How to choose the right piano teacher

Irrespective of whether you're a complete newbie looking to begin your musical journey, a parent who wants their kid to pick up a new skill, or someone looking to switch to different piano classes for whatever reason, choosing the right music teacher can be daunting.

It is not as easy as getting in touch with the first person that you come across, or the closest to where you stay, and definitely not the one who charges the least fees.

Looking for the right piano teacher for your specific needs is a process that is well worth your time. Music is an art, and learning the art of music is something that requires a teacher that has the potential to mentor and guide you to be your best at it, no matter your level.

We have put together a few tips and steps that you should ideally need when looking for the right piano teacher.

Define your music goals

Before you begin the process of searching for a piano teacher, something that you should do for yourself is to understand what your goals are. Asking yourself a few questions to truly know what and how you're looking to learn will greatly help you to have a better idea of what to look for in a teacher.

Some questions that you can ask yourself include:

• Am I looking to learn the piano as a hobby or is this for a professional career?
• Is learning the piano an additional skill that I'd like to pick up or is long-term investment the goal?
• How much time can I put aside for piano lessons and private practice sessions?
• Am I looking to focus on a specific genre of music? If yes, then what?

Even if you're a parent looking for a teacher for your child, it's nice to ask similar questions to gain a better perspective and understanding of the goal of learning the piano.

Knowing what you want from your music journey will help you narrow down on teachers that will be able to tailor their lessons and take care that they're aligned with your goals. It will also help you communicate your music needs and wants in a more effective manner.

Research Local Piano Teachers

The next step is beginning the search for local teachers. The idea is to find academies and teachers that are located close to you and not have the world away. Although a quick Google search will help you, talking to your neighbours, local schools and parents, and even friends or family who know piano teachers is a great idea.

More often than not, the travel time is overlooked by many people, and not only needs to be taken into consideration for the time, but also the expense and energy that it takes. Finding teachers near you will save you much more than just money. Additionally, if you're looking for online classes, make sure to check the setup of both parties before shortlisting. Keep in mind that asking questions is not a bad thing and you can always approach your potential online teachers and ask about their setup and technology. For example, whether they have a different camera to focus on their hands on the piano which makes it easier for you as a student to follow along.

Make a list, check it twice

Making a consolidated list of potential teachers will help you to narrow down your options. With a list in hand, it is much easier to compare pros and cons and make an informed decision. This is a person that's going to help you on your music journey, or if you're a parent - on your kid's music journey, and you'd want to be wise about making that choice.

Be open to advice and reviews from real people

If they have a website or social media presence, check it out. Look through comments and reviews from their students - both present and past. Speak to people around you who have been connected with these piano teachers at some level, and get to know a different perspective. Interacting with people and taking advice is a good way to help you narrow down on your options. Taking trusted opinions will help you gain a differing perspective and see things in a different light.

Consider experience and knowledge

This is pretty much a no-brainer. Before deciding on a certain piano teacher, always do a background check of their level of musical knowledge and teaching experience. Take a look at their credentials and whether they have any formal education in music. Even if they don't have an advanced degree, maybe they have a trusted background in performances. Considering a piano teacher's background is important when trying to judge whether they align with your long-term music goals.

Also, understanding their teaching method and the words they use to describe it is essential. If a teacher completely focuses on learning by theory and is not flexible in their methods, but you don't want to be tied down by books and sheet music, maybe they aren't the right teacher for you.

Speak to the teacher

The next step would be to finally approach the piano teacher/s you have found interesting. Online reviews, recommendations and Google can only tell you so much. You'll understand much more as you speak to the person who will be teaching you. Maybe they're relatively new to the profession and so don't have a lot of reviews, but that doesn't mean their approach to music, teaching and their students is necessarily bad.

As they say, communication is key, and yes, this holds true even when looking out for the right piano teacher for you. Discussing queries relating to their teaching approach, their setup, availability, and so on will give you much more insight and understanding into the kind of teacher they may be.

Find their number or email through their website or message them on social media. Maybe even meet them over coffee if that's a possibility. Have a chat, let them know what you're looking for and whether they'd be able to help you get there.

Discuss fees and other policies

Understanding the fee structure and other policies that teachers have is important to know whether you can work with it. Find out whether they charge hourly or monthly, and if there are additional costs for exam fees, books and other resource materials. In addition, don't forget to ask about any policies that may be in place. Knowing these things will help you with understanding whether this is an option you can further pursue or not.

Take a demo class/es

While not every teacher provides these, demo lessons are a great way to get a hands-on experience of learning with a piano teacher. You get to understand how they go about their lessons, and can gauge whether you'll be able to stick around with them in the long run. If a piano teacher does not engage in a demo lesson, maybe take a month's worth of classes to get better insight. It will also help you to understand your comfort level and rapport with the teacher. There's no harm in asking for a demo or trial, even if you get denied.

A little bonus tip that we'd like to offer is - don't pick the cheapest teacher out there. It's easy to make a decision of joining lessons with a piano teacher who charges you the least amount of money. But that's where the catch is - just because they're charging less does not mean that they have the adequate skills, resources, knowledge or experience to give you the best guidance that you really require.

Now that you have a better understanding on how to go about the process of looking for a good piano teacher that's right for you, we hope that you keep these tips in mind and make the right choice that works for you!