| There are many factors you should consider as you | | | | since most piano instructors teach only out of their |
| design a musical education for your children or | | | | home, there is a greater selection. |
| yourself. | | | | Some teach in their own home, or a studio attached to |
| The major question to answer is the location of the | | | | it. Others teach at music schools, exalted and famous, |
| lesson. Will your kids be taught at home by a traveling | | | | or in a storefront type of operation. In any case, you'll |
| instructor or will you travel to the piano teacher's | | | | need to travel to the piano lesson and then either sit in |
| studio? | | | | on the lesson, or spend a half hour or so doing |
| LESSONS AT HOME | | | | something else. And if you have other children to |
| If you want to find a traveling instructor in your local | | | | attend to, this can become difficult to organize and pull |
| area, try the local paper or local print media ads. Many | | | | off happily. |
| piano teachers advertise in newspapers as well as | | | | One virtue of the studio teacher is that they usually |
| online. Most piano teachers do not travel because of | | | | have a larger library of music than a traveling piano |
| the major added expenditure on transport. | | | | teacher would ordinarily carry with them. This probably |
| It is more convenient for the piano teacher to teach at | | | | would not make a difference to the average child |
| their studio, but it is more convenient for the piano | | | | starting out, as they would usually have a single text |
| student to be taught at home. In the end, the decision | | | | assigned to them at first. But for an adult or more |
| may be left up to which types of teachers are | | | | accomplished child, it could be a benefit. |
| available in your area. If you are in a very remote area, | | | | As a general rule, I would try not to sit in on the lesson |
| your only choice may be to purchase a piano method | | | | at a teacher's studio too often, as long as you feel |
| via mail and the internet. | | | | comfortable with the teacher and child. The reason for |
| There are many benefits to hiring a traveling instructor | | | | this is simply concentration: your child will concentrate |
| and having your lessons at home. First of, having | | | | better if they are not trying to please you at the same |
| lessons at home is far more convenient, as well as | | | | time as following the piano instructor's directions. |
| being conducive to learning because the child is in a | | | | At home it is different. There you can hear the |
| comfortable, familiar environment. | | | | progress of the piano lesson all through your home, at |
| Next, you will be able to see the lesson and observe | | | | your leisure. |
| how the teacher teaches and how your child will react. | | | | But your choice of piano instruction may come down |
| You can bet that the teacher is eager to do a good | | | | to what is available in your area. |
| job because you are present, if not in the same room, | | | | In other cases, such as a rural location, you may not |
| at least in the house and able to monitor your child's | | | | be able to find a teacher at all, or a teacher may |
| experience from afar. | | | | prove too expensive. |
| Kids feel more comfortable at the home piano, and | | | | In this case, I would suggest trying to find what I would |
| can glide from their own activities to the lesson and | | | | call a "starter method," that is, a method that is |
| back again, all in the comfort of home. | | | | organized simply enough that you can do it yourself at |
| Piano teachers who come to your home are more | | | | home. There are many available, from large |
| expensive, necessarily, but in my opinion, assuming you | | | | manufacturers to individuals who market their products |
| have a good teacher, you get what you pay for. That | | | | online. |
| is, home lessons are a better buy because the learning | | | | I would suggest that you compare all the piano |
| environment is better and more secure. You may also | | | | products, and ask for samples if necessary. Some |
| want to make the point that many families want to | | | | piano methods allow you to try them out online, using a |
| have their children playing music in the home as a | | | | virtual piano that uses your computer's mouse so you |
| cultural value they support. | | | | can get the idea of how that piano method works. |
| Having the lessons at home set that example for the | | | | Regardless of which piano method you use, |
| children, but perhaps even more valuable is the fact | | | | exploration of the piano whether in lessons or on your |
| that you may show praise for their efforts, however | | | | own can be a rewarding experience. Go very slowly |
| humble, more easily in your home. | | | | and this is most important, learn at your own pace. |
| LESSONS AT THE TEACHER'S STUDIO | | | | The piano is truly the grandest of all musical |
| Perhaps the prime virtue is that they are cheaper, and | | | | instruments and the benefits are life-long. |