Good piano teacher for kids in Tulsa?

January 8, 2008 9:04 PM

Looking for a good piano teacher for my six-year-old son in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

My six-year-old son is really wanting to learn how to play the piano, and we've decided to let him take lessons. I'm looking for a teacher who is good with young kids, in the Tulsa area. I don't have friends or family here who have had young kids taking piano lessons, so I'm hoping to find some recommendations of who you all like (or don't like), and what you like (or don't like) about them.

If you know the approximate price for lessons, that would be great, too, although price is a somewhat secondary consideration. Mainly I want someone who loves kids and is good at teaching them.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you have!

posted by greenmagnet to sports, hobbies, & recreation (5 comments total)

I don't live in Tulsa, but if your child is in school, check with the school's music teacher. She or he will almost certainly be aware of the teachers who are teaching children in your neighborhood, and also might give you an idea of prevailing rates. He or she may even have recommendations. If that fails, check with the band or orchestra teacher at your nearest high school. Even though their kids are older, they should be aware of the better teachers in the area.
posted by ubiquity at 9:24 PM on January 8, 2008

Indeed, the local grade school music teacher will probably be your best resource for locating a private teacher - many of their students are taking private lessons, so they'll know who's good and/or who's available. In fact, retired music teachers often give lessons, and it's hard to find someone with more experience teaching music to kids.

If you don't get satisfactory results there, you can check your local churches (in my experience, church organists often double as music teachers), local community colleges (again, many music teachers there will be moonlighting as private instructors, or will know where to refer you), a local community orchestra/wind ensemble (guaranteed to be chock full of adults who teach on the side, ask the director or other leader), the high school band/chorus directors, or a local music supply store (they often have bulletin boards loaded with ads for private instructors).
posted by Banky_Edwards at 8:37 AM on January 9, 2008

Don't know about finding you a teacher, but as far as pricing goes, I know when I was younger I had a fantastic piano teacher (working independently) who charged about $25 per weekly half-hour lesson.
posted by Zephyrial at 8:46 AM on January 9, 2008

I don't have any specific piano experience, but I've always found the folks at Saied Music to be top-notch, and knowledgeable about the combination of children and music. I'm sure they could give you a good recommendation, and may offer lessons there. The main store is at 33rd and Yale or so.
posted by Shohn at 9:30 AM on January 9, 2008

When I was a kid I wanted to take piano, so my mom a couple blocks to Saied and asked them where I could take lessons. They pointed her to a woman on the other side of Yale who taught. Perfect, because I could ride my bike there from the house. That was in 1980. I think, a generation on, Saied can still make recommendations.

Bought my violin there, too.
posted by dw at 11:33 AM on April 21, 2008