How necessary is a teacher?

[swim4ever_22]

When I was 15, I started taking lessons again. I continued up until this semester. Since I work 5 days a week, and because of school and extra-curricular activities, it wouldn't be likely for me to be able to prepare material each week for an instructor, so I decided that I would just practice the piano by myself. Teaching myself whatever I wanted. What would you, on the forums, recommend? Is this a wise way to do things? I want to be able to play and still learn the piano, but I just can't have an instructor at the moment.

[leucippus]

I'm a self-learner and I'm happy with my progress.  I think the answer to your question depends entirely on the student, and what his or her goals are.  Some people are fanatic about insisting that a teacher is the only way to go.  I disagree.  I believe that if you are a good self-learner you can do just as well without one.

The only thing I miss about not having a teacher is the "coach affect".   In other words, I might not push myself as much without a teacher.  It's easier to put things off if you don't have a teachers making demands and pushing you.  But as far as technique, I seriously don't believe a teacher would do much for me.  At least not any teacher I could get in my area anyway.  I'm quite sure they are all just mediocre "music teachers" taking people's money to criticize their playing!

Seriously.  How many stories have you hear where a student leaves one teacher to go to another one only to have the second one want to back up and do things differently.  It's all far to subjective for me.  I'd rather just learn on my own.

I do use outside sources as learning aids though, such as Chang's book on The Fundamentals of Piano Practice, and many other resources.  So it's not like I'm "teaching" myself.   I'm a "self-learner".  There's a difference.  I have plenty of teachers, I just ever met any of them live.  And I don't have a personal "music critic" which I can do without anyway.

Just my thoughts as a self-learner.  I think it's just fine.  I also think a lot depends on what your goals are.  If you plan on becoming a professional concert pianist, then get a good professionalteacher.  But if you just want to learn to play for enjoyment there's nothing wrong with self-learning.

[swim4ever_22]

So according to you, a teacher isn't necessary. I could just play, and play whatever I want, and be just fine. Correct?

[leucippus]

So according to you, a teacher isn't necessary. I could just play, and play whatever I want, and be just fine. Correct?

Well, like I say, it depends on what your goals are, AND on how good you are at self-learning.

Some people are great self-learners, other's need to have an instructor.  Only you can answer that question.

I'm currently learning about 30 pieces simultaneously.  All 30 of them are way over my head.  I learn a few measures at a time.  I don't plan on being able to actually play any of them in their entirety until at least spring of next year.  I don't think there are too many teachers around who would even care to help me with that type of program.

However, in addition to just practicing these things, I'm learning to sight-read, I'm studying the basics of music theory, and I've very much in tune with dynamics.  I also play some simple etudes in their entirety.

I might add that I'm also learning to play the violin as a self-learner as well.  I'm doing just fine with both instruments as far as I'm concerned. (i.e. in so far as what I want to accomplish).   Other people may claim that I'm not going about it "right", but that's only because they have a different idea of what "right" is.

If you're that unsure perhaps you should try taking a few lessons and see how it goes.  Surely you can work around getting a few lessons to get a taste for it.  On the other hand, if you can't get lessons for whatever reason then you have no choice do you?  It's either learn by yourself or don't play at all.

There are no "decent" teachers in my area.  All the ones around here are just method book pushers.  I really don't want to go that route.  That's up to you, and what's available in your area.

I might add that I have absolutely no ambitions to become a professional pianist.  If that's your ulimate goal then I would definitely suggest a professional teacher.  A good one not just your local method-book pusher.  Unless you prefer method-books.  That's also an individual choice.

[zheer]

   Here is what i truly to believe, a teacher is necessary to get you started and to reach a advanced level ie grade 8. However if one is to reach his or her full potential then one needs to learn from the best, hence a teacher from a music accademy.
    My first piano teacher was'nt a pianist but a composer with a degree from Uni, my theory teacher was also a composer and possibly a genius ( not kidding ) he graduated from the Royal Accademy of music at 18. Anyway some-how i managed to learn the piano from them, in-fact the last piano teacher i saw had nothing to teach, only time wasting grade thingyezzzz. Anyway i have zero qualification in music and been a self-learner for a long time, obviously am not going to be concert standard but can play what i like to a reasonable standard, so in answer to your question NO a teacher is not necessary if one plays only for fun.

[swim4ever_22]

I don't want to be a professional pianist... but I want to be able to play like one, if that answers your question. I want to be able to play things like all the Beethoven Sonatas, or all the Chopin/Liszt etudes... really hard/advanced works. Not just for the sake of being "good", but because those are the pieces that I love, but currently, they are vastly beyond my ability both as a musician and pianist.

