Piano teachers - are they generally difficult to get a hold of?

[maggiethecat]

My experience so far of trying to find a teacher for my 5yo dd has been pretty dismal.

We are in Edinburgh and one teacher was recommended by my older dd's violin teacher. Chased her for weeks and when she did respond it was to enquire about my musical position. I responded and never heard from her again.

I contacted a second teacher who responded quickly saying she had no space but would pass me on to someone who did - 4 weeks later and I'm still clinging to the promise that he will contact me about possibilities (never mind a guarantee of a place)!

This is all very different from my experience with violin teachers who have been generally quick to respond.

Is this just bad luck or is it that piano teachers have so much business that they cannot even find the time to decline politely?

sounds like they might all be established teachers with a good reputation and all the students they want at the moment. Maybe it is a busy time, recitals or something going on.

Funnily enough I have tried to get hold of a piano teacher this week and she is proving very elusive. Finally I got hold of her husband (who is also a piano teacher), he asked me 1,001 questions about my dd and her musical training generally and so on, took my phone number - and then I never heard a thing back.So maybe you are onto something.

I presume if the T3 has not got back to you, it means s/he is not interested or does not have a place atm. That is what I assume about the teacher I called but I agree, it would be nice to know where you are.

Well the first contact was most bizarre as, after a few emails and texts over about 3 weeks, when she did get in touch her email sounded bright. But then nothing.

Still nothing from T3.

I was in a music shop yesterday and got a list of teachers and emailed one who lives near me. In her blurb she recommended making contact although she usually has a waiting list - I liked how she sounded.

She responded yesterday to say that she did not usually teach children earlier than around age 7 but suggested that I could still meet up with her.

Had the answer been a definite no I would still have been impressed by her quick response!!

maybe you should nail that one down to a concrete appointment to meet up

5 is very young. Most of the good, establisehd teachers I know would tell you to call back in about a year or 2 time.

The funny thing is that the 2 I was chasing were recommended as teaching very young children!

But whatever the reason, a simple text or email response would have been very appreciated.

any luck? I got hold of mine in the end, inspired by your thread. She has no places atm and is in the process of moving. She was very apologetic at not having got round to calling me back. I thought she sounded so nice, I decided I would wait a bit and see if a place came up. She thinks maybe as of January. So I do think if they don't call you, it means they don't have a place.

am going to see teacher next week and she will guide me from there. good luck with yours!

We got ours through our local parish magazine, but have seen other ads in the music shop, the farm shop (?!?) and the post office. I would also google for local piano teachers - most will have some web visibility now.