I’ve heard of many teachers who have a sort of “script” when they are talking to a prospective student on the phone.  I thought that was a great idea, because without one, I often forget to mention important items.  I also forget to ask very important questions (like, “Do you have a piano in your home?????”).

So here is my “script.”  Tell me if you think I’ve missed something terribly important!  Do you have a specific set of questions and items you discuss each time?

  1. Do you have a piano in your home?  (Sounds like a ridiculous question, but I am learning it is a very important one!)
  2. Are you willing to keep your piano tuned?
  3. What do you hope your child will accomplish with piano lessons?  (I am realizing the importance of this question.  I have a student’s mother who insists her daughter learn mainly hymns.  This is fine with me since her daughter already has quite a bit of experience with the piano.  However, she is lacking some important qualities as a pianist that will hinder hymn learning.  Since I never asked her mother what she wanted her daughter to accomplish, I never had the opportunity to explain that I would be happy to teach mostly hymns, but that her daughter would also need to go through some method books to catch some training she has missed.  It’s a headache!)
  4. How old is your child?
  5. Does your child have experience with the piano or another instrument?  If so, what level books is your child currently using?  What method?
  6. Is your child interested in the piano?
  7. Your child will need to practice at least 5 days out of the week.  If your child is young, you will need to occasionally help with practice.  Can you commit to that much practice?
  8. Give tuition fees.
  9. Your child will require music books and sheet music as I see fit.  You can expect to pay X amount of dollars every X amount of months for music.  I try to keep costs to a minimum, and often will ask you to print free sheet music from the internet.
  10. Your child will also need a metronome, which will cost about X amount of dollars.
  11. Give makeup policy.
  12. Piano lessons are a huge commitment, but worth it if you are willing to put forth the effort!  I would love to meet with you and your child face to face (or set up a lesson time- depending on how the interview goes).