Your jazz piano teacher should be able to tell you what repertoire they teach. Some teachers will tell you that they like all music while others will tell you they play the three B’s. If you want to play jazz, it is essential to find out whether your new teacher is willing to teach you the styles.

After you decide to hire a jazz piano teacher, the next step should be to find a good teacher. Remember there are a lot of teachers who claim to be excellent in teaching jazz piano but once you hire them, you get frustrated. You need time and commitment to finding a good jazz piano teacher. You also need to be patient because if you rush things you might end up hiring the wrong teacher. A lot of pianists change teachers four or three times in the span of their career. Before you hire a teacher, consider asking them the following questions.

Who else have you taught?

Some teachers will tell you that they have had several students and would be happy to give you some of the names of their previous students. Other jazz teachers may tell you that they have had a few students while others will tell you that they have taught none and that you will be their first student. Once a teacher tells you that they have had several students, tell them to give you a list of their previous candidates and their contacts so that you can contact some of them. Assess the overall abilities of your teacher by asking their former and current students what they like about the teacher and what they don’t like.

How long have you been playing and teaching?

Some teachers will tell you over 25 years, others will tell you that they retired public performance and decided to start teaching jazz. When hiring a jazz piano teacher online,the experience is a must. Without experience, you will both be learning and you won’t be the one being paid.

How much do you want me to practice?

While most online students prefer choosing their training time, it is important to confirm with your new teacher whether they will grant you the privilege of choosing the time you want to train. You should be honest with your jazz teacher about the time you have for practising. If you are comfortable with how the teacher responds to your question then that is a good sign. Make sure your teacher knows your goals. Your goals will determine how much you need to practice.

Would you mind playing the piano for me?

You need to ensure that your new teacher knows how to play the piano and is good at it. Some teachers will claim that they don’t play but they are good at teaching. However, this is a red flag because I don’t think it is possible for someone to know how to teach but not how to play.

What repertoire do you teach?

Your jazz piano teacher should be able to tell you what repertoire they teach. Some teachers will tell you that they like all music while others will tell you they play the three B’s. If you want to play jazz, it is essential to find out whether your new teacher is willing to teach you the styles. You will have to work your way up as you play the styles by starting with the basics.