A mom-friend of mine recently sent an email to a number of her contacts, including me not only as a friend but as someone who runs a business that specializes in arts instruction for children. Her nine-year-old’s piano teacher was retiring, and she was hoping to get some referrals for the next great teacher-student pairing.

Finding the right teacher for your child is so important, and there are a couple of things to keep in mind. The best PR is word of mouth, of course, and if a recommendation comes from a friend who has personal experience with a teacher, and knows enough about your child to know if the fit might be a good one, you’re off to a great start. It might be a good idea to check with the music or drama teachers at your child’s school, or the music director at your place of worship, to see if they know of anyone to recommend.
Since we don’t always have the benefit of having an inside track, there are other options to try besides an internet search or mining through a phone book. Local universities’ music departments often have “gig books,” or a listing of upperclassmen or graduate students who are studying private music instruction and are beginning to build their student rosters. Check auction items at school or other fundraisers – sometimes teachers will donate a lesson, which is a great way to get to know someone new at a reasonable price and for a good cause.

My company provides acting and business coaching, and I always want to be sure that clear goals are set between parent/ student and instructor at the initial meeting. With music lessons, the goals have a natural progression, but other types of private instruction can be tailored to fit the specific needs of a student (audition prep? Big presentation? General skill building?), providing a timeline and structure for the working relationship.

If your goals, and of course, goals for your child, are clear going in, it will be extremely helpful to an instructor in any discipline, and not only will you get the most from your investment, but it could be the start of a teacher-student relationship that will positively impact your child for years to come.