Musical Instruments for My Kids

[Copelius]

What should I look for in determining whether or not an instructor is qualified?

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Credentials for starters. In mormon culture, if a lady can play hymns, she holds herself out as a piano teacher doing a great disservice to her students. The prospective teacher should have a degree or at the least some collegiate level training. Depending on how involved you want you kids to be in the music scene, the teacher can be involved in some kind of music teachers' federation that allows her/his students to be judged by other teachers. If it coincides with the time of year for that studio, you could attend a recital of the studio.

Most importantly is parental involvement. If you can, a parent should attend lessons for the first little while and then involve yourself with the practicing to make sure that the practicing coincides with the lesson instructions. (The teacher should send written practice instructions home after every lesson.) Nothing frustrates a teacher more, and retards a student's progress more, than failure to practice as assigned.

BTW this works for all instruments (or voice). My wife and I met in the music program at BYU and I taught voice for a couple years when I had a predictable job schedule. She has a full piano studio and has been teaching since starting college.

[BigFatMeanie]

Credentials for starters. In mormon culture, if a lady can play hymns, she holds herself out as a piano teacher doing a great disservice to her students. The prospective teacher should have a degree or at the least some collegiate level training. Depending on how involved you want you kids to be in the music scene, the teacher can be involved in some kind of music teachers' federation that allows her/his students to be judged by other teachers. If it coincides with the time of year for that studio, you could attend a recital of the studio.

Most importantly is parental involvement. If you can, a parent should attend lessons for the first little while and then involve yourself with the practicing to make sure that the practicing coincides with the lesson instructions. (The teacher should send written practice instructions home after every lesson.) Nothing frustrates a teacher more, and retards a student's progress more, than failure to practice as assigned.

BTW this works for all instruments (or voice). My wife and I met in the music program at BYU and I taught voice for a couple years when I had a predictable job schedule. She has a full piano studio and has been teaching since starting college.

I echo everything Copelius has said. If you live in Utah, start with http://www.utahmta.org and use their "Find a teacher" feature. Other locales will have something similar.

Parental involvement and will is the single biggest factor in kids learning to play the piano. I've ranted before on this forum about parental will/spine when it comes to piano lessons.

[Pelado]

breast size, imo

Irrespective of shape?

Credentials for starters. In mormon culture, if a lady can play hymns, she holds herself out as a piano teacher doing a great disservice to her students. The prospective teacher should have a degree or at the least some collegiate level training. Depending on how involved you want you kids to be in the music scene, the teacher can be involved in some kind of music teachers' federation that allows her/his students to be judged by other teachers. If it coincides with the time of year for that studio, you could attend a recital of the studio.

Most importantly is parental involvement. If you can, a parent should attend lessons for the first little while and then involve yourself with the practicing to make sure that the practicing coincides with the lesson instructions. (The teacher should send written practice instructions home after every lesson.) Nothing frustrates a teacher more, and retards a student's progress more, than failure to practice as assigned.

BTW this works for all instruments (or voice). My wife and I met in the music program at BYU and I taught voice for a couple years when I had a predictable job schedule. She has a full piano studio and has been teaching since starting college.

I echo everything Copelius has said. If you live in Utah, start with http://www.utahmta.org and use their "Find a teacher" feature. Other locales will have something similar.

Parental involvement and will is the single biggest factor in kids learning to play the piano. I've ranted before on this forum about parental will/spine when it comes to piano lessons.

Thank you.

[Walter Sobchak]

Parental involvement and will is the single biggest factor in kids learning to play the piano. I've ranted before on this forum about parental will/spine when it comes to piano lessons.

Thank you.

Pelado, make sure you keep your kids on target. Your goal is this (if you have the spine for it):