Finding Music Teachers

Music Conferences

Finding a Music Tutor

Regardless of age, playing an instrument can be very rewarding and, like everything learned, having an exceptional teacher is important. A quality teacher will have the knowledge and experience to guide their students in the right direction.

Important Questions to Ask

When looking for a tutor, there are certain questions to ask:

What experience do they have?
What kind of music do they teach?
What kind of students have they taught?
What is their teaching style?
How affordable are they?

In addition, there are also things you need to ask yourself:

Where do I plan to go with my music?
What do I wish to accomplish?
What are my musical interests?
How much time am I willing to dedicate?

With these questions in mind, the more successful you will be in finding a teacher that is best suited to you and leaves you satisfied with the direction of your lessons.

Experience

There are two forms of experience, performing and teaching, and it is imperative they possess both.

Performing experience proves musical proficiency and guarantees they have had actual "on the job training" that gives them the understanding of what it takes to be successful and to produce quality music.

Teaching experience, on the other hand, differs completely. It allows the instructor to discover hidden weaknesses and assists them with their own musicianship. A tutor who has been educating for a while has had the time to learn these flaws, make corrections, and provide a more knowledgeable service to their pupils. Remember, you are the employer and you do not want to hire someone who does not meet the requirements.

Personality, Attitude & Foresight

Attitude and personality greatly affect a learning environment. Music is intended to be fun, so look for a tutor who enjoys what they do, can relate to you as a student, and is focused on your success. An instructor who views teaching as a job and has a difficult time connecting with their students, will limit your productivity. Anyone will tell you learning from someone you connect with is much easier, so why torture yourself with someone you dislike?

Good tutors will also know what objectives you will need to target and provide a roadmap to follow. This should be customed around your goals and what you look to gain from the lessons. Make sure that you and your tutor share equal interest in your improvement.

Flexibility

Versatility is an integral aspect of a good teacher. When looking for a tutor, look for someone who is flexible both professionally and musically.

There will come a point in time when you will want to expand your repertoire of instruments, and lessons from someone who is experienced with numerous instruments will be beneficial. If your instructor does not have this instrumental flexibility, you will be forced to find another teacher and create the bond you would have built with the current tutor.

Also, choose someone who is dependable and regularly provides lessons. Recurring lessons will improve your skills tremendously and increase the likelihood of retaining new theories and practices. If your tutor regularly fails to make appointments or constantly reschedules, it will take away from your overall progress.

Conclusion

Finding a competent tutor is critical when learning a new instrument. Make sure you find someone who has the musical experience and competence to instruct. Little to no experience will not benefit you as a student. Also, ensure you and the prospective tutor are compatible on an individual level. Learning should be enjoyable and a personality conflict will cause tension and will ultimately hinder the learning process. Finally, look for musical and professional flexibility. Putting time into finding the right teacher will create a pleasant learning environment and make for more productive lessons.

R. Wilkins

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