Just been dumped

[zheer]

My paino teacher just decided to stop my piano lessons , because i did not agree with the value of dotted rythm practice. Is that a little harsh. What shall i do now, i guess find another piano teacher.
   What would you do if you were in my situation?

[jamie_liszt]

dotted rhythm practice helps sometimes, i think this is stupid, a teacher shouldnt do this jsut because you disagree with something, i think you should find a better teacher.

[Kassaa]

OMFG, I disagree on something my teacher says about each lesson, we have discussions sometimes and she doesn't kick me out, she isn't even angry, more like amused...

This is ridiculous, I would not take lessons from that teacher ever again, he/she is an arrogant prick.

[jamie_liszt]

I was going to say something along those lines lol, My teacher has a approach that you play everything soft, when it has sffff and there heavy accents with accents which means bash it i guess, but she will say play soft, i disagree to that, she doesnt kick me out, but  i know i am right, the pianist i played for said i play to soft and need to get more tone and play louder, its because of my teacher.

So your teacher actually meant it, and your never to come back ? your teacher couldnt of been joking around?

[zheer]

dotted rhythm practice helps sometimes, i think this is stupid, a teacher shouldnt do this jsut because you disagree with something, i think you should find a better teacher.

  She is from the french school of piano playing, i think even Terminator will think that the french style is a little mechanical. Anyway i only disagreed on the value of dotted rythm practice because i seem to do fine without it, and it causes me pain if i try the dotted rythm thing. It just came from nowhere the E mail saying dont come back.

[tds]

ok, i survive and give concerts without dotted rhythm practice. personally i, too, disagree with the value of such practice. if i were you, i'd be glad to now have the chance to get a new (better) teacher. think more that you have "graduated" from her...

smile and move on, life is treating you well.

[zheer]

think more that you have "graduated" from her...

smile and move on, life is treating you well.

   Thanks tds for your kind words, am very glad that am not alone and that you also disagree
with the value of such practice. I will try to think of it as a graduation, but it does not feel like one at the momment, it feels horrible.

[pianistimo]

sorry to hear that she was so harsh!  not all teachers are that way.  but, you've learned an important lesson (that even if you disagree - just do it!  for the time being).  you never know when something might be good for you (like spinach) and when you test it again - or for the first time - it isn't pleasant - and then afterwards becomes so. 

or, if it never becomes a technique you use - you don't have to say much about it.

there are so many different techniques and personalities of teachers, that i'm sure you'll find someone more relaxed (if that is what you are looking for).  unfortunately, some of the really good teachers are not 'let's get happy' types. 

even if you are 'chewed out' and still want her as a teacher.  just grovel a bit.   apologize.  tell her how much you like her teaching - and that you'll agree to trying her ways even if you disagreed at first.  i, like you, never wanted to switch teachers much and tried to keep the same teacher as long as possible.  maybe this is crazy, but i felt a sort of 'allegiance' to each one.  i love piano, too, so the little bit of hurt is nothing compared to the longterm goal of playing well.  it's just like falling down when you're a child.  you just get up, brush yourself off, and look for another high risk situation.

[zheer]

Thats true pianistimo, where would i be without my online friends.

[arensky]

  She is from the french school of piano playing, i think even Terminator will think that the french style is a little mechanical. Anyway i only disagreed on the value of dotted rythm practice because i seem to do fine without it, and it causes me pain if i try the dotted rythm thing. It just came from nowhere the E mail saying dont come back.

She discharged you via email? How chickenshit! Obviously one of those people who will not confront, but stabs in the back. You are well rid of her, life is too short to have to put up with **** like that! You will find anothr teacher, just remember that you are auditioning them as well. You might want to have these questions in the back of your mind;

Can s/he really play, or could they at one time? Do they "do" as well as teach? (This is important for the level you are at right now IMO)

Do I agree with their aesthetic and appraoch, musical as well as technical?

Do I like and trust this person? (Not that they will be your best friend, but is this someone you can feel comfortable with enough to take advice and criticism from, and not have it become personal)

Are they honest and straightforward, or are they playing a part, sitting in the chair being the "great authority" , quite impressed with themselves, looking down on "little you"? (Piano teachers are a weird bunch (hey I should know I am one ) sometimes it's hard to tell, go with your instinct on this one).

