new teacher, new method

[pianohopper]

I just finished summer lessons with a teacher from my school.  We knew that once school started back up, I would start with a new teacher from a local music conservatory.  So, I will probably take lessons next summer from the old teacher.

Whereas my summer teacher was big on Bach and technique, more control and accuracy issues, my new teacher is a theory/jazz guy.  Although I signed up for classical lessons, he is having me do lots of theory and analysis.  He hasn't actually gotten around to "real" teaching yet.  The most that happened was he listened to me play my Chopin etude, and then commented about my arm weight and posture. 

I am a dunce for theory.   It is coming very slow for me, as I have never had much theory in my ten years of playing.  He says that by learning about theory, I will be able to play better, but I am skeptical.

I do not want to leave this teacher, I like him, and maybe I am jumping to conclusions after only two lessons.  But I do need some practical help here.  Any ideas?  I was thinking of asking to do half the lesson theory, half playing.  But I mean, he's getting paid for  teaching me classical music, not jazz.   I'm awful at  improvising by the way.

[bernhard]

It seems to me he maybe the perfect teacher for you: S/he identified your weak spots and went head on to make you deal with it. And s/he is right: both theory and improvisation will help you to play better. It seems to me the Universe is giving you a huge opportunity to learn about these areas. Don't miss it!

(Either that or your new teacher does not have a clue and is buying time teaching you what s/he happens to know  But even if this is the case, it is still a golden opportunity for making up on areas you are lacking).

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[rc]

Never ignore your weakness', turn them into strengths.

Theory is valuable for a few reasons: better understanding of the structure, easier memorization, more educated interpretation, if you ever decide to compose, improv.

On that note, improv. is great fun even if you're not so good at it. Useful when you can't think of something to play. I've heard of pianists who can improvise their way out of a trainwreck, but that's beyond me. Most pianists will go their entire lives without learning to improvise, but I say it's another indispensible skill to being a well-rounded musician. It's very similar to composition, just in the moment, and a lot of the great composers were also great improvisers.