Piano Lessons

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Choose a piano teacher based on experience and education, not just on price. Interview that teacher to find a good fit for you or your child. A no-obligation interview allows you to view exactly what is offered for the price you will pay. Piano lessons are an investment! Make sure you are getting a high quality piano education for what you give.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. There are many piano teachers who have done a lot of playing, but have very little training "how to teach." A trained piano teacher can teach more efficiently with techniques that help your student learn correctly the first time.
A teacher that has a "program" or "plan" for the students in her studio, shows that she is teaching with a goal in mind. Look for evaluation programs and recitals, that give your student a chance to polish his/her playing!
When a student learns good technique, she learns the skills that will allow her to play any music in the future. If the teacher includes theory training, then the student comes to understand "how music works," and that makes learning the music easier and more fun!
Sight reading solidifies learning to the point that a student can play "on sight" at a certain level. This is one of the most important skills your student can learn.
Ensemble playing (duets, duos, etc.) is extra fun, and allows students to play with each other, while learning how to listen to their partner. This is much different than playing only with the teacher.
Since piano playing can be very solitary, group lessons allow for social interaction and learning from peers. Sometimes this is more motivating than learning from the teacher!

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. How long have you been teaching?
What training have you had?
Do you have a degree or certification in piano teaching?
What do you do to keep your education current?
Tell me about the evaluation programs you have.
Do you teach theory and technique?
Are your students ever "tested?"
What motivation programs do you have?
How do you incorporate sight reading into the lesson?
How often do you have recitals?
Do you include ensemble playing in the studio?
What do the students learn in group lessons?
Can I interview you?
Can I come listen to you teach?
Do you have references?