No matter how far your education has taken you, you’ve likely had a lot of teachers over the course of your life.
Elementary school teachers, middle school teachers, high school teachers and beyond; each year brought one (or more) teachers and mentors into your life. Maybe you even had Little League coaches or camp counselors along the way.
When it comes to private lessons, though — whether you want to learn music, languages, fitness, or something else — it’s a whole new ballgame.
You select the teacher, tutor, or coach you want to learn from. And that can be a little overwhelming!
Fortunately, finding a good teacher for music lessons or otherwise — the perfect person to help you or your child — doesn’t have to be hard. But it does take some reflection and research.
Finding a Great Tutor or Teacher with TakeLessons
To begin, let’s pinpoint who you are, what you want, and what you need. Out of the options below, which do you identify with? Start your search at TakeLessons with the lesson type and your zip code, and we’ll help you find a tutor or teacher who’s the perfect fit.
- The “Schedule-Challenged” Student
- The Location-Bound Student
- The Budget-Conscious Student
- The Goal-Oriented Student
- The Picky Parents
- The Hobbyist (or, the “Bucketlister”)
- The Worrywart (and Everybody Else)
Want to find your teacher faster? Call our team at 800-536-6206 and we can help!
The “Schedule-Challenged” Student
We get it: life can get busy! Whether you’re working around a 9-to-5 office job, or you’re a parent juggling your child’s extracurriculars, we know some students need a specific timeslot — no exceptions. On the flipside, if your schedule is constantly in flux, you may want a teacher who can offer you more flexibility.
Our search filters make it easy to find instructors with the availability you need. And if you have unique scheduling needs, remember that you have the option to ask instructors questions before booking — simply click the Ask a Question button to the right of a teacher’s profile picture to send them a message.
Tips to find a teacher:
- After you’ve pulled up your initial search results, click on the “Availability” dropdown at the top. Select the day(s) you’re looking for, and then pull up individual profiles to see available timeslots. You can see this within the box to the right of the teacher’s information.
- Consider our “Schedule As You Go” plan if you need flexibility.
- Have a unique scheduling situation? Use the Ask a Question tool to message teachers before booking, or contact us for assistance.
The Location-Bound Student
What’s that, you say? You don’t want to spend two hours commuting to and from your lesson? We get it.
We’re lucky to work with instructors from all across the U.S. — you’ll find teachers from Seattle to St. Louis, and everywhere in between. You may even find teachers who will travel to your home for lessons.
Even if there’s not a teacher directly nearby, online lessons make it easy and convenient to connect with our top teachers on a regular basis. Not tech-savvy? We’ve created the TakeLessons Classroom just for you. It’s a video chat-based virtual classroom that requires no downloads, and you can get to it right from your Student Account.
Tips to find a teacher:
- Looking for a teacher close by? After you’ve pulled up your initial search results, click on Sort by: Distance to see your closest options.
- Want an instructor who will come to you? Pull up an individual profile, and look at the “Select a location” prompt in the right-hand box. If a bubble for “Your Home” shows, the teacher may be able to travel to you — click the blue prompt to enter your address and make sure you’re within his or her travel radius. (Or, contact us via phone or email for a quicker search!)
- Prefer online lessons? After you’ve pulled up your initial search results, click on the “Location” dropdown, and select “Online.”
The Budget-Conscious Student
Private lessons can be expensive. But as many students can attest to, the personalized attention you get from them is priceless! Fortunately, if you’re operating on a budget, there are ways to make it work.
TakeLessons teachers set their own prices, which are shown prominently within search results. This is usually based on their specific location, their experience level, and how long they’ve been teaching.
Also, consider taking online lessons! Often these are a bit cheaper than in-person or in-home lessons, and you’ll be saving money (and time!) by not having to commute anywhere.
Tips to find a teacher:
- After you’ve pulled up your initial search results, click on Sort By: Lowest Price to sort your options. Note that prices may be marked at 30-minute, 45-minute, or 60-minute lesson durations.
