Lessons | Choosing a Teacher

This site is created as a comprehensive tool for self-study. That being said, I want to emphasize that private music lessons offer invaluable coaching and perspective. Music is an intricate system to learn. There will be areas of your skill-building that you may be neglecting altogether, need clarification on or feedback on. You will experience mistakes, misunderstandings, and at times struggle with some elements of your practice. A teacher will be able to help steer you on the right course. Lessons not only create a space for such clarity but also help make you be accountable to your practice and expose the areas that you are neglecting. Even the act of leaving your usual practice space and playing for someone other than a loved one is an important process to build confidence and perspective.

Do your research into your prospective teacher and make sure they are the right fit. If you want to learn classical repertoire, then find a classical teacher. If you want to learn pop or rock or blues or jazz or any other music contemporary style, then try and find examples of your teacher's work that you can listen to. Your teachers sound must evoke something in you if not be the sound that you are chasing.

Don’t be afraid to try other teachers if you experience more confusion than clarification. Scrutinize your experience within your lesson. There will be times that you progress slower than expected or experience some disillusionment, but generally speaking, your lesson should sequentially build strength and ability. I was with a brilliant teacher for a number of years and found that they become complacent with my growth and that the lessons grew less and less beneficial. I swapped to a new suitable teacher and the change was exactly what I needed.

Finally, there is little achieved by taking music lessons and not practicing. It will waste not only your money but also your valuable time and effort. Your practice is where you develop and strengthen, the function of the lesson is to inform and assist you navigating your practice. Making the most of each lesson is to be prepared through deliberate practice and being meticulous in questioning and understanding the elements you are working on.