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10 Top Ways To Find A Good Piano Teacher That's Right for You

By: Duane Shinn

You've decided you want to tinkle the ivories. You have decided on a formal approach to your studies, instead of self-teaching. Therefore, you need a qualified piano teacher to help you reach your goals. What should you look for?

Here are some tips for finding the piano teacher that's right for you:

1. Decide whether you want a female or male teacher. Some people are more comfortable with, and relate to, one better than the other. To some it makes no difference. You know what suits you the best. Immediately, you can fine-tune your search by choosing whether a man or a woman will teach you.

2. Decide whether you want to travel for lessons, or have the teacher come to you. If you prefer the atmosphere of learning in your own home then search for a teacher who travels.

3. Decide what type of piano method you want to study. Do you want to learn by ear and repetition of playing what you hear? Do you want to study by learning to read music? Do you want music theory study to be an integral part of your lessons? Shop around for a qualified teacher who specializes in what you want.

4. Check out the years of teaching and playing experience a piano teacher has. Ask the teacher for references. Call the references. There is no better endorsement than a person singing the praises of a former or current teacher.

5. Check out any degrees, diplomas or certificates that a potential teacher may have. Ask if they have any. If you go to a music studio and see some posted, read them. See what institution bestowed the document upon them. A certificate from a university is probably better then one from Biffs' School of Chopsticks Playing.

6. Investigate what type of musical style the teacher teaches. Do you want to concentrate on modern Top 40 music, jazz, country, or classical? Do you want to learn many styles? Choose a teacher who is qualified to teach you the style you want to learn. Some piano teachers are heavily classical oriented. That's fine; but if you have no desire to learn classical then find someone who teaches your style.

7. Try to find a personality who is suited to yours. This has nothing to do with gender. It has everything to do with communication and compatibility.

Interview a prospective teacher. Ask questions about their background, teaching style and musical interests. Just by talking to them in a give and take conversation, you will learn. Even throw in some chitchat about the weather, or their dog. You will discover their temperament and maybe even their patience level during a chat with them. You don't want to pay money for a lesson to find out they're not right for you. An informal talk, away from the teaching environment, will tell you a lot about a teacher.

8. Ask a potential teacher what they expect from a student. Then decide whether you have the time and energy to meet their expectations. Do they want you to practice volumes of work two hours a day seven days a week? Does this schedule clash with your schedule? Is your goal to learn some fun songs practicing a half-hour a day, three days a week? You and your teacher will not be in accord.

9. Ask the teacher you are interviewing about their teaching plan for you. Do they have a structured format? Do they have set lesson plans that 'plan' for steady improvement in your playing? Are they flying by the seat of their pants with a haphazard approach to teaching? If they operate that way, confusion and lack of direction will impede your progress.

10. Finally, are their fees reasonable? Do their fees match their level of expertise? Is Biff charging you $60 an hour and doesn't know where middle C is on the piano? You need to know they're worth what you're paying them.

A good piano teacher who's in harmony with your goals means a lot. Good piano teachers are out there. They're diamonds in the rough, who will help you shine as a piano player.

Article Source: http://www.articlekingpro.com

A free email newsletter on exciting piano chords and chord progressions from Duane Shinn is available free at "Exciting Piano Chords & Chord Progressions!"

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