I've seen other teachers offering "cut-rate" lessons. Since I'm just starting out, do I really need to pay for a pro teacher?
The question isn't "How good are you now?", it's "How good do you want to be?" The quality of teacher you hire should have nothing to with your current skill level. Every teacher sets his/her rate according to how they value their own skill level. If you find a teacher who is priced well below the going rate, you can bet there's a reason for it. Ultimately, your instructor should have have it all - an education in music combined with loads of real-world experience performing on stage and writing/recording music. If funds are tight, I'll work with you to create a lesson schedule that fits your budget.