The Goal-Oriented Student
Are you an aspiring singer dreaming of being the next Adele? Are you learning French for an upcoming vacation, or so you can interact with clients at work?
If you have specific goals, it’s more important than ever to find the right teacher. So first, write down those goals: where do you want to be in one year? Five years? Ten years? Next, get to work: dedicate some time to browsing profiles, and look for instructors who have experience teaching the specific genres, techniques, or skills you want to learn. Look for the Student Favorite badge for our top teachers, and read the reviews from current and past students.
Still struggling? Use the Ask a Question tool to message teachers before booking, or give us a call for extra assistance in finding the right match.
Tips to find a teacher:
- Dedicate some time browsing profiles to find someone who has the experience you need.
- Use the Ask a Question tool for specific inquiries before booking.
- Look for the Student Favorite badge (a red heart icon) in search results for our top teachers.
- Read other students’ feedback! After you’ve pulled up your initial search results, click on Sort By: Reviews to see teachers with the most reviews.
The Picky Parents
OK, maybe you’re not picky. Moms and Dads, we know you just want the best for your child!
And for kids, the “right” teacher isn’t always the most qualified — often it’s the person your child feels the most comfortable with. You’ll want to find a tutor or teacher who is patient, encouraging, and friendly, with (successful) experience with other children.
If safety is important to you, you may want to start your search by marking the option for “Background Check Verified” — this indicates the instructor has opted in and passed a thorough background check.
From there, filter your results by clicking on “Student Age” and selecting from the dropdown. Many teachers will also list their experience and what age groups they enjoy working with in the “Overview” section of their profile. Feel free to use the Ask a Question tool to send a message to the teacher, too.
Beyond that, sometimes it just comes down to a personality match. And the best way to test that is to just try out a lesson — if for any reason it’s not working out, our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee protects you.
Tips to find a teacher:
- After you’ve pulled up your initial search results, check the box for Background Check Verified.
- Click on the “Student Age” dropdown, and indicate child or teen.
- Pull up individual profiles and look at the ages taught in the “About” section.
- Browse through profiles to get a feel for the teacher’s personality.
- Use the Ask a Question tool to message teachers before booking.
- Call us for extra assistance to find that perfect teacher for your child!
The Hobbyist (or, the “Bucketlister”)
If you’re a casual learner who just wants to have fun — or to check off your bucket list — you’re in luck! Most of our teachers are well-equipped to help you with the basics. As you search for your teacher, spend some time browsing profiles and see who catches your eye. Most teachers will speak to their experience, interests, and teaching style in the “Overview” section of their profile. Feel free to give us a call and we can help you sort through your options.
And for older adults, it’s never too late to start learning! Many of our instructors enjoy teaching retirees and above, and will cater your lessons to your learning style and interests. Filter search results by clicking on the “Student Age” dropdown, and use the Ask a Question tool to message teachers if you have a specific inquiry.
Tips to find a teacher:
- Dedicate some time browsing profiles.
- Look for the Student Favorite badge (a red heart icon) in search results for our top teachers.
- Read other students’ feedback! After you’ve pulled up your initial search results, click on Sort By: Reviews to see teachers with the most reviews.
- Seniors: Find instructors who teach older adults by using the “Student Age” dropdown.
The Worrywart (and Everybody Else)
With our search tools, you can filter your results to find a music teacher, tutor, or coach based on what matters to you, whether that’s price, location, availability, or ages taught. If you’re still not sure, use the Ask a Question tool to message any teachers you’re curious about.
But all said and done, we know that an online profile will only take you so far. So if you’re still not sure, give us a call at 800-536-6206! Our staff includes Student Counselors who regularly talk to our teachers across the U.S., and have experience matching students and families with the best teachers.
Beyond that, there’s no need to worry. You always have the option of booking a smaller lesson package to try things out. Not quite what you expected? Our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee protects you. (Read more here.)
So what are you waiting for? When you’re ready to take that first step toward your goals, we’ll be here.
Special shout-out to music teacher Rosita R., featured in the photo! Learn more about Rosita here.
Suzy S.