And why each one matters for your child’s musical journey

Choosing a piano teacher is about more than just finding someone who can play—it’s about finding someone who can inspire and teach. A great teacher will nurture not only your child’s skills but also their confidence, curiosity, and love for music.

Here are 14 essential questions every parent should ask, along with why each one is important and answers from the Piano Marvel Academy Director.

Why it matters: A teacher’s experience can reveal a lot about their strengths. Consider asking:

• 🎓 Do they have formal music training or a degree in music education?

• 👨‍🏫 How many students have they taught throughout their career?

• 👶 Have they worked with students at your child’s age and skill level?

•  🧠 Do they have experience working with students who have special learning needs?

   

These questions help you understand whether the teacher’s background aligns with your child’s specific needs and goals.

🚩 Red Flag: If a teacher emphasizes their own performance accomplishments more than their teaching experience, it may reveal a focus on personal achievement rather than student growth. Performing and teaching are very different skills—and what matters most to you is how well they can help your child learn.

Our Answer (Joshua Harris, PMA Director):

• 🎓 Over 18 years of experience in music education
• 👨‍🏫 Has taught well over 600+ students, ranging from beginners to state-level advanced

•  ✅ Certified by the Texas Education Agency

•  🧠 Formal SPED training for supporting students with unique learning needs

• 🎤 Has presented at various music teacher conferences on topics of group piano pedagogy and technology in music education
• 🏫 Served as the Piano District Academic Leader in Lubbock ISD, guiding curriculum and professional development for the district’s piano teachers

•  🎶 Along with a team of experienced teachers, Joshua Harris designed Piano Marvel Academy’s structured, leveled curriculum focused on both skill and creativity

Why it matters: Teaching style shapes how your child will learn and whether they’ll feel supported and challenged. A teaching philosophy is typically cultivated over many years of contemplation and teaching experience.

🚩 Red Flag: If a teacher can’t clearly articulate their philosophy, it may signal a lack of intentionality or long-term vision.

Our Answer:
My teaching is built on two big ideas: rigor and support.

Rigor means giving students work that really makes them think. It’s not about giving more homework or harder worksheets—it’s about helping students grow by challenging them in the right way. If something is too easy, students get bored. If it’s way too hard, they feel frustrated and might stop trying. The goal is to find the right level of challenge that helps them improve without feeling overwhelmed.

That’s why support matters just as much. Students need help to meet those challenges—whether it’s one-on-one help from a teacher, encouragement from classmates, or feedback from learning tools.

When rigor and support are in balance, students don’t just learn—they thrive.

Why it matters: A teacher should be able to explain not just what they use, but why it works and how it’s personalized.

🚩 Red Flag: If the teacher cannot clearly explain why they use a particular curriculum, it could indicate a lack of intentionality in the teacher’s instructional choices.  

Our Answer:
We use a unique, highly motivating blend of tradition and technology because it delivers faster progress, higher engagement, and long-term retention. Here’s how:

• 🥋 Level-Up Curriculum – Students earn medallions as they master key areas like rhythm, technique, theory, composition, and performance. This system gives them clear goals, visible progress, and a sense of achievement—all of which keep motivation high.

   

• 💻 Piano Marvel Software – This powerful tool provides instant feedback, accurate scoring, and personalized pacing so students always know how they’re doing and what to work on next. It supports better practice habits and accelerates growth between lessons.

   

• 🧠 Flexible for all learners – Whether a student is a quick starter, needs extra support, or thrives with visual and auditory input, our approach adapts to their learning style—making the experience more accessible and effective.

   

• 🎉 Measurable progress, built-in motivation – Instead of waiting months to “feel improvement,” students see results weekly. That momentum keeps them coming back, and makes parents feel confident in the value of their investment.

   

In short, we’ve designed a system that’s not just educational—it’s empowering, engaging, and built to last.

