Choosing a Piano Teacher

My child has been learning Piano for nearly 9 months now - he is 8 years old. However, over these 9 months he hasn't been taught some basics like rhythm, how to read the music, count in beats, notation etc. I have been told these are the basics to learning piano.


I'm quite annoyed that I have spent a lot of money on piano lessons only to be recently told by different piano teacher that we have been using whilst on holiday that he has been held back and has not been taught the basics to learning piano. whilst he is good at playing notes - he is not playing the music correctly or understanding how he should play as he doesn't know the notations in the music. I feel really let down by the piano teacher and feel I have wasted a lot of money and not got much to show for it.


He does have the potential and the enthusiasm to learn the piano. Is it not being forced on him.


I'm keen to move him to another piano teacher but what do I look for when I choose a teacher? Obviously experience in teaching but what else? Is there a difference between the way chinese and western british children are taught? Is there any association/board where you can find a list of teachers?


I have no musical experience myself so need some advise urgently.

Hi Petals,


I am a piano teacher from Canada (moved back to HK 6 years now).

I understand your concerns from your post..... but honestly, I don't think it's fair to your first piano teacher who's taught your son for 9 months just because another piano teacher says he didn't teach your son well... etc. etc. etc.


Every piano teacher has their own method. All I can say, your first piano teacher had the most important period of time with your son..... starting from scratch.


There are many factors that a good piano teacher needs to take into consideration when designing and following an appropriate programme for the student. There is NO ONE fixed path or method.


This teacher you had in the summer, it's kind of un-professional to say all that in my opinion when he knows your son has been taking lessons from another teacher. All I would say, if I had the same opportunity is that your son has some weaker areas that needs to be focused on ... or needs to work on a) b) c) number of things.... etc.


Not playing music correctly? not understanding how he should play... etc. That's not fair to say that, as long as your son learned the basics in the first 9 months such as proper posture, basic notation knowledge, counting, how to play one hand, and two hands, and learned to practice every day as a routine... and last but not least, does he STILL enjoy playing the piano each day ?! Then, the piano teacher DID not rip you off or waste your son's time.


Unfortunately, there isn't an association that you can find a list of registered teachers in HK. Everybody does it by word of mouth. It's too bad, in Canada, we had provincially registered music teachers, and nationally listed teachers, all a parent or student had to do was look under what instrument, and what area for a qualified teacher .... but in HK, I have tried to start it, it doesn't work, every teacher just works for himself/herself......


Good luck !

thanks katetam, I have sent oyou a private message

forgot to say he does enjoy playing piano but just feel he isn't being shown correctly.

Hi girlie,


may I have some details about your daughter's piano teacher? where do you send her for lessons? how much you pay for each lesson? ... my son is 4, he likes music.

thanks.