Finding a teacher, any teacher, is an important decision that requires time, energy, and finesse.The easiest way to go about it would be to just jump on a search engine the same way you would if you were looking for a grand piano or a upright piano and find someone close, but a friend’s recommendation is often times much better. There are a few factors that you have to weigh against each other when deciding on a piano teacher. Decide what works for you and what has your child feeling comfortable. Everyone has different priorities, but what most parents are concerned about are:
Teaching style: Each piano teacher is obviously going to be unique in their own way. Some focus only on fun. They teach power chords, and they shy away from the fundamentals. On the other side of the coin you’ll find a piano teacher that is all method and they suck the joy out of learning. The key is to find a good balance between the two.
Availability: The only problem with good teachers is that they are always busy. They might be the most wonderful teacher in the world, but it won’t matter if you can’t fit into their schedule. It might be better to go with your second choice teacher that has availability than to regularly miss classes with someone you feel is better.
Cost: As with most things, you get what you pay for. If you find a piano teacher that has a web site and multiple students, they tend to cost more. But they’ll also have a structured lesson with a proven technique. If you decide to go with someone cheaper, they might not be as polished.
Make sure that you keep your options open. Meet with these people, and learn about them. Some teachers will even offer a free trial lesson. Remember to put the work in for this. Nothing crushes a child’s desire to learn faster than a bad teacher.