Choosing the Best Piano Teacher for You or Your Child

Finding a great piano teacher can appear daunting, but with a little knowledge and planning you can find one that is perfect for you or your child - one you or your child can connect with and learn much from.

The first step is to find several teachers to call and talk to. Your state music teacher's association web site (Texas Music Teacher's Association, for instance - tmtna.org) often has a list of members in your area that teach piano. Some of the best piano teachers are members of state associations.

Also ask some of your trusted friends if they know any piano teachers that they could recommend. Asking in music stores, looking in the phone book, and surfing on the Web are other ways to find good teachers. Many teachers now have very informative web sites which can be of great assistance to you.

Now is the time to make those phone calls. When talking to a prospective teacher, find out about credentials. Many have a degree, although some great teachers have gotten their training through private instruction instead of college. Some teachers also have a MTNA certification; that is not always indicative of a good teacher, but it's a reassuring sign. Find out how much experience a teacher has, as that is very important too.

After you've made your calls, narrow your selection down to just a few teachers that interest you and schedule an interview with them. At the interview, observe the teacher's temperament and teaching style and think about how his or her outlook would work with you or your child. At the interview the teacher will most likely give you a copy of his or her studio policy. Be sure to read that. Sometimes teachers will have references that you can contact, and it's wise to make use of that opportunity.

It's most likely that there will be one teacher that impresses you the most out of all that you have contacted. That's the one for you! You can now have peace of mind knowing that you have the best person to help you or your child learn to play the piano and acquire a lifelong love of music.