Musician Cheat Code #2: Private Lessons

Band students who plan on attending college (for any major!) have the opportunity to have the degrees paid for. 

Yes — we are talking about SCHOLARSHIPS! More on that in this article…

Aside from practicing, the next ‘Cheat Code’ for musicians is taking private lessons. 

Before I expand, here are the pros and cons of private music lessons:

Pros

• Feedback on your playing from a professional.

• Knowledge of how & what to practice to sound like the teacher

• Insight into the music industry.

• Recommendations on equipment.

• Network connections

• Practice accountability

Cons

• No standard for pricing - $$.

• No guaranteed results.

• YouTube musicians can provide similar information.

• Time commitment: 45-60 min lesson + practice time

Music Scout's top considerations for musicians interested in Private Lessons:

Commit to Learning

Taking private lessons will not solve all your problems. If anything, a good teacher will enlighten you to many skills that you are deficient in. That's why committing to learning is our first consideration. 

It begins with practice: you are unable to commit time to practicing on your own, don’t take private lessons. If you don't practice what your teacher suggests, you're wasting time. You're wasting their time and your parents' money.

But also, learning takes time. If you are practicing now, expect to spend a lot of time before you gain a new, permanent skill. We like the rule of 100: not 100 reps, but 100 days of 100 reps! 

In terms of money, discuss ways with your parents to be able to commit to lessons for at least 6-8 months. This could cost anywhere from $1,200 to $2,500+ depending on the cost of the teacher(s). More on that in this article on ‘Paying for Private Lessons’. 

Committing to learning is actually committing to yourself. Using this idea in your music practice will ensure that you improve. 

Choosing the Best Teacher

Selecting the right private teacher can unlock growth faster than you can imagine. And lucky for you, we live in the greatest time ever for learning!

When we say choose the ‘Best’ teacher, we mean 2 things:

• Choose the highest quality teacher.

• Choose the teacher that’s right for you. 

In regard to point 1, make sure the teacher you consider is of the highest performance & teaching ability you can find. Sometimes this looks different in different areas of the country or even in different cities. Make sure to:

• Browse their social media accounts.

• Attend their live performances.

• Get in touch with their current and former students to hear their opinions. 

In point 2, 'for you' refers to a long-term compatible match. That could mean looking into either local lessons or virtual lessons*!

*If you choose a teacher over Zoom, Google Meet, or FaceTime,  research the best equipment for high-quality lessons. 

All things high-quality need effort and time — private lessons are no different. If you have no idea where to start in finding a teacher, ask your local school band director!