October 14, 2026

Steven hunched into my teaching studio and stood awkwardly inside the door, looking uncertain whether to sit down or bolt. I was even more nervous than he was; I had never taught a student with autism, and was scared to disappoint both the band director and Steven’s parents, from whom I’d received several emails each. In those early lessons Steven would throw a fit when he got frustrated. His plea was always, “I can’t do it. Let’s just stop.” It wasn’t long before I discovered his amazing ear — he could hear something once and play it back to me almost note-perfect — yet even a minor critique could just devastate him. I restrained my usually boisterous personality with Steven. My focus on being gentle and steady for him, teaching him strategies to remain calm and focused when he got stuck. I knew the tide had turned when one lesson, during his second year of study, he turned to me during a rough passage and said, “I know I can do this. I just need a minute to figure it out.” After five years of study, Steven auditioned for regional band. He didn’t just made it in … he was accepted into All-State. After the results were posted, a young man entered my studio. As he stepped through the door, I saw that the hunched-over kid of six years before was gone. Tall, confident, his face lit up by pride in his own accomplishment, Steven had stepped into a future of knowing that anything was possible. His extraordinary transformation, of which I was a part, was a moving reminder that I, too, can lead a life given by what is possible. Choosing Great Teachers Private lesson teachers not only take a band or orchestra program to the next level; they also provide kids with a mentor who will coach them to be successful … skills that will serve them in all areas of life. Your private teachers get your kids ready for district and All-State auditions, coach after-school sectionals, train great section players who inspire their friends to keep up with them as they advance, and polish your solo players so your concerts leave your audience dazzled and inspired. When considering possible private teachers for your program, the first question that may come to mind is, “Who is the best player in town?” While playing chops are certainly an advantage, more important is the ability to create a world-class learning environment for your students. In music as in sports, the great players and the great coaches are two distinct, if overlapping, groups. The ability to perform a note-perfect “Flight of the Bumblebee” has little to do with the ability to interact effectively with thirty teenagers of all shapes and sizes. Students learn in different ways; great teachers are able to think, respond and relate very differently from one lesson to the next. While word-of-mouth is a great way to find potential teachers, you don’t want to stake your band’s success on someone else’s opinion. As you consider the various personalities of good players in your area, consider which of them seem to relate well to others. Bring them in to do a master class for your kids and get a sense of their teaching style; or ask prospective teachers to video-record a few lessons and submit them to you on a flash drive. In twenty minutes you can browse through several teachers’ lessons and get a great sense of their distinctive styles. Being charismatic and engaging is a requirement teaching for middle- and high-school students; kids need to connect with their teacher personally, musically, and artistically. The right teacher will help students discover their inner greatness, while the wrong relationship will lead to unhappiness … or stagnation. Consider seeking local universities as a potential source of teaching talent. College students (particularly grad students) are usually paying their way through school, and what they lack in experience they make up in their excitement to be pursuing music – which will be contagious for your students! While these teachers may move on once they graduate, they will be familiar with other excellent students in the college, and can help you find a good replacement. Local performing groups are another good source of great talent. While local professionals will charge a higher lesson fee, they also have more teaching experience and will likely still be around four years from now. Some may be willing to reduce their fee in exchange for daytime teaching hours – especially if the kids are enjoyable to work with. Even college or university faculty (especially at a smaller school where music faculty are part-time) may be interested in a private studio of motivated kids. If your community lacks strong professional players, peer mentoring is a great option. The top students in the high school band or orchestra can serve as “practice partners” with middle school students on technique and repertoire. As the director, you should supervise the mentoring relationship – observing lessons and taking a few minutes each week to coach the mentors – until the relationships is well established. High school students are motivated to make a difference for their younger peers, and this teaching experience will build both their confidence and their resume. Administering the Private Lesson Program It takes time and work to establish a culture of musical excellence in your band or orchestra. Some parents will take the initiative to seek out private lessons for their child, but many have no realization of what is required to achieve mastery on a musical instrument. Send home a form at the beginning of the year that outlining your private lesson program, which parents sign and return to you. Follow up with parents who indicate that they are not interested; some may not have financial resources for lessons, but others simply don’t realize what a difference lessons can make. Students may contact the private teacher directly, or may pay into a private lesson system supervised by