Originally Posted by politicophile

Music theory is one of those skills that is much easier to learn from an instructor than on your own. If your college offers any music theory courses, taking one might be the fastest way to get a solid foundation for your knowledge. Other than that, I'd make sure the piano teacher you select is knowledgeable in the realm of theory and perhaps devote a portion of your lesson time specifically to learning theory. I found that my theory-conscious piano teacher was able to improve my knowledge of theory at a rate I could never have matched studying on my own.