We don't have an instrument yet... Where do we start?"

At what age can a student start?"

Looking for a music teacher does not have to be confusing. MusicLessonMatch.com has asked the teachers and music schools to include information that is pertinent to families selecting a teacher.

Further down this page:
Teacher Interview Questions
Questions to Ask Your Child After a Lesson
Eight Common Questions Asked by Parents - Answered by a Music Teacher

1. Do we want to go to the teacher or should the teacher come to us?
   It is very convenient to have a music teacher that comes to your home. It can also be important for lessons to be in a community music school or private teacher's home where the student is away from the distractions of home. This is a personal choice and learning style and scheduling will be factors.
2. What are we willing to pay for a music teacher's time? The average depends on your part of the country. A rural area teacher may charge under $20 per half an hour, while in a large metro area it is not uncommon to pay in the range of $25-35 for the same lesson. Teacher background and experience is also important. It is unrealistic to expect that a teacher with several years of university music training should be paid $20 per hour just as it is unrealistic for a university student to ask $70 per hour.
3. What instrument does our child or do I want to learn?
   The most popular instrument to begin with is piano. This is followed by guitar and then singing lessons. A family has to really think about what they want to learn and play. Piano is a great beginning instrument as you can start with an inexpensive keyboard and move to the piano when ready.

Have this list of questions handy to help interview or contact a potential teacher.
Please read our terms and conditions prior to contacting any teacher.

1. "What is your music background?"
   In other words, does the teacher have a B. Music (which is typically a 3-4 year university degree where music was studied almost exclusively.) Some teachers may have even Master of Music (2-3 years beyond the bachelor degree) or Ph.D (3-6 years beyond a Masters.) You will hear many teachers talk about grade in music and perhaps mentioning Royal Conservatory of Music. A grade 8 level of music is equivalent in some provinces to Grade 12 in high school. An ARCT is a diploma awarded to a high level of playing and proficiency in many disciplines in music.
2. "Can we check 2 references?"
   Quality studios or teachers will quickly provide these to you upon request. You can get a feel for what other parents/students are saying and thinking. Be sure to find out how long they have been with this teacher and if they are happy with their lessons. Ask them if they have any concerns with their teacher and what they are. You then have a better way to see if this is the right teacher for your family.
3. "Could we see a police background check?"
   Any teacher can and should easily provide this to you. This should be a mandatory question for any family looking for a teacher teaching children. A background check is very low cost and should have the name of the local police station that performed it on it, so if you wanted to check further into it you could. There are even online Canadian services that can be used, or you could contact the local police station for details on how to perform a check yourself.
4. "Is this your fulltime or part time career and for how long have you been teaching?"
   In other words, do they teach music for a career or are they doing it on the side for some extra income. Full time musicians/teachers may have more training specific to music education. Part time music teachers may be just as devoted. It may help you understand the teacher a bit better to ask this question.
5. "Do you have recitals for your students throughout the year?"
   It is important for students to have the opportunity to showcase their skills. If a student is not comfortable or too shy to perform the opportunity to sit through a recital of peers is awesome and can be very motivating. A solid music studio should have performance opportunities throughout the year.
6. "Could we sit through a recital or schedule an interview/trial lesson?"
   Any quality teacher would love for a potential student and their family to either sit through a recital or meet face to face prior to beginning formal lessons so that both parties are clear on the expectations. If you are able to sit through a performance by the teacher or a recital of their students, you could then ask other parents about the teacher, policies and anything else you feel is important.
7. "May I sit through the lessons?"
   Parents should ALWAYS be granted access to sit in on any or all of the lessons whether they are in your home or in a studio. NEVER accept a teacher who does not have this policy. It is for safety and peace of mind for all parties involved. Many parents also sit through every lesson so they can learn along with the child and support their practice efforts. Please refer to our terms and conditions prior to contacting a teacher.

1. "Tell me about something new you learned."
2. "What was your favourite part of the lesson?"
3. "What part of the lesson was the most challenging>"
4. "Teach me something you learned at your lesson."
5. "If there is anything else you want to share with me now or later I will listen to you."
   Let's face it, sometimes after an intense lesson we all may need a bit of space or down time, particularly if the material covered was challenging. Give your student the space to unwind and talk about the lesson in his/her own time.

1. "What if we don't have an instrument?"
   Start simple. Ask the teacher for recommendations. It may not be advisable to jump into purchasing a grand piano when a keyboard or electric piano may be suitable to start.
2. "How long are lessons, usually?"
   Typically, beginner lessons are 30 minutes weekly.
3. "How old do children have to be to begin lessons?"
   The average range of a beginner student can be anywhere from 6-10 years. Some studios will have students wait until they can read while others will have extensive music programming for 3-4 year olds. It is best to ask the individual teacher.
4. "What are the costs involved?"
   There may be four separate costs involved in lessons.
   • Lessons - the most obvious cost, of course. Costs vary drastically across the country. It is not uncommon to pay $15-20(per half hour) in a smaller rural areas and well over $30 per half hour from an experienced, educated teacher in a larger metro area.
   • Some music schools may have a registration fee.
   • Books and supplies
   • An instrument
5. "What is the Royal Conservatory of Music?"
   Royal Conservatory of Music is a program of study. If a student takes their programming and exams this can eventually lead to possible high school credits depending on the province and exams completed.
6. "Should I be asking a teacher for references or background record check?"
   YES!!! Please don't be shy or feel like you can't. If you feel this way... walk away from that teacher or music school listed here or elsewhere. There is NO requirement or official licensing for private music teachers so it is up to you to do your due diligence when hiring a music teacher from the listings here or elsewhere. Please use the resources available to you on this site and ask, ask, ask. Call references and ask for a background check before going ahead with ANY lessons.
7. "What is theory?"
   Theory is the study of the elements of music. It usually takes on a written form. Music History, Harmony, Rudiments and Grade 1-5 theory are usually mentioned when speaking about theory.
8. "What is the best instrument for a beginning child to start with?"
   This is a personal choice for you and your child to make. That being said, the most popular instrument on which to formally take lessons is the piano or keyboard.