| If you're looking for piano lessons, you may be getting | | | | some students may be having with a particular aspect |
| pretty confused about the apparent range of available | | | | of their playing. This might relate to the way a piece of |
| choices on offer, whether you're looking in your local | | | | music should be interpreted, or to a more technical |
| community or on the internet. One particular area of | | | | aspect of playing, such as improving sight reading skills, |
| confusion centers around the use of the words piano | | | | or memorizing a score for a specific performance. |
| 'tutor' and 'teacher', words which are often used | | | | In reality piano tutors, as described in the paragraph |
| interchangeably. | | | | above, are mainly employed by professional pianists |
| For the most part, there is very little difference | | | | and, as a result, are quite expensive in comparison with |
| between the two. However, there are important | | | | lessons provided by more generalist teachers. |
| exceptions that might affect your choice of piano | | | | But all of this makes it more important than ever to do |
| lessons. These relate to your own aspirations and | | | | your research before you decide which piano lessons |
| learning preferences. The purpose of this article is to | | | | are right for you. Normal procedure is to draw up a |
| identify exactly what these exceptions are. | | | | shortlist of contenders, contact each one in turn and |
| Let's start by looking at definitions. The Collins English | | | | ask them some basic questions about how they teach. |
| Dictionary defines a teacher as, 'one whose | | | | All bona fide teachers and schools of music will |
| occupation is teaching others'. A tutor is described as, | | | | expect this kind of approach and will be more than |
| 'a teacher, usually instructing individuals'. So you might | | | | happy to answer your questions. |
| expect that a teacher of music, or of the piano, would | | | | Some of the questions you might ask, apart from the |
| take groups of students and that a tutor, in contrast, | | | | standard ones like what kind of music is taught and |
| would teach individuals. | | | | how much does it cost, should be centered around |
| However, definitions are one thing. How are these | | | | your own learning preferences. If your overriding |
| different aspects of teaching applied in practice when | | | | interest is just to learn the basics of playing the piano |
| it comes to the kind of piano lessons that will provide | | | | on your own, you should make sure your interviewee's |
| the best fit with your musical aspirations and the skills | | | | teaching style is more that of a piano tutor. If, on the |
| you need to develop as a pianist? | | | | other hand, you are excited by the prospect of |
| You may find that those describing themselves as | | | | meeting and playing with, as well as learning from other |
| piano teachers are more likely to be employed by | | | | musicians, then a school of music or a teacher |
| schools of music in which group lessons are held, or | | | | providing the occasional open forum might suit you |
| where lessons are taken individually but students are | | | | better. |
| encouraged to perform in front of others at occasional | | | | CONCLUSION |
| staff/student concerts. There may also be | | | | You might think there is no difference between the |
| opportunities for students with similar musical interests | | | | role of a piano tutor and a piano teacher. And, for |
| to get together to play their own music. | | | | most of the time, this is how things work in practice. |
| Piano tutors are more likely to be in private practice, | | | | But, especially if you're learning to play the piano for |
| where you can guarantee one-to-one tuition but will be | | | | the first time, you need to be sure the learning setting |
| presented with fewer, if any, opportunities to play for | | | | is a comfortable one. It's therefore important to |
| and with other students. | | | | establish from the outset what the expectations are of |
| A further distinction may be between teachers who | | | | those who are doing the teaching. Hopefully, this article |
| provide general help and guidance towards musical | | | | will help you to gather together the information you |
| qualifications, and tutors who take on problems that | | | | need to make an informed choice. |