Interpretation, Student or teacher ???

[kghayesh]

I feel i am playing with my teacher's interpretation, not mine. She may be a more accomplished artist than me and she may have more experience in music, but ..... hey, did you know that I can play the piano as well !!!

When i am learning my pieces at home and then go to the lesson. She criticizes some of my interpretations and tells me to change it to be like what she wants. I try to convince her with why i did this, but she insists on what she thinks.

Teachers, do you do the same to your students??
Fellow students, did anybody experience the same thing?

[canardroti]

I believe we all have experience that with our teacher.  Most of the time , I always go by my teacher's interpretation because I went to her recitals, I've listened to  the way she describes a piece and I really love the way she expresses herself in her music to the point that I wish I could just see and feel how a piece should sound. Even though I might have a different interpretation of a piece, I usually go by with what she sees.
Well, until I become an accomplished pianist or at least have more experience with it, I wouldn't try to argue with my teacher.

[m1469]

Generally, when I am paying a teacher to offer to me what they have to offer, I try to make a point of giving it a true chance, even if I don't think I agree (I will only enter a conversation about interpretation if that's what the point is in my teacher having brought it up, otherwise, I just quietly tuck my thoughts away for later explorations on my own).  Afterall, I am paying them for their time and thoughts, yes ?  So, it would be silly not to take what they have to offer and instead be there simply for the sake of arguing.

However, it is natural to begin to develop one's own ideas.  While this may happen with strictly your own thoughts and experiences, it can also happen after considering a number of other people's ideas on whatever it is you may be working on.  You may listen to a number of recordings, have suggestions from your teacher, get input from masters in master classes, all of which are only as helpful as you let them be.  At the end of the day, it is always you whom decides what you are going to do.

If you find yourself in a situation where you continuously do not want to hear what your teacher's thoughts are, and you do not feel that your own sense of interpretation is growing, then why continue paying that teacher to give you their thoughts on the subject and guide your own growth in this way ?

Ideally, a teacher offers ideas which help you grow musically and spark your own imagination, not mere dictation, for the most part.  It seems to me, your teacher is doing what she merely feels is her job to do.  If you do not like what you are paying for, shop around, perhaps.

I recently took a piece of music to two different masters.  They proceeded to give me completely opposite remarks regarding interpretation and so on.  At first I was quite frustrated and confused.  But then, I realized I had the fortune of choosing from different ideas and also, the chance to clarify my thoughts and ideas on what I wanted.  They both gave me something to work with, and really, that's all.

Something that one of them said to me stood out and made a very big impact on me :

"You clearly love this piece of music.  What is so great about loving this piece of music is that your teacher will give you ideas on what to work on, I will give you ideas on what to do with it, and you will get ideas from others on what to do with it.  Some of it you will agree with, and some of it you will not.  In the end, after all is said and done, you will still just love this piece of music."

So, either listen to your teacher, or don't.  But don't let what others say ruin your love for what you are doing.


m1469

[allthumbs]

Well put m1469! I couldn't have said it any better.

[m1469]

Well put m1469! I couldn't have said it any better.

Thank you, allthumbs   

[sonatainfsharp]

I teach my students with a very conservative or "scholarly" interpretation. Once they get a handle on the piece, they are free to do as the please as long as they can justify what they are doing.