How to choose a piano teacher
So, you’ve decided that you want to learn to play the piano. The first task that you face is to find a teacher. Will any teacher be right for me?
This is the question every beginning musician should ask himself. The learning process of playing an instrument is the central part, after all, we want to maintain motivation and enjoyment of playing throughout all the lessons and practice sessions, and we expect the teacher to help us in our progress as quickly as possible. However, that doesn’t always happen as planned. There is plenty of piano teachers: some of them are amateurs, others are professionals, each instructor has different methodologies and price ranges. Each of these factors influences the choice of a suitable teacher for us.
So, a few nuances
- Determine exactly what you are looking for. If you want to learn to play your favorite songs for friends at home, you don’t really need a teacher who studied at an academy and played with all the great musicians; you just need someone who explains the basics well and with whom it’s pleasant to study. If you’re a professional musician looking for ways to improve your improvisation skills and to play jazz, then look for a teacher who specializes in that.
Check several options – thanks to the internet, you can find a piano teacher in your area. I’m sure there are many, and if not, there are music schools that hire teachers, which can also be a good option. The goal is to find several options by price, location and to try them out.
Free trial lesson – I always recommend to give a trial lesson for free. This is not only a “gift”, but also a real opportunity to check the ‘chemistry’ between the teacher and the student, as well as between the student and the teacher. Don’t be afraid to decline even after the trial lesson.
Look for reviews – on some websites, there are student reviews about the teacher, so it’s important to read them (if they are reliable). You can even ask to talk with another student and find out their impression of the lessons. Of course, if you have a friend who studied with this teacher, their review will be the most accurate.
Goal alignment – probably at my first meeting with a new student, I will focus on a personal conversation to understand what brought the person here, why he wants to learn to play piano, and what his final goal is. I also identify the musical preferences of the student to decide which musical directions we should develop the most. For example, if a person wants to accompany himself while singing, I won’t emphasize classical or jazz music, but rather will teach him how to diversify chords in various ways, so they will sound fresh, diverse, and not banal, and also will teach them to add beautiful solos that will impress any girl.