Using the National Music Teacher Directory to find a music teacher

Last year my family was gifted a piano. I was really excited to receive it as it was my aunt’s when she was a child in Montreal. As soon as it arrived, we found the perfect spot for it in our living room. Set up against a wall all to itself, I started to imagine my children playing for hours on this beautiful piano. Playing songs they love, with their fingers gently tapping the keys filling my house with beautiful music. And then my daughter asked me to play it. My heart quickly dropped. I wish I could play it, I thought, but I can’t. It was in that moment that I wanted to tell her that my mom was right. That when she told me as a 10 year old child that I should continue playing an instrument because I would one day regret it if I didn’t, she was right. Sure, I took piano lessons, but it was only for a few short years. Sadly, I don’t remember how to play many songs that I learned and played as a child. It also doesn’t help that both of my small children keep asking me to play. They love to bang on the keys, but they want me to play a little something more for them. My repertoire pretty much exists of one song, Heart and Soul, and I no longer remember how to read music.

My So-Called Mommy Life Royal Convservatory of Music

 

It was very important to my mom, when my sister and I were growing up, that we played an instrument, specifically the piano. I was about 7 years old when I first started taking lessons. We would have the teacher come to our house on the weekends. She would teach us how to play fun songs like the Jeopardy theme song or songs from Disney movies. Other than learning those songs, I hated piano lessons. I didn’t like the teacher all that much, and I remember her not being enthusiastic or engaging. Someone had recommended my parents use this teacher. I’m not sure that they ever really looked at switching the teacher because had they, I might still be playing an instrument today. Instead, I became a piano lesson drop-out.

So what is a parent to do to find a reputable music teacher? The Royal Conservatory of Music has a free directory called the National Music Teacher Directory. All of the teachers listed in this service follow The Royal Conservatory of Music certificate program. Using the directory is very simple. You choose your discipline from a drop down menu, enter your postal code and the maximum distance you are willing to travel for lessons. Then a list is produced with all of the teacher’s information, the distance from your given postal code and some even offer a more in-depth profile.  Once you read through the profiles and decide which teacher you would like, you are able to contact them through the National Music Directory. Just fill-in your information on a pre-set form to start connecting with your preferred teacher. On the homepage, there are 10 questions to help you figure out if a teacher is the right fit for you/your child.

My So-Called Mommy Life Royal Conservatory of Music

Now that I’m a mom, I want the best for my children.  Just as my mom wanted my sister and I to play the piano, I want my children to play an instrument as well. Both of my children seem to show interest in the piano while my son also seems quite comfortable with the guitar. Aside, from the benefits of being able to play a musical instrument, The Royal Conservatory of Music published a study on the benefits of music education, which show that individuals who have musical training have increased self-confidence, increased focus and attention span and increased empathy. In addition, research has linked music lessons with improved IQ and academic performance.

Next year, when my daughter is 6 years old, she will start music lessons. Whether she wants to play the piano that we have or try another instrument, I know that I can turn to the National Music Directory at any time to find a reputable teacher. I can only hope that my daughter will continue to take lessons so that when she’s an adult and her kids bang on the piano that is passed down to them, she will be able to sit on the piano bench, and play a glorious song for them.

Comments

  1. Beautiful story about receiving the piano. Love the idea of a family gift like that which encourages people to learn to play.
    I’ve wanted my boys to learn a musical instrument but not sure when is the right age. I will definitely take a look and see who is in our area to teach them.

  2. gingermommyrants says:

    I would love to find a music teacher for my children. They have expressed a love for it

  3. Paula schuck says:

    What a great story! This sounds like a great resource. My niece and nephews all play piano. Such a great gift. I will send them this information.

  4. I have been starting to think about adding music lessons into the activities our kids do. I loved the piano when I was younger, and I think being able to read music is an important skill.

  5. Aeryn Lynne says:

    Oooh! There’s a directory?? That is awesome! I have no idea how my mother found our music teacher (other than maybe word of mouth,) but I wish she had access to something like this back then. I’m with you; I may have been able to play the piano today if she did, lol. I remember walking in first (and last) day, to a group of four other students of various ages and was expected to play something like “Mary Had a Little Lamb” without ever having touched keys before. About 3 decades later, and I still won’t forget the look at that woman’s face over the fact that I wasn’t born knowing how to play. :/

    Kit occasionally goes to classes to learn how to play the drums, so I’m going to keep this in mind if we need to find a new teacher closer to home! <3

    • mscmommylife says:

      What a crazy experience you had! Too bad because if you would have had a different teacher you may have stuck around longer!

  6. Kelly N says:

    Great story! Playing an instrument is apparently linked to focusing better in school!

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