How to Pick a Great Music Teacher
By Teresa Carson
You’ve decided that it’s time to sign your child up for private music lessons. Now what?
The best first step is to ask other parents. “Ask for recommendations from friends, at church, at soccer,” Nancy Parent, a Portland piano teacher says. “The music teacher at school, if there is one, usually has a list of names,” Glenda McKibben, a veteran school music teacher and director of choirs at Rose City Park Presbyterian Church says. The Music Teachers National Association (www.mtna.org) lists 124 teacher members in the metro area on its Web site. Whether you’ve acquired the prospective teacher’s name from the MTNA Web site, a school music teacher’s list or through an advertisement, ask the teacher for references and check them out.
“Interview the teachers,” Aaron Bloom, a West Linn piano teacher recommends. “Ask them about their training, qualifications and experience,” Bloom advises. Membership in a professional association such as MTNA or the Oregon Federation of Music Clubs is also a good sign, the experts say. Don’t forget to ask about the nuts and bolts such as fees, make-up classes, summer vacation schedule and the like.
How much does the teacher expect your child to practice? What type of music does the teacher teach? Most experts believe a solid classical background is best.
Teachers should encourage you to sit in on a lesson in your hunt for the right teacher. You can judge for yourself if you approve of the teaching style and philosophy. Does the teacher give positive corrections, honest praise and well-planned practice assignments?
“Try to attend a recital and hear what the students are doing. If the students are accomplished, that’s a good sign,” McKibben says. Ask about opportunities to perform, also an important component of instruction.
Bloom also advises parents to make sure the teacher is good with your child’s age group. “Some teachers are really good with very young children, some are better with advanced students,” he says.
Don’t wait until a week before you want to start lessons, Bloom advises. Many teachers and schools have waiting lists. If you want a certain teacher or program for your child, you may have to put your name on a waiting list a year or more before the child is old enough for the class.
And Portland piano teacher Nancy Parent advises parents to avoid teachers they don’t like, perhaps despite a good reputation. “If you don’t like them, why would you want your child to learn from them?”
Teresa Carson is a Portland freelance writer and mom.
June 12th, 2010 | Category: Specific Subjects
