What you should ask a music teacher before you sign up for lessons:
1. What kind of training have you had to be a successful teacher?
Many music schools require only that their teachers have college degrees in music, but don’t require or offer training in how to teach. Be sure your teacher is not just a good musician but a skilled teacher.
2. How many students do you teach?
A good teacher is more interested in working seriously and directly with a limited number of students than in generating as much income as he or she can by taking in more and more students. As well, individual lessons are almost always preferable to group lessons.
3. Why do you teach?
At Piano Lessons Atlanta, we teach because we love helping others find their own joy in music. Be sure the teacher you select is really committed to teaching – that is, he or she is not just teaching to supplement a music career income.
4. How does your program work?
Your instructor should be able to provide you with a plan for how you will learn and progress, including a clear and concise program of practice and goals to achieve.
5. Do you teach and genuinely like the style of music I want to learn?
If you work with an instructor on a type of music – jazz, pop, gospel, etc. – that he or she isn’t interested in, your chances of making progress are slim.
6. What do you do in an hour lesson?
Your teacher should be able to help you assess your strengths and weaknesses, set clear goals for the next lesson, and most importantly show you how to practice to reach those goals. At the end of a lesson, you should be enthused and inspired by your lesson experience.