How to be a Piano Teacher - A Spiritual Calling of Love and Devotion

The most important factor for any piano teacher is to first, love people. If you can't do that - you have no business being in the teaching profession in the first place. You are working with all types of people with different personalities, issues, some talented and some not. You may be the best pianist in the universe. You may hold the highest of degrees in music. You may have the most expensive Steinway Grand Piano money can buy. You may know it all and have it all, but if you lack a love and compassion for others, you will be unable to teach your student the greatest lesson of all - to love himself through learning the piano as another part of himself.

Your student actually "becomes music" as he begins his lifes journey through creating sounds and moods as each piano key is struck and played. The very heart that beats within the student, ignites with the beat and rythym of the music itself and becomes one. It is not just the fingers making music, but the body, mind and spirit. The same sensitivity that breathes through the human heart, breathes through the music as he plays the piano.

Teaching the student to connect his emotions with his notes and keys must be introduced at the very first lesson.

How to Begin - From the students first introduction to the teacher, the lesson begins. The more warmth and kindess, mixed with a professional touch from the teacher, the more confidence the student begins to feel both in himself and in his instructor. The teacher will take the necessary time to build a "trust" which is vital to the progression of the student. Most students are eager to begin playing the piano. Take just a minute and first give a brief history of the piano in an interesting, short storie form, adapting it to the age of the student. Then immediately allow the student to make music on the piano, before giving the first lesson from the lesson book, by allowing him to play only the black keys, in any order using both hands, separatley and together. Confine the black keys to the middle to high part of the keyboard and you, the teacher apply the damper pedal as he plays. It is helpful to him, if you also play at the same time because you can control both the rythym and dynamics as well as patterns. This is a good way to teach as you are doing so without words.  The child is so smart.  He will imitate what you do to the best of his ability because he will want to sound like his teacher. If you keep musical patterns simple enough, the music that lies hidden within the child will soon be free and his confidence increased at the beginning of his very first lesson. 

The piano teacher - a spiritual calling of love and devotion, is exactly that. There are times when I pray to my Father in Heaven and ask for his guidance with a particular student or situation. These are His little ones which have been intrusted to me and as such want to do His will. I would advise any teacher who is short tempered, impatient or critical to go into another profession.

As a teacher and mentor, you do not have the right to break a child's spirit. If you are in a bad mood or are ill, cancel the lesson until you can give the love and respect your student deserves.

In closing, I will mention a rather "sticky" situation which is how to handle and educate the parent. I meet with parents one on one without the child and talk to them about how they can be supportive to the child and what their role is during lessons and at home. I rarely allow parents or siblings to sit in on a lesson. Look for my hub on advice to parents soon.

The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence. He inspires self-distrust. He guides their eyes from himself to the spirit that quickens him. He will have no disciple. by Amos Bronson Alcott

A teacher is never too smart to learn from his pupils. But while runners differ, basic principles never change. So it's a matter of fitting your current practices to fit the event and the individual. See, what's good for you might not be worth a darn for the next guy. by Bill Bower

A good teacher, like a good entertainer first must hold his audience's attention, then he can teach his lesson. by John Henrik Clarke

Love is a better teacher than duty. by Albert Einstein

The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind. by Kahlil Gibran

A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning. by Brad Henry

The teacher is the one who gets the most out of the lessons, and the true teacher is the learner. by Elbert Hubbard

The teacher who would be true to his mission and accomplish the most good, must give prominence to moral as well as intellectual instruction. by Sheldon Jackson Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward. by Vernon Law The best teacher is the one who suggests rather than dogmatizes, and inspires his listener with the wish to teach himself. by Robert Bulwer-Lytton

Children Learn What They Live
By Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.


If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and
in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in
which to live.

Additional Musical Quotes