How To Choose The Right Piano/instrumental Teacher
by Ugo Onwutalu,
published:
syndicated: 0 | total views: 2856 |
word count: 1228
laesbarhedsindex readability score: Average Readability
on the net: http://www.grademusicworld.com
UNITED KINGDOM, Jun 10 — Finding the right piano (or even music instrument) teacher will have a very important impact on you or child’s learning and the way you or they view music in the future. Selecting the wrong tutor may even cause an aversion to learning due to the bad experience. Trust also plays a very important part in selecting a piano teacher as do confidence in their abilities. Standard things which are overlooked like doing the right amount of practice suggested and being prepared and on time for lessons etc
F
inding the right piano (or even music instrument) teacher will have a very important impact on you or child’s learning and the way you or they view music in the future. Selecting the wrong tutor may even cause an aversion to learning due to the bad experience. Trust also plays a very important part in selecting a Piano Teacher as do confidence in their abilities. The challenge is in the beginning when you find there are endless teachers around yet where do you start?
Go where the music is
Your nearest music shop will usually have a list of instrumental teachers in your area. If they sell pianos or sheet music, they usually also recommend experienced piano teachers.
Look in the yellow pages of your telephone directory under "Music teachers/tuition".
Check your local newspaper and internet for classified ads. Of course, personal references from friends and family are often the most valuable.
Visit your local school/college/church/newsagent and check for adverts (usually in postcard form) on the noticeboard or for newsagents on the front windows.
Speak with friends. They can sometimes be the best sources as they themselves or their friends might know a teacher that comes highly recommended.
Finally, use the good old internet. Simply type “piano teachers /tutors in …” (whichever area you live). Or search for “music teachers directory” and search on the relevant sites for tutors in your area.
Know what you are looking for
A piano teacher with a list of credentials might seem a perfect candidate. However this is not always the case. Many teachers may have years of experience with all the top qualifications but if they have a particular way of working that does not gel with what you are looking for (e.g. they only teach a certain style, age groups, don’t travel etc) they are a non-starter. It is hugely important for a teacher-student chemistry to develop. You should find a piano teacher who is able to build confidence, be enthusiastic as well as keep the lessons moving towards a motivating, worthwhile goal. The key point to remember is that the age of the teacher and qualifications are not the be-all. If you want the lessons to be fun for yourself or your child, a young teacher though preferable, is not a necessity. Likewise, don’t think finding a piano teacher with loads of experience and certifications, means they have to be older.
Setting up a Meeting
The right teacher can shape your learning experience for better or worse. Again, it is important to find a teacher whose style and personality fit well with yours. If you are a beginner, you will want an especially patience teacher (though this should be a prerequisite).
When inquiring/arranging a lesson for yourself or for a child, know what you want to ask the teacher and don’t deviate/compromise. Trust and feeling comfortable with the teacher you speak to is paramount. Therefore the first step should be to phone the tutor where you make a better judgment. Whether on a consultation lesson or over the phone, ask the following questions:
· How many pupils do you teach currently and would you mind if I spoke to them about the service that you offer?
· What is your level experience and your general background? Do you have references? An experienced teacher will happily explain their background and credentials.
· I have a child /children that want(s) to learn piano. Is it ok if I attend the lessons?
· Do you offer concessions e.g. a discount on the first lesson or block bookings/consultation lesson prior to any formerly beginning?
· Do you work on piano technique? If so, how do you approach the teaching of this? (if you/your child have been learning piano for some time but have problems with this area)?
· Do you encourage your pupils to learn certain piano styles/repertoire? If so why?
· Do you teach theory?
· Do you prepare your pupils for exams, such as the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM)/Trinity College of Music?
· Do you encourage your pupils to perform whenever possible in public, such as in festivals, competitions and concerts? If so, how many of them do?
· What are your standards, and general expectations of your pupils?
· How do you measure progress with your pupils?
· Do you make notes for your pupils during lessons?
· What amount of practice do you recommended a week for my/ my children’s level (ask this especially if you’re a beginner)?
The more open you are about your expectations and interests, the more useful the consultation will be. After speaking with the teacher, don’t feel you have to make a decision there and then. You may need to make more than one approach before you find the teacher for you.
