switching teachers......not sure

[pmz310]

 Hey, I am thinking about switching teacher, but not completely sure though.  The teacher I have always mixes his personal life in with his professional and teaching life.  He always answers the phone and leaves the room, it varies how much he is on the phone, and cancels lessons for his own personal reasons.  But don't get me wrong, he is a great teacher (he was taught by Lazar Berman, Vlado Perlemuter, and went to Juilliard).  I'M SPLIT HELP!!!!!!!!

[Bob]

Maybe just do a few lessons with the other teacher and see what that one is like. 

Sounds like separate concerns though.  Related, but... You could just tell the teacher you don't like when he's not focused on the lesson.  Maybe more tactfully but... 

Haha.  Give him your student lesson policy sheet and make him sign it.  "Teacher must give 24 hours notice before cancelling a lessons and must make a reasonable attempt to reschedule that lesson during the week."

Buy him an answering machine as a Christmas gift.  Hint, hint teacher.

It can make you look like a jerk though, but it is your money too.  They really should only be focused on you during your lesson.  There's not much excuse for not having voicemail nowadays.

[pmz310]

he has voicemail, but he still answers

[Bob]

I was thinking about that. 

He's not stupid. 

He's probably aware it's rude.

So why answer the phone?  There must be a reason strong enough to pull someone away from a work commitment.  Something more important.  That's what he's saying when he takes a call.

So what's more important?  Esp considering he might not even know who's calling.

A gig.  That makes perfect sense.  He wants to perform.  You miss a call and there's a chance you've missed a performance just by not answering the call or even by letting it go to voicemail.  Sometimes people looking for a sub player just go down a list of names until someone agrees to fill in.  That makes some sense.

But it's still rude.

There aren't any rules.  I wouldn't invest completely in one teacher.  You might do lessons every other week and have another teacher on alternate weeks so you do a lesson each week, just with different teachers.  Or do once a month.  As long as you're in control and know what's going on.  At some point it's just someone critiquing pieces.  You can get that with audio files or an online video to a great extent. 

I suppose a more polite way would be to ask him if he'll turn his phone off or unhook it during the lesson because the phone ringing distracts you.  True -- He leaves and you're stuck.  I just think it's rude on the teacher's part.  If you don't say anyting, he'll probably just keep doing it.  He gets away with it.  You're kind of stuck though too.  Hopefully he gives the time back.  But then you have to wonder if he's cutting corners somewhere else too. 

[a-sharp]

IMHO - his behavior is very unprofessional. As a teacher, I will only occasionally answer the phone - it has to be very important - or if I see my next student's parent is calling - something like that - but even then - not always. That time is for my student. It's also what caller ID is for! ... He might be highly qualified, but there are many good teachers who are equally qualified I'm sure, and handle themselves more professionally. Of course - you could just try talking to him... that might solve it altogether. ... Good luck on whatever you decide.

[slobone]

I always advise against switching teachers unless they're really hopeless. You'll waste a lot of time getting used to the new teachers approach and methods, maybe even un-learning everything you already learned with the old one.

If he's a good teacher, why not find a way to make it work? Try talking to him about the interruptions, politely of course. "Can I ask you about a problem I'm having? I'm finding that whenever our lesson gets interrupted, it's hard for me to get my concentration back. What do you think I should do?" He may or may not get the hint.

As for canceled lessons, that's easy -- just reschedule them. A good teacher is worth a little bit of adjustment on your part.

[eddie54]

on of the most important things is to have a great bond between teacher and pupil....someone you can respect and take advice from, be your friend, etc.....just cause he went to julliard doesn't mean that he can be a great teacher....if you can't concentrate on your lesson, and you don't want to deal with those issues anymore,  then i would advise to start seeing other teachers, or get recommendations....you'd be suprised where you'll find some amazing teachers that seem to be under the radar....

[rasteen]

If he really is a great teacher, and IF you are progessing as a pianist and musician, then stick with him. You will probably always find something you don't like about any teacher; and good ones are hard to find.

So IF he is really good, put up with him and just make sure the cancelled lessons get rescheduled.  Just my opinion.

[dora96]

I am facing the same dilemma. My piano teacher is a great teacher, she has 30 teaching experienced and ATCL exam result,  the diligent students who are listening to her always get Distinction. Obviously, she knows what she is doing? However, she has a way that I dislike her, she seldom  accepts other people's opinion. During the  lesson, she will tell me everything that is wrong, incorrect, lack of dynamic etc... She won't listen to me why I play like this, why I interpreted like this. She always said to me" don't listen to yourself, load of nonsense". She makes me feel very inferior sometimes. I know that she want me to play correctly, with right interpretation. It seems like I can't have my own opinion, I have taught and learned like a parrot.

I have attempted to switch teacher, but I feel like she has brain washed me already.
It is so hard to find a good and knowledgeable teacher because I have to stay with a teacher at least for 6 months before knowing her method and idea is good or not. It is hard to tell for short period of time.

Another thing, she has very old antique large upright piano, but the touching is terrible, wobble keys, and height of the seat can't adjust it. It is hard to play with such a lousy piano. I feel as a professional should use grand piano for high grade students , she has Kawai grand piano at the other room. I said why not use the grand piano, she said no way, she doesn't like spoil her students, and grand piano only use in the rehearsal before the exam. I said to her, I came to her because she is concert pianist, and I expect she will teach in a grand piano, most of my friend's teachers they all use grand piano. How often, ordinary students will have grand piano to play or practice their piece. I know it may be too much to ask, but  I feel intimate or not used to play grand piano during the exam due to the heavy action , firm pedal and height of the seat.  She said to me " load of nonsense". grand piano is much easy to play than upright piano. She won't listen to me.

I know so many people tell that if I don't feel right, I don't like it, Switch teacher, or stop learning from her. Saying is easy than doing. I am still searching and praying  for piano teacher.



 

[slobone]

That's a new one on me, a teacher who makes you play on an upright when she has a grand in the next room! If you're going to play a grand for your exam, shouldn't you start gettijng used to it as soon as possible?

As for her attitude, I guess it's not that unusual. She probably wants to make sure you do what she tells you, and don't waste time trying things on your own that she knows from experience won't work. But certainly there are ways to do that a little more nicely.

[goldentone]

Well it isn't a little thing that your teacher, by taking calls and allowing interruptions, is frittering away your money and the time that is allotted YOU for learning piano.  I think it is a serious problem.

Good luck.