Seeking a new teacher in SF area

[shoenberg3]

Hope my piano teacher doesn't surf these forums...

Anyway, he has been good but I feel like he has run out of things to say. I feel I need a change.

So, can you recommend a good teacher anywhere in this area?

Not to show off (but to tell what I am seeking), I am 16 and has won various statewide, international competitions. So I am looking for someone pretty big (like those who only accept a few students). I am specifically looking to improve my musicality/interpretation.

Thanks in advance

[stevie]

forwarded....to...your....teacher...tony!!!! 

dont worry, youre witty and fabulous

[elevateme]

wow, youve won international competitions and you're only 16? when i was 16 i could barely play piano. which competitions have you won? and what can you play??

[super666lucifer]

hahahahaha

Loving this guy

Not to show off

How that showing off?, wining competitions, coming on a piano forum and saying I won a competition is not showing off. It called being Arrogant.

I also love the way he assumes that a great teacher will take him, (like those who only accept a few students). Have is not occured that if they take only a few students, they might just be good students, and they will most likely be better than you. Also bragging about competitions gives no clue to your standard whatsoever.

If you wanted a good teacher, you would easily find one if you are an international piano competition winner, why ask on a forum where most people live in different countries and have no idea about teachers in other areas. You sound like a big headed tool, that is bragging on a piano forum to make himself/herself feel good. Reading your past posts you certainly are very "coinfident", and eager to bore us with your "conquests". Maybe you could be telling people 10 times better than you, and I know that people who are great pianists and students do not ask on piano forums for advice on a teacher, they no the teachers in their area, or other ares. I could name a lot of great's in Russia, and if I wanted a new teacher I would ask my current teacher who to go to as he knows my playing best and all the good teachers, or I would travel, but I'm at a conservtoire so no worries about teachers for me.

Why on earth would you ask about a teacher in the SF (What is SF?), good teacher have reputations, and do not need seeking out on piano forums. It makes no sense.

But don;t worry, your witty and fabulous 

By the way, what is SF?, I really don't know, I not from USA, I from Russia. I am assuming SF in USA.

[kelly_kelly]

By the way, what is SF?, I really don't know, I not from USA, I from Russia. I am assuming SF in USA.

San Fransisco, I'm assuming.

[shoenberg3]

hahahahaha

Loving this guy

How that showing off?, wining competitions, coming on a piano forum and saying I won a competition is not showing off. It called being Arrogant.

I also love the way he assumes that a great teacher will take him, (like those who only accept a few students). Have is not occured that if they take only a few students, they might just be good students, and they will most likely be better than you. Also bragging about competitions gives no clue to your standard whatsoever.

If you wanted a good teacher, you would easily find one if you are an international piano competition winner, why ask on a forum where most people live in different countries and have no idea about teachers in other areas. You sound like a big headed tool, that is bragging on a piano forum to make himself/herself feel good. Reading your past posts you certainly are very "coinfident", and eager to bore us with your "conquests". Maybe you could be telling people 10 times better than you, and I know that people who are great pianists and students do not ask on piano forums for advice on a teacher, they no the teachers in their area, or other ares. I could name a lot of great's in Russia, and if I wanted a new teacher I would ask my current teacher who to go to as he knows my playing best and all the good teachers, or I would travel, but I'm at a conservtoire so no worries about teachers for me.

Why on earth would you ask about a teacher in the SF (What is SF?), good teacher have reputations, and do not need seeking out on piano forums. It makes no sense.

But don;t worry, your witty and fabulous 

By the way, what is SF?, I really don't know, I not from USA, I from Russia. I am assuming SF in USA.

please PRICK

Despite your foolish conjecture, this actually was a serious question. Had I not told the forumers where I am in terms of piano, they would not be able to make sound suggestions. Where in my original text do I imply that I think these teachers will accept me? All these assumptions you make are based on set notion of your own snobbery.

To make things short:

F OFF PRICK! LET'S TAKE this TO DASDC!   

