If youre a beginner looking to learn piano chances are youll be able to find a local piano teacher willing and able to teach you. But what happens if youre an intermediate to advanced player? Where do you go if you want advanced music performance training or you want to become a professional musician?

There are several problems that exist if youre an emerging piano artist who wants a good piano teacher. First of all the chances are that it will be very difficult to find a local piano teacher with the right qualities and knowledge that are needed. Youll likely have to travel to find the piano teacher youre looking for.

Next you should know that good piano teachers should first and foremost be professional players. Why? Because they know more than just teachers. Their experience performing and working in the music business is paramount to getting the best instruction.

If you want to be successful as an artist youre going to need to find someone that is successful as a pro artist to guide you in the right direction. Its very important to learn to avoid their mistakes which in the long run will save you loads of time energy and heartache.

Next look for a piano teacher who actually knows how to teach. Dont take it for granted that just because theyre a professional musician that they know how to teach. The fact is that most pro players dont know the first thing about how to teach. Teaching is all about providing the right information in the right order as well as being a good motivational inspiration to help you stick with it.

Ask colleagues and former students about a teachers methods and find out if that will work for you. Its important to get as much information as you can about a teacher before committing so make use of the internet to do your research.

Then of course youll have to consider the cost associated with advanced musical training. Good teachers will charge upwards of 100 an hour. Add to that your travel expenses and youre looking at a pretty serious commitment. However dont let that stop you. If you find the right piano teacher it doesnt matter how much it costs its worth it not just for the piano instruction but for the network and knowledge that they provide about the music business.

Is there an alternate to all this? Yes there is. Its called online piano lessons. Recently there has been a wave of new teachers who are venturing into the online world. And why not? Its cheaper than a private lesson its convenient and its easy to do your research before committing.

A couple of things you may want to consider however before signing up with an online piano teacher. And its basically the same formula for finding a private teacher. The piano teacher must be a professional musician they must have a good solid method that is recommended by others the quality of the video lessons should be very high and make sure they dont sell you any kind of newfangled learn to play like a pro overnight method.

Be diligent when researching an online piano teacher. Find one thats right for you and if they offer a free video piano lesson then take that first before committing. Finally be prepared to practice what you learn. Just taking lessons will not ensure success. You need to be diligent about learning and practicing the method youre being taught.

About the Author: Looking for the right piano teacher? Paul Tobey is a pro concert pianist and piano teacher who has developed a piano lessons training method for advanced players. Download a free online piano lesson and discover the difference accelerated learning methods can make.