Is it necessary to learn from a teacher who has a music degree?

I do not believe that every student thrives only with a teacher who has completed a certain kind of degree. I’ve seen some young beginners start lessons and quit within a year or two because they could not connect emotionally or goal-wise with a teacher who specializes in advanced students. One reason we give price breaks for Levels 1 and 2 is because we have some teachers who do not expect to get paid as much as ones with advanced degrees. However, I only hire Level 1 and 2 teachers with proven talent in teaching and who are eager and able to do what is most important for their beginner students—accurately teach the basics, keep students interested, and foster a joy of music. Level 1 and 2 teachers also lay the groundwork for the disciplined habits needed in advanced music study.

Once students reach Level 3, I do insist that they work with an instructor I’ve approved to teach Levels 3 and 4 in that instrument. These instructors hold or are in the later stages of pursuing an advanced music degree, or have equivalent teaching and performance experience. They are able to impart specialized knowledge of advanced theory, technique, performance practices, and music history. They also generally have more years of teaching experience than our Level 1-2 instructors. One of the great things about our unique Level System is that we have specific ways to track students’ progress and to always provide the right teacher at the right time. In this way we operate more as a school than most traditional studios.