Should I change my piano teacher ?

[chillpianist]

I’ve had the same piano teacher since I was a kid, and they’ve always been great. But lately I’ve reached a level none of their other students have reached, and I’m aiming for high-level competitions. I want to work on advanced technique—phrasing, voicing, pedal control, all the fine details that really matter on stage.
My teacher is still good, but they’re mainly focused on early and intermediate levels, and I’m not sure they’re the best fit for the kind of refinement I’m trying to achieve now.
I’ve been considering switching to a teacher who specializes in advanced students, but I feel guilty about leaving someone who’s been with me for so long.
From an expert perspective: is changing teachers at this stage actually necessary, or can I keep progressing with my current one ?

[dizzyfingers]

From an expert perspective: is changing teachers at this stage actually necessary, or can I keep progressing with my current one ?

Sounds like you've already decided you need to switch, or you want to switch.  You're just looking for confirmation, maybe to assuage some guilt. 

Student / Teacher relationships get kinda interpersonal when the topic is a musical instrument.  Need to remember that, bottom line, it's a professional contract, you're teacher is a service provider and you are the person hiring those services.  Either party can end the contract for whatever reasons.  You happen to have very good reasons...

You're teacher will understand you need to move on.  Let us know if she does not.

[essence]

Even if the teacher is very capable of leading you into more advanced studies, it can be useful to change teachers if only to get alternative insights.

[lelle]

My old professor used to say that it can be good to change teachers every 5 years or so. A new teacher comes with fresh perspectives and angles on things, which can help you understand things further. That being said, if your teacher is good and it turns out they CAN help you with those advanced concepts, you don't HAVE to switch.

But it sounds a bit like you feel like you might need to switch?