How to Find a Music Teacher For Your Child
Or maybe yourself.
Background
I took piano lessons off and on from age six into my early twenties. And my late spouse taught guitar full-time for decades in the town we lived. He was also a regularly gigging musician. In summer, he taught “rock school” — week-long camps, in which he’d group young musicians and they’d learn how to “be a band” and perform, which is all very different from September-June lessons.
When a student didn’t practice (barring some weeks that are just too crazy/illness/regular-life-stuff), he’d discuss with a parent. When a student forgot to show up with their music books (ah! the ultimate way to get out of not-having-practiced), he’d send them out to take our dog for a walk around the block, equipped with doggy bag for the inevitable. (They would not forget their books a second time…)
He was respectful of people’s time, and had a clock in the waiting area for pre-lessons. Students were instructed to come in at their time, and out went the previous student. Students who fell in love with jazz — my spouse’s weak point — were scheduled as last of the day, and he’d give them extra time. All got their dollars’ worth. So this post is coming from these experiences. Read on…