Finding the right private piano teacher for yourself or your child can feel like a daunting task, but this blog post is here to help. In this post, I will walk you through a straightforward process to make your search easier and more effective.
Start by creating a list of potential teachers who meet your criteria and have the experience you’re looking for (see Part 1 for more details). Once you have your list, reach out to the teachers. Depending on your preferences or theirs, this may include scheduling an interview, a trial lesson, or both. If you are going to have an interview, read this blog post to help you with the questions.
I encourage all students to have a trial lesson or period so that they can assess whether the prospective teacher will be a good fit without having to commit to a long duration of time (ie. more than a month). During and after the trial lesson/period, a student (as well as the parent/guardian, for students under 18) needs to evaluate the teacher on these key points:

Personality
Was the teacher approachable? Could you ask questions easily?
Was the teacher engaging or did it seem boring?
Were they speaking clearly with language you could understand?
If English is their second language, was their accent inhibiting communication?
If English is your second language, were they adjusting their vocabulary and speed they were speaking?
Did they treat you appropriately for your age?
Lesson Structure
Did the teacher dictate the structure or did the student have a say in the structure?
Was there an explanation about HOW to practice, not just what to practice?
Were there different activities in the lesson other than just playing pieces?
Does the teacher use a notebook or send lesson notes so you know what to work on?
Were you given enough to work on or do you feel it was inadequate?
How feedback is given
Was the feedback given constructive?
Were there compliments as well as improvements suggested?
Was the teacher open for discussions?
Punctuality
Did the lesson start on time?
Did the lesson end on time? If it ended late, did that inconvenience someone else or was that some bonus time just because it was the first meeting?
Communication
Was the written correspondence (email/text) clear to confirm the lesson time?
Did the original agreed upon time need to change at the last minute?
How fast/slow was the response time in responding to emails from the student?
Location
Was the location easy to find?
For those who drive: could you find parking?
For those who take public transit: was it easily accessible? How reliable are the transit connections?
How easy is it to get to when the weather is bad?
Are online lessons an option in the event of bad weather, illness, or time constraint for commuting? time conflict with another activity?
Is the lesson area quiet and free from distractions?
Is there a waiting area for parents/guardians/siblings?
Is a parent/guardian welcome to watch the lesson? Can a friend or other family member come on occasion to watch too?
How safe does the area feel?
If the answers to most of these questions are satisfactory for you, then you are ready to commit long-term with the teacher. Be aware that some teachers will ask for monthly or per-semester payments, and you can always ask what their termination policy is if something changes. If you felt that quite a few answers were unsatisfactory, then you can reach out to another teacher on your list and repeat the interview and trial lesson process.
Best of luck in your search!
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