Choosing between Teachers

[phil13]

Since this does not have to do with the actual teaching process, it doesn't really belong in the Teaching section. I don't know where exactly to put a question like this. Anyway...

Every summer, my piano teacher goes away to teach in Aspen. This year, he's given me a choice between two teachers to work with over the summer. I'll boil this down to basics:

Teacher A is a superb pianist, but has little experience teaching.

Teacher B has taught for decades, but is not nearly as skilled a pianist as Teacher A.

This summer I have quite a bit of demanding repertoire that will require both time and patience (which Teacher B would be better at) but also I want to make sure I handle the mechanique and the musical aspects of the works correctly (which Teacher A would be better at)

I have no idea which one to choose. I'm not asking you guys to decide for me, as ultimately that is my decision to make alone, but I would appreciate hearing recommendations, past experiences with this type of dilemma, similar situations, etc., if there are any. 

As always, thanks in advance.

Phil

[quantum]

It is my experience that your knowledge of music does not come from one single source.  You take points from here and there.  Not every teacher is knowledgeable in all subject areas. 

One of my teachers always used to say "You don't have to do anything I tell you, as long as you do something."  The point being you have to take what your teacher says and interpret it in a way that is meaningful to you. 

I have not always followed word for word the advice from my teachers.  I like taking the strong points from different sources and melding them together. 

Pick the teacher that you think you will get the most benefit from.  They may not provide you with all you need, so remember to supplement with your own knowledge or other sources.

[lazlo]

Pick the one who can teach better... This does not necessarily (and in many cases) mean that they are a virtuoso pianist. Teaching and performing are two very different skills, and in my experience don't often transfer easily from one to the other. I've had violin lessons from violinists in the philadelphia orchestra/SF symphony, and from my experience I would have much rather taken with my current teacher. I can't impart enough how different the two skills are (teaching vs. playing). The best teachers I've had weren't really that good (in violin and piano) in the world, but they were great at communicating ideas. Try and have a lesson with each of them if possible. I would be cautious of anyone who tells you to go one way or another on a piano forum, since so much depends on how you interact with these people, and everyone is different. Percentage wise if I had to make a blind guess I would go with the teacher with experience every time. This is just based on my personal percentages over the years, but each case is different-don't take my word for it.

[Bob]

Sounds like you can't make a bad decision.  Flip a coin maybe.

Can you take from both?  Be greedy?  Alternate weeks?  Or get each teacher each week?    Maybe there's another student you can split with if you can alternate week by week.

[lilla]

There is another key element and I believe this is the one you should use to make your decision.   Go and interview with each teacher.  Choose the one you can relate to best.  That is, which one do you feel comfortable with, which one do you feel a rapport with, which one seems open to discussion, clearly explains in a way that you can grasp, which one seems interested or responds to the things that are important to you?  Therein may lie your best choice.

[pet]

I say go with Teacher B because teaching and playing are two different things.  I have been in that situation before, and the teacher who was a phenomenal pianist was a very lousy teacher, and I got nowhere for about 2 years, and even lost interest in playing piano altogether because I wasn't motivated.  The teacher might be able to teach you the techniques that you are looking for, maybe not demonstrate them very well, but that's not the point.  Transferring the knowledge to a student is much more important......well to me anyway.

Or, maybe after you have finished a piece, you can go to the teacher that is the better pianist to give you performance tips.

[quantum]

There is another key element and I believe this is the one you should use to make your decision.   Go and interview with each teacher.  Choose the one you can relate to best.  That is, which one do you feel comfortable with, which one do you feel a rapport with, which one seems open to discussion, clearly explains in a way that you can grasp, which one seems interested or responds to the things that are important to you?  Therein may lie your best choice.

This is good advice 

[phil13]

Will do. Thank you all for your replies! 

Phil