A piece I performed at one of my teacher’s annual concerts at the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney.
How To Choose A Piano Teacher
When looking for a Piano Teacher, you need to make sure that they have proper qualifications, such as the A.Mus.A. diploma and also have a good number of years of experience, particularly in teaching students to take the AMEB examinations.
There are many students out there who have reached a reasonably advanced level, to be able to teach younger students, or so they think.
The fact is, that young children starting out with learning the piano need a teacher who knows how to introduce the very early beginnings to a child properly.
This is so very important.
People think that just because the child is still very young and just starting out and the music to be played is very easy, then a piano student can teach them.
But that is very wrong.
The ability to introduce the piano to a child from the very first lesson is an important skill. It is usually not a skill that another student has. It comes from a qualified teacher, who has had many years of experience doing this type of teaching.
Do not be drawn in by lower fees from these students. They can very easily ruin those early, very important beginnings of a child’s music career.
Piano Teacher Style
It is also very important that your piano teacher is very approachable and good with children especially. Never stay with a teacher who is harsh or intimidating with your child. This only puts them off going to lessons. It totally defeats the purpose of learning music and enjoying it.
Unfortunately there are way too many teachers who are just like that. They become angry at the student, even raise their voice and turn the lesson into something that the child is afraid of. This is not what you want.
You want a teacher who will teach the student to enjoy the lessons, by using encouragement and proper communication to work through any problems there may be in learning.
Some parents think that they need to find a teacher who will teach their child discipline and that this is only done by someone who is extremely strict and intimidating. But the parents are missing a very important point. The child may be forced into practicing and through fear, do all that they are told to do.
However, music is not like learning to play football or some similar sport. Music involves emotion, beauty and the development of the love for it.
This cannot possibly be achieved through harsh tactics. A good professional teacher with experience and qualifications will know how to teach discipline without the intimidation. That is the skill. The student needs to be going back to the lessons with happiness and excitement at what they have achieved.
A good place to start looking for a qualified teacher is the NSW Music Teachers Association of NSW. It lists teachers by suburbs.
You will find a qualified, hopefully an accredited teacher here, so that is already going in the right direction. However, you still need to watch the other factors discussed. The importance of the attitude and personality of the teacher and their ability to make the student feel relaxed and comfortable in the lesson and to learn to play by being encouraged and supported, not frightened.
Natalie Bossi
A.Mus.A., M.M.T.A.
Piano Teacher
Enquire About Piano Lessons For You Or Your Child Today!
Natalie has 20+ years of experience in teaching piano, both for preparation for the AMEB examinations, or for their own interests. You can have confidence learning from a qualified piano teacher accredited by NSW Music Teachers Association.