If you look back at your many years of education, from kindergarten through college, one thing holds true. A good teacher is one that we remember, and we also remember what these special teachers taught us. No matter what subject we are learning, a teacher can make or break the experience. This is certainly the case when a child begins taking music lessons. A great teacher can truly inspire your child, while a poor instructor can have the opposite effect. Here are some tips that will make selecting a music teacher a bit easier.

You don't necessarily need a Juilliard graduate to teach your child, but it is wise to work with someone who has graduated from some type of music school. This ensures that they have a solid background. It is important not only to ask about their amount of experience but about the ages and stages of their students. After all, even though you might be impressed by a teacher that has taught for 25 years, if their students have all been older and more experienced than your child, it might not be a perfect match. Also, while teachers often instruct for a variety of instruments, they need to have solid experience in the instrument your child wants to play.

Everyone has expectations when the music lessons begin. The student has expectations about the level of fun and the level of difficulty. The parents have expectations about how quickly children learn an instrument as well as how enjoyable the experience will be for their child. Finally, the teacher has expectations about how much work is required of each student to achieve success at various levels. It is important that all three of you have similar expectations. You might simply want to find a creative outlet for your student or perhaps you are hoping for a high level of achievement. Different teachers also have different philosophies about achievement.

While practice is a huge part of learning an instrument and discipline is crucial, you should not forget about the fun factor. After all, you do want your children to enjoy themselves at their lessons. If the teacher seems very stern and inflexible, this might not be a great way to start for your child. Someone organized and thorough but personable is a better match for a young child who might be a bit nervous and even sometimes have a bit of trouble focusing.

In the end, take into consideration how you and your child truly feel about each teacher you interview. Sometimes the personalities just seem like a great match, even if it means that you are selecting a younger or less experienced teacher. Sometimes children are more likely to stick with an instrument if they get to choose the instrument and some of the songs they practice. Keep in mind, that even if they are playing rock music, they are learning just as they would by practicing one of Beethoven's sonatas.

If you are searching for music lessons in Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, San Clemente or San Juan Capistrano, a fun option would be to consider the Los Rios Rock School. Serving all of Orange County, this music school offers both private lessons as well as a special rock band experience for its students. You can learn virtually any instrument and also play that instrument in an actual band. The students perform a variety of concerts throughout the year at well-known Orange County venues such as Stillwater, the House of Blues and the Coach House.