So, you're ready to indulge that decades-old desire to take up the guitar. Or perhaps you're a proud parent looking to introduce your child to the wonders of playing a instrument, perhaps even joining a local orchestra in time. Next thing you need: some advice on how to choose a great music teacher.
Before we get there, though: congratulations! It's widely acknowledged that learning and playing an instrument can have enormous benefits. And the links between music and mental health are now generally recognised. And, of course, you're giving yourself - or your child - access to that wonderful, almost limitless wealth of music out there. Whether your ambitions run to performing 'Happy Birthday' on the piano or joining an orchestra for a performance of Beethoven's Fifth, there will be some joyous musical milestones along the way.
Add to that that you're helping to nurture the cultural landscape in your neighbourhood, keeping good music teachers employed and maybe eventually boosting a local chamber music group or orchestra, and we can see that learning an instrument brings many, many benefits.
But, once you've decided which instrument is for you, how do you start seeking out the music teacher who will be the best fit for your needs and learning style?
First things first. The best way of finding a music teacher is to ask around. Find recommendations from friends or others within your community. While there will be flyers and advertisements in supermarkets, newsagents and libraries, you can't guarantee the quality of the teaching. Recommendations are key!
Once you have established contact with a prospective teacher, a quick conversation should answer your preliminary enquiries and give you some idea about whether they are genuinely offering good advice. These are some top tips for choosing a music teacher.
Top tips for how to choose a music teacher
Find out how much the teacher charges for music lessons
A qualified music teacher should charge between £30 and £45 per hour in the UK, or $50 to $75 per hour in the US. That said, lessons with a first-class soloist may set you back by up to £200 / $250 an hour or beyond).
In the UK, the Musicians' Union recommends teachers charge a minimum of £38.50 per hour, although this rate also includes marketing and administration. You may find a cheaper way of learning an instrument is to join a group lesson, but the tutoring will inevitably be less tailor-made for you and you may not progress as quickly.
Remember that professional players will often be working or touring, and lessons will inevitably be more intermittent than they would be from a full-time teacher.
Choose the teaching method that works for you
If you've found a teacher that sounds good, you can now start to fine tune the way you want to learn. Is their teaching method structured in a particular way, or is it biased towards one particular system – such as the Suzuki method, whose tenets include saturation in the music community and a preference for learning by ear over learning from a score?
Carry out some research into the teaching methods favoured by the teachers near you. They may or may not be for you!
Do you want to do exams?
One thing you should think when deciding how to choose a great music teacher, is what musical success will look like for you. You should decide whether it's important for you or your child to be entered for graded exams – and how much focus you want to give to these exams. Some teachers will place more emphasis on exam results than others, so decide what your priorities are with learning an instrument and how you'd like to measure your success.
Do you need the teacher to come to your home?
If you need an at-home music teacher, you will need to find out early in the conversation whether that is possible. Some may work from their own homes, while others will base themselves at a studio, school or music college. They may be willing to travel, but might charge more for that.
If you're someone that works away from home or will struggle to be in the same place at the same time every week for a lesson, maybe ask whether you can learn with the music teacher remotely via Zoom. Ask the important questions now!
More top tips on how to choose a great music teacher
Does the teacher have access to bands or ensemble playing?
A great way to learn more about your instrument and the world of music-making more generally is to join an ensemble or take part in chamber music playing. It will help you grow as a musician, introduce you to interesting repertoire and give you more real-world performance opportunities outside of the practice room. Does your teacher offer opportunities for performance and playing with others with bands or chamber music groups?
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Are they focused on jazz or classical music?
For wind instruments such as the clarinet, saxophone and trumpet, the teacher might be geared towards classical music – but they also might specialise in jazz. You need to decide whether you're more interested in one or the other – or both! Your decision should influence your choice of teacher. The same goes for folk or trad playing: do you want to learn fiddle music or Bach sonatas?
What specific instrument are you interested in?
You've picked your instrument – but there may be several specialties within that field. For a percussionist, are you looking to learn the drum kit or tuned percussion? There are teachers that will specialise in one or the other – and many who'll look at both. Decide what you're interested in and choose your teacher accordingly.
