Looking for a teacher

[italk2planes]

Hey, new here.  22; I have been teaching myself piano for about 6 months (been around music longer). After much thought I have basically set aside all major commitments outside of my FT job so I can really devote myself. A long-term goal is to play the original works of Scott Joplin. I thrive best with a demanding/challenging instructor. And I have a piano & keyboard too. IDK that's basically my profile. Any suggestions on finding a good teacher for me and what to expect? Is it better to have an instructor come to your house or you go to the instructor? ANd private vs. public? Any sugs appreciated!

[indianajo]

The continent you are on matters.  Also the hemisphere.
The traditional method here was to go to the piano store.  That is  less useful now that most cities don't have a piano store.  My parents asked the teachers at the elementary school to recommend someone at a PTA meeting. Lots of elementary school students take piano lessons.  The first teacher thought my skills after two years instruction by my mother  were beyond her, so I was passed off by her to another teacher she knew who was an excellent choice.  
In the USA you can check the American Piano Guild, a professional organization of piano teachers.  You won't get a personal recommendation that way like you would at a school or church.  They reccommend their members off a rotation scheme after geography is factored in.  
It is cheaper to go to the teacher's venue, rather than have them come to your house. Many teachers with a job in a church will not go to the house of someone of the opposite sex over the middle teen ages.  IMHO being of the same sex as your teacher is not important artistically.  
When at the first lesson, ask the teacher to play something he/she thinks you can play in a couple of years.  That will tell you what style of music they favor, and check their absolute skill level.  My teacher was not comfortable with non-classical music, and I had to learn Scott Joplin on my own after I quit taking lessons.  I understand that Fats Waller pieces are on the UK curriculum at the advanced levels, however, so that may have changed.  
I do not see the point of class instruction in piano. Music theory yes, the physical method of playing piano, no. Everyone's arms fingers and body are different so posture and fingering should be individual. The shape of my fingers and hands determined that I almost never used standard fingering notations, for example.  This didn't bother my teacher.   

[quantum]

Hi and welcome to Pianostreet.

Try your local registered music teacher association, or musicians union.  Agreed, personal recommendations are better.  However, if you can obtain a list of local teachers from one of those associations, you could do some research into your options.

[lojay]

Many teachers with a job in a church will not go to the house of someone of the opposite sex over the middle teen ages.

LOL...

Did anyone also read this as a pedo joke?  I guess you would have to remove "opposite sex" from the statement above.

[lojay]

Any suggestions on finding a good teacher for me and what to expect?

In your case, regular lessons will probably be extremely beneficial to you.

Try to schedule as many trial lessons as possible and be up front that you're actively looking for a teacher.

From personal experience, most teachers are absolute crap so you're going to have to filter through them.  I had a few cases where a teacher advertised as being able to teach "advanced" level students but was definitely not qualified to.  I've taken lessons with active performers that were terrible teachers and had to learn mainly through observation.

There are many teaching styles that are effective, so you have to find what works for you.

Is it better to have an instructor come to your house or you go to the instructor? ANd private vs. public? Any sugs appreciated!

I think the answer to these questions are determined by your personality and your expectations.

Some teachers will not travel.  You will limit the options by expecting an instructor to come to your house so be open to traveling.

I took a few group lessons at a music school and the experience I had was really revelatory.  You get to see other students perform.  To say I learned a lot by watching other students play is an understatement.  You're exposed to a lot more repertoire than you be most private settings.  You get to interact with other people who want to study music.  You get to play for other people (I think this is extremely important) on a regular basis although you do seem to get comfortable to the setting after a few lessons.

There are so many benefits to group lessons so I would recommend both if possible.


This is coming from someone about your age who was looking for an advanced intermediate level/advanced level teacher about a year ago.  I ended up stopping lessons do to a lack of time to practice, but in retrospect, the teacher I ended up with wasn't really a good fit for me.

[senanserat]

LOL...

Did anyone also read this as a pedo joke?  I guess you would have to remove "opposite sex" from the statement above.

I found it partly true and hilarious.

[bernadette60614]

Are you near a university with a music program?  One starting point is with a professor who also teaches.

[musiclessonsanywhere]

Why not try some online lessons? There's a lot of teachers listed here https://online-teacher-directory.com/