You are applying for a music program, whether it’s a university degree program or maybe something similar… or even a little different. You’re going to have to find a new teacher.
Maybe you have a list of teachers that you’re interested in studying with. But how are you going to know which one would be the best?
Trial Lessons
But you already knew that. That’s why you clicked on this blog post. The real question is how are you going to prepare for those trial lessons so that they are the best that they can be? That’s what we’re diving into today.
Multi-tasking? Listen to the podcast episode!
I gotta be honest with you. Trial lessons are so much fun.
It is:
- An opportunity to see how well you work with someone
- A chance to get fresh eyes and ears on the pieces that you’re working on
- Not to mention the networking possibilities that come with that too
I took trial lessons with over 12 different teachers based in four countries, and it was a blast. I was able to see what kind of teachers I worked well with, and I also got new perspectives on my pieces. Oftentimes, the teacher’s would also put me in contact with some students and so I got to meet many new people in the process.
So now that we have established that trial lessons are great, let’s dive into how to prepare for them.
1: Do you research
On the teacher. Who are you having this lesson with? Where did they study? Which symphonies do they play in now?
Just reading their biography page on their website or a website that they are on is enough — just get an understanding of who they are. It will help in the long run.
2: Plan the lesson
This might seem strange because you don’t really need to plan lessons with your regular teacher, but the new teacher doesn’t know you and what you are working on.
Here is my method for planning the lesson.
- Have one piece that you are solid on. This piece is how you will show the teacher your playing ability. You are really comfortable with this piece and you can play it really well.
- Have one piece that you are still working on. This will show you how the teacher works with you on a piece that is still being worked on.
Play the better piece first for good impressions. And then follow with the second piece if there is time.
3: Plan questions
This one is a huge one. A big part of the lessons is to get to know the teacher. They will ask you questions, and you need to also ask them questions too.
Here are a couple of my go to questions:
- Say we work together, what would be a few things you would start me on?This gives you a better grasp of their teaching style, and what they specifically can see that you can improve on.
2. In the study program, what opportunities are there for…. (fill in the blank)
This question helps you understand not only the program as a whole, but what they have to say about it. This can be really insightful!
4: If it is online, set up your space beforehand
This might seem obvious, but it really matters. Your background, your lighting, the sound quality — these are all part of the impression that you give. So set up your space before and see how it looks.
If you have a technical issue in the lesson, don’t panic. Handle the situation as professionally as possible, this might help you look better as well — if you are solving the problem calmly.
5: (Bonus) Reflect after the lesson
Seriously, keep a notebook for your trial lessons. And keep track of two things:
- The things that the teacher said about the pieces and your playing.
- This can help you when deciding where you will study, and you can also go back and reference it in your practicing.
- What you thought of them and their teaching style
- This is your notebook. Be honest! What did you like? What didn’t you like? Use this when you are deciding where to study.
If you are having trial lessons in the future, I wish you the best, and hope you enjoy them!
All my best,
Eleanor
Leave a Reply