<p>thelovelybones, I probably should not have used the word “value”-- I think it’s more that precision is something they can agree upon, whereas there are different tastes with regard to musicality. Also, if a student has some technical issues, there are some teachers out there who are not interested in teaching them, regardless of their potential or musicality. On the other hand, there are teachers who will recognize exactly those things and embrace such a student. I think this is all the more reason to connect with prospective teachers in advance and find the right match(es). Also-- if you have a lesson in advance, the teacher will be able to talk to you and discover more of who you are as a person. An advance visit also demonstrates the sincerity of your interest in the teacher and his/her school. To give an example, my daughter applied to the studio of a certain teacher at her pre college teacher’s recommendation. The teacher had already selected his studio (in advance of auditions) and was not at my daughter’s audition for the school. After she was accepted, she contacted him and he invited her to visit in while on tour (at a different city, not ours or the city where the school is.) She played for him for much longer than a regular audition, then he talked with her for 45 minutes. He told her that he would accept her if there was an opening in his studio- first on the wait list. As it turned out, a spot did open up, but after she had already committed to a different school/studio. My point is that he wanted her to play for him, and he wanted to get to know her. I think he also wanted to see how serious she was, since she had to travel to another city to meet him. </p>
<p>There are some teachers who famously won’t give lessons or hear any students in advance of auditions-- in order to keep a level playing field. More often teachers seem interested in getting to know serious prospective students outside of the audition.</p>