There are many piano teachers available to you, so how do you know which one is best to choose? You need to keep in mind a few things when finding the right piano teacher for you. Here, I will give you a few tips on finding a teacher that is worth your time and money.
One of the most important things to look for when finding a piano teacher is their qualifications. If a teacher is qualified, you can be certain that you are getting the most out of your time and investment.
Typically, the more qualified the teacher, the more expensive. It is also important that the teacher belongs to some sort of association, such as the MTNA (Music Teachers National Association). This is important because it will assure you that your teacher is legitimate and take
their profession seriously, and that they are in company with other teachers.
Finding a piano teacher that is involved in community events is a gem. For example, a teacher that takes exams on a regular basis, or even judges piano performances. It is also beneficial for you to find a teacher that holds piano recitals for their students at least once a year. This will give you the opportunity (or your child) to play publically, which will help with a common psychological block called stage freight. If your teacher is involved with the community, they will be involved with you as well.
If the teacher is qualified and is involved in their community, then that is great. But that doesn’t mean they will be right for you. Look for a well-rounded piano teacher; someone that teaches sight reading, as well as improvisation. It is important to find a teacher that caters to your needs as a piano player. For example, if you are mostly interested in songwriting and composing. Therefore, I found a teacher that focused on improvisation. Even though my main concern was to improvise, I still learned music theory to back up that knowledge.
Find someone whose personality excites you. After all, you will be spending quite some time with this person. This is especially important with children. If your child does not like the teacher, then they will automatically not like piano. Finding a teacher will take time, so be prepared to put some effort into the search. Be prepared to meet with a number of teachers before you settle with just one. It is ok to browse! Be persistent with your search, and eventually you will find a teacher that works for you.
If you live in a rural area or could not find time to meet with a private piano teacher on a regular basis, consider getting piano lessons on dvds. You can repeatedly watch these lessons. Definitive take a look at my piano lessons
