You can expect to pay anywhere from £12 to £30 an hour, though many teachers offer half hour lessons which may well be better for people early into their instrument playing. Ask if there is the possibility of group lessons, if this suits you. This can seriously help reduce the costs for those on tight budget. Those who have family constraints or transport problems might want to consider having a teacher come to their home.

Any good teacher will be happy to talk to you about the possibility of teaching you and should be happy to answer your questions.

* Ask if you can sit in on a lesson. This is especially good if you’re thinking of taking group lessons.

* Avoid teachers who are not ‘fun’. Playing an instrument should be fun not a chore. If you don’t find learning with a particular teacher fun, move on. It should not be work, otherwise you’d work an instrument not play it

* Ask if you can tape record any lessons you have. A teacher who is confident in their teaching methods will have no problem with this, and you will have a source of reference to help you in your practice.

* Never be afraid to ask what their professional and educational experience is. While qualifications may not be everything you should expect a music teacher to have taken their music exams in the instrument or instruments they teach. Also find out how long they’ve been teaching and the kind of people they teach. For example – do they teach adults and children? References can be asked for, but none come higher than personal recommendation from a happy student.