So you got a brand new piano you're ready to go and excited to learn but you need a teacher! So where's a good place to start if you need to find a quality instructor who is talented, educated and consistent?
As it stands, you currently have basically three choices. You can either contract with an independent instructor or go through an institution or music teaching network. All three options have their pros and cons and in the following paragraphs I will try to outline those details.
Searching for an instructor on the Internet
With the advent of the Internet a lot has changed in the last 10 years with regard to finding a private piano instructor. For one, it is much easier these days to have access to hundreds even thousands of piano teachers at the tip of your fingers. And with that kind of access also comes a lot of confusion and sometimes an overabundance of options. So how do you narrow it down? The first thing to do is decide exactly what it is you're looking for. For instance, if you're doing a search on the Internet with Google you should be very clear about the search terms that fit exactly what you're looking for. If you're looking for a private piano instructor that comes to your home be sure that is what exactly you search for. If you're looking for an instructor that doesn't come to your home but teaches out of the studio Your search term should probably be "Piano studio in" and then type the exact geographical area or ZIP Code you living in. This will help greatly narrow your search from the start. If you're looking for piano lessons for kids then you should type that exactly as well plus your geographical location.
With the advent of the Internet a lot has changed in the last 10 years with regard to finding a private piano instructor. For one, it is much easier these days to have access to hundreds even thousands of piano teachers at the tip of your fingers. And with that kind of access also comes a lot of confusion and sometimes an overabundance of options. So how do you narrow it down? The first thing to do is decide exactly what it is you're looking for. For instance, if you're doing a search on the Internet with Google you should be very clear about the search terms that fit exactly what you're looking for. If you're looking for a private piano instructor that comes to your home be sure that is what exactly you search for. If you're looking for an instructor that doesn't come to your home but teaches out of the studio Your search term should probably be "Piano studio in" and then type the exact geographical area or ZIP Code you living in. This will help greatly narrow your search from the start. If you're looking for piano lessons for kids then you should type that exactly as well plus your geographical location.
Independent instructor versus music teaching network
Most folks who are looking for any kind of contractor must consider budget first. Finding the balance between quality and affordability is usually the top concern for most people these days and that can be a tricky balance to attain. First, you have to know the typical range of price. In most US geographical areas the typical piano lesson ranges from $25 a half hour to $75 per hour depending on whether or not you're going to someone's studio or an instructor's coming to your home. The typical range for a 45 minute piano lesson is $50-$55 per lesson and $65 per hour. Be sure to find out if an independent instructor or institution offers a block rate. When purchasing a block rate please consider consistency. Most instructors will not offer a block rate with make-ups. Being consistent would be very important if you plan to purchase block rates from most companies and independent instructors.
Most folks who are looking for any kind of contractor must consider budget first. Finding the balance between quality and affordability is usually the top concern for most people these days and that can be a tricky balance to attain. First, you have to know the typical range of price. In most US geographical areas the typical piano lesson ranges from $25 a half hour to $75 per hour depending on whether or not you're going to someone's studio or an instructor's coming to your home. The typical range for a 45 minute piano lesson is $50-$55 per lesson and $65 per hour. Be sure to find out if an independent instructor or institution offers a block rate. When purchasing a block rate please consider consistency. Most instructors will not offer a block rate with make-ups. Being consistent would be very important if you plan to purchase block rates from most companies and independent instructors.
The advantage of an independent instructor is that you can barter and bargain much easier with an individual then you can with the company. The trade-off is a music teaching network or company does the hiring for you. They also make sure that the instructor's background checked, proficient in their craft and have a personality and teaching approach that works well with most people and kids. If you're not educated in this area it can sometimes be very difficult to choose the right instructor by yourself. When going through an institution or music teaching network you will pay 25 to 30% more but most people find that cost is well worth it when considering a return on investment over a long period of time. Having a consistent instructor that your kids respond well to is usually the determining factor in whether or not they will continue to take piano lessons throughout their childhood and hopefully into adulthood.
A note of caution when seeking piano lessons
Remember the old adage: you get what you pay for. This is very true when it comes to instructors, whether independent or through a teaching network. If your plan is to just go on Craigslist and find the cheapest person beware that you may end up with someone who could be inconsistent, lack the appropriate background and teaching methodology. There are also safety concerns to be considered as well so please choose wisely. When hiring any contractor go with your gut but remember that choosing an instructor on educational background alone does not always guarantee that they will be a good teacher. Personality, articulation and having a pleasant disposition are all key factors when it comes to finding a great instructor for private piano lessons.
Remember the old adage: you get what you pay for. This is very true when it comes to instructors, whether independent or through a teaching network. If your plan is to just go on Craigslist and find the cheapest person beware that you may end up with someone who could be inconsistent, lack the appropriate background and teaching methodology. There are also safety concerns to be considered as well so please choose wisely. When hiring any contractor go with your gut but remember that choosing an instructor on educational background alone does not always guarantee that they will be a good teacher. Personality, articulation and having a pleasant disposition are all key factors when it comes to finding a great instructor for private piano lessons.