If you’re thinking about taking singing lessons in London, you’ve probably already noticed that prices are all over the place. I’ve seen teachers charging £25 an hour and others asking for £200. Both claim to be excellent. So how do you know what’s reasonable, and what you should actually be paying?

I’ve been teaching singing in London for over twenty years. I’ve watched the market change, seen teachers come and go, and worked with students who’ve tried everything from cheap group classes to celebrity coaches charging eye watering rates. Here’s what I’ve learned about pricing in this city, and how to get genuine value for your money.

The Quick Answer

For a qualified, experienced singing teacher in London, expect to pay somewhere between £55 and £80 per hour. That’s the realistic middle ground where you’re getting proper expertise without paying a premium for someone’s celebrity status.

Here’s how the broader market breaks down:

Teacher Type	Price Range	What You’re Getting
Student or trainee teacher	£25 to £40 per hour	Basic technique, limited experience, suitable for absolute beginners on a tight budget
Graduate or early career teacher	£40 to £55 per hour	Conservatoire training, still developing their teaching style, good for hobbyists
Experienced professional	£55 to £80 per hour	Proven track record, established methodology, good for serious students
Specialist or West End coach	£80 to £120 per hour	Industry connections, audition expertise, good for aspiring professionals
Celebrity coach	£120 to £200 plus per hour	High profile client list, media appearances, really only necessary for working professionals

You can absolutely find excellent teaching at the lower end and mediocre teaching at the higher end. Price alone tells you very little. But these ranges give you a starting point for what’s normal.

View our current lesson prices.

What Actually Affects the Price

Teacher Qualifications and Experience

The biggest factor is who’s teaching you. Someone who trained at a major conservatoire like the Royal Academy, Guildhall or Royal College of Music and has been teaching for fifteen years will charge more than a recent graduate. That premium usually reflects genuine expertise, though not always.

When evaluating a teacher’s background, look for formal vocal training at degree or diploma level, actual performance experience in their area of specialism, a demonstrable track record of student successes, and evidence of ongoing professional development. Teaching singing is a skill in itself, separate from being able to sing. The best performers aren’t automatically the best teachers.

Location

This is London, so geography matters. A teacher with a studio in Soho or Covent Garden will charge £20 to £30 more per hour than an equally qualified teacher working from a home studio in Zone 4. That premium is mostly covering rent, not better teaching.

London Area	Typical Price Range	Notes
Central London (Zones 1 to 2)	£70 to £120 per hour	Premium for West End proximity, studio hire often included in the rate
Inner London (Zones 2 to 3)	£55 to £85 per hour	Good balance of quality and value, lots of experienced teachers
Outer London (Zones 3 to 6)	£45 to £70 per hour	Often home studios with lower overheads, savings passed to students
Online lessons	£40 to £80 per hour	Location independent, sometimes slightly discounted

Online lessons have become genuinely viable since 2020. I was sceptical at first, but many students actually prefer them now. The technology is good enough that you can work on technique effectively, and nobody has to spend an hour on the Northern Line.

Specialism

Certain specialisms command premium rates. Musical theatre and West End audition coaches often charge more because they’re offering specific industry knowledge alongside vocal training. They know what casting directors are looking for. They have connections. That’s worth something if you’re pursuing that career.

Classical voice teachers with opera experience also tend to be at the higher end, partly because the training required is so intensive.

If you just want to sing better for your own enjoyment, you probably don’t need a specialist. A good general vocal coach will serve you well.

Lesson Length

Most teachers offer 30, 45 or 60 minute sessions. Longer isn’t automatically better.

Duration	Typical Cost	Best For
30 minutes	£30 to £50	Children, absolute beginners, quick technique check ins
45 minutes	£45 to £65	Regular students building repertoire
60 minutes	£55 to £90	Serious students, audition preparation, professionals
90 minutes	£80 to £130	Intensive sessions, recording preparation, masterclasses

For beginners, 30 to 45 minutes of focused work is usually more productive than an hour. Your concentration fades, your voice tires, and you stop absorbing information. As you advance, longer sessions become more useful because you can cover technique and repertoire without rushing.

Hidden Costs to Think About

When you’re budgeting for singing lessons, the hourly rate isn’t the whole picture. Factor in sheet music, which runs about £5 to £15 per song or you can use subscription services. If you’re preparing for exams or auditions, you’ll likely need an accompanist for rehearsals, which adds £30 to £60 per session. Exam fees themselves range from £50 to over £150 depending on the grade and examining body. Custom backing tracks cost £20 to £50 each if you need them. And don’t forget travel costs if your teacher isn’t local.

