Finding the right teacher for you or your child!

Identify your goals:

Does your child play for fun?

Does your child play to win competitions?

Does your child want to take exams?

Does your child play to have something ‘extra’ on their CV?

Does your child want lessons – or does the parent want the child to have lessons?

Make an appointment to meet the potential new teacher.

Daughter Sarah and Heather after our 3 student recitals, Spring 2014

Ask questions. Have your child play (if appropriate). Do not make a decision at the meeting. Talk it over with your child at home. ‘Chemistry’ is an important factor in student/teacher relationships – the teacher’s manner, appearance, and what the studio looks like are all important factors.

Tuition fees:

What is the cost?

Is it payable per month, per week, per year?

Does the teacher teach throughout the summer?

Are there refunds for lessons missed by the student?

Is there a registration fee?

Is the teacher or the student responsible for purchasing the music?

Expectations:

How much practicing does the teacher expect of the student?

Does the teacher give assessment grades each quarter and discuss the student’s progress with a parent?

What does the teacher see as being the parental role? Does the teacher want/expect the parent to be present during the lesson? What (if any) assistance is the parent expected to give during practice times at home?

Overall ...

Be patient – finding the right teacher takes time. It will require phone calls and interviews, but I believe that it’s truly worth every minute of the search.

This brief outline does not broach the subject of the various teaching styles, methods and techniques that individual teachers employ in their studios. It is intended only as a guide to areas that are sometimes overlooked in the search for a new teacher.