Have you ever wondered who taught Ludwig Van Beethoven, Frederic Chopin, Johann Sebastian Bach and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart? Their piano teachers must have been the most understated musicians ever lived.
But teachers do not usually take credit for their students' talents. It could only be argued that if not for these mentors, the potentials within each student remained untapped.
A Bit of History
According to various biographical accounts written about the greatest pianists like Beethoven, Chopin, Bach and Mozart, their first piano classes were conducted by no less than their parents. All of them were born to a bloodline of virtuoso musicians.
Chopin, was born to a father who played the flute and violin and a piano teacher mother. However, his first piano lessons were reportedly given by his older sister. He was later taught by a professional piano instructor. While Chopin later surpassed his mentor's talents, he had always spoken highly of him.
Another music genius, Beethoven, was first taught by his father. Based on his biographical accounts, his father was a rather strict and harsh instructor. Yet, not even little Beethoven's tears hindered him from rising as one of the greatest musicians and composers in the world.
Bach, like Chopin and Beethoven, was born to a long line of musically inclined clan. His first teacher apparently was his uncle who taught him how to play the organ.
Mozart, though has similar stories with the first three, is already considered a genius early on. According to Mozart's own sister, when Mozart was just three years old, he would always watch her as she study piano with their father. He was said to be really fascinated by then. When his father began to teach him a few minuets at the age of four, he could already play the pieces faultlessly. At five, he was already composing pieces.
What Makes a Good Piano Instructor?
Maybe it could be debatable that musical proficiency, as a talent, is hereditary and something embedded in a person's DNA, but at the end of the day, one still need support from a prolific piano instructor could help this proficiency to develop.
So what exactly is a good piano teacher? Depending on the student's age, needs and abilities, the teacher should be able to adjust. Some teachers are better instructors of one lesson or the other. Picking a really suitable mentor for every student could be a tedious process.
The best teachers out there are not necessarily the most popular musicians. Some pianists are not able to articulate their talent and share it with students. Other prolific piano teachers, on the other hand, are not necessarily the most well-known pianists in the land.
What you need to consider in finding the best piano instructor is the genre you would like to concentrate in, the technique you want to master and possible performing opportunities you would like to have.
Different teachers fit different students and vice versa. But the best mentors are those enthusiastic teachers who would love to see you shine and grow as a musician and as a person; someone who will support you in your endeavors, criticize your work constructively and yet let you do what you love the most-playing music.
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