You can check the current ABRSM exam fees on their website.

How to Know You’re Getting Value

The cheapest option isn’t always the worst value, and the most expensive isn’t always the best. I’ve met students who made better progress with a £45 per hour teacher than they did with one charging £100. It comes down to fit, method and commitment.

Signs You’re Getting Good Value

You’re getting good value if your teacher gives you clear, specific feedback that you can actually practise between lessons. You should notice measurable improvement within four to six weeks. Lessons should have structure: warm ups, technique work, repertoire. Your teacher should adapt to your goals and learning style rather than running the same lesson for everyone. You should feel challenged but also supported.

Warning Signs

Be wary if your teacher spends most of the lesson demonstrating how they would sing something rather than helping you sing it. Watch out for vague feedback like “that was nice” without specifics. No clear goals or progression is a problem. Frequent cancellations suggest they’re not taking your time seriously. And be very cautious of anyone pushing expensive lesson packages before you’ve even tried a single session.

Read our guide on how to choose a singing teacher.

Ways to Make Lessons More Affordable

If the prices I’ve quoted feel out of reach, there are legitimate ways to reduce costs without compromising too much on quality.

Booking blocks of lessons often gets you a discount. Many teachers offer 5% to 10% off if you commit to a term in advance. The trade off is less flexibility, but if you’re serious about learning, you should be attending regularly anyway.

Consider fortnightly lessons instead of weekly. With dedicated practice between sessions, you can make excellent progress seeing a teacher every two weeks. This halves your monthly costs while still giving you professional guidance.

Look outside Central London. There are brilliant teachers in every part of this city. Someone in Barnet or Croydon or Wood Green can be just as good as someone in Soho, often better because they’re not splitting attention between teaching and trying to make it as performers.

Online lessons are usually a bit cheaper and eliminate travel time and cost. The technology is genuinely good now.

Ask about off peak rates. Some teachers offer reduced prices for daytime weekday slots that are harder to fill. If your schedule allows it, this can save you money.

Start with a consultation before committing to regular lessons. A one off session lets you assess fit without a big financial commitment.

What I Charge

For transparency, here are my current rates at my studio in Wood Green, North London:

Service	Duration	Price
Private Singing Lesson	60 minutes	£60 to £75
Audition Consultation	60 minutes	£75
Vocal Assessment	60 minutes	£75
Recording Session Preparation	60 minutes	£75

My rates reflect over twenty years of teaching experience, training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Professor Brian Parsons, and a track record of students who’ve performed in West End productions and gained places at top drama schools. I work with everyone from complete beginners to working professionals.

I don’t offer cheaper rates because I don’t believe in a two tier service. Everyone who comes through my door gets my full attention and expertise.

Interested in lessons?

Book a consultation to discuss your goals and see if we’re the right fit. No pressure, no sales pitch, just an honest conversation about your voice and what you want to achieve.

Book Your First Lesson

Is It Worth the Investment?

This is the real question, isn’t it? Are singing lessons actually worth spending money on?

My honest answer: for most people, yes. But not because I make my living teaching.

Think about it this way. You wouldn’t expect to learn tennis or a foreign language or how to drive without instruction. The voice is an instrument. Like any instrument, it responds to expert guidance in ways that self teaching simply can’t match.

There are specific things a good teacher provides that you cannot get any other way. We stop you developing bad habits that can actually damage your voice over time. We accelerate your progress because we can identify and fix problems immediately rather than letting you repeat them for months. We give you objective feedback, which matters because you genuinely cannot hear yourself accurately while singing. We provide accountability and structure that keeps you practising. And we give you access to repertoire and industry knowledge you’d struggle to find on your own.

One of my adult students put it perfectly. He’d spent years trying to teach himself from YouTube videos before coming to me. In six months of proper lessons, he made more progress than in the previous five years of going it alone. That’s not unusual.

The flip side: if you’re not going to practise between lessons, you’re wasting your money. A weekly hour with a teacher means nothing if you’re not doing the work the other six days. Be honest with yourself about how much time you’ll actually commit.

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Author

Nicholas Martin is a vocal coach based in Wood Green, North London. He trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and has taught singing for over twenty years. His students have performed in West End productions and gained places at leading drama schools including Central, Mountview and Guildford School of Acting. Learn more about Nicholas.