Why it matters: Technology can improve engagement, provide feedback, and support home practice—especially for today’s students. For example, why would one rely solely on a paper map when you could use GPS with real-time traffic updates? Traditional tools give you the path, but technology adjusts and supports you along the way—especially when you’re off course or need immediate help.

🚩 Red Flag: If a teacher is resistant to the use of technology, it could be an indication that they are not staying current with educational best practices and how to engage modern students.

Our Answer:
Yes—technology is a core part of our learning model.

• 📲 Piano Marvel gives real-time feedback on rhythm and pitch accuracy

•  🎯 Assignments are delivered and tracked digitally, so students always know what to work on next

•  🧭 Think of it like GPS—it guides students efficiently while still supporting traditional musical skill

Why it matters: Most progress happens between lessons, so clear structure and tools are essential.

🚩 Red Flag: If the teacher has no plan for how to keep a student on track at home, practice time is likely to be off track and inefficient. 

Our Answer:
We take the guesswork out of home practice:

• ✅ Digital assignments created and monitored by the teacher

•  🎥 Instructional videos introduce new concepts so students don’t have to wait for the next class to keep progressing.

• 📈 Piano Marvel tracks accuracy, so students learn how to self-correct during practice

•  👨‍👩‍👧 Parents don’t need to know piano to support progress

•  🎵 Practice becomes goal-oriented, efficient, and motivating

Why it matters: Clear expectations prevent conflict and help families stay aligned with the program.

🚩 Red Flag: If the teacher has strict guidelines, make sure that you agree with and can follow those expectations to prevent unpleasant conflicts.

Our Answer:
We encourage regular practice—but don’t enforce arbitrary quotas.

• 🛠️ We provide structure, tools, and motivation to support success

•  🎯 Practice expectations are based on student and parent goals

•  🧑‍🎓 Independence and ownership are core to long-term success

   

🏅 The Level-Up system motivates students to practice because they want to, not because they’re told to

Why it matters: Motivation dips happen—great teachers know how to keep students excited about learning.

🚩 Red Flag: If a teacher relies on chasing a student’s whims to keep them motivated, they may be avoiding the real responsibility of teaching students how to stay engaged through meaningful challenge, consistent effort, and long-term growth. 

Our Answer:
We’ve built motivation into every part of the experience:

• 🏆 Physical medallions for achieving key skills

•  🎶 Group classes that are social, supportive, and fun

•  🎭 Recitals, themed challenges, and events that give students something to look forward to

•  📈 Students stay motivated because they see their growth

•  🪙➡️🔥 We use external motivators (like rewards and recognition) to spark engagement—while steadily building lasting, internal motivation

Why it matters: One of the primary causes of students wanting to drop piano is that they don’t see the progress. It just becomes a never-ending process. Students need to see their improvement to stay engaged and confident.

🚩 Red Flag: If a teacher relies solely on recitals to show progress, they’re overlooking the smaller milestones that build true musical growth—and missing valuable opportunities to recognize and encourage students along the way. 

Our Answer:
Progress is visible and rewarding at Piano Marvel Academy:

• 🧩 Students complete skill-based challenges tied to specific musical goals

•  🥋 “Level-Up Celebrations” are like belt tests—students demonstrate skills and knowledge and earn recognition in front of family and friends

•  📸 Parents can see the growth and celebrate alongside their child, even if they have not studied piano themselves

Why it matters: Well-rounded musicianship goes beyond just playing notes.

🚩 Red Flag: If a teacher doesn’t have an intentional plan for how to incorporate these things, they are not likely to be taught in a meaningful way.

Our Answer:
We embed these essential elements throughout the curriculum:

• 🎼 Theory: Taught alongside performance, using written assignments and digital tools

• 👂 Ear training: Reinforced through listening games and exercises

•  📚 History & context: Included in instructional videos and when preparing pieces for performance

Why it matters: Sight-reading is one of the most valuable skills for a pianist—it allows them to pick up new music quickly and with confidence. In the real world, many pianists earn income from sight-reading activities—like accompanying choirs, playing at weddings, or filling in at church—often more than from solo performance. 

