Should I change teachers?

[chopininov]

Hi. I've had the same teacher for about 6 years now. She has been great up until recently. I find that she doesn't really teach me anything anymore. My lesson will start, she will have me warm up with some scales and other exercises, and then she has me play through the pieces I've been learning. This is all well and good, but she doesn't correct me or my mistakes. She just has me play through the pieces and then will make some general comment like, "Some of those passages should be cleaned up." No specifics, just that "some" of them need to be fixed. And so that's what my lesson usually consists of.

I thought that her lack of teaching might be coming from the fact that she feels that I have surpassed her experience. She has said many times about pieces that I've chosen to play, "Woah! I couldn't even play that! It's too hard." Should I move on to another teacher? Because I have mentioned to her my concern of not learning anything. She seemed willing to change this, but has not. Any suggestions? 

[gyzzzmo]

WOOOOWWWW you play better pieces than your teacher?

(do we really have to answer this question?  )

[chopininov]

WOOOOWWWW you play better pieces than your teacher?

(do we really have to answer this question?  )

Not necessarily better, but more technically advanced. She's much more into the hymnal, religious, worship songs.

[ilikepie]

Not necessarily better, but more technically advanced. She's much more into the hymnal, religious, worship songs.

What are you still doing with her.... If you're more technically advanced than a teacher, that poses problems.

[counterpoint]

After 6 years with the same teacher, it's always a good idea to get a different view from another teacher.

[teresa_b]

You answered your own question--You are beyond her and you definitely need a new teacher!!!

Good luck!
Teresa

[Mayla]

Well, the problem is not really about what you are playing compared to her or so.  The problem is whether or not you are still growing under her tutelage; that's all that really matters.  Regardless of whether she plays the same pieces as you or harder pieces or easier pieces than you, what matters most is that she can help you play what you need/want to play - and, help you play it well.

I used to be very impressed with a pianist's ability to ripple through pieces or passages during a concert or during a lesson.  I used to think that this autmatically meant s/he was a great pianist, a great teacher, a great musician, and that I would be lucky to just be in the same room, let alone recieve a scrap of attention or help.  I don't see things in quite the same way anymore.

Yes, I am inspired by and respect an experienced artist's musical thoughts and knowledge, and yes, I do still enjoy and appreciate "good" piano playing -- and there is still a lot to be said about and learned from those things.  But, I can just put a cd in the disc changer and stick my headphones on for that anymore  -- more or less. 

As far as my overall quest in being able to understand pianistic playing and how to personally teach it and demonstrate it goes, I am a lot pickier now.  What that means is that I would take a teacher full of teaching/musical experience and knowledge with a passion for teaching (and a passion for teaching ME) over a mere "pianist" ANYDAY ( ) (there are PLENTY of the latter within the world and a lot fewer of the former) -- even if the teacher were not playing as difficult of pieces as I play, as long as I am still making progress in a fulfilling way.  If it all happens to mix together, sure, I'll take that, too.  Why not ?

From what it sounds like to me, she already knows that you know what she would have to say to you.   Your teacher knows that you already know where you need more work and how to fix it.  So, even if it is time to move on, my question to you is if you are really doing your job as a student anymore ?  If you know what needs work and if you know how to fix it (provided that is indeed true), why are these problems still there ?  If you do not know how to fix these problems or if you do not know what these problems actually are, why are you not specifically asking your teacher for help in these spots ?

[emill]

I thought that her lack of teaching might be coming from the fact that she feels that I have surpassed her experience. She has said many times about pieces that I've chosen to play, "Woah! I couldn't even play that! It's too hard." Should I move on to another teacher? Because I have mentioned to her my concern of not learning anything. She seemed willing to change this, but has not. Any suggestions?

Your teacher's statement is as clear as one can be and you should have picked it up there and then.  It would also seem that there is some breakdown in communication as you should really clarify from her the specifics of what should be cleaned up.  I feel there is only a minority of teachers who will admit that the student must move on to a better teacher.

That reminds of the 1st teacher of my son who started with the piano in early 2005 at age of 9. He was a graduate of the Conservatory of music with composition as his major and piano as a minor.  After 7 months he talked to us and recommended a change to a "better" teacher as he felt he was not giving justice to the potential of my son.  At that time I thought he was kidding.  As I said, very few will be as honest as that.  GOOD LUCK ... change your teacher!

[thalberg]

Get a new teacher.  The only reason you're even here asking this is because you're afraid of hurting her feelings--that's my guess.  Perhaps a better question should be how to handle her  when you make the split.

[leonidas]

When a pianist is beyond the basics, is a teacher really needed?

An exchange of ideas among peers, much like the atmosphere of this forum, is preferable, but of course then noone would earn any money, and noone could afford to be lazy enough not to think for themselves

[gyzzzmo]

If a teacher wouldnt be needed after people know the basics, there wouldnt have been masterclasses

[leonidas]

Masterclasses are interesting.

Often, they are a pile of ego-laced BS drivel, subjective to the extreme, and teach the 'student' to conform to the 'master's preconcieved idea of what the piece should sound like.

A good masterclass is not really any different from a performance, all you get added is an explaination why that choice was made, and advice on how to execute it.

Grant the student enough respect to listen to differing ways of playing, choose the direction their taste favours, and have the mental fortitude to figure out how to get it to sound like that.

It's so simple, and people spend and earn tons of money doing it.
I don't know if it's sadder if the teacher knows all of this and still does it, or if they have no idea about it and do it.

[counterpoint]

Masterclasses are interesting.

Often, they are a pile of ego-laced BS drivel, subjective to the extreme, and teach the 'student' to conform to the 'master's preconcieved idea of what the piece should sound like.

That's not totally wrong 

[leonidas]

You'd be wise to learn from me.

Every post of mine is what a masterclass *should* be like.

I wouldn't charge for it, I'd only charge for drinks, because there would be so many people coming anyway, I'd make a profit.

[gyzzzmo]

Masterclasses are interesting.

Often, they are a pile of ego-laced BS drivel, subjective to the extreme, and teach the 'student' to conform to the 'master's preconcieved idea of what the piece should sound like.

(etc etc)

Its obvious Leonidas never experienced a masterclass himself and is still on the 'learning the basics' level. Believe me, you definitely(yes Thal, i spelt it right didnt i :p ) learn alot from these.

[thalberg]

I went to a Murray Perahia masterclass once.  He came to my school.  It was one of the best experiences of my life.  He is one BAMF!!

Other masterclasses were not so good--Garrick Ohlsson was stupid.  Gil Shaham--great violinist, but boring masterclass. 

[gyzzzmo]

I gues i was lucky with my choise of masterclasses (or im worse in playing the piano, thus easier to teach :p )