What to Look For in a Teacher

If you are looking for a Suzuki Teacher, you have come to the right place. You can search our database for teachers in your area.

Before you start calling teachers, think about what you’d like to know, and make a list of questions to ask.

Choosing a music teacher is a big decision. Your child's teacher is usually THE adult that will be a part of your child's life the most - second only to family members. Choose a teacher that is the best personality, coupled with experience to work with your child and family. Don’t think of music lessons as an experiment. “We just want to see if we like it.” Think of music lessons as an investment. Think of it as a long term commitment, because it is.

The first question parents often ask about music lessons is “How much do you charge?” Of course cost is a consideration, but there are other good questions to ask.

You will want to know about their program. How is it set up? How long are the lessons? How often? Is there parent training? Are there group lessons? Are there recitals? When is note reading introducted? What importance is placed on listening?

Do they belong to the local Suzuki Association? If the teachers are in our database they belong to the SAU, but if you were referred to the teacher by someone else you may want to ask.

You may want to ask potential teachers about their experience. How long have they been teaching? What ages have they taught? What is their experience in working with parents? What is their experience in working with challenging students? This is particularly important if you have a child with a learning challenge.

What about children? Does the teacher you’re interviewing get along well with children? At what age do they like to start students? Do they work with teenagers? Can they get along with adults? Do they have students that are the age of your child?

You might want to ask about the teacher’s training, and how they became a Suzuki Teacher. What do they love about Suzuki Method? Why did they choose it?

If both of you are comfortable with the conversation, you may want to observe the teacher at a lesson of a child who is near the same age as your child. Since your child is a beginner, you will want to observe a child who is near the beginning.

For some teachers, observing a lesson is a requirement before beginning lessons. This is a good way to be sure that the parent is comfortable with the teaching style and that the teacher is a good match for your child. A teacher may also want to see if the parent is committed enough to come and observe.

Some teachers may offer or require parent training before beginning lessons with your child. This is a valuable thing, so be sure to take advantage of any training offered.

If you take your time finding the right teacher for your child, you will be off to a good start.