How to find the right music teacher?

Article written in collaboration with Wiplay Music, by Tessa Hart de Keating

Finding a music teacher is easy. Yes, there are plenty, and many platforms are available to facilitate your search. However, finding the right music teacher is not so simple. In fact, it's a crucial step for those who really want to progress in their musical practice! Let's be clear: whether you're a beginner musician, amateur musician, or professional musician, your teacher can change your perspective as a musician... For better or worse! An excellent teacher won't just help you progress quickly: they will create a real connection between you, them, and your instrument. Conversely, a teacher who doesn't suit you could even make you dislike music... And that's not what we want! Music is above all a source of pleasure, a passion, and a true human adventure. That's why we're going to explain how to choose the right person, someone who can adapt to your learning style, goals, and level. Follow us: we guide you step by step to find the teacher who will make all the difference in your musical learning with partners like Wiplay Music!

When should I call on a music teacher?

Contrary to what one might think, it's not just beginners who call on music teachers! A teacher can intervene at different stages of your musical journey. Let me explain:

For beginners

If you're just starting to play a musical instrument and want to have a solid foundation, having a music teacher is almost mandatory. In fact, it will help you avoid bad habits and acquire a suitable learning method. For example, if you're learning to play beginner piano, you'll need some knowledge of music theory... And these teaching techniques are not improvised!

For intermediate musicians

You're quite comfortable with your instrument, already playing several pieces of music easily, but always the same ones? You'd like to expand your repertoire, but some concepts still elude you in mastering your instrument? Maybe you feel that your instrumental practice is stagnating. And that's perfectly normal, it happens to all of us! That's when a private teacher can make a difference. By identifying your blocks and weaknesses, they can offer you tailored instrumental teaching, such as music theory exercises, work on different music styles, or even deepening your musical culture.

For advanced musicians

Even advanced musicians, recognized in their field and sometimes surrounded by fans, may sometimes need an outside perspective. The most famous professional musicians or singers still work with coaches to perfect themselves! Did you know that Beyoncé and Mariah Carey both have vocal coaches, for example? When you've reached a certain level of practice, a teacher can accompany you in the concrete realization of your musical goals or in exploring new musical genres, for example.

What criteria should be checked to find a good teacher?

Pedagogy

Pedagogy in music, as in any practice, represents the very foundation of learning. You know it well: who hasn't had a teacher at school who failed to capture their students' attention, and whose classes were so boring that you couldn't say what you learned during the lesson? Well, all that is part of pedagogy! It is essential for imparting in-depth knowledge and technical skills. In fact, a good music teacher knows how to adapt their teaching style according to the student in front of them. Your teacher's pedagogical approach may include playful learning methods, a holistic approach (basically, taking into account physical, mental, emotional, family, social, cultural, and spiritual dimensions), or even traditional teaching techniques.

Experience

Does it seem logical to you? We'll clarify anyway: a music teacher with solid teaching experience is often better prepared to meet your needs. If they have taught in a music school, given private lessons, or trained multiple piano students, these years of practice are a reliable indicator of their expertise.

Kindness

To learn an instrument, you need to be motivated. But this motivation doesn't depend solely on you. If the people around you don't believe in you and don't create a positive learning environment, it will complicate things. And, without realizing it, your teacher contributes a lot to this. A kind teacher values progress, encourages their students, and establishes a relationship of trust. These are all the ingredients needed to create a motivating learning environment!

Listening

A good teacher is, above all, someone who knows how to listen. And here, we're not talking about music, but about you! They must be attentive to your desires, understand your needs, and grasp your goals to support you as best as possible. After all, if they don't listen to you, how could they really help you progress?

Passion

We know what you're going to say: "It's rare to make music out of spite. Generally, we do it because we love it, especially when we become a teacher!" It's true, but not everyone has the ability to convey this passion. A music teacher passionate about their profession as a musician and educator will know how to convey their enthusiasm for classical music, jazz, or other musical styles. You'll see, this passion is often very contagious and often inspires students to persevere in their learning.

How to choose?

Online reviews

Finding a music teacher works like finding a restaurant. We rarely go to a restaurant without looking at reviews, and even less to a restaurant with terrible reviews, with only one star left out of spite because you can't give zero... We therefore invite you to pay attention to the comments left by former students on specialized platforms or on their networks. These feedbacks can give you an idea of the quality of the human relationship and the teacher's learning methods.

Word of mouth

You might know amateur musicians or acquaintances who could recommend excellent teachers they appreciated. Don't hesitate to ask them for feedback on their experience: the pedagogy, the class atmosphere, the teacher's adaptability... These recommendations are often the best way to find a teacher who suits you.

Take a trial lesson

Sometimes, it's difficult to choose your teacher because you don't know in advance if they will suit you. In this case, the best solution is to ask for a trial lesson to see if a relationship of trust is established with the teacher, if their teaching style suits you, and if they can adapt to your level of practice. This will also prevent you from committing long-term and finding yourself in an uncomfortable situation.

Where to find THE right music teacher?

Now that you have all the information to find the ideal music teacher, it's up to you to do your research... No, we're just teasing. We didn't plan to leave you like that. We know it takes time and effort to find the person who suits you best. That's why there are solutions like Wiplay Music! Indeed, this music school offers to select one of their passionate and experienced teachers based on your needs.

Why choose Wiplay Music?

A personalized selection: Wiplay Music identifies your needs to select the teacher best suited to your profile. A quality human relationship: each teacher is selected for their pedagogical approach and musical support. Varied musical styles: whether you're drawn to classical music, jazz, or pop, there's a music style for you. Positive reviews: former students regularly testify to the quality of the musical education offered.

With Wiplay Music, you can learn to play your favorite musical instrument in a stimulating and friendly learning environment. They have teachers in many cities in France and strive to find you the teacher of your dreams. The only thing you have to do is get started! And to help you do that, enjoy free registration fees (€60) for all Wiplay course packages, as a Metronaut client!