Resources

How to find the right piano teacher

1. Know what you’re looking for
Before you start your search for an instructor, ask yourself the following questions:
What do I or my child hope to accomplish by taking piano lessons?
What instructor qualifications are necessary to help reach goals for myself or my child?
What is my budget?
How much time am I or my child, willing to commit to these goals?

2. Ask around
Talk to parents of other students who are taking piano lessons. They may be friends, coworkers, local music stores, schools, or members of religious organizations. Ask what influenced their decision.

3. Research
Once you have decided on a potential piano instructor, it’s helpful to have them demonstrate their skills. Ask about their lesson plans for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students. Additional questions you might wish to ask are:

What age groups do you teach?
Which lesson books do you use and why?
How do you evaluate a student’s progress?
How much practice time do you recommend for your students?
What kind of music do you normally assign to your students, and why?

4. Interview potential teachers for compatibility
Start by asking about themselves and their teaching philosophy, methods, and expectations of their students.

5. Ask about logistics
What are your rates and billing process?
How long is each lesson, and where will they be held?
What are your expectations of parents?
Ask for references.

Finally, if you are not completely satisfied with the answers you have received, or if the initial lessons are not going as well as expected, consider looking for another teacher. The most well-educated and popular music teacher won’t do any good if there is not a connection with the student. A professional instructor will understand and respect your decision to do what’s best for you or your child. The right instructor will be passionate about music, measure you or your child’s progress, and be a great motivator.

Parental Support

If a student is to become successful, practice time must be consistent. Make it a “family night” to listen to your child practice what they have learned. Celebrate their accomplishments.

How to purchase the right piano for you or your child

There are three types of pianos:

Acoustic
Digital
Electronic keyboard

Below are some advantages and disadvantages of each:

Acoustic

A quality acoustic instrument that produces sound from real strings and real wood offers a level of responsiveness and a range of dynamics and tone color than even the costliest digital piano cannot match.

Cons:

The typical price range for a quality acoustic piano can run between $4,000 to $8,000. Due to their mechanism, they also need periodic tuning.

Digital

Digital pianos are designed to sound and feel as much like an acoustic piano. The keys are weighted to provide the right resistance to touch and are sensitive to pressure to give a range of dynamics (loud and soft). They come installed in a cabinet-style console and are smaller and less expensive than an upright piano, usually $1,000-$2,000. An added benefit is that they never need tuning.

Cons: While a digital piano cannot outmatch the true tone of an acoustic piano, it does an excellent job with sound and feel. I personally recommend the Casio Privia series, which are under $1,000. If you are looking for a step up, the Yamaha Clavinova series is an excellent choice.

Electronic Keyboard

Electronic keyboards are the most affordable way to get started but learning piano on a non-weight non-full-size keyboard is less than ideal and could even be discouraging. The weighted keys help build hand strength and a full-size keyboard enables advanced students to make further progress. Most electronic keyboards do not have weighted keys. I recommend upgrading to at least a digital piano as early as possible.