Famous piano teachers

[kaveh]

Hi All,

For those of you who don't know me, I'm an adult returner to the piano, short on experience, long on ambition.

A very high-profile piano teacher has agreed to take me on, on the condition that I have weekly lessons (priced at $140 each) and maintain a practice schedule of at least 3-4 hours a day?

I'm quite new to all this, so does that sound fairly typical?

Regards,
Kaveh

[zheer]

What makes him a high profil piano teacher, in what way is he/she worth 145$ an hour, and can you lend me 20$, thanks.

[kaveh]

High profile as in gives international recitals, hosts regular masterclasses, is on judging panel for various piano competitions, is on close terms with many world-class pianists and composers (including Martha Argerich), and whose students are already concert pianists.

In terms of worth, I can't really say.  I've got no frame of reference.  That's what I'm trying to establish.

How much would you / do you pay to have lessons with an important piano teacher?

Drop by and I'll lend you $20 no problem 

[g_s_223]

Can you meet the requirement to do 3-4 hours practice per day? If so, then a high-cost/high-benefit teacher may well pay off.

Most adult students are lucky if they get to do 1 hrs practice per day, and so for them a teacher in a much lower price bracket ($40-70 per 1hr lesson/wk) would be perfectly OK.

Your choice I'd say.

 

[stevie]

i have a large endowment policy that allows me to maintain a hefty schedule of prospective oral examinations, i try to keep on top of things.

and, what is the name of this high-profile dood?

[zheer]

Well if you would like to compare and contrast, i pay my piano teacher  $30 an hour and i have one lesson every 2 weeks. however high profile piano teacher will charge £60 - £80 an hour. I dont know you financial situation, if you can afford it well then have a few lessonns and see what you think. All the best.

[kaveh]

Thanks for the comments.

Well, at the moment, I average 1.5 hours a day practicing, but spend almost 2 hours commuting.  In a few months my work moves much closer, so potentially I'd have more time to practice.

I live in London.  The average piano teacher here charges £30/hour, this guy is charging £80/lesson (about 90mins).  Most of his students are already established performers, and only have the occasional lesson with him to polish a piece, fine-tune a recital etc.

I couldn't afford this comfortably, but could spend less and do some extra freelance work.

Does anyone pay this much for piano lessons?

[ptmidwest]

I would not consider myself famous, and I bet no one else does, either , but there are teaching situations where I charge that much, and I get it.  Always an advanced and ambitious student, and usually for coaching (where they are preparing for a competition or an audition).

[kaveh]

I don't consider myself advanced, but I'm certainly ambitious, and this is all geared towards an amateur piano competition in 2009.

So there is a precedent 

[ptmidwest]

Kaveh, I meant no sarcasm.  The word "advanced"  certainly can apply to you if you are aiming for such a competition, and good luck! 

And, yes!  There's precedence! In the U.S. this is a fairly well-known practice, I believe.

[kaveh]

Ptmidwest- I am far from advanced and I readily admit to that.

I think £80 per lesson seemed exorbitant because I was thinking of it in terms of piano lessons, whereas it's actually professional coaching I'll be paying for.

He's even planning on teaching me how to be 'one with the piano' 

[m1469]

He's even planning on teaching me how to be 'one with the piano' 

As far as I am concerned, learning how to be 'one with the piano' is absolutely priceless. 

[iumonito]

If this teacher is at the level of a Michel Beroff, Ari Vardi or Yahoved Kaplinsky, you are right on the money.  On the other hand, maybe you could consider working regularly with an assistant, spend less money and try to play in her or his masterclasses.

Good luck.

[kaveh]

That's an interesting option, and my (current) piano teacher suggested the same.  Only problem is he only holds 2 masterclasses a year in London, the rest are at various worldwide locations.

While, in theory, I could spend the money I'd be saving on lessons on flights and accomodation, it would feel far too extravagant to actually put into practice!

And I don't know if he's quite as lauded as the teachers you mention.

[Jacey1973]

Thanks for the comments.

Well, at the moment, I average 1.5 hours a day practicing, but spend almost 2 hours commuting.  In a few months my work moves much closer, so potentially I'd have more time to practice.

I live in London.  The average piano teacher here charges £30/hour, this guy is charging £80/lesson (about 90mins).  Most of his students are already established performers, and only have the occasional lesson with him to polish a piece, fine-tune a recital etc.

I couldn't afford this comfortably, but could spend less and do some extra freelance work.

Does anyone pay this much for piano lessons?

£80 sounds alot, but it sounds right for this kind of teacher for 90 mins - and esp in London. I pay around £40 for an hour.

[ahmedito]

Actually, I have met teachers who charge from 200 euros to 500 euros for a lesson.

Luckily I study with one at school, where I dont have to pay anything.

Just make sure its worth it. The teacher you need depeneds on your necesities. For someone no trying for a career as a concert pianist or competitions or whatever, at a postgraduate level for example, it might not be worth it. You might no be ready for what these kinds of teachers can tell you, or you might not understand it yet, or it might not be of any practical use to you at the moment.

It is important to know in what stage of your learning you are now. Begginer, Intermediate, Advanced, Professional?

[kaveh]

I'd say I'm intermediate.

We had an informal (2 hour!) audition, most of it spent talking, during which I played some fairly simple pieces (e.g. gnossiene 4, phantasietanz, album leaf, a 2-part invention, schubert's impromptu 142-2).

He seemed confident he could teach at my level, and didn't think it was completely unrealistic to aim for an amateur competition in 4 years.  Assuming I had weekly lessons and put in some serious work.

Then again, maybe he's a little short on students at the moment...

[totallyclassics]

I think that's great if you can afford it and keep it up for the next couple of years.  Consistency is important too.   I found a wonderful teacher who plays all over the world and has won two international competitions.  I found her at  the music college she is attending to get her doctorite in music.   I pay $40 and take once a week.   If you have a music college near you, you might can post.  Many of these students would love to teach.   I couldn't have found a better teacher.  She is very precise and picky with technique, but in just a month, my playing has improved tremendously, and so has my desire to play because I actually have been able to master pieces.  I too am a returning adult.  I am playing at about early intermediate level.  I can play notes of bigger pieces, but am unable to technically and precisely master them as I would like too.  SOON THOUGH!   Good luck to you!

tc

[pianowelsh]

are you getting value for your lessons? Is the person able to help you develop or ae they trying to teach at a higher level than you are at currently.  if so you would be better studying with a less expensive teacher and having the occasional consultation lesson with this person to monitor your development.  You did well to get a lesson with them. most teachers of that level have a HUGE waiting list.  The teachetr I had at college who teaches privately in london too has a waiting list of average 2.5 years and charges £50 phr outside of London - I didnt even ask how much he charges in London.

[kaveh]

Actually, since I last wrote I've had some promising recommendations.  Very good teachers who are only charging £35/hr!  Decided I may as well meet as many as I can before making  what will be a consequential decision.

Pianowelsh,  I think I may try something along the lines you've suggested.  I got the lesson by writing a very convincing letter - maybe I should become a salesman 

[PaulNaud]

Don't spend your money uselessly! Some piano teachers at this level won't teach you with 100% interest in your case!