[jre58591]

please PRICK

Despite your foolish conjecture, this actually was a serious question. Had I not told the forumers where I am in terms of piano, they would not be able to make sound suggestions. Where in my original text do I imply that I think these teachers will accept me? All these assumptions you make are based on set notion of your own snobbery.

To make things short:

F OFF PRICK! LET'S TAKE this TO DASDC!   

hahahahaha
OWNED

[elevateme]

well, actually, you are a bit arrogant tbh. you said to my friend that you could be better than kissin if you want to be. i would call that arrogant.

[shoenberg3]

Another demonstration of your stupidity. You obviously haven't gotten the full story. I said Kissin is overrated and your friend said that I do not have the right to say that because I am not as good as he is. What to say for this ignorant comment? Out of sheer outrage, I made this blasphemous statement, which, in fact, could be true in a few years. Am I making the claim that I am or will be better than Kissin? No. I am merely making the point that Kissin is not very good by this use of hypobole. Understood? Now, F OFF LIL BEEEYATCH

[shoenberg3]

hmm i see you have chided Paul Wee like a b itch also. You inferiority-complex-ridden-beyotch!

btw, are you related to kirsty lane in any way? (da comme zhud alzo be curiouz )

[franzliszt2]

SHUT UP!!!!!!! PLEASE, People do not care who the hell insulted who!! It's so stupid that you call people "beeatch" for calling you arrogant. Thats's just immature and pathetic. You are clearly the one with the complex, anyone who threatens you "greatness" gets told to F Off, and a beeatch, how pathetic. Elevateme is one of the most amazing pianists you are likely to meet, he's only 15, he never brags, he always say's he's rubbish, when really he is not. I will not go into details about him, as he not that sort of person who like peopl on internet sites to know his buisness, but lets just say he's better than most people think he is. When he said he's never entered international competitions I think he means the Londin international, or Tchaikovsky or something massive. Elevate is a good friend of mine, and to see someone like you just call him a "pregnant dog" A "Beeeeeaaaatch" annoys me that someone can be so sad and pathetic to reduce themselves to comments like that to someone they do not know, the guy did not do anything to deserve it, just fired the 1st shot.

made this blasphemous statement, which, in fact, could be true in a few years

You just said it!!!!!! Unbelievable. It could be true in a few years time !! There we have it. It black and white.

Why lower yourself to insults that are totally silly, and why you blast insults at super666? Even thogh he was a bit out of order in his comments, you totally prooved his point, are you so self-conscious? Why not just ignore him. After all is it important? The guy cleary intended to wind you up, as you clearly are a easily annoyed person, and he suceeded.

And obviously you will dissagree with a lot said on this forum, I do, but why take it personally and get insulting? I must say, you called him a pregnant dog before he said anything, beacuse he said "you got served" take a joke man. It was clearly a joke. Learn to have a friendly argument with people, if someone dissagrees why snap at them?

How did he chide Paul Wee? 

[shoenberg3]

You just said it!!!!!! Unbelievable. It could be true in a few years time !! There we have it. It black and white.

omg omg i said it ! * *...... f uck man! Do you peons not understand! I never denied saying that, but I have demonstrated how my statement was not based on arrogance, but was merely to point out the sheeyatness of Kissin (hypobole = exaggeration, maybe you didn't know...)

Anyway, I just like to talk a lot of sheet in these forums. Regardless, elevatame does seem a little retarded in these forums. He is also extremely easily triggered if you read some of his former posts and he does seem to have a bit of an ego. Well, great to see you two sticking up for each other.














Little b itches.

[shoenberg3]

I've changed my mind (and realized I am bit bored). I will point out some zheeyat from elevateme's former posts:

wow, youve won international competitions and you're only 16? when i was 16 i could barely play piano. which competitions have you won? and what can you play??

Either you or he is lying about his age. And if he were actually one of the "most amazing pianist," he is lying for sure.

its sad to see people praise paul wee like god

What's this? Can't you just sense the ego behind this comment?

maybe if we put our ages it would help?
im 16 and ive done chopin b minor and mendelssohn concerto in g minor

(in a "who's the best pianist in the forum" topic)

and soon after..

just because you've played mendelssohn 1 when you were 11 it doesnt give you the right to treat other people like they're nothing. there's probably a lot of pianists on this forum who are a *** sight better than you so i think you need to deflate your fat head a bit.

