Traditionally most IMT's have been women who,in general, are less well paid than men. We often have been isolated from one another,with little sense of professional identity. Many IMT's got into teaching by default, without setting out to teach. They often have low self esteem. Meaningful standards do not exist, other than in the eyes of the public we serve.
Teachers vary widely in musical and pedagogical competence, and in their educational backgrounds.
A majority of IMT's teach part-time, and have spouse who provides medical insurance and retirement benefits and a large part of the household income. Until we raise our collective consciousness, and work together to educate the public, the problem will continue to exist. We need to maintain and improve our skills. This takes time, and is a significant expense, which needs to be considered in setting fees. We must convince ourselves that we are worth a reasonable level of compensation, and that we need to set fees and develop policies that are professional and fair to both teacher and client.