UK Piano Page Piano Forum

Hi,

I am wondering if a foreigner can teach piano in UK? either private students (preferred) or public school. Say, learned piano from 4 years old, then piano classes in junior and high school, major in piano at university, just got masters degree in University of Southampton.

My friend is a Taiwanese girl, no problem for her to teach piano (she had teaching experience in taiwan, quite good). She is so worried about the language, although she can speak English very well.

"Why should I hire a Chinese to teach my son piano?" There is no ways to compare with local people, right?

I just wonder if there are any parents is that possible to hire a foreigner (whose English is surely not comparable with local people) to teach your son piano?

Any suggestions and comments would be appreciated!

Why should I hire Scots/Polish/Czech/French person to teach the piano?
Why not? As long as she has no problems with the language and doesn't use bizarre american terms (sixteenth note?? What's THAT about??!) rather than the English ones which examiners will require, then there's no problem! If she has a Masters degree, she obviously knows what she's doing. And a Chinese family I tune for were recently delighted to find a Chinese speaking piano teacher for their daughter as they want her to hear Chinese from outside the family !

The fact that your friend holds a music qualification from UK means that a lot of people will take for granted that she knows what she is talking about and is familiar with the British musician tradition and language. Again, provided that she does not have an overly strong accent, most parents with younger children will not be put off or concerned about their child understanding her properly.

As well as this, it has been my perception that more and more Chinese students seem to be taking up musical study in this country. This may also open doors for tutoring in an association with a university or by simply by offering specialist coaching tutoring on a private basis. Hearing music teaching in a native tongue will most certainly be a benefit to those students also.

Thanks, Gill and markmark. I should encourage my friend to be confident and just do what she wants to. Maybe focus on Chinese family first, as Gill said, they would like to be taught in Chinese. But I think how to find such families would become next problem. (find customers always not an easy job)

Instead of being private teacher, how about piano school? I dont know if there is such kind of school where also recruit teacher who knows foreign language, e.g. Chinese? I know in China, there are a lot school they teaching piano in English, and it is an advantage. I doubt it is the same in UK.

As I know, take a job in public school as a piano teacher is very difficult for a foreigner. Have to take some training course first and exams afterwards, which is a long time. I also heard about some church may be interested to recruit some young piano player. Anyway, seems many ways and many difficulties.

Thanks again!