Music Lessons: How to Select a Music Teacher for your Child

Submitted by admin on Thu, 09/03/2009 - 18:18

Key Tips:

1. Get word of mouth advice
2. Interview the teacher
3. Consider your budget

Music education can be an invaluable gift to your child, but as with any decision you will make regarding them, the choice of who will teach your child music lessons should not be taken lightly. Teaching music for young children is a special skill and talent, and the right teacher can make music education an enjoyable experience for your child that will foster a love of music for a lifetime.

Choosing a teacher for your child’s music lessons is much like deciding which instrument the child will learn to play. Just as there are dozens of possible musical instruments, some more suited to young children than others, not every music teacher will be a good fit for your child. But how do you determine which teacher is right for your child?

Follows these tips to help your child started on the rewarding road of musical education:

Ask around

Just as if you were looking to hire a nanny or babysitter for your child, word of mouth recommendations can be invaluable. Ask friends or family members if they can recommend a music teacher. If your child is in school, the school may have a music education program in which some of the teachers may offer private, in-home lessons. This may be a good place to start because the school can offer references regarding the teacher’s background, methods, and likeability ratings from the students.

Do your research:

Before you decide to sign up your child for music lessons based on a recommendation, bear this in mind: Just because a teacher is a good fit for another child (or if he is suited for teaching music to a whole classroom of children) doesn’t mean that he will the right choice for your child’s music education. It is important that you interview the teacher yourself to determine your own level of comfort with and confidence in the teacher.

Questions to ask a music teacher

· What are your qualifications to teach music?

· What teaching methods do you use? (rote memorization? playing by ear? reading music?)

· What musical instruments can you teach?

· Have you ever taught young children, or do you specialize in adults?

· What are your policies regarding lesson attendance, home practice, etc?

· Do you require my child to bring his own instrument to the lessons?

· How much do you charge for lessons? Do you offer a trial lesson?

· May I sit in on a lesson? The answer to this can be rather telling. If the teacher is unwilling to let you sit in on the music lessons, at least initially, you may be right in raising a red flag. Generally, a good music teacher will let you sit in on a lesson or two at the beginning to allow you to get a feel for how the lessons will run. Don’t be surprised if you are asked to sit out once the lessons progress, however. It is common in music education to have only the teacher and the child present, to help the child focus and not feel pressured by the presence of their mom or dad.

Fitting music lessons into your budget

Music lessons, even for young children, can run the gamut of price points. It is important to choose a teacher that not only suits your child’s needs and can teach your child the musical instrument she wants to learn, but also that you can afford to pay for the lessons. The adage “you get what you pay for” does not necessarily apply when it comes to music lessons. A very good teacher may be just as affordable as a lesser-quality one, and a substandard teacher may charge as much as a first-rate one. For that reason, it is important to interview the teacher as mentioned above, and to go into the search for a music education teacher with a full understanding of what you can, and can’t, afford.