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Piano lessons. (David Silverman/Getty Images)
Seeking to develop their child’s self-confidence, awaken his passion for the arts, or just to have fun many parents enroll him in music lessons. A piano teacher is crucial in helping frame a child’s outlook on music.
Whether for recreation, personal, or professional development, investing in high quality music education is important to the child’s musical development. Parents should familiarize themselves with current standards of their country’s musical institutions to ensure the prospective teacher has proper certification.
Proper certification ensures that teachers are qualified to help students develop towards advanced levels. The teacher must be familiar with current national requirements because music performance standards and requirements can change every few years.
It is important to be aware of levels set by music institutions because they might be able to be used as high school credits or when entering post-secondary education in a music program.
In addition to knowing if the teacher has proper certification, parents might consider where the lessons will be taught. Lessons can be given at a teacher’s or student’s home or at a music school. While home lessons may offer convenience, taking lessons at the instructor’s home or at a school, may ensure that a student takes the lessons more seriously. The space where lessons are taught should be safe, clean, and encourage musical curiosity free from distractions.
Similarly, consideration of access to performance space may be important. If you are looking for performance spaces to showcase your child’s ability or just to help him develop his performance or presentation skills, a teacher who has access to various performance spaces will be an asset.
The type of performance spaces available to your child may be worth considering as well. Competitive performance venues can negatively affect a child’s confidence. One music school, Synergy Performing Arts Academy in Brampton, Ontario, addresses the stress and anxiety associated with performance and they work to bring out the students’ enjoyment of performance.
If you aim to have your child become inspired by and appreciate music, finding a passionate teacher who is constantly learning and adapts lessons to students’ needs is also vital.
Thus, it’s good to sit in on a few lessons to observe the teacher’s approach. This allows you to evaluate the teacher’s personality. Is the teacher sensitive and considerate of your child’s physical needs? Pay attention if your child begins to complain about painful lessons or practice and let the teacher know. Piano lessons, although difficult at times, should still be enjoyable and should not be associated with tension or pain.
Attentiveness is another thing to look out for. One parent recently approached me to teach her daughter because she said during lessons a previous teacher had concentrated more on eating and putting on makeup than on teaching.
A teacher who is consistently present and on time for lessons demonstrates that she is dedicated to your child’s musical development. Moreover, setting this standard promotes the importance of discipline and regularity to your child.
It takes a couple of lessons to know whether you have made the right decision, so the parent should ask the teacher or music school whether they offer free trial lessons. Your child’s interest and performance is a good indicator to judge if you’ve made the right decision.
If you find yourself having to force your child to practice, you may need to let the teacher know. A good teacher can bring out a child’s genuine enjoyment for music, but only if he is interested.
Method of payments for each lesson must be made clear before enrollment. More importantly, consider that you pay for what you get. Some parents look for the cheapest lesson rates, however price can reflect the quality of the music school, resulting in less qualified teachers or poor physical environments.
Parents can expect the price for lessons to increase as their child advances in levels. The teacher must teach with more concentrated attention to detail as complex musical concepts begin to emerge.
This may seem like a lot to look for, but properly starting your child’s musical journey is your responsibility. Selecting the right teacher will help nurture your child’s passion and musical abilities, allowing him to reach his fullest potential.
Elaine Teguibon is a pianist and music educator.
