Over the years I have had to move a few times to continue my education and become the best teacher I can. Unfortunately, that means I’ve also had to say goodbye to quite a number of wonderful students. I always hope my students will find a good match with their new teacher. I try to provide my studio with resources that will help them find a great match and they will be able to stay with that teacher for years to come!
Whatever the reason for your search for a new violin teacher, hopefully this guide will be of help to you!
The Do’s and Dont’s
Ok, wait. This can seem daunting, for sure. You may be tempted to procrastinate finding a teacher. Please don’t! Especially if you just happened on your previous teacher, or are looking into lessons for the first time. Don’t worry! I got you.
First things first, what are your goals?
Are you looking for a teacher to push you to becoming the best, conservatory-track musician you can be? Are you in the market for a community of friends that share common interests and to be immersed in a vibrant and passionate environment that encourages you to be a good person and a great musician? Or are you just in it for the fiddle tunes? (Really any of theses are ok!)
Dos and Don’ts
DO:
-Take your time! Try to start early if you know you need to find a new teacher. And don’t worry about taking some time to find the right teacher if it is sudden- just practice your scales!
- Utilize resources in your area! Suzuki Association of the Americas, American String Teacher’s Association, local youth orchestras or school music faculty. Also local universities.
- Have your questions prepared. Do you want to know about their education? How long they’ve spent teaching? If they have recitals their students play in? When is group class?
- Preliminary snooping! Go to their website or social media page to find out anything you can! Studio location, studio size, group class activities, events, etc. Remember when we talked about goals? Look at their studio policies. Do they require group class? (If they are a Suzuki teacher, the answer is usually yes! Stay tuned for an upcoming piece about the group class requirement) Do they post on social media congratulating their seniors for getting into prestigious schools? Do they have a lot of students in youth orchestras? Maybe they just have a drop in jam session once a month!
DON’T
- Just go with the first teacher you find (unless you did your due diligence!) out of convenience, or to expedite the process. Doing so will actually draw out the process by quite a lot if it really isn’t a good fit.
- Just go with the cheapest, closest, etc. Again, if its not the right fit, you may find yourself seeking a new teacher sooner than later, further drawing out the process of finding that perfect teacher for you!
- Compare to your ‘old teacher’. Try to find the positives in each teacher and not the differences between. There are always going to be differences, because every person is different!
- Feel bad after a trial period or lesson if you want to study with a different person. The teacher will likely follow up with you, at which time you just say you have decided to study with someone else. This won’t hurt their feelings! They will be happy to hear you have found someone you really connect with!
Finally, DO communicate your goals to prospective teachers, and DON’T hesitate to reach out to your old teacher or myself to help you find the teacher that is right for you! This is an important step in the process, so let’s make sure you get it right!
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