Do I need to change my piano teacher to one with diploma?

[supertonic]

I am having my ABRSM G8 exam this year. My teacher is at G8 level, do I need to change my teacher to one with diploma after I get my G8 cert? Because I wish to attempt the diploma exam in the future, maybe in 2 - 3 years time. I don't know how to mention this to my teacher either, hope she is not visiting this forum.

[mike_lang]

Your teacher should be a master of the instrument, if this answers your question.  I do not know what these diplomas mean, but my teachers have all had a degree in music, 3 or 4 in some cases - don't settle for "less" (whatever this means to you) in a teacher.

[super5james]

Well find the teacher that is most well trained to work with you in all of your Gaps a teacher that is good enough to realize most of your problems and can work with you on them. Find one according to your needs.

[mike_lang]

I suppose to put it simply, you should not be studying with a teacher who is at the same level as you are.

[gyzzzmo]

If you have the idea that your current teacher can't teach you anymore what you like, or you dont have faith in her anymore, you should take another teacher.

[alwaystheangel]

As her first if she plays beyond that level.  I would have thought that most teachers would be outright honest if they don't think they should teach a student anymore if they are beyond their capabilities.

[keyofc]

I think the test of a teacher is the ability to help each student with their goals in an effective way.
I have 2 music teacher friends - one has a degree, and hasn't touched the piano for over ten years.
I happen to know that the other one doesn't have a degree. She plays all the time, and has students in competitions.  If she made a CD I would be the first to buy it.  She is excited enough about music to continue learning.

But if the two were being considered by someone as a private teacher, many would choose the first one because of her degree.

Can your teacher help you or do you think she has helped you as much as he or she can?

[timothy42b]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought G8 was a measure of performance ability.

Not teaching ability.

Who can play golf better, Tiger or Butch?  So why does Tiger go to Butch for lessons?  Because he knows how to teach. 

[RealPianist]

Agree with keyofc, degree is NOT guarantee. It is also depends on the performance and teaching experience itself, so, how good is the person CAN'T only be seen from the degree. Because some of people can do well but they don't take degree for some reason.

[kelly_kelly]

Change teachers if you feel that your teacher can no longer teach you. Otherwise, I don't see why you should.

[meli]

Honestly, I don't think a diploma is a guarantee of success, I think experience is preferred. My previous teacher didn't have a diploma, and she improved my technique alot. Very happy with her, but we went our seperate ways, as I desired to find out about music education for children, but she just wasn't into that stuff. This new teacher has a diploma, her playing isn't as good (sorry to compare) but has helped me alot on teaching! Her studio is like a library of method books, learning materials etc.. She even lets me view her teaching a few beginner students and has asked me to teach one of them! However, I feel guilty for not practicing so much now, as I have so much reading to do , planning lessons, devising games, exercises etc... So, it depends on your goals also. Different teachers may be good in one thing and not so good in another I guess but don't think a diploma will make them good for you. (I have had awful teachers in the past  that have had many diplomas!) Hope this helps.

[supertonic]

I suppose to put it simply, you should not be studying with a teacher who is at the same level as you are.

Although she might be at the same exam level with me (if I pass the test), she definitely plays better than me and I feel I can really improve myself through her teaching. I only wish that she could get a diploma, just make me feel better. I once asked her about this, but she said she was too busy for that. Nevertheless I have met lousy teacher with diplomas, fellows etc B4, who performed very well but I have no idea what she  is talking about, or how she wants me to play.

[gyzzzmo]

The problem obvious lies within yourself. You even say yourself that she can play better than you. I havent got A SINGLE GRADE though i am (i think  ) a good teacher and there arent many pieces i cant play 'perfectly'.
Stop thinking about stupid grades and do your lessens 

Gyzzzmo

[bach_ko]

i would suggest u to change... u know... the gap between grade 8 and diploma is soooo big, the requirement is not only the accurate of notes that u played... the examiner will grade you with your awareness and understanding of the works u played, i know some of them just "play" the notes without feeling and expression... apart from that, the phrasing, articulation, technique, dynamics, tone quality, character, layers and so on should be very specific... for trinity, ATCL is quite easy to pass... but LTCL is more difficult, so must look for a good teacher...

btw, dun think that u are good after taking ABRSM grade 8 exam... i was over-confident before i persue music program in university, i thought i'm a good pianist cos i used to find some difficult works such as Rachmaninoff's preludes and Beethoven's lated sonate to play, those of them who don't have music background(or just take it for few years) will think that i'm good cos the way i played piano -- banging piano looks very professional and powerful... after i entered my university (i'm Malaysian), i was being asked to perform for my piano teacher in class, after finished my playing, she said that i'm not playing piano, is just hitting... and not musical at all... it sounds i just show-off in wrong way... haha!! (my teacher is very good in teaching, but at that time i doubted of her ability cos she said i'm lousy) then after few months, i started changing my playing style and throw all the bad habit in playing piano, i found out that the time i spent for correct my bad habit is exactly as long as the time i took for having the bad habit(sorry my english is suck...), but luckily i'm willing to change and very patient... so what i wanted to say is, having grade 8 certificate isn't good enough, doesn't mean that u are good... so i won't believe wat grade they reached or how much they scored in exam... i will grade ppl as good or not good after watching their playing.

[chermainepianofreak]

Lol.......I think i'm the one who is just hitting the piano...haha
It's hard to apply expression to pieces....( for me )
I'm still trying haha...

Can't believe that grd 8 and Dip. have so much difference....
I want to change ....
But I need to find the time

Besides....my theory is only grd 6 whereas I've finished my grd 8 2 yrs ago...
THEORY IS ONLY GRD 6...

How to get advance teacher ??