[zheer]

I don't want to be a professional pianist... but I want to be able to play like one, if that answers your question. I want to be able to play things like all the Beethoven Sonatas, or all the Chopin/Liszt etudes... really hard/advanced works. Not just for the sake of being "good", but because those are the pieces that I love, but currently, they are vastly beyond my ability both as a musician and pianist.

  Ok so you would like to play all the Beethoven sonatas and all the chopin/Liszt etude and sound like a proffessional, but they are currently beyond your ability, well in that case you do need a piano teacher a good piano teacher.To be honest you have to ask yoyrself that question we dont know you.

[leucippus]

Get a teacher.  That way if you don't do well at least you'll have someone to blame. 

[leucippus]

I don't want to be a professional pianist... but I want to be able to play like one, if that answers your question.

That seems like a contradiction there.  Why go through all the work of learning how to play like a professional pianist if you're not going to be one?   Are you going to decline offers to play for money?  What would separate you from a professional pianist if you can play like one?

One thing for sure, it takes years and years of practice to get to the level you are talking about.  Teachers don't practice for you.  Having a teacher won't get you there any sooner.  Ultimately you are the one who is going to have to do all the practicing.

[swim4ever_22]

I want to be able to play anything I want. Just like the works you listed. I don't want the career of a professional pianist. I want to do it just for fun. One of the reasons that I cannot and never will be a professional pianist is because I'm 18, and I have not been playing that long. Professional pianists are those few students that start young, progress very rapidly, and have been playing for their entire lives. I just want to be able to play.

[leucippus]

If you're 18 you haven't missed the chance to become a professional pianist at all.  You've simply missed the chance to be recognized as a child prodigy, that's all.

If you're that serious about playing the piano, then go for it!  Find yourself a really good teacher professional teacher and study hard.  You have plenty of time to become a professional pianist in your life.

In fact, if I were you I would put great effort into finding the very best teacher I could!  That might require going through a few different ones until you find the one that is right for you.  Don't go to some old-school piano teacher who going to treat you like "just another student".   Go out and find a teacher who will really focus on finding out what you can do.

Good teachers are out there.  It just might take time to find one.  Also, don't even waste your time talking to any teacher who thinks that 18 is too old to start.  That a crock of bull.

If you have the talent and the ambition you could become the best pianist ever!  Don't let anyone try to tell you otherwise.

[ccnokes]

The good thing about teachers is that they find things wrong with your playing and intepretation that you would never find on your own.  That's been my experience.  I've had good teachers who I guess in some respects were "method book pushers."  I think you can expect method books from just about any good teacher.  I don't think its a bad thing, as long as thats not all your doing with your teacher.  Always have some harder "choice" pieces you're working on with your teacher. 

[lukeskywalker]

Yes you can still learn A LOT, when you´re only 18 years old. I have seen examples of proffessional pianist who started playing seriously around that age (+/- a few years), and still ended up being very skilled. Maybe not world famous stuperstars, ... but even many of the socalled prodigies never become "world famous superstars", ... actually, most of them don´t.

I´m not saying ; "sure you can be a great pianist" ... but you can most deffinately reach the level you are talking about, with hard work, and a good teacher. It will not be easy, and it will take years of work. But it´s deffinately not impossible.

And in my oppinion you need a good teacher, or at least, it is a tremendous help and can save you lots and lots of time practicing the wrong way. Which you will most likely do, unless you are really a genious.

But its true though. Don´t get a bad or average teacher, they will only get you bad or average results. And most likely, they don´t really know how to play themselves.

If you don´t have the option of getting a good teacher, at lest try to study some of the dvds/books mentioned several times on this forum ; the taubman videos, the fink video/book (and more .... these are the best IMO, but I´m sure there are many more to be found)

[freakofnature]

The good thing about teachers is that they find things wrong with your playing and intepretation that you would never find on your own.   

Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking - and what I have a teacher for. Learning the notes isn't that hard - you can (and must) do that on your own. But letting it sound really good and "professional" - that's extremely hard without a good teacher who can point to the things you should improve (and these are often things, that the piano learner him/herself cannot hear (yet)). So I'd suggest if you want to sound like a professional - get a professional teacher!

[stormx]

If you cannot afford a teacher, have at least some experienced pianist check your playing regulary.
It is very likely  for a self learner to adquire bad habits that will be difficult to get rid of if not caught early enough.