Finding a Good Piano Teacher
It can be a challenge to find a good piano teacher for either yourself or for your child. You need someone that you can trust and who has proper credentials so that you know you or your child is getting a quality piano education. It is not uncommon for piano teachers to be interviewed before hiring them as an instructor. Here are a few questions to address in an interview.
What musical degrees does the teacher have? While a degree doesn’t guarantee a good teacher, it does suggest that they have been exposed to a wide range of musical knowledge.
What teaching experience does the teacher have? As with most job applicants, experience is relevant. A teacher who has taught for many years would have a variety of techniques for a variety of students and know that each must learn in their own way.
What are the teacher’s expectations of the child’s commitment? If the child just wants to learn to play for pleasure, then recitals and concerts or competitions must not be pressed upon them. Practice is expected, as are normal lesson times. But if the pressure of competition will interfere with other areas of the child’s (or family’s) life, then another teacher may be better suited.
Does the teacher ever perform on the piano? This would indicate commitment as well as the teacher’s own skills. Maybe they play for a local school program or church – whatever the case; if they are confident enough to perform in public then they should be a good teacher.
Does the teacher have any experience (or willing to take) students with disabilities? Some students who have learning disabilities can still have an appreciation for music and a desire to learn to play. Whether the teacher has the patience to work with a student with needs is an important factor.
Are parents allowed or encouraged to attend lessons? Is there an opportunity to observe the interaction of the student and teacher? Everyone wants to know whether they (or their child) will “get along” with the teacher. Spending time observing the interaction can help determine if the teacher can communicate with the student. In addition, some teachers refuse to let parents in during lessons as it can be distractive for the student.
How many students does the teacher have and do they teach them all personally? Is this a primary or secondary activity for them? If they are a full-time piano teacher, they could have close to 100 students. While the full-time position shows commitment, having too many students to keep track of and “grade” can be overwhelming. On the other hand, a part-time teacher who may be doing only for the money may not put as much effort into the teaching.
Other things to check on are the methods, theory and techniques that they use to teach. It’s important to know if you (or your child) will be learning the fundamentals of music as a whole, or just how to read piano music.
Even by interviewing and asking the right questions, there is no guarantee that you will get the perfect teacher the very first time. Sometimes you have to just give it a try to learn whether you and the teacher will be able to communicate and work well together. |
