How to choose a music teacher (7 questions to ask)

Being an outstanding musician and being an outstanding teacher are different skills. Here's what to ask before you book a first lesson.

1. Who do you teach most often — total beginners, returning adults, or exam-track students?

2. What does a typical first lesson look like?

3. What styles do you actually enjoy teaching?

4. How much practice do you expect between lessons?

5. Do you assign written material, recordings, or both?

6. How do you handle a student who plateaus?

7. What does progress look like in three months?

One lesson tells you more than any profile. Notice whether the teacher listens more than they lecture, whether they explain why rather than only what, and whether you left with something concrete to do.

A conservatory graduate who only teaches classical will be frustrating if you want to write songs. Pick for match, not credentials.