🚩 Red Flag: Many teachers skip sight-reading because it is notoriously difficult to assess. 

Our Answer:
Yes—sight-reading is central to our program.

• 📊 We use the SASR (Standard Assessment of Sight Reading) to track improvement

•  🧠 Sight-reading supports fluency, flexibility, and long-term growth

•  🕹️ We make sight-reading fun through games, challenges, and friendly competition

•  💼 We instill in students why sight-reading is important, including real-world opportunities like accompanying

Why it matters: Knowing the policy upfront avoids confusion and potential frustration. Nothing causes conflict between parents and piano teachers faster than disagreements on time and finances.

🚩 Red Flag: If the teacher does not have a clear policy or you do not agree with the policy, this will likely lead to frustration on the part of the parent or teacher.

Our Answer:
We offer unmatched flexibility thanks to our group structure:

• ⏳ Private lessons usually mean a locked time slot—if you miss it, that time is gone. Makeups are often difficult or not offered.

•  🔁 At Piano Marvel Academy, group classes continue with or without any one student, so it’s no problem to switch to another class that week (as long as there’s space).

•  🏀 For example, if your child has a basketball game at their usual class time, just let us know—we’ll help them jump into a different class that week.

•  💡 This flexibility makes it easier for busy families to stay consistent without losing value or momentum.

   

🎹 We understand that piano is an investment, and our model helps you get the most out of every week, even when schedules get tricky.

Why it matters: Understanding the structure helps you determine if the format is a good match.

🚩 Red Flag: If the teacher only talks about playing songs with no mention of technique, theory, sight-reading, or creative activities, there may be a lack of intentionality with including these components.

Our Answer:
Each class is a blend of personal growth and group connection:

• 🔥 Warmups & technique to build strong fundamentals

•  🎧 Individualized practice with headphones and teacher rotation

•  🧠 Theory games and guided activities to deepen understanding

•  🎶 Ensemble work and rhythm games for musical collaboration

Why it matters: Playing with others builds confidence, timing, and musical awareness.

🚩 Red Flag: If a teacher focuses only on solo pieces, students miss out on the proven benefits of playing with others—like improved timing, listening skills, and musical confidence.

Our Answer:
Absolutely—ensemble work is a regular part of our program:

• 🎹 Nearly every class includes Group Play using Piano Marvel

•  🧩 Students can choose parts that match their level, so everyone participates

•  👫 Builds social connection and helps students learn to listen and adapt in real time

•  🎧 Even during solo practice in Piano Marvel, most pieces include backing tracks—helping students learn to play in sync with other music and develop ensemble awareness.

Why it matters: This lets a teacher show their unique strengths—and confidence.

🚩 Red Flag: If a teacher can’t articulate why they believe that they are the best choice for your child, why would you give them your business?

Our Answer:
If you are looking for a well-rounded, structured, supportive, and fun piano learning experience, you will not get a better piano education anywhere else in Lubbock!

• 🏅 Our Level-Up system makes progress tangible and motivating

•  💡 We blend traditional pedagogy with innovative tools

•  👨‍🏫 Our team is highly trained, passionate, and student-focused

•  📊 Progress is visible, measurable, and exciting for both students and families

•  💖 We’re not just teaching piano—we’re helping students fall in love with music for life

Choosing the right piano teacher is one of the most important steps in your child’s musical journey. Great teachers don’t just teach songs—they inspire, guide, and empower. These 14 questions will help you find someone who teaches with purpose, adapts with care, and inspires with heart.

Joshua Harris, a TEA-certified, background-checked, and TIA-Designated Exemplary Teacher, was hand-picked by Piano Marvel to establish the first Piano Marvel Academy in Texas. With 18 years of experience in music education—including 10 years as a class piano teacher at the award-winning Talkington School for Young Women Leaders in Lubbock ISD, which is still using his innovative system to drive the success of their piano program. His approach fosters a mutually respectful and fun environment, focusing on helping each student achieve their personal best every day.