my situation

[rabias]

My situation is that I am 21 years old, I played piano from when I was 6-11 but never got very good. Now, I've just re-started lessons, I'm playing Mendelsohnn's Venetian Boat Song #1 but I'm having quite a lot of trouble with it.  I'm particularly awful at fingering, pedaling and well, just everything I suppose. My teacher is nice, but I am taking lessons at my university-- I signed up for lessons for non-majors at the music department because they are much cheaper than taking private lessons. However, I am the absolutely worst student that my teacher has and I think that I am far below the level that these lessons are intended for.  (I think they are intended for music majors for whom piano is a second instrument or just people who are not majoring in performance but have played and taken lessons for many years).

What can I do to improve my playing? What kind of pieces should I play? What, in your opinion, is what I should be looking for in a teacher at this stage.

Thank you

[spirithorn]

rabias -
To improve your playing (given the background that you described), the right teacher is essential.  Be able to clearly articulate your goals:  your background, what the piano and music mean to you, and where you want to go with your playing.  Find a teacher who will work with you along these lines and on your terms, but who will also provide the challenges necessary for progress.  Such teachers are out there.  It may be the one you have currently, or maybe you need to look elsewhere.  As for the kind of pieces to play, I would suggest ones within (or just slightly beyond) your current technical level that you really love.  There are many, many masterpieces that are not technically advanced.  The "right" teacher can surely help with this.  Good luck, and hope this is helpful in some way.