Piano Guide for Kids and Parents
Finding the Best Piano Instructor
for Your Child
Rose Park
12/05/21 • updated 4/15/24 • 4 min read
As a parent, picking the right piano instructor for your child can be challenging. You want someone who will not only develop your kid’s piano techniques, but also encourage a lifelong love of music.
The good news is, once you know what to look for, the qualities that make a piano teacher really professional and a great fit for your child are easy to tell.
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Customized Lessons Tailored to Your Child
The best and ideal piano teachers understand that each child is unique, with their own strengths, areas for improvement, and personal interests and goals. They won’t simply force your child into a fixed, one-size-fits-all curriculum. Instead, they’ll take the time to get to know your kid as an individual, assess their current level, and build a personalized learning plan just for them.
For example, if your child struggles with keeping a steady beat, the teacher might design lessons focused on rhythm training with the metronome. Alternatively, if your child lacks finger coordination, the instructor could give tasks to strengthen finger muscles and practice coordination drills repeatedly.
What are some good piano books for kids just starting out?
For kids just starting out, there are a couple of great piano books to consider. One favorite among teachers is the Faber Piano Adventure Series. Starting from primer level 1, this offers a fun and solid curriculum that works well for young beginners all the way up to adults. Teachers find it easy to guide students through the concepts, with exercises that complement other resources.
While books like Faber are a great place to start, professional piano teachers go beyond them. They’ll introduce your child to all sorts of music styles, from classical composers like Mozart to modern tunes like Star Wars. When it’s time to learn these pieces, the teacher will help your child put together the songs and get ready for performances or competitions, all to boost their musical skills.
Learn more about the piano method books for kids on “8 best piano books for beginners.”
Review and Assess the Teacher's Backgrounds
Educational credentials
As a parent searching for the piano instructor for your child, it’s important to carefully assess each potential instructor’s educational background. The most qualified piano instructors typically hold a Bachelor’s degree in piano performance, showcasing their extensive knowledge and expertise with the instrument. An even higher degree, such as a Master’s or Doctorate, shows that the teacher is even more skilled and can help kids learn piano more effectively and advance their skills more quickly.
For young beginners aged 7 to 10, you can start with a teacher who holds a Bachelor’s degree in cello from a recognized college, or someone who specialized in music education with a focus on piano. Instructors with music education degree can provide a solid foundation in basic piano skills, note reading, and music theory. However, as your child progresses beyond the beginner level (possibly after a year or so), you may want to consider transitioning them to a teacher with more advanced piano degrees and pedagogy experience.
For children older than 10, or those ranging from beginners to intermediate level, any piano instructor with either a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in piano and over 5 years of teaching experience will likely be an ideal fit.
Teaching experience in piano
We generally recommend parents to look for a piano teacher with at least 3 years of teaching experience. This requirement serves as a minimum standard, indicating that the teacher has maintained a piano studio consistently for over a year and has taught students of all ages and levels.
Performing experience
The third step is to review the prospective piano teacher’s website and bio. Take the time to read through their resume and look for any mention of performance-related achievements, both personal and those of their students outside of the studio.
Ideally, your child’s piano teacher should have descriptions of winning or participating in piano competitions, whether as a soloist or in music ensembles. Their resume should also highlight other performance experiences, such as recitals, summer music festivals, masterclasses, and concerto performances.
If the website includes any samples of live recordings, take the time to listen. Watching your child’s potential instructor play the piano can give you valuable insight into their skills and musicality.
Background check
We often get asked about background checks by parents. Before you sign up for a trial lesson, just double-check if the teacher has gone through a thorough background check. It’s all about making sure you feel secure, especially when it comes to your child.
Online piano lesson companies, such as Lesson With You, offer a free trial lesson with professional piano instructors who are fully background checked.
Explore LWY music lessons
What Matters When I Pick Piano Lessons for My Kid?
When reaching out to prospective piano teachers, ask if they offer any trial lessons. Trial lessons are often charged, but some, like Lesson With You, offer free trials. Taking a trial lesson can give you and your child insights on a couple of things.
Begin by reviewing the teacher’s lesson policy, especially regarding rescheduling and cancellations, typically requiring 24 hours’ notice. Also, talk about scheduling to make sure it works for both of you. Think about the lesson cost too. If you can afford regular lessons for about a year, it’s ideal for your child’s steady progress.
Method book, or the curriculum is something to ask as well. Share where your child is at in their piano journey and the songs they love or want to learn. Also, talk with the teacher about what they focus on with children and what they expect when it comes to practice.
Teacher character or personality could be a priority for some parents. Some instructors are friendly and nice, focusing more on interaction with the student. Others may prefer a more direct approach, with teachers encouraging students to practice and play piano through assigned tasks each week. We advise parents to make a decision after the trial lesson is done.
Lesson reviews are very important when choosing the right piano teacher for your child, especially when contacting more than two teachers. Try reading the reviews listed on the website regarding the lesson itself, the teacher’s teaching style, and their scheduling and policy.
Last thing is if there’s a contract or long-term commitment expected by the teacher. Clarify these details before signing up a regular lesson.
How Much Should I Pay for Piano Lessons?
Piano lessons for a child should typically be priced between $35 to $45 for a half-hour session, which is considered reasonable as long as the teacher is professional. For teachers who didn’t major in piano but in other instruments, lessons should generally be priced under $30 for a half-hour session.