Will this person really help me in the long run?

BTW practicing in rhythms is very good IMO, it speeds up HALF of the notes, so it is particularly good for improving intricate technical passages. However everyone is different and you should not have been discharged from a studio for making an honest observation about why it doesn't help you. If she thinks this device is so wonderful and important for your development then she should have taken the time to show you why it works, by patiently doing it with you until you saw the light. This person is a lazy teacher. Oh well, off to find a better guru!

[zheer]

She discharged you via email? How chickenshit! Obviously one of those people who will not confront, but stabs in the back. You are well rid of her, life is too short to have to put up with **** like that! You will find anothr teacher, just remember that you are auditioning them as well. You might want to have these questions in the back of your mind;

. However everyone is different and you should not have been discharged from a studio for making an honest observation about why it doesn't help you. If she thinks this device is so wonderful and important for your development then she should have taken the time to show you why it works, by patiently doing it with you until you saw the light. This person is a lazy teacher. Oh well, off to find a better guru!

   Thanks arensky for your thoughtful reply. You know i replyd her e mail by saying  " it is a shame you could not tell me this face to face". As you said what works well for someone might not for another. Yes i do feel like i have been stabed in the back, i constantly had the feeling that she was trying to fix something that was'nt broken needlessly.
   It is funy that you describe her as lazy, because in the e mail she described me as not reaching the minimum requirment to be able to play the piano.

[leahcim]

My paino teacher just decided to stop my piano lessons , because i did not agree with the value of dotted rythm practice. Is that a little harsh.

Yeah, it's unlikely too. I guess whatever her issues were she's had a problem for a while and this argument just triggered some response. The fact she sends an email probably compounds that.

What shall i do now, i guess find another piano teacher.

If you were British or American you'd probably make lots of snide comments, bad jokes and petty gestures about the French, their choice of food, culture and past military succe..err stuff.

But I guess you could just look for another teacher

[BoliverAllmon]

If you were British or American you'd probably make lots of snide comments, bad jokes and petty gestures about the French, their choice of food, culture and past military succe..err stuff.

I have no clue what you mean about the French. When the French pissed their pants and gave up during WWII, the Americans were there to help their little brothers. We love the French.

LOL

[zheer]

If you were British or American you'd probably make lots of snide comments, bad jokes and petty gestures about the French, their choice of food, culture and past military succe..err stuff.

But I guess you could just look for another teacher

  I am British, and i have found i think a better teacher, wish me luck.  I have nothing against the french.

[pianistimo]

just curious.  did you bring up the dotted rhythms from the very beginning?  ie:  "do you teach dotted rhythm practice?  if so, you are a loser."  conversation.   or are you just planning on looking all innocent looking when this teacher brings it up.  "oh, dotted rhythms.  yes.  i've heard of that somewhere in the past."

[zheer]

just curious.  did you bring up the dotted rhythms from the very beginning?  ie:  "do you teach dotted rhythm practice?  if so, you are a loser."  conversation.   or are you just planning on looking all innocent looking when this teacher brings it up.  "oh, dotted rhythms.  yes.  i've heard of that somewhere in the past."

  No i did'nt talk about the dotted rythm thing, i dont think i will be forced to do that .
However if i am forced needlessly i will be heart broken . Look its a free world you can do what you like,but personaly i dont see the value in it, and if i ever become a teacher i wont teach any finger equalizing or strengthining things. I guess am going to start doing some research on piano playing.

[leahcim]

  I am British

Ah fair enough, I just went from the way you described yourself the other day.

and i have found i think a better teacher, wish me luck.  I have nothing against the french.

Good luck.

[violinist]

I was dumped by my piano teacher in the past when I was age 9 or 10.  But there was no email then.  And it wasn't because I had anything to argue.  I didn't practice until the day of each lesson.   I think it was a justified dump.  Although I now wish I had continued somehow because I was still making progress with the once a week practicing.  Somehow I took to practicing the violin so much more than piano.  My parents were really relieved at the time when I was dumped from piano lessons, I think it was hard to drive me to all these activities.  Kudos to parents and all they have to do.

[clef]

nasty teacher, I don't know why they would do that, you are the one paying them after all...