Jun 30 2008
How to Choose a Private Music Teacher
Whether you are considering a teacher for yourself or your child, a music teacher needs to have the right balance of likeability and strictness. This is crucial. Friendly teachers without firmness or insistence lack the ability to push students in the right direction with the benevolent detachment that is required. And stern teachers with no ability to show a friendly side can make the learning experience too intimidating.
If the instructor you are searching for is intended for your son or daughter, you
need to be aware of how your child works with different types of personalities. While
adults can often respect a person they dont care much for, some children find it
hard to make that distinction. They respect whom they like, and they like whom they
respect. If they find a tutor to be unlikable as a person, they will have difficulty
learning from that individual. I have witnessed over the years many students who
have struggled with their private teacher. And with children, the results of a bad
student-teacher relationship can be disastrous. I know students, some with
promising careers ahead of them, who gave up their instrument because they didnt
like their teacher. They didnt just give up the teacher they gave up everything to
do with music! So it is very important to choose a private teacher wisely.
Private instructors who are accepting students usually make their availability known
through bulletin boards in malls and at local schools, by word of mouth, or by
advertisement in a newspaper. In larger towns or cities, the choices are numerous.
How can you filter through all of the ads to find the right teacher? There are some
guidelines:
References
- Never choose a teacher without getting a list of references. If a teacher does not
offer to provide references, avoid that one. Be sure to call at least two references.
- Ask the reference about the teachers rapport with their son or daughter,
strictness (strictness is good, but must be tempered with kindness) and reliability
(does the teacher make a habit of canceling lessons, etc.)
Program
- Ask the teacher about the program of study. It is important that a teacher be at
least somewhat interested in the students interests. But at the same time, a good
teacher will insist that certain techniques will need to be mastered no matter what
style the student eventually specializes in. (Rock & roll pianists need to learn their
scales as much as classical pianists.) Teachers who are too accommodating (Oh, Ill
teach whatever you want me to teach) should be avoided.
- An instructor should show interest, and have some expertise, in a students
particular stylistic concentration. If you are interested in jazz, but your teacher
knows nothing about it, look for a different teacher.
Policy regarding missed lessons.
- If the TEACHER misses a lesson: Most teachers who miss lessons will offer to make
them up at a later date. A good teacher will minimize this circumstance. If the
teacher is a busy performer/ clinician, they need to be upfront regarding the
possibility of missed lessons. This is something you can discuss with the teacher
and ask references about as well.
- If the STUDENT misses a lesson: You need to expect that a good teacher will be
(and should be) intolerant of habitual absenteeism. If you are finding a teacher for
yourself, ensure that you have made these lessons a priority, and that you have set
aside the agreed lesson time. If your child is the student, a good teacher will guard
that lesson time jealously. It is not usually acceptable to cancel lessons because of a
birthday party, sporting event or other social activity. Hiring a private instructor
means devoting time to that weekly lesson and keeping absenteeism to a bare
minimum.
Some other bits of advice: While it is possible to interview a potential teacher over
the phone, I would recommend arranging to meet if possible. You will get a better
handle on their personality and demeanor, and this is so important.
You will need to discuss price. There tends to be a going rate for private
instructors, and this will vary from one area to another. Perhaps you know of others
who are studying privately; you might be able to contact them to get a ballpark
figure. Teachers will usually offer half hour, forty-five minute, or full hour lessons.
For very young children a half hour is sufficient. Forty-five minutes is great for
middle school-aged children (12 15 years of age), and hour-long lessons are a
good choice for older students.
Some teachers will request payment in advance while others will accept payment per
lesson. Though most have developed a payment policy over the years, some can be
somewhat flexible, so dont be afraid to discuss it with them openly. There are many
instructors who have been burned in the past by students who have forgotten to
pay, so you can expect such teachers to have fairly exacting payment terms.
People hire private instructors because they want to go further than they might go
in a class situation. If you arent ready to commit to the time to practice (at least
forty-five minutes per day, or more for some instruments), private lessons may be a
waste of time and money. Students preparing for university study in music should
certainly be considering private instruction for at least the year prior to the audition.
The private teacher can ensure that students know what is expected of them on a
university-level playing test, and can suggest appropriate repertoire for the
audition. And you will love the advancement that comes with private instruction.
Gary Ewer is a veteran music teacher, clinician, composer and arranger. He is most
well known as the author of The
Essential Secrets of Songwriting and
Gary Ewer’s Easy Music Theory.
Gary has taught music to students of every age group, from five-year-olds in
elementary school, through to university-level musicians. This enormously wide-
ranging scope has given him a unique perspective on how people learn. Teaching is
his passion.
He is in demand as an adjudicator, clinician, conductor and composer. His music
has been commissioned and performed by ensembles from amateur level through to
professional, including the world-renowned Elmer Isler Singers, The Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation, Symphony Nova Scotia, and others.
He currently teaches orchestration, theory, ear training and choral conducting at
Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
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