What do I do if my instructor isn’t a good fit?
Here at Haven Music Lessons, we’re committed to matching each of our students with a world-class instructor who works well with them. We recognize that personality differences or other barriers can make a student-teacher relationship less than ideal. If that happens to you, don’t despair – we’re here to help!
Identifying the Signs of a Poor Instructor Fit
Recognizing the signs of a poor instructor fit is the first step in addressing the issue. Pay attention to your feelings during and after lessons. Do you feel discouraged or confused more often than inspired? Are your progress and enthusiasm stagnating? If you find yourself dreading lessons, these could be indicators that it's time to reassess the situation.
Communication is another important factor. If you find it challenging to discuss your goals or struggles with your instructor, or if their teaching style doesn't align with your learning preferences, this misalignment can hinder your progress. Additionally, consider whether your instructor is attentive to your needs and provides constructive feedback. An effective instructor should motivate and support you, helping you overcome challenges and fostering a love for music.
If you ever have any concerns about your instructor, please reach out to us. Our dedicated office staff is always eager to assist you. If it turns out that a change in instructor is needed, we’ll happily match you with a new instructor. Because having a good relationship with your instructor is such an important part of the learning process, this is an included part of our services. We will never penalize you or charge any additional fees for requesting a change in your instructor.
Assessing Your Learning Goals and Needs
Before making any changes, it's essential to evaluate your personal learning goals and needs. Ask yourself what you hope to achieve through your music lessons. Are you aiming to master specific techniques, prepare for performances, or simply enjoy playing music as a hobby? Understanding your objectives will guide you in finding an instructor who aligns with your aspirations.
Consider your preferred learning style as well. Do you thrive under structured guidance, or do you prefer a more flexible, exploratory approach? Reflecting on these aspects will help you clearly articulate your needs to a new instructor or when discussing concerns with your current one.
If you’re having trouble deciding on your goals, this might be a good thing to discuss with your instructor. After all, they will have seen your playing and progress up close, and they might have ideas and suggestions for you. But again, if for any reason you feel uncomfortable discussing this with your instructor, please reach out to us. We are happy to help you define and articulate your goals, and if it turns out that your goals aren’t aligned with your current teacher’s instruction methods, we’ll be happy to help you make a change.
Open Communication: Discussing Concerns with Your Instructor
Even though an integral part of our services is acting as an intermediary between you and your instructor as needed, please remember that all of our instructors are highly qualified to teach these lessons to you. If you’re comfortable discussing your concerns directly with your instructor, we encourage you to do so! Having an open and honest conversation with your instructor can deepen your relationship with them and ensure that your lessons are fully tailored to your needs. Be sure to approach these conversations with kindness and empathy, as all of our instructors are dedicated to helping their students succeed. Express your concerns clearly and share specific examples of where you feel your needs aren’t being met. Your instructor may very well appreciate the feedback and have ideas for how to improve your experience.
Even if you don’t have any deep concerns about your learning experience, it’s a good idea to regularly review your learning goals and see if adjustments can be made to better suit your needs. You and your instructor might discover areas of misalignment neither one of you were aware of, and this can enable your instructor to adapt their teaching style to better meet your needs. This conversation can also give your instructor an opportunity to give you feedback and help you find ways to increase your progress in learning your chosen instrument.
Evaluating New Instructors
If a change in instructor is ever needed, remember that we are here to help! One of the main purposes Haven Music Lessons exists is to relieve you of the administrative and logistical burdens associated with organizing in-home lessons. If you want a new instructor, or if you’d like to change instruments or lesson schedules or any other facet of your learning experience, reach out to our office staff, and we’ll help you make the needed changes. If matching you to a new instructor is the right next step, we’ll ensure that you get matched to another fully qualified and vetted instructor, and using your feedback from your experience with the previous instructor, we’re likely to find someone who’s a better match.
If you aren’t already signed up for Haven Music Lessons, what are you waiting for? Submit the form below to let us know what kind of lessons you’re looking for, and we’ll match you to a fully qualified instructor!
