Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How does NVMTA work?

A. NVMTA is a voluntary association of independent music teachers. NVMTA members are all independent operators. Each member maintains her own policies and rates. Membership is not required by any official entity. Teachers join NVMTA to increase their professional connections, to further their education, to offer performance opportunities to their students, and to volunteer their time. There are no specific education or experience requirements that teachers must meet before they join. At core, NVMTA teachers are dedicated to professionalism and excellence in teaching, and this is the primary reason our members join.

Q. How much do your teachers charge?

A. Because our members are independent teachers, each has their own policies regarding tuition and other matters. $50-60 per hour is typical, but rates can range from as little as $30 per hour to over $100 per hour.

Q. I need a teacher who will come to my home.

A. Most teachers do not travel. Those on our list that do are marked with an airplane icon, but you generally should not expect them to travel very far outside of their listed city.

Q. How do I pick a good teacher?

A. 1) Expect that your teacher will have a music degree in the specific instrument that they are teaching, or equivalent experience (such as NCTM certification, or a career as a performing artist). 2) Interview, in person, at least two different teachers. Interview three if you can. Even if you have no musical experience, you'll get a very good sense of a teacher's skills and how well they will relate to you or your child if you can compare the approaches of two or more teachers. 3) Consult the MTNA website at www.mtna.org for more detailed suggestions on interviewing teachers.

Q. I need a personal recommendation.

A. For both practical and ethical reasons, NVMTA cannot give personal recommendations for teachers. Only the prospective parent or student is qualified to evaluate teachers for their particular needs and interests. Most teachers should be willing to give out references on request, usually after an interview.

Q. Do you have any teachers that use the Yamaha method?

A. There is not a Yamaha program currently available in the inner suburbs. The closest Yamaha-affiliated schools are in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Columbia, Maryland.

Q. Are music schools more qualified than independent teachers?

A. "Music schools" include large non-profit accredited institutions such as the Levine School as well as music stores that reserve a room or two for teaching and stand-alone storefront studios. Just as there are good and bad teachers who travel or teach in their homes, there are good and bad teachers working in music schools. Most schools (but not all) are for-profit enterprises. Prospective parents and students should not rely on the school to screen qualified teachers. Inquire as to the qualifications and skills of a teacher in a school just as you would with an independent teacher. Also be aware that many schools merely lease space to their teachers on a percentage basis--though lessons may take place at the school building, the individual doing the teaching may still be operating independently. Search for a good teacher first. If they happen to teach in a music school, go for it, but don't judge a teacher's quality or qualifications based on whether or not they teach in a music school.

Q. Do you have any teachers that will take pre-school students?

A. The younger the student, the more searching it will take to find a teacher. It shouldn't be too hard to find a teacher for a kindergartener; some teachers also will teach a 4 year old pre-k student. Relatively few private teachers take younger students. There are some independent studios in the area that teach pre-schoolers in groups, including NVMTA member Contemporary Keyboard Studios in Falls Church (www.ckstudios.com). There are also local independent teachers who offer one of several nationwide franchised programs to serve the youngest students. In addition to non-affiliated independents, you may wish to consider: Suzuki (www.sagwa.org), which offers an instrument-specific approach; Yamaha (www.yahama.com) and Music for Young Children (www.myc.com) both offer a keyboard-based approach; Kindermusik (www.kindermusik.com) and Musikgarten (www.musikgarten.com) are general music programs with no specific instrument training; Music Together (www.musictogether.com) is another option for the very young. If there is a general-music program in your child's preschool, and private instruction is what you're after, you may also consider waiting until a child is of school age to begin lessons.

Q. Which is better? Group or private?

A. The great majority of our members teach privately. Only a very few teach in weekly group lessons. Most of our teachers also offer the occasional group class. With searching, you may find a teacher who will do 3 private lessons and 1 group lesson each month. You may also find a teacher or school that offers a year or two of group introductory lessons followed by a transition to private lessons. The more carefully the transition is planned, the more successful it is likely to be. As a general rule, group lessons will cost roughly the same amount as private lessons. Group teachers swear by the advantages of group instruction, and private teachers disdain the compromises that group lessons require. Each approach offers its own advantages and disadvantages. The best way to get a feel as to which will be the best fit for a particular student is to interview both private and group teachers, and to perhaps sit in on a group class.