Picking the right music school is a very crucial decision in many musician’s life. There are thousands of music schools around the world and narrowing down your choices can be a very daunting task. This article will provide some tips to help in your selection.
If you are an instrumentalist or singer, one of the most important things is making sure the school you are looking at has good orchestras and other ensembles to perform in. Having the opportunity to play with other musicians is a very important aspect in your musical development. So, making sure you have the opportunity to play with other musicians is a central element in your education.
The reputation of the institution you’re looking at is also an important factor. The prestige of a degree from a respected school may help to enhance your career opportunities later on. The location of the school is also an important consideration since there could possibly be more opportunities for work in a more urban environment. However, a more rural setting may be the right fit for some people since it offers a potentially less distracting learning environment. You should look at schools that fit your personality and aspirations.
When I was selecting schools there was one aspect that mattered more than any of the things listed above: my private teacher.
The private teacher who will be mentoring you can be the most important decision in selecting a school.
But how do you go about finding the right teacher for you? As I researched schools, I referenced recordings of teachers I would potentially be studying with and looked for ones I had great respect and admiration for. There are so many more resources today to research your teachers and universities with the internet. But making sure you select a great teacher is incredibly important to your success in school. You could attend one of the best institutions in the world, but if you are not getting what you need to develop your craft from your private teacher, your experience could be disappointing.
Selecting a teacher is complicated. You may hear someone’s recordings and be thrilled with the playing. Yet, that’s not everything that comes into account when selecting a teacher. Just because someone plays their instrument well doesn’t mean they can teach well. On the other hand, just because someone teaches well doesn’t mean their playing is top notch. Sometimes people are past their prime or were never great performers, yet could convey musical knowledge exceedingly well. So, how do you find the right teacher for yourself?
One indication is referencing a teacher’s past students and seeing their success. Yet there are circumstances where an institution will have prestigious teachers on staff who draw the best students from around the world. In some cases these students are on such a high level when they arrive at the school that all they need is advanced coaching rather than fundamental teaching. By putting the final touches on the student’s progress, the teachers may get credit for work that may have been the result of former training.
So how do you find a good teacher?
There is absolutely no substitute for personal communication. The best solution is to visit schools you have narrowed down on your list of choices and talk to the teachers personally. Better yet, if you can take a lesson or two from teachers you are interested in studying with, that would be ideal. Influential names and prestige are important factors in selecting a teacher, but they may not be as crucial as the personal connection you have with your private music teacher.
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