Which is better, 3 hours with one, or 1 1/2 hours each with 2?

[lagin]

Hey teachers, I have a question.  I am entering my final 2 years of piano study and was thinking of taking on a 2nd teacher, for the sake of more interpretive suggestions.  I don't want to leave my present teacher, so I was wondering, if she and the other teacher I have in mind were game, do you think it would be a good idea to have 2?  I feel somewhat like I am in a way outgrowing my present teacher.  I mean, she is still teaching me stuff, but I feel like I need some new innovative ideas.  Like after a festival or workshop, I love the new ideas I get.  I thought that if I took on a 2nd teacher I could have new ideas all the time, and pick and choose which suggestions I like.  This way, they could "specialize" on the pieces they were most familiar with.  For example, my current teacher can help me tremendously on the repertoire I picked for my final exam that she has played before, and the other teacher could help me on the stuff that SHE has played before.  Do you think they would mind?  I was going to ask my teacher tomorrow what she thinks, but I would love some feedback first.  Thanks.

[pianistimo]

the ideal time to do this would be the summer time.  usually after the semester, your teacher won't notice that you're doing anything unusual if you take a hiatus.  during this hiatus - you can focus on what someone else is showing you.  to take two teachers at the same time (unless focusing on theory with one and piano with other) may confuse the issues that each are trying to teach you.

for instance, my current teacher is relaxed in terms of classical ornamentation - allowing trills fromt eh bottom notes occasionally where it sounds pleasing.  another teacher may say 'never do that!'  so then, if i play for one and then play for another - i'd have to change my playing to suit each teacher - and i'd ultimately be the one to suffer. 

i've enjoyed tremendously the approach that my newest teacher has had.  it's basically pragmatic.  whatever works.  he is innovative and doesn't just march in line behind the thousand and one teachers that came before.   he has helped me become (i hope) more independent and yet more careful, too.  sometimes you 'gloss over' very important parts of the piece.  i used to 'gloss over' the dissonance - trying to resolve it too fast.  now, i see the beauty in the ebb and flow of music.  like you have a rubber band and you gradually pull and wane - but you don't pull it too taunt or let it sag.  keeping  my fingers closer to the keys (and relaxing more) has been the #1 thing that has helped me the very most.