Quite arrogant, I must say.

because gruffalo's gay

This and other inane assaults against gruffalo. At first, I thought elevatame was a girl, so I thought this was kind of cute. Now, it's just ignorant and childish.

well im 17 and i teach and all my pupils have got distinction in exams. so go for it

no comment....

play it however you feel it. its a beautiful theme, you can go as slow as you want, save the action for later heh heh

*, i would hate to hear your interpretation. Finally:

hahahaha seek peace haha you just got served and you cant admit it

completely uncalled for

Now, I am not even sure how old this guy is. Even if he were that good at piano (which I doubt), he is extremely childish, pretentious, and, quite frankly, a bit of a birdbrain.

[kelly_kelly]

SHUT UP!!!!!!! PLEASE, People do not care who the hell insulted who!! It's so stupid that you call people "beeatch" for calling you arrogant. Thats's just immature and pathetic. You are clearly the one with the complex, anyone who threatens you "greatness" gets told to F Off, and a beeatch, how pathetic. Elevateme is one of the most amazing pianists you are likely to meet, he's only 15, he never brags, he always say's he's rubbish, when really he is not. I will not go into details about him, as he not that sort of person who like peopl on internet sites to know his buisness, but lets just say he's better than most people think he is. When he said he's never entered international competitions I think he means the Londin international, or Tchaikovsky or something massive. Elevate is a good friend of mine, and to see someone like you just call him a "pregnant dog" A "Beeeeeaaaatch" annoys me that someone can be so sad and pathetic to reduce themselves to comments like that to someone they do not know, the guy did not do anything to deserve it, just fired the 1st shot.

It's 17 in the profile. The profile also says female, so this is getting pretty weird. Are you sure you're describing the right person?

[shoenberg3]

strange things are going in their heads.. i have a hunch that these two might be the same person.. they have a very similar diction.

[chromatickler]

HAHAHAHAHA TONY pozt zum of yo recz n reviewz

[instromp]

Interesting topic ...gives me laughs ......I would also like to hear some of yo recz n reviewz

[emmdoubleew]

hahahf uk, u don wanna mess with da hungsung.
juss check out his pianosociety profile n u will c.

[instromp]

hahahf uk, u don wanna mess with da hungsung.
juss check out his pianosociety profile n u will c.

You cant listen to recordings at pianosociety anymore? I went there and its like theres no way of getting to them, or am i doing something worng

[shoenberg3]

I think the site has been down for a while.

[elevateme]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

please keep posting shoenberg3 dont let this thread die

+ do you really think you'l be better than kissin in a few years?

btw me & gruffalo are good friends now lol that was all just a laugh

if you think im lots of different ages and egos well thats not just me

just please dont call me a birdbrain.... i dont think i can take another hit like that

[franzliszt2]

HAHA you called me a peon!!, well I work at night, I not American,  and I'm not in Debt, so a rather odd comment I must add,  so that was a  nice, I never been called that before!
Also the hyperbole can only be use in extravagant and obvious exaggeration, you said he was overated, not quite a hyperbole. You only realyl spoke hyperbolically in the "sheeeeeaaaaaatneeeesssss" of Kissin.

well ok, elevates comments are a little.... but I did say he does not like to disclose information on the net.

hahahf uk, u don wanna mess with da hungsung.
juss check out his pianosociety profile n u will c.

ok, couldn't I write up an account on there?, I could post recordings, would that make me better? Why do you get so impresseed by a bio? , I judge a pianist on hearing him/her. Elevate has achieved much more, he just doesn;t post on pianosociety.

I read a review, I enjoyed it, it said "Good playing, but what a C**K" HAHA

[shoenberg3]

ok... you guys are close to illiterate. I am not even going to bother posting any more.

[franzliszt2]

I am not even going to bother posting any more

Glad to hear it, I see you changed your mind, maybe it will work better.

