| To help prospective students find a
piano teacher, the local chapter of the Music
Teachers Association usually publishes a yearbook listing members'
names, addresses, phone numbers, and brief resumes. These
yearbooks are sometimes distributed to local schools and
libraries, and are available from some music stores,
music teachers and piano technicians. Call the local
chapter of the Music Teachers Association What's important
is personality fit, not just proximity. Interview the prospective teacher to get a feel for the right teacher for you. The
teacher should have some college education in music, but
the most important thing is to find someone you'll get
along with.
Spend some time getting to know the teacher, either on
the phone or in person. Make sure you have enough time
available to practice. Ask the teacher what kind of time
commitment is required each week, and what is their
recital schedule
Typically, recitals are small concerts, usually
in the teacher's home, where the students play for each
other, family and friends. Expect to devote some extra
time and energy getting ready for a recital.
If you can, decide what style of music you want to
learn – classical, jazz, pop, honky-tonk, rock etc.
Discuss with the teacher the style with which he or she is
experienced.
Also, it's good to hear the teacher play the piano.
It's not necessary that he/she be a world-famous virtuoso,
but he/she should play well enough to be able to
demonstrate musical selections on the keyboard. If you
really like the way he/she plays, you'll gain instant
respect for her/him as a musician. That will make the job
as teacher easier, and yours as student more fun.
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