As a professional piano instructor and lifetime piano student, I understand just how daunting a task it can seem trying to pick the right teacher for an individual's unique needs. Here are some tips to get you started.

First, ask yourself why you want to learn piano? Do you really like the instrument or do you want to learn it because everyone else is? What genre of music do you want to learn? Many parents choose classical for their children because it's seen as more educational, but this reason is not what will keep a student returning to the piano. It's good to establish what your own goals are first in order to find a teacher who can help you reach those goals.

Here are some questions you can ask prospective teachers. Ideally, you would be interviewing more than one.

-What is your background in music? Education and years of experience.

??-Do you work in other areas of the music industry other than teaching, such as performances, bands, conducting, music agency, etc.(this can be good if you are looking for connections, but it also tells you that the teacher is very passionate about music as a career)

-What piano methods do you use? Why?

-What levels do you teach?

-What genre of music do you specialize in teaching? Jazz, classical, pop, contemporary etc..??

-Do you teach improvisation?

-Do you get parents to be actives participant in their child's musical learning?

-Do you give students the opportunity to perform at recitals?

You can also ask for references.

Many teachers offer a free consultation. They offer this because piano lessons are a serious investment of time and money, so rather than having a potential student say no to piano lessons without even having experienced it, teachers like to make the students and parents as informed as possible. This is a win-win situation: the student can choose which teacher would be best suited to his/her own personality without having to commit straight way, while the teacher will weed out any potentially flakeiness.

If you do decide to take lessons, ask in advance if you can do a trial lesson period of 4 lessons first before committing completely. You will get a better feel of whether or not private lessons will suite your lifestyle and whether your personalities are compatible.

Hopefully this article will aid you in your quest for a good teacher. Make sure to take your time before commiting as there should be no rush. And remember, a reasonable teacher will understand how important it is to tailor match a pupil and a teacher. For more advice on piano lessons, visit the author's blog at http://pianolessonvancouver.com