Music Education #2 Finding a Teacher

Finding the right teacher for your child is probably the most influential choice that you will make in your child’s musical development. You want an experienced, talented and qualified teacher whose personality is good match for your child. Then you need to make a decision on three points: 1 how far you are willing to drive, 2. how much you are willing to spend, and 3. what kind of expectations do you have of your child and of the teacher.

The first two points of your decision depend on the teacher: as a teenager taking violin lessons, I drove weekly an hour each way and paid more than we had ever paid for lessons, but what I got out of it was incredible. Some teachers may be very close by, or be very cheap, but do not seem to have musical students. Convenience may not be your best option, however it can be a blessing! During my formative years we were very privileged to practically be neighbors with one of the best teachers in the state. Based on these first two points, you can begin your search.

To get names and contact information of teachers in your area, contact music teacher associations, piano stores, Universities, Music Schools, Music stores, churches, friends who have lived in the area for years and internet teacher referral lines. When first talking with a teacher on the phone, you will likely be offered a chance for an interview. Take this opportunity to get to know all the teachers with availability in their schedules around your area. If you believe your child has a real gift and you have a teacher in mind that you had hopes to study with who professes to be full, or says your child is too young, etc. you could try to ask for an interview with the view that the teacher may offer you advice and direction. Expect that teachers may ask for an interview fee, this is normal. (Just a tip: as a teacher I don’t like to be asked “Can I sit through another student’s lesson?” because students pay for private lessons and that is not fair to that student to have a stranger watch their lesson. A teacher's credentials and presentation at the interview should have enough strength to inspire confidence in a prospective client.)

The last point, what kind of expectations do you have of your child and of the teacher may influence your decision once you have had your first meeting. Teachers may require much work from the students, or very little practice, and you may prefer this... or not. (Keep in mind that piano lessons done well equals a huge amount of work for everybody involved. And no, hard work isn't bad! :) ) A very good guideline of questions you can ask potential teachers can be found on the page of the MTNA website that I have linked here: "Finding a teacher" tips.

This will also make you turn to the questions for yourself: Why piano lesson? Do you want to have some music lessons sprinkled over your children's heads? Do you want them to be little Mozarts? Do you want them to work hard and get great at playing the piano, but still do it just for fun? Are you looking for Music Therapy, or Discpline and Competition, or Professional Concert Pianist training? Do the children really want to play? (Most children really do!) Or is it you who actually wants to play? The teacher may ask you some questions like these.

There is something so amazing about hearing someone play the piano really well. It does something to the performer and the audience alike, and we wish we could be more deeply and closely involved in the music making process. I think that is why we seek lessons, to become that musician enjoying it up there on stage, or to give someone we love the ability to become that musician. Music is the sounds of our feelings, and we like to hear our feelings in our ears, and to feel the beauty of music affecting us like that. To be the musician, we also have the power to affect others that way. That's fun. (We also like the applause.)

But the best part of lessons is having music happen in your house every day, and enriching your whole family tree by taking part in active music making. Because when your children become parents, they will want to pass on the legacy by either teaching their own little ones, or getting them lessons as one cherished former student Roya wrote to me; "I hope you'll still be teaching when I have my own kids because I'll definitely be taking them to you for piano lessons!"