If you are looking for a piano teacher, it’s important you take your time and find someone that’s right for you.  You could be looking at having lessons not just for months, but even years. So it’s vital that you both have great chemistry. If you choose the wrong person, then you might be put off for life!

Here are 6 important qualities to look for:

1. Patience

Your teacher must have patience! Without this, it just won’t work.

This is especially important when you are a beginner and need to learn the basics. There will be times when you get frustrated all by yourself, so you certainly don’t need someone else getting frustrated along side you! You may want to consider asking other pupils if they are happy with the teacher, and obtain recommendations. If a friend refers them to you, this is always a good start.

A patient teacher is an absolute must, so make sure you consider meeting with them first to discuss what your goals are, and have a chat about your musical tastes so the teacher is aware of what you’d like to learn.

Ideally your first lesson or meeting should be a mixture of chat and play. You need to discuss what your musical tastes are, and what you’d ultimately like to achieve. You shouldn’t jump straight into the lesson before this has been agreed upon. Then sit down at the piano and see how you connect with the teacher when they begin to instruct you.

However, it’s also important to find someone that is also assertive, and someone you have respect for. If you are not practicing as much as you should, and you are getting lazy; then you need someone to also give you a gentle nudge in the right direction.

Finally, don’t forget that patience is a two way thing. You must also be patient with yourself. Learning the piano is not going to be easy, so don’t get frustrated and beat yourself up if you can’t quite grasp something. Have patience with yourself, and keep practicing. You will get it in the end!

2. Passion

Your teacher needs to be passionate about what you are learning – and you do to!

If your teacher isn’t passionate about the music, then you aren’t going to get very far.

Learning to play any instrument is not only time consuming, but very frustrating at times. Not only do you need patience, but you need to be driven by passion in order to succeed. However, your passion is not enough to get you by. Your teacher must share this passion, which will easily show (or not) during the lessons.

3. Know the style

Your teacher must be comfortable with the style you choose, and must have experience. If you want to play classical, or you want to learn the blues; your teacher must be proficient in these styles.

Most piano teachers have experience in a varied number of styles, but make sure you discuss this with them first.

4. Inspiration

When we talk about inspiration, we would usually refer to what inspires us to learn. It could be a famous musician, or a song that we love. Whatever it may be that inspires you to want to play the piano, we must always remember that inspiration can be much closer to home.

Your teacher should also be one of your biggest inspirations. Let them play for you, and show you how it’s done. This isn’t just a chance for them to show off, but a chance for you to not only watch and learn, but to be inspired up close and personal.

5. Dedication

Your teacher must be dedicated to you and your needs.

One to one tuition is the most effective way to learn an instrument, but if you do attend classes then make sure your teacher is dedicated to helping you in the right areas.

A dedicated teacher will understand exactly what you need and make sure the time and effort is spent in the right areas. You may be struggling with a difficult scale, or there might be a few bars of a song you need help with. A dedicated teacher makes note of this and applies more time and effort into these areas.

6. CRB

If you are choosing a piano tutor for your child you should always ensure they hold an enhanced CRB check (not just basic). This is for your child’s protection, and your peace of mind.

To find out more about the CRB check, click here.