The average cost for a half-hour piano lesson in the US is $40. Online piano lessons with live teachers usually range between $20 to $40 for a half-hour session. Local, in-person piano lessons have an average cost of $40 per half-hour session, while group lessons can be around $25.
Realistically, it takes at least 2 years for a child between 7 and 10 to learn the basics of piano. To advance to an intermediate level in piano, consider taking weekly regular lessons for 3 years on average.
Are Online or In-Person Piano Lessons Better for a Child?
The quality of instruction is generally similar between online and in-person piano lessons, as long as the teacher is qualified and experienced. However, there are differences in flexibility and pricing. Online piano lessons are typically more affordable and convenient compared to in-person lessons. On the other hand, in-person lessons offer the advantage of exploring sounds on the piano in a more traditional setting.
For example, if your 9-year-old child is just starting piano but has a busy school schedule, we highly recommend beginning with online lessons. This option works great for homeschool families as well. Alternatively, if you have a larger budget and are willing to drive your child to the teacher’s studio, in-person lessons are another great option.
For young pianists between 10 and 14, who have studied piano for at least two years and are ready to commit more, we suggest taking online lessons with a more advanced piano instructor who charges at least $35 per half-hour lesson. In-person lessons are even better for kids with more than 4 years and are preparing for auditions or competitions.
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How Long Does It Actually Take for a Kid to Learn Piano?
Ages 7-9
Realistically, children between the ages of 7 and 9 typically require a minimum of two and a half years to develop basic skills in piano playing.
When your child first begins piano lessons, the focus will be on establishing a strong technical foundation. This includes teaching proper hand position, finger dexterity exercises, and mastering basic music theory, such as reading treble and bass clef notation, understanding key signatures, and developing a sense of rhythmic patterns.
Ages 10-13
For kids 10 and up, they tend to pick up the piano basics faster than younger beginners. On average, these students can get the fundamentals down in about 2 years. You’ll see your kid making progress in their finger dexterity and coordination, as well as a better handle on rhythms. They’ll also build out their core piano techniques like scales, arpeggios, and chords.
From there, if your child stays motivated and keeps up with regular piano lessons, they can usually reach the intermediate level within another two or three years. At this point, the focus shifts to refining their techniques, diving deeper into music theory, and expanding their piano repertoire.
Ages 14-17
The time it takes for a teenager, aged 14 to 17, to learn the basics of playing the piano can vary. It depends how much they practice, how good their teacher is, and if they’ve played music or other instruments before.
Usually, it could take anywhere from 1 to 3 years for them to learn the piano basics and be able to play technical exercises and music. But you can expect a child to advance to a pre-intermediate level within a year or two after mastering the basics.
The more musical experience they have, like playing in school orchestra or singing in a choir, the faster they’ll pick up piano skills.
What’s the Best Age to Start Piano Lessons?
The earlier your child can start piano, the better their chances of making solid, long-term progress with the instrument. We typically recommend beginning piano lessons after a child turns 7 years old. At this age, they should have developed enough finger dexterity, be able to understand and follow instructions, and commit to practicing the piano, averaging two hours a week.
These piano lessons can be either online with live teachers, or in-person lessons in your area. We do not suggest doing a self-learning by using a mobile app or laptop.
What’s more important is that your child is genuinely interested in learning piano or playing music. If they don’t seem into it, you might want to consider exploring other instruments.
Learn more about beginning piano on “What’s the Best Age to Start Piano?“
Where Should I Start Looking for a Piano Instructor?
Online lessons for kids
If you’re looking for live online piano lessons for kids, start by searching for piano lessons online. Here are a few suggestions of where to look:
- Lesson With You offers private online lessons with professional piano teachers who have majored in piano. All instructors are background checked, and lessons are priced at a fixed rate of $35 per half-hour session. The first lesson is free, with no contracts required.
- Thumbtack offers various piano lesson services and lists both online and in-person options. Costs vary, usually ranging from $60 to $80 for a one-hour lesson. While teachers are professional, not all have majored in piano and teach multiple instruments.
- Takelessons offers a wider selection of instructors, but many may not have majored in piano. Costs usually range between $60 and $75 per hour. They often require a lesson package, which may not be ideal for students who prefer to pay weekly or monthly.
In-person lessons for kids
You can find in-person piano lessons by browsing online under “local piano lessons” or “piano lessons in <city>”. Lesson providers often advertise their studios in community-focused places such as schools, churches, and music venues as well.
Another great way to find local or online piano lessons is through referrals from neighbors, family, or friends. This is the simplest yet most reliable way to find lessons for your child. Also, keep in mind that in-person lessons are often 10% to 15% more expensive than online options.
Final Thoughts
Finding the right piano instructor for your child might seem tricky at first, but once you know what you’re looking for, it’s not so tough. Just keep in mind that your potential instructor should hold a college degree in piano performance with over 3 years of teaching experience, offer reasonable pricing, and be flexible with scheduling.
The lesson format isn’t something to worry about. These days, many parents and students are becoming more comfortable with remote piano lessons. They appreciate the convenience of learning from professionals easily from the comfort of their own home.
Lesson With You offers live online 1-on-1 piano lessons with exceptional teachers who have at least Bachelor’s degrees from top music schools like Eastman School of Music. The first trial lesson is FREE! No Contracts Ever.
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Rose Park
Rose Park is a graduate of the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University where she studied Piano Performance and Arts Administration, receiving both Bachelor's and Master's degrees before co-founding Lesson With You. As a pianist, Rose was a prizewinner in many international piano competitions and performed at various summer programs and festivals across the United States, Italy, and Japan.