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Finding the right piano teacher can
be baffling for many parents. Any
individual with the inclination can hang out his or her shingle and begin a
piano studio. In addition, a strong
performing background does not always guarantee that the individual
understands how students learn and how to organize and present material. Consequently, it is not always easy to know
if an individual is well qualified to teach.
Unless a teacher knows how to teach well, bad habits can be
developed. Superb teaching in the
beginning years of study is critical.
These are the years where important technical skills, theory, practice
skills and musical taste are formed.
If you follow the suggestions given for finding the right piano teacher,
you will be making a decision of great consequence. The opinions of a private teacher may well
determine how your child thinks about many subjects besides piano. The private teacher should possess not only
the necessary musical knowledge, but also share some of your ideas on
behavior, morality, and integrity. If
the relationship continues over a period of years, that private teacher will
be a role model for your child.
Several points listed below are taken from the book, Raising Musicial Kids by Patrick Kavanaugh
available on
Amazon.com. So, what qualities should parents look for
in a good piano teacher? · Musical Background. The better the musician, the better
the chance that he or she can help your child to understand and perform
beautiful music. · Training.
A degree in piano is a good
indicator that the individual has the requisite skills to teach
competently. Many lesser qualified
teachers may be able to begin a student, but without a broad background, the
teacher really can’t lay a good technical and theoretical background for the
student. Would you want your child’s
classroom teacher to have completed only 5-6 years of schooling? · Knowledge of child development and how
children learn.
A fine teacher is just as knowledgeable about how students develop and
learn as he/she is about the instrument.
Healthy musical development includes requiring students to work hard
and meet goals, but it also makes musical learning part of a broader
picture. It allows students time and
space to develop all facets of who they are.
Other points: Is the teacher
interested in teaching your
child? Or
only in building his/her own reputation by having the child perform music
which is too advanced musically? Does
the teacher emphasize numbers and equipment over good teaching, good music
and good student-teacher interaction? · Rapport with your Child. While all fine teachers may not have a warm
and affectionate personality, your child should feel comfortable with the
teacher and feel that he/she can take direction from the teacher. Another point to note, as each student is
an individual, so, too, are teachers.
Each has his own strengths and weaknesses, good days and bad. · Structure of the Studio. Teachers and their studios differ. Certain similar qualities are found in ones
that are run well. Does the teacher
have built-in evaluation opportunities to assess each student’s progress such
as Guild Auditions? Does the studio
offer different arenas and opportunities for the student to perform from
group lessons to festivals? How long
are the lessons? Over time, shorter
lessons really are not a good value because the student doesn’t progress at a
normal pace. The traditional half-hour
lesson does not begin to cover what a student needs to learn. Would you be happy with your child going to
school for half the time and learning half the information? · Commitment to professionalism. Is the teacher committed to being the best
teacher he/she can be? Is that
commitment realized in continuing education for himself and professional
affiliations? Does the teacher study
the instrument with a teacher of his/her own?
Is the teacher certified by MTNA.
And most important
of all: Evaluate
a teacher by what he can do with an ordinary student. Winning competitions is fine if that is
what you and your child want from music study. However, it is only the tip of the musical
iceberg. Other skills such as sight
reading, ensemble playing, harmonization are just as helpful—if not more-- in
the “real” world. If a student wins a
contest, other “talents” may flock to the studio and soon a reputation is
acquired that may be unjustified. Good
teachers are expert at understanding many kinds of students – not just
students who fit into the “competition” mold. Some Don’ts: · A
convenient neighbor or friend. It is
never wise to choose strictly on the basis of friendship or geography, even
though it may seem easier logistically. · Teachers
who focus strictly on performance and repertoire instead of teaching your
child permanent, music-making abilities such as strong sight reading skills,
harmonizing a melody, transposition. · The
inexpensive teacher. Some teachers
charge more than others. But at any
rate, the maxim, “You get what you pay for” is true. The vast amount of knowledge that a teacher
must have to teach well is worth the higher hourly fee. · In short, it all boils down to what the
teacher can actually do. Watch the
teacher teach; take some trial lessons.
Focus not on the externals of the studio but what the teacher actually
accomplishes in the lessons!
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