My first piano teacher was horrible

[ilovemusik]

My first piano teacher was Madame Labra. This was in the Philippines. Before i took her piano lesson everyone of my friends tells me that she is strict, mean etc. At first i was a little bit scared but my mom forced me to take piano lessons with her- so i did.. She was okay but she was so boring. Maybe because she is too old and don't know how to teach well younger students. She didn't yelled at me because i know my pieces well and I practiced everyday. She is really good but no proper teaching style. But there was this little girl-i think she was 5. I noticed whenever she played she always look around and not concentrating on playing. So that made my teacher pissed. She sometimes yelled at her, and one time she made the child go because she didn't want to waste her time.  Also I think she never teaches me how to count, rhythm, basic music theory, transposing, proper sight reading etc. So when I got into my music major now in U.S, I was really shocked and I really didn't know anything about music except to read notes. And until now i'm still struggling on my sight reading however, i got my pianist professor who is so good and he teaches me everything. I kinda blamed on my previous teachers in the philippines because if they teaches me proper way im probably be good now.

[slobone]

Yeah, that's a tough one. It's hard to make up for lost time if your first teacher doesn't teach you right.

But you're lucky to have a second chance. Just do whatever your new teacher tells you to do and that will give you the best chance.

[n_n]

At first I had exactly the same thought you have now, but lately my view has changed a bit...

i started since i was 4 with a conservatory prof for 8 yrs. She was extremely tough on techniques, and it wasn't even the "relaxation techniques". If there is such a thing called "raw techniques", finger muscles training, I guess, she was doing that to the poor little me. She never cared much about what music I love, not much about musicality all together I think. She somehow thought that at such young age, kids did not have enough mental ability to really understand any music, so techniques building's the only goal. I hated the piano so much back then. If I didn't have a tough mother who'd call me cheating whenever I got up for water in practice time, I'd quit playing in no more than 2 years, i swear.

Anyhow, the teacher moved to another city abandoning all her students, realizing none of her studs were outstanding and she didn't have much prominence at the conservatory.  I changed teacher one after another and finally quited having lessons when I was about 15. After that I've been playing for leisure mainly - yah, I fell in love with the piano after I stopped taking lessons and never stopped playing for many many years till now.

Now as an adult taking lessons again, I realized there're still hardly anything technically I can't do on the piano though I haven't been regularly or intensively practicing. I lack a lot of musical sense for sure, but with a good teacher cultivating my music interpretation, I'm glad that I have the technical facility to achieve those ideas at the end.

I somehow start to appreciate my 1st piano teacher. Of course, if she was more musical, i might be really good by now, but still, she really wasn't as bad as I had always thought before. Good thing is I googled her name a while ago and found that she is indeed a very good teacher now with many competition winning students. She must have changed her way teaching in the other city she went. I'm happy for her. It's embarassing to admit, but when I saw her photo, I had tears in my eye. In my impression, she has stayed in the time I studied with her, forgetting it's already X0 years apart. She's all white-haired now, a kind and sweet looking little old lady. Man I miss her.

[counterpoint]

I somehow start to appreciate my 1st piano teacher. Of course, if she was more musical, i might be really good by now, but still, she really wasn't as bad as I had always thought before. Good thing is I googled her name a while ago and found that she is indeed a very good teacher now with many competition winning students. She must have changed her way teaching in the other city she went.

I think, most teachers are good enough, but many students are not willing to really learn what they are taught. Piano playing is not a mystery, there are a lot of simple things to learn: note reading, counting, rhythm, meaning of musical signs, making a good fingering etc But there is no "wonder method" needed to become a good piano player. The teacher can only work with what the student brings in the lesson (what he has practised over the week). So a good student will be good with any teacher, and it will not help much for an unwilling student to have an excellent teacher.

