Whether you or yourchild are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced pianist, searching for a new piano teacher can feel daunting and overwhelming. You might think "Where do I look? What credentials do I look for? How do I find a teacher? "This blog post will help you curb some of these challengers as it outlines the key factors in finding a teacher at each level.
Note the content is geared towards Canadian students; however, similar principles apply to other countries as well.
BEGINNER AND INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS
Where to look
Registered Music Teachers Sites
Provincial registered music teacher association websites, such as the Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association, have listings of teachers who have a minimum level of qualification, like a performance diploma and/or degree, and proven teaching experience.
Word of mouth
Asking family, friends, or acquaintances for recommendations can be quite promising. Knowing that a teacher has a good rapport and success with someone close to you is likely a reliable indication that they will be a good choice for you too.
Music Stores
Sales staff at music stores may have recommendations of teachers with whom they’ve connected. It is quite common for teachers to drop off copies of their business cards or resumés for staff to distribute to customers upon request.
Websites of Books
Book series’ websites often have teachers listed who use that curriculum.
Some examples are below:
Piano Adventures https://pianoadventures.com/resources/teacher-locator/
Piano Safari https://pianosafari.com/instructors/map/
Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) https://www.rcmusic.com/find-a-teacher
Conservatory Canada (CC) https://conservatorycanada.ca/find-a-teacher/
Classified ads
Facebook or Kijiji has the potential of being promising to find prospective piano teachers. Do proceed with caution as anyone can post on these sites without needing to prove their qualifications.
Google search
Searching online can yield a variety of results. After clicking on a teacher’s site do note your first impressions including how well the site is organized, its visual aesthetic, and its content. Some teachers will list the successes of their students (exam achievements, competition results, recital pictures etc.) to show that they are worthy to contact.
Local Music Schools
Music schools are possibilities, too. When choosing a music school, make sure that the teachers who teach there also have minimum qualification levels to ensure you or your child will receive high-quality instruction. Take note that some, but not all, music schools might not prioritize the best student-teacher match for the student, as they would rather fill a time slot that is vacant. However, you may get lucky and find the perfect match!
What credentials to look for
Conservatory Training
In Canada, there are two graded curriculums that classical pianists follow: the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) and Conservatory Canada (CC). Ideally your prospective teacher should have Level 8 minimum, though Level 9, 10 or higher is preferred. In the RCM curriculum, the final level, named Associate with the Royal Conservatory of Toronto (ARCT), can be obtained with two different specializations: Performance or Piano Pedagogy. In the CC curriculum, the final level, called Associate with the Canadian Conservatory of Music (ACCM) and is offered only in Piano Performance.
Postsecondary education
There are two common undergraduate degrees that music students acquire in Canada: a Bachelor of Music (BMus) or a Bachelor of Arts in Music (BA). If a college route was chosen, then your prospective teacher would have a diploma . It would be preferred that your teacher have one of these certifications, but there are many teachers that have completed conservatory training without obtaining a degree or diploma as well.
Piano pedagogy training
Ideally, your prospective teacher should have taken some courses in piano pedagogy (how to teach piano), as the ability to teach is not always determined by how well one can play. There are a few different options for this:
The RCM Elementary, Intermediate and/or Advanced Piano Pedagogy Certificate
Online courses, such as those offered by The Gorin Institute or Vibrant Music Teaching
Courses included in a university curriculum and/or a pedagogy specialization within their degree
Mentoring a teacher who has substantial teaching experience (10+ years)
Teaching experience
A few years of teaching experience with the age group and ability level that the student is at would be an asset. However, if you find a new teacher that you or your child bonds with, give them a chance, as new teachers might be more open to feedback or new ways of teaching which veteran teachers might not be.
ADVANCED STUDENTS
Where to look
Registered Music Teachers Sites
Provincial registered music teacher association websites, such as the Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association, have listings of teachers who have met the mandatory credentials (a conservatory diploma and/or post-secondary education) as well as proven teaching experience.
Word of mouth
Asking other advanced level pianists for their recommendation could be quite reliable. Knowing that a teacher already has students at approximately your or your child’s level will prove that they would have the experience to teach you as well.
University or College Teachers
Often, many university or college teachers have a few private students in addition to the students they have at the institution. Since these teachers regularly work with students at a high level, they would be more skilled to understand the nuances of advanced music.
Professional ensembles
Professional orchestras and choirs often have at least one pianist as part of their roster. You may be able to find the name of the pianist on the ensemble’s website, but you might need to contact the ensemble manager or administrator to get the contact information if the pianist doesn’t have their own website.
Competition results
Some competitions will have the names of winners along with the name of the teacher that helped them achieve that success.
What credentials to look for
Conservatory Training
It would be ideal if the teacher had an ARCT or ACCM Diploma in Piano Performance that was obtained at least five years ago. If a teacher is advertising that they teach advanced students, it should imply that they have continued to improve their skills and knowledge of repertoire above the ARCT/ACCM level.
Postsecondary education
A graduate or postgraduate level of education is preferred: a Masters of Music (MMus) or Doctorate of Musical Arts (DMA). Depending on your level, you may even be selective as to what university they obtained their degree from and who they studied with while attending the school.
Proof of student success
When a teacher is at this level, it should be very easy for them to prove the successes of their students (though it may not be publicly posted). It would be great to look for a teacher that has had competition winners (or at least students scoring in the top three), a record of students accepted to university/college, and/or students attending highly regarded music academy programs.
Performing experience
Your prospective teacher should have performing experience on the concert stage and/or recordings to listen to. They may have a list of repertoire they have performed as well, so you can see what era of music they specialize in.
Teaching experience
A few years of teaching experience at an advanced level would be a minimum. Many teachers will have had the opportunity to do some teaching during their degree(s), so even as a recent graduate, they can still say “four years experience” or more.
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