Finalizing the details
If you are happy with everything, then it’s time to formerly arrange the first lesson. When you do make a financial arrangement with a teacher, be clear about the lesson rates being charged and how and when they are to be paid. Some teachers charge a travel fee for coming to the pupil’s house. You should also ask if the teacher has a cancellation policy (e.g. how many days notice should be given for canceling a lesson) and who should be responsible for the purchase of lesson materials and music.
If you have arranged lessons for your child, you should show interest in the progress being made. This means sitting in on some if not all of your child’s lessons so that you get a good idea of the style of teaching and the progress being made. At some stage you will know when you are fully comfortable with the teacher. If lessons are at your home but you’re at the stage where you don’t sit in on every one now, it is still good to ask the tutor at the end of the lesson for progress updates.
As mentioned earlier, you should be clear on where the lessons will take place and if the tutor charges extra for coming to your home. It is important for piano lessons to be convenient. Whether at your home, your teachers’ home or an outside venue, ask about the recommended length of a lesson for your/your child’s level. For example, beginners’ piano lessons generally last 30 - 45 minutes depending on the pupil’s age. For a child beginner, 30 minutes is usually the norm.
Put the work in yourself
Piano tutors enjoy teaching new students who are passionate about learning the instrument. Like with all skills though, the responsibility lies with you as the pupil or parent of the children to put the work in. Standard things which are overlooked like doing the right amount of practice suggested and being prepared and on time for lessons etc. By holding yourself or your child accountable, you take your investment in music learning seriously. And the rewards can be enormous!
Communicate directly with Ugo Onwutalu, the author of this article. Ask questions, send suggestions, comments, engage in conversation, or perhaps you would like to submit a project.
Click Here to ask a question, send a comment, or proposal.
Once upon a time record companies would hand out a fee to record music they neither understood nor cared about. They wouldn’t pretend to like the music or the musicians involved and they wouldn’t expect too much of a return on&n
I have thoroughly enjoyed my holidays as a time of discovery and reflection... I have busied myself the past couple of weeks with score prep and parts production for ’imprint’ for orchestra. This has been a highly painstaking
If you intend to start learning blues piano, I recommend you work your way through at a few beginners books first. If you don’t have any, there many recommended books that can be found on places like Amazon with the usual reader ratings.
Music selection for an exam/audition is one of the most important you can do. Choose easy pieces and you might be accused of "playing it safe" Choose harder ones and you might be criticized for overextending yourself or being overambitious.
Emerson has been making great home karaoke machines for years. They continue to build on a solid reputation of creating innovative and modern players to suit the needs of the every changing karaoke market. The GM527 DVD/CDG Karaoke Player is an examp
These albums were happening along the time that I was happening. I was really into real R&B and I still am. These type of tunes were very truthful — there's an honesty that went with them. Those artists communicated to people, they were about the
Filters, how do they work? They may be used to make tracks work together in a mix. If two sounds are very similar and they are competing for the same space in the frequency spectrum, then it can be a good idea to apply some filtering on one of the so
Now and then, people ask me for advice on where to begin with the daunting world of classical music recordings. They've heard bits here and there, they\'re curious, they imagine they'd probably enjoy it once they got involved, but they wouldn't know
Talent exists in millions of artists, but there are only a few, who make it to the top. Those few who made it to the top were definitely exquisite talents, but were shaped and projected upwards by professionals in the field of music. New York recordi
If you intend to start learning blues piano, I recommend you work your way through at a few beginners books first. If you don’t have any, there many recommended books that can be found on places like Amazon with the usual reader ratings.
Music selection for an exam/audition is one of the most important you can do. Choose easy pieces and you might be accused of "playing it safe" Choose harder ones and you might be criticized for overextending yourself or being overambitious.
As the beginning of my previous article on practice says: "practice is a dirty word". The realization that you’ll have to put in the time (in particular, hours) to get the results you want, stop many dead in their tracks before they
If you are learning/play a musical instrument, take note, your body is sacred. This is because the act requires certain physical movements as well as a level of endurance, strength and flexibility, especially in practice where repetition is the norm.
This article is particularly relevant for teachers and pupils on how to use audio to help learning of songs on piano. It is important for the pupil to be able on some level to develop good aural skills in order for them to play their favorite songs.
Syndication
tweet
PDF version
Printable version
Publisher HTML version
Discussions (0)
Email Article
Post New Comment