A music teacher is a professional musician that specializes in teaching and educating anyone looking to build their skills on a particular instrument or area of music making.

With online video applications and plugins like LANDR Sessions that make it easier than ever to transfer optimized audio directly from any DAW, online lessons are close to being just as intimate and personal as in-person lessons. Online lessons and mentorship work similarly to in-person lessons—each lesson or mentorship session will take place at a set time and the student will be expected to practice and work on material between lessons. During the lessons, the teacher or mentor will provide tips, guidance and technique advice to help the student develop their skills and build their repertoire.

Start by identifying your skills and areas where you’d like to improve. If you’re looking to improve on a certain area, approach the teacher and ask whether they feel they can help. Mentorship often involves getting help and guidance with completing a piece of work or developing your sound—so it’s best to find a teacher with skills in the areas you’d like to improve and approach them.

Music lessons won’t do anything if you can’t commit to practicing and learning the material your teacher provided you. If you go in week-to-week with nothing to show, you won’t know what skills need work and your teacher won’t be able to offer constructive advice. Being clear about your needs and the specific skills you’d like to learn about are key for getting the most out of music lessons.

You should be able to request advice and knowledge about whatever area of playing or producing you’re interested in. As well, teachers should provide constructive and useful feedback about your technique, approach and skillset. The teacher should also suggest practice materials and offer guidance for learning various techniques, theory, writing skills and beyond.