Are you looking for a music instructor whose standards of excellence are as high as those of the school you have chosen for your family’s general education? Do you have children or adults in your home who want to sing or play an instrument very much, and need to have the kind of instruction that will ensure success? Is there someone in your home who has had inadequate private music instruction who would like to try again?

Summer is still very much in the air, but South Florida families are already planning for the start of the school year. Now is the time to do some research to find the best possible music instructor to fill your needs. As in any endeavor, the right teacher can motivate and help develop the student to his or her highest potential, the wrong teacher can turn a person off forever. Of course, there is a great deal that the student must do after finding a good teacher, but the first step is finding the teacher. Following are some ideas and suggestions to help you on your way:

Find out about the teacher’s education, teaching and performing background and qualifications. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ask to see diplomas, certificates, awards and other documentation. Has the teacher had specific training in teaching? Check references. Call local music stores and the local music union to ask about the instructor, his methods and his students.

Find out about music organization affiliations. Most instructors affiliated with major organizations are continually upgrading their skills by attending seminars and classes about new techniques and developments. Like any other profession, music education is continually evolving and changing to meet the needs and technology of today’s world. Good teachers "in the know" keep up with these changes and are continually honing their skills.

Note the teacher’s personality. An instructor should be tough, but fair; demanding, but not demeaning. The teacher should demonstrate a great love for music, for teaching, and sincere regard for the student without over-familiarity. Does the teacher perform professionally somewhere? If you can, attend a performance. But keep in mind, a good performer may not necessarily make a good teacher. At the very least, ask the teacher to play (or sing) for you.

How many students does the instructor have? Has she/he dealt extensively with the age of the student you are interested in? Find out about his/her limitations – flexibility of hours, the style of music that he/she teaches. Does the teacher claim to teach all instruments? A teacher who claims to teach all instruments often does not teach any of them well.

Can you watch a lesson? Does the teacher know and teach theory in addition to playing the instrument? Does she/he have regular incentive and follow-up programs like tests, progress reports, juries? Are there student recitals? What about  maintaining motivation in students? Is there an evaluation before acceptance to determine aptitude, interest and placement? How does the instructor deal with "exceptional" children or adults? Is he/she capable of teaching the very young, or the very old? Does he/she tell the parent how to help without making the parent also learn the instrument? And what about telling the parent what not to do, so as not to turn the student off? Does the instructor  teach in the area in which you want lessons? Does he/she  maintain reference books and some kind of library?

Instructors should be familiar with the available music literature required for all levels of students. They should  write down assignments so that the student knows what to do. If needed, can the instructor  handle learning problems, "hyper" students, or whatever your specific needs require? Can they recognize these problems? In the case of very young children, are there special programs for these groups? Can they communicate with these age groups, if they plan to teach them? Some instructors are better able to deal with certain age groups than others. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You’re entitled to know.  

If you would like more information about SSMI, contact us by phone at (305) 754-3096, fax (305) 754-1543 or e-mail: musicdoc@bellsouth.net

Part II