Student Availability (and other points to consider in your desire to take music lessons)

-Availability

Will you or your child be able to meet for lessons at least once a week? Will you be able to attend additional class lessons or recitals throughout the year? Local music associations hold competitions each year and your teacher may want you to participate. 

-Practicing

Learning how to play an instrument and music takes practice. Without time set aside every day you will not progress much from week to week. Again, it is up to you as a student or parent to make the most of your investment in your instrument and lesson fees by making the time to practice. Each practice time must also have preset goals as to what you want to accomplish with your time. Simply playing through your pieces does not solve the problems inherent in the music or in your technique. Planning your practice time efficiently allows you to maintain focus, achieve goals faster, and get more done in a short amount of time.

-Conflicting activities

Often students have multiple extra-curricular activities going on such that they cannot make the time commitment necessary to achieve progress. As the parent, you either need to eliminate an activity or organize your child's schedule such that they do have time to commit to practicing. Even 10 minutes of focused practicing several times a day is more effective than hours of practicing the day before the lesson.