How to find a good piano teacher.
1. Do you LIKE your piano teacher? If you actually like your teacher as a person you are more likely to want to attend your lesson every week and to actually do the work she requests of you. Sounds obvious but you need every reason as a beginner, not to quit and you'd be suprised how many give up just because they don't like their teacher. 2. Does he / she prepare music lesson plans? To be a good teacher you really have to think carefully about the exact needs of your student at every lesson. If you get the impression your piano lesson is 'made up on the spot' rather than carefully prepared then beware. 3. How long have they been giving music lessons? Experience of the piano lessons children need and the contrast of giving lessons for adults counts for a lot. What is your teacher's track record of success? Don't be afraid to ask. 4. Does his / her style of piano teaching appeal to you? When you want to learn say jazz piano there is no point in taking lessons from a teacher who is only a great classical player. The piano lesson that suits you may not suit then next student. It's really horses for courses. 5. Do they really teach you to play piano? Many piano teachers will only work 'by the book'. They'll teach you what you need to know to pass an exam but you'll still not be able to play much of your own choice. When you learn to play piano from a teacher who shows you WHY you play certain notes togther as well as just HOW then you are really learning music, not just how to pass exams. 6. Can they show you how to improvise? Playing music off the written page is only half of the skill of being a musician. When you learn the apparent 'miracle' of instant composition that is improvisation then you can truly say you understand music. The truth is it is not a miracle at all but a skill that can be taught and learned like any other. The vast majority of classical piano teachers do not have the faintest idea about how to improvise even though the great composers such as Bach and Mozart considered this to be an essential skill. Ask your teacher to make up music on the spot and see what they can do. There is, however, a real alternative to personal piano lessons. Rachel Branston's course "Piano Fantastic" has been created with the benefit of over twenty years experience in teaching adults and children. The learn at home DVD series takes you from absolute beginner through to accomplished performer in the most effective and enjoyable way. This course is truly a breakthrough in teach-yourself piano playing. Take a risk free trial yourself and see. |
Whilst you certainly can learn piano yourself with the aid of a good online piano lessons course there is still much to be said
for coaching from a good music teacher in person. Not all music teachers are created equal though! So what should you look for
in good piano instruction?