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Tips for Finding a Piano Teacher

When it comes to finding a piano teacher, it’s important to understand the goals of the prospective student. Once you define what they want to learn, whether it’s classical, liturgical, jazz, or another musical genre, you can ask for referrals, interview teachers to find the one that connects with the student to help them meet their musical goals.

Where do you begin finding a piano teacher? 

I’m a member of neighborhood groups on social media, primarily Facebook, and I see people asking for all sorts of recommendations. Where can I get my dog groomed? Do you know of a good babysitter for school age kids? Where can my husband and I have a romantic kid-free date night? And on and on. I’d say the typical question gets dozens of responses with people not only offering their suggestions but others commenting on those suggestions.

If you’re looking for a piano teacher, I’d start on social media, both in groups and asking on your own profile. Your friend who is a math teacher may well be able to provide a recommendation for you without too much effort.

It helps to know specifics about the piano lessons.

  • Will the lessons be in your home or elsewhere?
  • Do you have access to a well-tuned piano at a school or music studio?
  • How old is the prospective student and do they have experience receiving music lessons?
  • How often will the student be able to practice?
  • What is your budget for lessons?
  • What’s the frequency for lessons? This one may be a question to ask the prospective teacher as the higher frequency, the faster the student learns but it may not be economically feasible or you may not want to make a big investment until you know the student is committed to the craft.

What do you want from a piano lesson experience? 

This is really a question of how serious the prospective student is about the piano lessons. Weekly lessons to get them familiar with an instrument and expand their creativity is different than a student who wants multiple lessons per week with a big goal to become a concert pianist by the age of 21 years old.

When you’re finding a piano teacher, ask them about their own experience. 

You may be surprised at what you learn. The teacher from the local school may moonlight as a pianist for the musical theatre or has performed on even bigger stages. They may be focused on only teaching students classical or jazz and if your student wants to learn rock, that teacher may not be the right fit. So don’t be afraid to ask questions before hiring them!

When it comes to finding a piano teacher, have an idea of your student’s goals, ask for referrals from friends and social media groups, and interview the prospective teacher so you find the right fit. And remember, if your piano needs tuning, call Chicago Piano Tuners!

Caleb CrockettTips for Finding a Piano Teacher