Anyone taken lessons indefinitely?

[Bob]

Lifelong?

I would imagine everyone, at some point, stops taking lessons.  The weekly kind. 

From what I understand, the pro's aren't really studying with someone, but instead study for a period of time with someone, move on, and study with a new person later on.


But has anyone kept going week after week their entire life?  If they did, I doubt it's a professional.  I also thinking it must take a huge amount of money to do that.  Yes...  $30/week x 50 weeks = $1,500/year x say... 50 years... $75,000.  Just for lessons, not the books, transportation, etc.

[amelialw]

I have been taking lessons since I was 2&a half, i'm  20 now and haven't stop since then. I'm majoring in music
Yup, it has costs my parents alot of money but they are willing to pay for lessons provided that I do well and work hard. I'm going to pay for my own lessons as soon as I start working though. My lessons cost $55 and hour. So per month it's about $374...

[desordre]

 Dear Bob:
 Regular lessons are useless after some years. You only need them until you can move alone. Of course, some kind of orientation is welcome then, but less frequently.

 It changes a lot, but I would say that weekly only works to amateur who play only for fun. In university, it would be much more interesting to have a couple of hours monthly, although I'm talking something that is hard to achieve, because I'm a professor and I have to give classes every week to my undergraduate students.

 If you have contact often with your teacher, s/he will solve a lot of things that you might be able to solve by yourself (fingering, expression, ways to develop technique and to learn). When you have to do it by yourself, you have the opportunity to find your own path, and that is of paramount importance in the shape of a performer. When you reach something about a semi-pro level (i.e., you play recitals and the like), you probably need just three or four meetings a year. And if you have this classes with different teacher, it's even better.

 Best wishes!

 
 

[alzado]

For me, lessons are just a way to play material for another pianist who is  -- presumably -- better than I am.  We can then discuss both the piece itself and my manner of playing the piece. 

I pretty much play in an empty house.  I have two cats.  They love to sit for hours and listen to me play.  But -- once a week -- it is nice to be able to play for a human being who takes an interest, even if she is being paid to do so.

I have not taken lessons "all my life."  I quit for a few years, or move around the country where no piano is available.  Then I take lessons for a while, then quit again.  I think that is quite normal.

Your estimate of cost for lessons is CRAZY.  Does anyone pay that much?  Lord!  I play $55 per month, which is generally four lessons.  (A couple of times a year there are five Mondays in the month -- it is still $55.)  My teacher is quite competent, even at that price.  She has her music degree with two majors -- in teaching music and in piano performance. 



I am a senior citizen. 

[thalbergmad]

I have had lessons on and off for almost 40 years.

When i was young they were weekly, but now 1 or 2 per year.

Thal