How to choose the perfect piano teacher for you

When you’re taking the leap into any new hobby, finding the right teacher is really important to help you find the motivation and enthusiasm to keep going. Here is our guide to finding the perfect piano teacher for you!

Know what you want

Before you start your search, sit down and think about what you’re aiming to get out of your lessons. Here are a few key questions to consider:

• What are you hoping to accomplish?
• What style of music would you like to learn?
• Are you looking for group lessons or one-on-one tuition?
• What is your budget?
• How far are you willing to travel?

If you know what you want from your piano lessons, this makes the process of finding a teacher to suit your needs much easier – and you can start to move on to the next steps.

Get recommendations

One of the best ways to find any kind of teacher – be it driving instructor, academic tutor, or a piano teacher – is to ask for recommendations from friends, family, and acquaintances. When you ask around you’ll get a testimonial from someone you know and opinion you trust.

Or, alternatively, if you don’t happen to know anyone who has taken up the piano make sure you check out the online testimonials of your potential teacher before you take any next steps. If a teacher is good, it makes sense that their students will want to leave them glowing feedback. A testimonial or review page can tell you a lot about an instructor, so make sure you look around their website!

Do your homework

Online testimonials are a great place to start, but if you can see your potential teacher in action for yourself make sure you seize the opportunity! See if they have any upcoming recitals or shows that you can attend, and watch out for how they interact with their pupils – are they encouraging?

If you think you’ve found the perfect person, you can book your first lesson with them – but you certainly don’t have to feel like you’ve signed your life away. When you meet them in person for a lesson, here are two things to look out for:

Friendly nature

It’s unlikely that you will stick to your piano lessons if your teacher sets you on edge. A teacher who is unkind or impatient is not likely to be one you’ll want to return to week after week, so when you meet your teacher make sure they seem friendly and understanding.

Knowledge

You need a teacher that will show you the right techniques from day one. As the old saying goes, ‘prevention is better than cure’. Bad habits can be difficult to undo, so it’s better to not learn them in the first place! Make sure your teacher displays good knowledge and has the experience and accolades to back it up.

If you’re thinking of taking piano lessons, why not get in touch with the London Piano Institute? Our teachers have years of experience helping pupils to hone their skills and accomplish great things – so what are you waiting for?