A half-hour music lesson costs 44 francs in Lugano, 33 in Maur

At the Scuola di musica of the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana in Lugano, a semester of 30-minute individual lessons costs young people 700 francs.[1] In Maur, a municipality in the canton of Zurich, a semester of 30-minute lessons costs resident children and young people 630 francs.[2] Lugano counts 17 lessons per semester and adds a 50-franc admission charge, Maur counts 19.[1][2] Per half hour, that comes to about 44 francs south of the Gotthard and about 33 francs in Maur. The sum: 750 francs divided by 17, 630 francs divided by 19. For adults the picture flips: 800 francs in Lugano, 1,048 francs in Maur.[1][2]

The Ticino figures are as of October 2026, according to the Conservatorio's website.[1] The Maur figures apply from 1 August 2026, according to Schule Maur.[2] Both schools stand here only as examples. They are publicly supported music schools, one backed by the canton of Ticino, one run by a municipality in the canton of Zurich.

What the fee covers

The Scuola di musica is the part of the Conservatorio that teaches instruments to young people and adults.[1] Its fees apply per semester and cover 17 lessons.[1] The youth rate applies up to age 20, and up to 25 for students.[1] Each fee comes with an admission charge of 50 francs per semester.[1] Without that charge, half an hour costs young people about 41 francs, with it about 44. Adults pay exactly 50 francs, charge included. The sum: 700, 750 and 850 francs, each divided by 17 lessons.

With an instrument lesson, young people can join three extra courses free of charge, such as theory, orchestra or choir.[1] Adults are entitled to one free course, theory or ensemble playing.[1]

Maur bases its fees on 19 lessons per semester for children and young people, and on 16 for adults.[2] Adults pay 65.50 francs for a 30-minute lesson, the trial lesson included.[2] For children, a trial lesson costs 33 francs.[2]

Longer lessons

The longer the lesson, the wider the gap. For 60 minutes, young people in Lugano pay 1,500 francs per semester, children in Maur 1,260 francs.[1][2] Adults pay 1,700 francs for 60 minutes in Lugano and 2,096 francs in Maur.[1][2] Per lesson, adults pay exactly 100 francs in Lugano without the admission charge, and 131 francs in Maur.[1][2] The 100 francs come from 1,700 francs divided by 17 lessons.

Children and adults

Federal law sets the frame for music schools supported by cantons or municipalities.[3] Since 1 January 2016, Article 12a of the Federal Act on the Promotion of Culture has applied.[3] Up to the end of upper secondary level, these schools must charge children and young people clearly lower fees than adults.[3] They also consider the financial situation of parents or others liable for maintenance, and the greater training needs of gifted pupils.[3] The wording is quoted here from a reply by the Basel-Landschaft cantonal government to a parliamentary question, dated 19 November 2024.[3] The article sets no threshold in francs.[3]

In Lugano, a young person pays seven francs for every eight an adult pays: 700 instead of 800 francs per semester of 30-minute lessons.[1] In Maur, a child pays about half per lesson, 33 francs instead of 65.50.[2] The 33 francs come from 630 francs divided by 19 lessons. Schule Maur also refers to the Music Schools Act of 11 November 2019.[2] It covers children, young people and young adults until they finish their first training, at the latest until their 25th birthday.[2]

Where you live

In Lugano, your place of residence decides the municipal subsidy. The canton and some municipalities support the Scuola di musica, and the subsidy is deducted automatically from the semester fee.[1] With the municipal subsidy, a semester of 30-minute lessons costs 600 francs instead of 700.[1] The fees page does not say which municipalities contribute.

In Maur, place of residence decides the whole subsidy. Pupils living elsewhere who were not referred by another music school pay double.[2] Schule Maur covers at most 60 per cent of the school's net costs, counted before state contributions and fees.[2]

Income

In Geneva, family income counts as well. At accredited schools, a cantonal regulation provides a partial fee waiver of 25, 50, 75 or 90 per cent.[4] It applies to pupils aged 4 to 25 whose legal guardian pays tax and lives in the canton or the border zone.[4] The 90 per cent waiver applies up to a family income of 49,169 francs, the 25 per cent waiver up to 72,460 francs.[4] Each limit rises by 7,764 francs for every person counted, for example every child under 18.[4] The regulation has been in force since 1 January 2024.[4]

The Conservatorio's fees page mentions no income-based reduction. It does allow payment in instalments, agreed with the office.[1]

Private lessons

For private lessons, none of the sources used here gives an hourly rate. The two schools' adult fees offer a yardstick. For 30 minutes, they come to exactly 50 francs in Lugano with the admission charge and 65.50 francs in Maur.[1][2] With any offer, it pays to ask how many lessons a semester includes and whether the trial lesson is charged.

Who benefits?

Who benefits? In Maur, mainly children living in the municipality, because pupils from elsewhere pay double.[2] In Lugano, adults too, who pay only 100 francs more per semester for 30-minute lessons than young people.[1] In Geneva, families on modest incomes, who can have up to 90 per cent of the fee waived.[4] If your child is looking for a teacher, you will find offers in the music.ch marketplace under Lessons.