There are a lot of issues to consider when choosing a music teacher. Here are my top five tips to consider today.
1. Pick a teacher who demonstrates and teaches good technique.
Playing piano is an athletic endeavor that involves repetitive movement which can subject your body—hands, arms, fingers, back, legs, wrists—to repetitive stress injuries if done incorrectly. You need a coach to help you train properly from the beginning so that over time you won’t develop a career (or hobby) ending injury.
Good technique is necessary to play ANYTHING with EASE. It is obvious that a skilled technical pianist can play blindingly difficult passages with ease. But having great technique will also make EVERYTHING easier, including the slower and mellower musical passages.
If teachers don’t live it, they can’t give it. Ask your teacher to perform for you before you hire him or her. If the teacher candidate doesn’t show mastery of technique, keep looking. It is easier to learn good technique than unlearn bad technique.
2. Pick a teacher who understands and teaches classic music theory.
Music theory is the common language of music. Knowing this language makes verbal communication with other schooled musicians easy and intuitive. Communicating with other players without an understanding of classical music theory is akin to speaking with somebody from another country without knowing their native tongue. Communication might happen but not easily.
3. Pick a teacher who is adept in reading and writing printed music.
If you are going to speak the language of music (classic music theory) you might as well understand how to read and write that language too. Let’s face it. It just makes everything easier when you can deal with printed music. Sometimes you will need to scratch out a chart for other players (especially if you compose music you want others to play). And sometimes you might be asked to play another musician’s song. You want to know how to read music in these instances. And, of course, you will have access to the great classical music that has come down through the ages in printed form.
4. Pick a teacher who will teach you how to play by ear.
Ear training is a learnable skill. A teacher with this skill can teach you how to play the things you hear in your head. Combined with technical mastery and knowledge of music theory, you will have ALL the skills necessary to be an accomplished professional musician or hobbyist.
Ask your teacher candidates to play some songs without the aid of written music. Have them play the same song(s) in different keys and styles just in case they have previously memorized a song in a certain key. This will show ear training expertise as well as theory knowledge. If they can’t do it… keep looking.
5. Find a teacher you are comfortable with.
Remember, a teacher is there for YOU! Not the other way around. If you are serious about learning to be a complete pianist then you need to be discerning in your choice in a coach. Before you hire a teacher make sure you are in agreement in the approach you (both) will take. Map out a strategy that incorporates the previously mentioned points in a way that feels right to YOU.
You must be realistic in your goals. A good teacher will find a way to help you attain your goals depending on your time limitations. Don’t let a potential teacher dictate how much you should practice or how fast you must progress. Remember: “Progress… not Perfection.”
In conclusion, picking a piano coach is a crucial decision. Making the wrong choice can delay your progress as well as drain your piggy bank. I hope these tips will help you in your search for the right partner and coach.
Good luck. We’ll see you on stage sometime.
Jeff Lantz
