Whether you’re considering a teacher for yourself or your child, a music teacher must strike the right balance between friendliness and rigor. This is critical. Kind teachers, without firmness or insistence, lack the ability to push students in the right direction with the benevolent detachment that is required. And harsh teachers who don’t have the ability to show a friendly side can make the learning experience too intimidating.
If the instructor you are looking for is intended for your son or daughter,
you need to be aware of how your child works with different types of personalities. While
adults can often respect a person they don’t care much about, some children find it
hard to make that distinction. They respect who they like, and they like who they like.
respect. If they find a tutor unpleasant as a person, they will have difficulty
learning from that individual. I have witnessed over the years many students who
have had problems with their private teacher. And with children, the results of a bad
The student-teacher relationship can be disastrous. I know students, some with
promising careers ahead, who gave up their instrument because they couldn’t
like his teacher. They not only gave up the teacher, but they gave up everything to
do with music! Therefore, it is very important to choose a private teacher wisely.
Private instructors who accept students generally make their availability known.
through bulletin boards in local shopping malls and schools, by word of mouth, or by
ad in a newspaper. In larger towns or cities, the options are numerous.
How can you filter all the ads to find the right teacher? There are some
guidelines:
or references
– Never choose a teacher without getting a list of references. If a teacher does not
offer to provide references, avoid it. Be sure to call at least two references.
– Ask the reference about the teacher’s relationship with his or her son or daughter,
rigor (rigor is good, but should be tempered with kindness) and reliability
(Does the teacher have a habit of canceling lessons, etc.)
Schedule
– Ask the teacher about the study program. It is important for a teacher to be in
least somewhat interested in the student’s interests. But at the same time, a good
The teacher will insist that it will be necessary to master certain techniques no matter what.
style in which the student eventually specializes. (Rock & roll pianists need to learn their
scales as much as classical pianists.) Teachers who are too accommodating (“Oh, I’m going to
teach what you want me to teach…”) should be avoided.
– An instructor must show interest and have some experience in learning from a student.
special stylistic concentration. If you are interested in jazz, but your teacher
knows nothing about it, finds another teacher.
o Policy on missed lessons.
– If the TEACHER misses a lesson: Most teachers who miss lessons will offer to do
at a later date. A good teacher will minimize this circumstance. If he
the teacher is a busy artist/clinician, they must be candid about the
possibility of missed lessons. This is something you can discuss with the teacher.
and ask for referrals on too.
– If the STUDENT misses a lesson: you should expect a good teacher to be
(and should be) intolerant of habitual absenteeism. If you are looking for a teacher to
yourself, make sure you have made these lessons a priority and have established
apart from the agreed class time. If your child is the student, a good teacher will take care
that lesson time jealously. Generally, it is not acceptable to cancel lessons due to a
birthday party, sporting event or other social activity. Hire a private instructor
means spending time on that weekly lesson and keeping absenteeism to a minimum
minimum.
A few other tips: While it is possible to “interview” a potential teacher
phone, I would recommend making an appointment if possible. you will get a better
manage their personality and behavior, and this is very important.
You will have to discuss the price. There tends to be a “going rate” for private
instructors, and this will vary from area to area. Maybe you know of others
who are studying in private; you may be able to contact them to get a ballpark
figure. Teachers usually offer lessons for half an hour, forty-five minutes, or a full hour.
For very young children, half an hour is enough. Forty-five minutes is great for
middle school age children (12 – 15 years old), and the one-hour lessons are a
good option for older students.
Some teachers will request payment in advance, while others will accept payment by
lesson. Although most have developed a payment policy over the years, some can be
something flexible, so don’t be afraid to discuss it with them openly. There are many
instructors who have been “burned out” in the past by students who have forgotten to
payment, so you can expect such teachers to have fairly demanding payment terms.
People hire private instructors because they want to go further than they could possibly go.
in a class situation. If you’re not ready to commit to practice time (at least
forty-five minutes a day, or more for some instruments), private lessons can be a
Waste of time and money. Students preparing for college music studies should
certainly be considering private instruction for at least the year prior to audition.
The private teacher can make sure that the students know what is expected of them in a
college-level game test, and can suggest the appropriate repertoire for the
audience. And you’ll love the breakthrough that comes with private instruction.