| So you've got your piano and you've bought some | | | | (2) What kinds of music do you teach? |
| sheet music. You've been trying to teach yourself to | | | | (3) How do you keep students advised about the |
| play because, after all, you used to go to piano classes | | | | progress they make? |
| when you were younger and, well, how hard can it be | | | | (4) What instructional materials do you use? |
| to pick it up again? But, somehow, you just don't seem | | | | (5) Are your classes for individuals only, or do you |
| to be making the kind of progress you thought you | | | | teach group sessions or workshops? |
| would. | | | | (6) Do you make use of digital technology and |
| If you're in this situation, and you're having difficulty in | | | | electronic instruments? |
| accepting that you might need to take lessons again, | | | | (7) How much practice do you expect from each |
| this article should help. However long ago it was you | | | | student? |
| last attended a piano class, lessons in the second | | | | Additional questions might also include when and |
| decade of the 21st. Century are probably a good deal | | | | where they teach, whether they belong to any music |
| different than they were then. | | | | teacher associations and, of course, how much they |
| In the first place, there are a lot of piano teachers out | | | | charge. |
| there who really want to help students to play the kind | | | | You should not be afraid to ask these questions. All |
| of music that inspires them, rather than taking them all | | | | bona fide piano teachers will expect you to probe |
| through the same examination-led, classics-based | | | | them in this way and will be more than willing to |
| syllabus of old. Of course, this style of teaching still | | | | provide you with the information you request. |
| exists, and is still a very necessary method of learning | | | | You might also ask each one to give you a short |
| for those who want to play the classics. But, if you are | | | | recitation, perhaps of a song or piece of music in your |
| not one of these students and you're looking for a | | | | favorite style. This will certainly help you make up your |
| more flexible approach, the good news is you should | | | | mind and may even be the deciding factor. For |
| be able to find a teacher who will tailor lessons to your | | | | example, if you want to play blues piano, a piano |
| musical interests. | | | | teacher who plays a really heartfelt number for you in |
| You should also be able to find a teacher who can fit | | | | this style might move and impress you so much you |
| in with your own personal circumstances, including the | | | | decide then and there that this is the musician you |
| hours and budget you have available. | | | | want to learn from. |
| And one aspect of the learning experience you might | | | | Finding piano lessons you enjoy, run by a teacher |
| not have considered is whether a group session, in | | | | whose playing can inspire you and whose methods |
| which you get to learn with other students, might be a | | | | you want to learn is critically important. After all, you |
| more positive, as well as a quicker way to learn than | | | | want to look forward to your classes, not look on |
| just you with a teacher sitting by your side. This too is | | | | them as a chore to be endured. This doesn't mean |
| a method of teaching that is getting more common, | | | | that learning to play the piano will be easy, and you'll still |
| especially in towns and cities, where a more diverse | | | | have to put in the practice needed to improve your |
| range of options can be found. | | | | playing. But the importance of finding the right teacher |
| Whatever your preferred method of learning, the first | | | | should never be underestimated. |
| step is to do your research. Ask family, friends and | | | | CONCLUSION |
| neighbors if they know any good music teachers in | | | | If you do the research and ask the questions |
| your local community. Ask in local music instrument | | | | suggested in this article, you should be able to find a |
| stores, or at local schools and colleges. | | | | teacher to provide you with the piano classes that will |
| One of the most important elements in selecting a | | | | quickly inspire your playing and motivate you to want |
| piano teacher is to draw up a shortlist of candidates | | | | to achieve more as a musician. Whether you prefer |
| and approach each one to find out a bit more about | | | | the one-to-one presence of someone sitting by your |
| them BEFORE you make your decision. How do you | | | | side, or you want to experiment by learning with other |
| do this? Simple, you prepare a number of questions | | | | students in group sessions and workshops, you should |
| and interview each candidate. | | | | be able to find what's right for you just by doing a little |
| Here are the seven essential questions you should ask: | | | | research and asking a few simple questions. And good |
| (1) Are you a performing musician as well as a piano | | | | luck on your musical journey. |
| teacher? | | | | |