The teacher is willing to try something different with your child

Green Flag #4

Using the same teaching methods on every child you teach makes about as much sense as a doctor giving the same medicine to every patient they treat, or a shoe salesman bringing the same shoe in the same size to every customer.  However, this happens all of the time. Teachers who are busy, overworked, and underappreciated often just stick to what they know so they can make it through the day and meet their metrics.  

So, it is a BIG and enthusiastically waving green flag when you find a teacher who is willing to give individual attention to your child to help them succeed. 

Keep in mind that this means that, on some level, there will be some experimentation going on between the teacher and your child.  Teaching is a lot of things - an art, a science, a discipline, and calling.  But it is also a relationship.  And relationships have to be developed to really be working well on all fronts.  So, when a music teacher tries something new or different with your child, it might not work.  That doesn’t mean that the green flag stops waving!  Communicate with your child, communicate with the teacher, and see if you can find ways for your child to succeed that you can both get behind.