I don't believe in "super teachers"   

[danny elfboy]

I somehow start to appreciate my 1st piano teacher. Of course, if she was more musical, i might be really good by now, but still, she really wasn't as bad as I had always thought before. Good thing is I googled her name a while ago and found that she is indeed a very good teacher now with many competition winning students. She must have changed her way teaching in the other city she went. I'm happy for her. It's embarassing to admit, but when I saw her photo, I had tears in my eye. In my impression, she has stayed in the time I studied with her, forgetting it's already X0 years apart. She's all white-haired now, a kind and sweet looking little old lady. Man I miss her.

What's the point that she facilitate you technically if she didn't allow you to form a good musicality. Technique is no way a better skill compared to all other interpretative, aural and musical skill you need to be a good pianist. What about balance? A teacher who lacks balance can't be considered a good teacher.

Besides she talked down to you and had terrible discriminations against young ones who instead of being taught bad things (there are no muscles in the fingers) should actually nurture their musicality the most since they're still so unspoiled by society and can still focus on a genuine musical sensitivity that tends to fade with age. A teacher who think the way that teacher thought should stay hundreds of miles away from any child including her own.

[n_n]

What's the point that she facilitate you technically if she didn't allow you to form a good musicality. Technique is no way a better skill compared to all other interpretative, aural and musical skill you need to be a good pianist. What about balance? A teacher who lacks balance can't be considered a good teacher...A teacher who think the way that teacher thought should stay hundreds of miles away from any child including her own.

haha, funny what you said at the end . You know what? She did not allow her kid to study music, LOL! She said it was a tough road that she didnt want her daughter to go through. The later piano teachers I had all put great emphasis in musicality; coincidentally (or not), their kids were all in conservatories too... I remember my mom said to me, she should have changed a teacher for me the moment she knew the teacher didn't allow her kid to study music. =]

Yes, I do not disagree with you on that technique w/o musicality doesn't mean anything basically. I'm glad that since I quited lessons, I've been addicted to the piano and heard and watched many great masters' playings and figured out some stuffs by myself, notably the relaxation, the touch that created good sound, so that I wasn't totally ruined. I do still have pretty good techniques till now. I have to say my 1st teacher contributed to this. For the 8 years I studied with her as a kid, I was required to play more than an hour of finger exercise every day (scales, appegios, etc. in all keys, the entire Hanon 3 books) and then the music (i consider concert etudes music)...  nowadays, no matter how long I haven't practiced, my fingers still warm up pretty quickly. This is the only thing I feel grateful to her, and some emotional attachments I guess - after all, it was 8 solid years... when other kids played with dirt, I played the scales...

[n_n]

and sorry, I have to disagree with Counterpoint. I do believe in "superteachers". Why are all the good pianists we see nowadays from those very few prominent teachers? I know there's a positive cycle - once they have an award-winning stud, their studs level will just keep improving to a point all they teach are super-talents. They also have connections in the music circle for sure, but those teachers still are uncommonly good at teaching - u can tell from their master classes and interviews,  etc! It definately makes a difference to study with a teacher him/herself being an institution. Of course, there're things to be learned from everyone, but if one's serious on this professional road, who doesn't desire a "superteacher"?!

[danny elfboy]

haha, funny what you said at the end . You know what? She did not allow her kid to study music, LOL! She said it was a tough road that she didnt want her daughter to go through.

Like as if that's a choice she should make 
Can't think of many thing worse than discouraging a person to try something it because it's too hard. It's like claiming "i'm better than you, that's why I succeed and you won't" and "you've no right to claim that you are able to do do this, I choose whether you are or not" and "you're too fragile and vulnerable for such a tough thing. I, on the other hand ... "

So sad 

I do still have pretty good techniques till now. I have to say my 1st teacher contributed to this. For the 8 years I studied with her as a kid, I was required to play more than an hour of finger exercise every day (scales, appegios, etc. in all keys, the entire Hanon 3 books) and then the music (i consider concert etudes music)...  nowadays, no matter how long I haven't practiced, my fingers still warm up pretty quickly. This is the only thing I feel grateful to her, and some emotional attachments I guess - after all, it was 8 solid years... when other kids played with dirt, I played the scales...

Well, after all even the most bad experiences and most abusive people teach valuable lessons and we're the people we are, thanks to those things and people too.

