Whilst you may learn piano yourself with the help of a good online piano lessons course you can still benefit from coaching from a good music teacher.

Not all music teachers are equally skilled though! So what should you look for in a keyboard coach?

1. Do you LIKE your piano teacher? If you really get on well with your teacher as a person you are more likely to want to attend her lessons and to actually do the practice she recommends. It may sound obvious but you need every reason as a beginner, not to give up and you'd be surprised how many quit just because they don't like their teacher.

2. Does he design music lesson plans? A good teacher will think carefully about the exact needs of his pupil at every lesson. If feel your piano lesson is 'made up on the spot' rather than carefully prepared then you are not getting full value.

3. For How long have they been teaching music lessons? Teaching the piano lessons children need and comparing with giving lessons for adults counts for a lot. What's his track record of success? You should always ask.

4. Does her type of piano teaching suit you? If you prefer to play jazz piano there is no point in learning from a teacher who is only a great classical player. The piano lesson that suits you may not suit then next student. Get a teacher that suits your preference.

5. Do they effectively show you how to play piano? Many piano teachers will only cover what's in the exam syllabus. They'll teach you what's in the book but you'll still not be able to play much of what you want to play. Your teacher should show you WHY you play something, not just how. Then you'll understand music from the inside out and be able to play anything.

6. What can they show you about improvisation? Reading music is great, but it's only half the skill of a real musician. When you learn to improvise then you can really say you understand music. You can learn this skill like any other but you need the right teacher. Most classical piano teachers do not have the faintest idea about how to improvise even Bach and Mozart considered this to be an essential skill. Ask your teacher to improvise on the spot and see what they can do.

To make progress with the piano in the fastest time it is always worth supplementing your tuition with a good home study course on DVD. We review a selection of the best home courses at www.playyourpiano.com