Two good teachers saying opposite things

[xamy]

I have recently changed my piano teacher and have decided to carry on with the pieces I was doing before. My new teacher is very good, focuses above all on the music and technique, just like my other teacher did. However, I do find it a bit frustrating, as I have had to take my pieces apart, because the new teacher doesn't seem to agree with some of the points my old teacher made. I am finding it hard to change old habits which I thought were correct. What should I do?

[zheer]

Give us an example of old habbits which you thought were correct.

[xamy]

Hmm, its;s hard to explain exactly without showing it on the piano, but I'll try anyway. For example, for a staccato scale passage, should I use a finger staccato, or "stroke" the keys? They both produce quite different sounds.

In anothere piece, there is a passage with lots of slurs, one teacher told me to go down into the slurs, the other one told me to go "up and over" the slurs. Again it is hard to imagine what I mean without showing it on  the piano.

Mavbe there is no correct way for these things, everyone probably does different things.

[zheer]

Yeah go up and over for the slurs, and the staccato allow the fingers to jumb of the keys but this will depend on the tempo and the type of staccato you choose to achieve. Recently my teacher demonstrated haw to play a particular staccato by taping her finger on a table.

[alzado]

You write, "For example, for a staccato scale passage, should I use a finger staccato, or "stroke" the keys? They both produce quite different sounds."

This is interesting.   In a post on a different topic, I made reference to "stroking the keys" to get certain effects.

I was chided by one of the most frequent posters on this board, informed that stroking the keys has absolutely no effect on the sound, and I was informed that it tires the hands.  [? ]

Frankly, I don't know what the man was talking about.  But that doesn't seem to stop some of them from opining away anyway.

Wish I could make a good suggestion regarding the different views of the two teachers.  Sorry, it's a thorny problem.

[sarahlein]

Is your new teacher able to tell you why a certain technique (way of moving) is better than another?
Why don't you ask and let us know how it went?

[iratehamster]

What does it mean to go "up and over" the slurs as opposed to going "down into" them?  Does it mean playing one hand unslurred while you play the other hand slurred, as opposed to using the pedal when either hand is playing a slurred passage and therefore slurring both?  Or maybe you're referring to the type of hand movement...

[xamy]

What does it mean to go "up and over" the slurs as opposed to going "down into" them?  Does it mean playing one hand unslurred while you play the other hand slurred, as opposed to using the pedal when either hand is playing a slurred passage and therefore slurring both?  Or maybe you're referring to the type of hand movement...

Yes I am referring to the type of hand movement. It's Chopin's waltz number in e minor. The problem is in the right hand.

[xamy]

Is your new teacher able to tell you why a certain technique (way of moving) is better than another?
Why don't you ask and let us know how it went?

That's a good idea. I will ask.

[rc]

...or, if you can't get an explaination, just give your new teacher the benefit of the doubt and try it that way, if you don't like the outcome you don't have to keep it, but you might be missing out. At least, you'll have picked up a different trick for your bag.

[xamy]

...or, if you can't get an explaination, just give your new teacher the benefit of the doubt and try it that way, if you don't like the outcome you don't have to keep it, but you might be missing out. At least, you'll have picked up a different trick for your bag.

Yes you're right. I am pretty sure there is no right way to play it. I believe it's just a matter of taste and/or what feel right. I like the "different trick for your bag", I could certainly do with some more! I really want to improve, but I have to work really hard, unlike others it seems. Oh well, you can't have everything...

[pianowelsh]

Shoot them both and teach yourself !!   ONLY KIDDING

[whynot]

Well, it seems like all of this will sort itself out in time.  But I strongly (!) recommend that you work on new music with your new teacher, instead of trying to re-work/re-think your other pieces.  After you've settled in with some of these new ideas, you might really appreciate the new person's point of view on repertoire you've studied with someone else, but I think that's a frustrating way to get started.  As far as the technical specifics, it's really good to learn how to make as many different sounds or colors as we can.  For example, there isn't a right or wrong staccato touch; there are many ways to play separated notes, and you can probably hear that this new way has a different quality of sound from your old way.  So that's another option that you'll always have now, and one will suit a moment better than the other.  There are more staccato touches that you'll come across over time.  The slur question, I just don't quite understand what "up and over" means in this context.  But anyway, take heart! and learn all you can, but I would definitely tell the new teacher that you'd like to start some new pieces with him/her.  The way to persuade him/her to allow this is to ask the teacher's opinion on what you should be playing!  No one can resist that.  Good luck! 

[ahmedito]

This point comes up all the time in my chamber music lessons. The assistant and the head are always at odds. I think its good, it helps YOU learn to make your own decisions. Good teachers dont tend to be very authoritarian when it comes to the subjective aspects of piano playing.

[gonzalo]

Shoot them both and teach yourself !!   ONLY KIDDING

Seems to be the best option