grows into a longer lesson, not because the rate changed.
Instructor or Head Teacher
Violin is taught by Head Teacher Xin Jie and by Ms Leia. Lessons with Xin Jie carry a Head Teacher rate: from S$60 for 30 minutes, S$75 for 45 minutes and S$90 for an hour, against S$50, S$65 and S$75 with an instructor. The fee page lists one cello rate, S$50, S$70 and S$80. Which teacher you are offered also depends on which slots are open, so ask who is free on the days you can reach Woodlands. The teachers page describes each of them.
Per session or monthly
Private lessons are priced per session. The monthly figures on the fee page are four weekly lessons at that session rate: from S$200 a month for 30 minute violin or cello, from S$260 for 45 minute violin, from S$300 for an hour. The monthly figure is there so you can compare it with the adult group packages, which are sold in blocks rather than by the week.
Children and adults
Children's lessons are published as one to one: violin from age four and cello from age six, at the private rate for the lesson length. The group packages on the fee page are the adult beginner programme.
Adults have the choice. The fee page describes private lessons as the route for ABRSM grades and for leisure learners, paced around the student. The adult group runs as packages: Level 1 is four lessons for S$260 in a group of two to four adults, and Level 2 continues with eight lessons for S$520 in a group of two to three, with a booklet included and no instrument needed. That works out at S$65 a lesson for either level. Compare the formats on the adult group page and the private lesson page.
What the lesson fee does not include
- Exam fees. ABRSM registration fees are paid to the exam board and are separate from lesson fees. The studio helps students with the registration itself.
- Registration and deposit. The fee page lists a S$20 registration fee and a S$100 deposit. Check the fee page for the current terms before you enrol.
- Your own instrument. You do not need one to start. Studio violins and cellos can be borrowed during lessons at no charge. If you want to practise at home before buying, violin rental is S$50 or S$100 a month depending on the instrument, with a S$200 deposit and a three month minimum. See violin rental.
- Ad hoc and intensive sessions. Single sessions with no weekly commitment, and intensive training with a two hour minimum, are quoted on request. See ad hoc lessons.
What is included at no extra cost
Every beginner who signs up takes home a free booklet. Theory is covered inside the lesson, and piano accompaniment for the lower ABRSM grades is included rather than charged. Students get a discount when they buy a first violin or cello through the studio, and the studio's chamber and group sessions are complimentary.
Trying before committing
A trial is a paid single lesson with no ongoing commitment, and an instrument can be provided for it. For a first enquiry, send the learner's age, any previous experience and the days you can reach Woodlands. The studio will tell you which length and format to start with, and what it costs, before you commit to anything.
How much are violin lessons at Bowed Strings?
Private violin starts from S$50 for 30 minutes with an instructor, or from S$60 with Head Teacher Xin Jie. At the instructor rate a 45 minute lesson is S$65 and an hour is S$75. The current table is on the fee page.
How much are cello lessons?
Private cello is S$50 for 30 minutes, S$70 for 45 minutes and S$80 for an hour, from age six. Adult beginners can also join the group programme at S$260 for four lessons.
Are children's lessons cheaper than adult lessons?
The rate for a given lesson length is the same. A young child takes a shorter lesson, so the weekly cost is lower: 30 minutes for the youngest students, then 45 minutes, and an hour from nine years old. Children's lessons are published as one to one; the group packages on the fee page are for adults.
Do I pay for exams separately?
Yes. ABRSM registration fees are paid to the exam board. Lesson fees cover the preparation, including theory and piano accompaniment for the lower grades.
Is the monthly price a discount?
The monthly figures on the fee page are four weekly lessons at the session rate. The adult group packages, S$260 for four lessons and S$520 for eight, are the only block pricing.
Book your first lesson
Beginners get a free booklet, and you can borrow an instrument rather than buying one first.