Playtime Piano Instructors are recruited from a variety
of sources. Our criteria for hiring instructors is based
on two major factors. Each instructor must not only have
a comprehensive understanding of music theory, combined
with several years of formal (preferably classical) piano
or keyboard instruction, but must also have the ability
to relate to our students in a fun and positive manner.
In many cases our instuctors have worked with children
in camps and other recreational settings or have tutored,
directed youth choirs and other ensemble groups for young
musicians. Some of our instructors have also had coursework
and prior experience in Special Education.
What we find to be most important in our instructors is
the willingness to adapt to each student's needs and learning
style, to make the lessons enjoyable, to have a sense
of humor and the willingness to listen to both our students
and their parents. Because we find that our students will
practice more if they have a choice about what they learn
to play, we have trained our instructors to actively listen
for requests and to help our students develop a repertoire
of pieces they will want to remember and play for many
years after they have finished taking lessons.
Our instructors are also trained to teach music theory
by way of helping our students compose their own songs
or to "sound out" and learn to notate recognizable tunes
they want to play. Using this approach engages many more
of their senses and reinforces what is learned so that
it is retained longer. |