[thalberg]

I would love to start an account titled "Madame Labra" so I could say that I was very hurt.  I just don't have the energy.  It would be really funny though.

[counterpoint]

and sorry, I have to disagree with Counterpoint. I do believe in "superteachers". Why are all the good pianists we see nowadays from those very few prominent teachers? 

I waited for this question 

The answer is simple: if a teacher has a successful student (by chance), other talented students will think "If this teacher has such good students, there must be a special trick, which that teacher teaches. I want to learn this trick too.". So the teacher with the successful student will get more highly talented and highly motivated students...

About the mysterious "trick": there is NO trick! All teachers tell you the same things! There are only very little differences in small details. Some teachers will tell you they have a method, that is totally different from what other teachers teach. But that's BS. Believe me - I have seen so many "methods" and "superteachers" - forget it!

[danny elfboy]

Some teachers will tell you they have a method, that is totally different from what other teachers teach. But that's BS. Believe me - I have seen so many "methods" and "superteachers" - forget it!

You're forgetting that what makes a teacher good is not the notions he or she teaches but the approach and attitude he or she has. For example a teacher can be boring and dull while another teacher might be stimulating and funny. A good teacher may trigger your interest for the most boring matters by presenting them to you in a very creative and stimulating way. A teacher might be dismissive and just correct mistakes while another might listen to the students and always be reasurring and trusty. Certain teachers are just unable to explain things and they use wrong examples and bad words while certain teachers have just a talent for explaining things properly and making them immediate and clear.

[n_n]

Think about all the teachers teaching at the good conservatories. You may think if they're good enough to be teaching there, they must be really good...  but...

... some of them have a performing career they put in front of the studs, so they constantly cancel classes...

... some of them had some twisted fate that didn't allow them to be the performer they'd like to be and they have a cynical attitude to everything that certainly isn't helpful in teaching...

... teachers who hold things to themselves because they don't want their studs to be better than themselves...

... teachers who discourage the studs from learning harder pieces because they wrongly believe the studs aren't ready... (i think that happens all the time... )

... some teachers have a few extremely talented students, then they look at the rest and treat them as trash...

If we talk about the neighbourhood teachers, that's even more interesting...

... some of them only passed some amateur piano exams and use that as a proof to be able to teach! some of them might indeed be not bad a teacher, but the rest...

... some of them are conservatory stud' parents!!! They don't even play the piano!!!!!!!!!!!!! MAN! and they teach kids... and I'm surprised that they have many students...

... moreover, some of them aren't even conservatory studs' parents. Their playing is minimal. they have just listened to the lessons their kids had and start teaching!!! (Once I was practicing at school - a biz school, my friend and her mom walked in. My friend introduced the mom as a piano teacher. So I gladly asked for her suggestions on my playing. She was like, "Oh, please. I wouldn't dare! I only teach kids... and what was the piece you just played? (it was a well-known piece) "  I almost said to her "Stop ruining the kids then!"

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..
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hwww... nowadays, finding a good teacher isn't easy!

Yeah, the difference between a good and a bad teacher is always obvious (to those who have played enough piano to tell.) It can be on music itself, or on the education aspect (including the teaching approach, attitude and mental health (lol), etc....) and there ARE bad teachers without question.

If we just talk about the difference between outstanding teachers and super teachers, I do agree with Counterpoint on the "positive cycle" that gets super teachers further and further - as I mentioned it too. There're also all the connections super teachers have.

What I thought different was just that these things that make the outstanding teachers super teachers are indeed significant though might not have to do with music directly.  If having a super teacher is a golden ticket to something, by all means, a pro student should try everything to study with one of them. 

Ppl learning the piano simply as a hobby don't really need those super teachers, of course. There're many outstanding teachers out there. Maybe you can call them "hidden gems". - even harder to find cos they're hidden!!

anyway... finding a good piano teacher's hard...  (and I'm glad I have a good one now )

[nightmusicforest]

i just think that a good teacher is more attentive to the student and not just listens, but looks at how the student plays.