What to Expect at Your First Piano Lesson
If you feel nervous about your first piano lesson -- don't worry, you aren't alone! Most people feel some, or even a lot of, nervousness or fear before going to a piano lesson and there's nothing abnormal about this. Believe it or not, your piano teacher might feel a bit of nervousness too.
Knowing what to expect at your first piano lesson can help quite a bit. If you come at it with the idea of learning something new, you will have a lot of fun!
First of all, you'll probably arrive at your teacher's house or studio and greet them like any other person. Depending on the teacher, you might be asked to sit down at the piano right away or have a seat somewhere else for a chat. Remember that your teacher is just another person and is probably very interested in getting to know you!
You should never feel expected to "prove" yourself at your first lesson. An experienced teacher will always want to challenge and push you, but will be very sensitive to what is possible and what is not for a beginner. Usually the first couple lessons will be occupied with basics - learning the notes, using your hands and fingers, posture, etc.
If you ever sense a lot of condescension from your teacher, thats a good sign he or she might not be right for you. Your teacher should never make you or your child feel stupid or inadequate for not knowing something! On the other hand, they should have enough backbone to tell you if you aren't practicing hard enough or selling yourself short.
You should, in fact, feel like you are having a lot of fun at your first lesson! You might feel like things are "tough", but they won't be impossible, not if your teacher breaks each problem into parts and you practice every day.
After your first couple lessons, you can return to some of the questions from the previous page and give some more in depth answers:
1) Personality - Do you get along with this person? This is more important than you think. A teacher can be strict but should also be someone who you feel is on your side.
2) Goals and knowledge - Does the teacher seem confident about their knowledge of the piano? Are they interested in what your goals are, but strong enough to tell you when you need to take a necessary step you might not like?
3) Incremental steps - Does your teacher introduce things in understandable increments geared toward a long range plan?
I suggest that when you find a teacher that seems to work for you, you make a real commitment to staying with that person for at least a year. Piano is not always easy, but a teacher with your best interests in mind, who has a long range plan in mind, can help you along the way.
As you progress, you'll also find the need to: Reassess your Piano Lesson Goals.