[elevateme]

how are we close to illiterate?

[elevateme]

also, i too have changed my mind (and also i have realized that i too am a bit bored). I will point out some "zheeyat" from shoenberg's former posts:

"three years ago when i was 13, the good old days......... "- talking about playing prokofiev 3

that is such a bad attempt to hide showing off behind 'the good old days'

"here is my recording for reference (this recording is not the best since i recorded it when i was 14  )"- talking about la campanella

again, another awful attempt to make us think you are disappointed with it. when clearly you are just trying to say that you could play it when you were 14

"Well, I don't want to sound proud but I had won few first prizes in competitions."

um, i think you do want to sound proud

"However, I played decently (in my opinion) Fantasie Improptu when I was 8."

ahem

"I played this song on the winner's recital and the audience apparently loved it
Even though I was first place in junior category(I'm 14) it seemed as I got more applause than when the grand prize winner(The adult category) played."
hahahaha "it seemed as though I got more applause" yeah i bet it seemed like that to you

"Part of this is to increase my repertoire. So, i intentionally am considering the pieces that i haven't played before. But I am pretty assured that i can manage all the pieces listed as i have played pieces of similar difficulty previously. "

"Quite arrogant, I must say." same.

ok this was not all to get back at you, this was partly to show you how stupid it is to find loads of quotes from right across the forum and use them against someone in an argument! and at LEAST find some decent insults and not "pregnant dog" or "peon"

[shoenberg3]

Of course, everyone is immature at some point and I was too when I was 13-14. But at age 15, you alarmingly seem much more immature than I was back then.

[nakedape]

*** it f**kers. why can't you get past the "whether he's arrogant or not" bullshet (which i believe he's not) and just give him some suggestions for teachers?

[e60m5]

I'm afraid I don't know the scene out in SF very well. I could point you in the right directions in NY, though I understand that's of little help.

[daniel_tate]

*** it f**kers. why can't you get past the "whether he's arrogant or not" bullshet (which i believe he's not) and just give him some suggestions for teachers?

John Smith

[elevateme]

*** it f**kers. why can't you get past the "whether he's arrogant or not" bullshet (which i believe he's not) and just give him some suggestions for teachers?

I don't know any teachers as I'm not from SF. Or even America for that matter. However the argument seems like just a bit of fun, I don't think there's any need to get all worked up about it! If you would like to post your suggestions for teachers then please do, I'm not stopping you.

[thalbergmad]

I am looking for a teacher in the London area.

I have won the Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Leeds, Cliburn and Liszt competitions.

Any suggestions.

Thal

[monsieurrenard]

Hi Schoenberg,

Mack McCray is the best I know in the San Fransisco area. If he will take you, then all the best.

-Monsieur le Renard.

[shoenberg3]

Hi Schoenberg,

Mack McCray is the best I know in the San Fransisco area. If he will take you, then all the best.

-Monsieur le Renard.

thanks for your suggestion. I had a lesson with him a few times; he is a great teacher indeed. But it seems like he wants to hear a new piece every week... that's bit tough for me.

[monsieurrenard]

thanks for your suggestion. I had a lesson with him a few times; he is a great teacher indeed. But it seems like he wants to hear a new piece every week... that's bit tough for me.

If he accepts you as a pupil, then surely he thinks you are capable of handling him .

-Monsieur le Renard.

[mike_lang]

Do you know Kenric Tam, who just performed the 1st mvt of the Prokofiev 2nd with the LA Phil?  He studies with John McCarthy - https://www.sfcm.edu/prep_adultdivisions/prep_faculty.aspx#McCarthyJ.

Best,
ML

[shoenberg3]

Do you know Kenric Tam, who just performed the 1st mvt of the Prokofiev 2nd with the LA Phil?  He studies with John McCarthy - https://www.sfcm.edu/prep_adultdivisions/prep_faculty.aspx#McCarthyJ.

Best,
ML

yep, he is quite good.

[mike_lang]

yep, he is quite good.

