How to choose the best piano teacher for your child (or you)!

Ok, so you’re looking for a piano teacher. You’ve found a some options, but how do you know when you’ve found the right one? In a one-on-one setting like piano lessons, the personal connection with the instructor can make or break your learning experience. How can you tell if a potential piano teacher will be a good match for you? 

Many teachers will offer an opportunity to meet before committing to lessons- it may range from a short phone interview to a full free lesson. Interacting with the teacher gives a window into how your personalities will mesh, and how well their teaching methods fit your learning goals.

Before talking to a prospective teacher, think about what’s most important in your ideal piano lesson experience. Use the areas below to guide your thinking and possible conversation topics as you meet.

Curriculum: Does the teacher have a specific curriculum they follow? Why do they use that curriculum, and what are its pros and cons? If they don’t follow a specific curriculum, how do they set and measure learning goals for each student? 

Theory: music theory is similar to grammar- it means studying the components of music (rhythm, pitch, intervals, scales, chords, etc) and learning how they fit together. It also includes learning how to read and/or write musical notation. Like learning grammar, it can be dry and boring or practical and engaging, depending on the approach.

Some piano teachers use written workbooks or tests, others teach it through composition or improvisation, and still others use hands-on games and activities to help students explore theory. In recent years, phone apps have become another popular teaching tool. Think about your student’s learning style and tendencies. Which of these methods will work best? Maybe a combination? Check with your new teacher to see what tools and strategies they use.

Style of music: if you could wave a magic wand and play anything you want on the piano, what would it be? A Beethoven sonata? Your favorite music on your spotify playlist? Jazz? Maybe you want to learn lead sheets so you can jam with a band. Do you want to audition for music school someday, or simply play for your own enjoyment? Think about your learning goals and then ask the teacher what style(s) of music they teach. How will their preferred repertoire help you move toward your playing goals? 

Collaboration with other students: Piano can be an isolating instrument. Is it important for you to interact and make music with other students? If so, how often, and in what ways? Does the teacher offer these types of opportunities?  

Types of musicianship: There are many different ways to be a musician, including reading musical notation, using your ear to learn a familiar tune, freely improvising and creating your own music on the spot, and composing a song and then writing it out for others to play. Which of these ways of making music at the piano interest you most? Which of these does your potential teacher offer their students? 

Off-bench activities: The traditional piano lessons you may be familiar with were spent entirely at the piano learning scales, theory, technique, and repertoire. Modern piano pedagogy often includes a mix of time on and off the piano bench doing games, hands-on learning, playing rhythm instruments, singing and movement, or other musical activities. What is your student’s attention span for seated, focused learning, and what mix of activities do they need to learn successfully? What styles of learning does your prospective teacher include?

Who chooses the songs you learn: do you want the teacher to select most of your music for you? Do you want to be able to make requests for songs or styles of music you’d like to learn? Do you want a mix of both? Check with the teacher to see if their expectations for teacher-directed versus student-directed learning align with yours.

Exams and performances: do you want opportunities to share your music and perform for others? What settings are most valuable to you? Some of the most common performance settings are formal recitals; community performances in places like coffee shops, parks, and senior centers; informal group classes with other students; piano exams; and competitions. Decide which of these are important to you and ask the teacher which ones they offer.

With so many different approaches to teaching piano, it’s important to find a teacher who will fit well with your personality and goals for your student. When evaluating a prospective piano teacher, don’t be afraid to ask questions about their teaching philosophy and methods, and then reflect on how that fits with your goals, needs, and priorities for lessons.