Kenric or John?  We heard Kenric at rep class last night perform the entire Rachmaninoff Second Sonata - it was fantastic!

ML

[shoenberg3]

Kenric or John?  We heard Kenric at rep class last night perform the entire Rachmaninoff Second Sonata - it was fantastic!

ML

Kenric. Had a few competitions with him.

[super666lucifer]

https://www.steinwaythebayarea.com/images/2005_2006_ArtistPhotos/hotaik_new.jpg


 

[tds]

this thread is not quite an antique, but perhaps one of the collectibles? 

oh and btw, shoenberg3, have u heard of roger woodward? last time i heard he is in sf. dont know much about his playing tho. i believe lostinidlewoder knows him fairly well.

ps. age issue is rather confusing here.
pss. kassaa, 13

[faulty_damper]

Hi Schoenberg,

Mack McCray is the best I know in the San Fransisco area. If he will take you, then all the best.

-Monsieur le Renard.

Umm...
You must mean best pianist, not teacher.

These are two entirely different things.

[faulty_damper]

oh and btw, shoenberg3, have u heard of roger woodward? last time i heard he is in sf. dont know much about his playing tho. i believe lostinidlewoder knows him fairly well.

I have heard of him and studied with him.  He is perhaps one of the worst teachers I have ever met in my entire life.  None of his students I have met or known has improved as pianists as a result of his teaching.  He has actually made some of his students play worse now than when they first started!  Unbelievable.  

Yes, he teacher at the local University in San Francisco.  But he goes on tour or back to home to London during the summer and won't be back until the Fall semester.


More about teaching:
PIANO teacher is perhaps the biggest fault most teachers of advaced students fail at.  Most are moderate to very good at musical structure/direction/melodic contour/etc. but many are terrible at the piano aspect of it.  So they become not a PiANO teacher but a musical interpreter.  These two things are different.  Any musician can be a musical interpreter, not just one who plays the piano.

[turner]

Try Jed Gallant or Haggai Niv.

[shoenberg3]

Fortunately, McCray accepted me. Can't wait to begin.

[nicco]

Fortunately, McCray accepted me. Can't wait to begin.

Congratulations and good luck

[ako]

I have heard of him and studied with him.  He is perhaps one of the worst teachers I have ever met in my entire life.  None of his students I have met or known has improved as pianists as a result of his teaching.  He has actually made some of his students play worse now than when they first started!  Unbelievable.  

Yes, he teacher at the local University in San Francisco.  But he goes on tour or back to home to London during the summer and won't be back until the Fall semester.


More about teaching:
PIANO teacher is perhaps the biggest fault most teachers of advaced students fail at.  Most are moderate to very good at musical structure/direction/melodic contour/etc. but many are terrible at the piano aspect of it.  So they become not a PiANO teacher but a musical interpreter.  These two things are different.  Any musician can be a musical interpreter, not just one who plays the piano.

I totally agree with you. I have been playing the piano for 30 years and had 3 teachers. Looking back I noticed during my elementary school years in Hong Kong, the more advanced I got through the ABRSM exams, the worst I became  (lower scores). I kinda knew my teacher probably wasn't all the great but never fully grasp the reason until I hear today's young students from HS/universities and private studios in the area. A lot of piano teachers, as you said, are great interpreters of music with BMus./MMus. degrees but it takes a truly experienced pianist with pedagogical skills to be a good teacher for advanced students. They have to be able to tell you how to achieve the sound on the piano and not just tell you how your playing should sound like.

[faulty_damper]

And what is worse is that the students studying under these teachers often fail to impress them and they acquire feelings of inferiority because they think that the reason they are not good pianists in the eyes of their well-known, well-established, well-repected teachers is because the are 1)just not good or 2)do not practice the 7-8 hours a day.  They end up struggling with the simplest things because their teachers only focus of the musical aspects and let the students figure out the playing aspects.  If it sounds fine, then their is nothing wrong with the way they play... this is the mentality of many teachers, from well-respected, well-known, well-established conservatories and universities to the private teacher. And then they have the audacity to blame their own students for being bad pianists!