Performance Oriented Teacher . . .

[alzado]

My former teacher was very good, but her style was to "snipe."  She would stop me at a mistake, and go more for the details than the big picture.  Also, over several years she never played or demonstrated anything.

I had to get a new teacher in April of '07 and just took the luck of the draw.  They put a 3 X 5 card on the bulletin board, any any teacher who wanted a student could call me.  Sort of "blind."

My new teacher is newly graduated from a university program with a joint major in music education and piano performance.  However, it is apparent that her heart is more into performance.

She rarely if ever "snipes" about anything.  She will not stop the playing for a small flaw such as one wrong note.  She will sometimes offer broad comments.  Mainly she just hears the piece overall and makes some very broad comments.

It is apparent than she is very talented as a performer.  At my request, she will play things, such as -- for instance -- a piece I have just completed playing.  She did this for a couple of the "Pictures" in "Pictures at an Exhibition."   Her rendition of these pieces as rather breathtaking, and also inspired me to continue working on the pieces.

Today at my request, she re-played a piece I had just played-- an old 1930's transcription of Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto for piano solo -- about four pages of score.  After I had played it, she reached behind her on the shelf and pulled down the original score of this concerto -- a weighty piece of music.  Then, at my request, she played my simplified version for me.  Again, it is significant to me that she thinks "performance" -- but again, she does seem to inspire me.  By playing my Tchaikovsky arrangement for me, she showed me so much of what I had been doing wrong, such as the dynamics, the pacing, and more. Totally without jawboning. 

She never tells me I have done well.  Obviously, some weeks go better than other weeks.  One person told me on the forum that this MAY be a mark of respect.  In university performance programs, the professors just assume competence.  It is not unusual that they just lay off the flattery and do not pat one's back.  They just assume that at your level you DARN WELL better play things well. 

This is the same piano teacher I expressed doubts about last May here on the forum.  But over time we have gotten used to each other.  Each teacher gives a different gift.  Try to adapt yourself to each one, looking to see what one can learn, and give the teacher a chance.

Both teachers were/are good, and I complain about neither.  Both offered certain gifts, and those gifts have always been worthwhile.

[amelialw]

there are always advantages/disadvantages to having a certain kind of teacher.

if she does'nt give enough of comments, you could always ask her what she thinks. Performer's often think of a piece as a big picture and that is the reason why she offers broad comments. Sometimes, she might be not so sure of herself either due to lack of teaching experience.

I have an excellent teacher, she is excellent at teaching, performing, accompaniment etc. and very well-rounded. The most important thing is that she has alot of teaching experience as she started teaching when she was 13. Sometimes when you find a teacher that fits you perfectly, it's hard to let go and I really don't want to move back to singapore and have a different teacher but in any case I have to.

[Bob]

Sounds like a new teachers.  Not good or bad, just is. 

I haven't heard of too many music ed/piano performance people.  Piano ped/performance, yes.   It sounds like music ed may have been a backup plan.  The only directions I know of for piano and music ed are teaching general music classes of little kids and teaching choir.  That doesn't sound like what she would have been looking for if she plays that well. 


I would take the good away with you from whatever they teach.  And keep in mind they only give you ideas and advice.  You are the one who is in charge.  With the teachers I've had after awhile they kind of level off and aren't saying anything new to you anymore.

[m1469]

Alzado, it sounds like you are doing well and that you are happy.  Thanks for checking in .

[alzado]

Bob--

You are right, it might have been "piano ped" (ped = pedagogy).  I probably didn't get the accurate term.  She took the program to be a teacher, and had a second major in piano performance.

Another piece she "demonstrated" at my request was Ravel's Pavane for a Dead Princess.  It is rather difficult for me, and I struggled.  Thus it was a revelation to hear it played professionally, and well.  We were only working on the first 1-1/2 pages, so that is all she played. 

She is "different" for me.  Her limitations are offset by her "fireball" technical skill as a pianist.  I have taken to asking her occasionally to demonstrate things because she is so quiet and restrained in her verbal comments.  I am trying to get her to give me her special "something," which -- alas -- is not to be found in coaching at the detailed level.

Anyway, I am happy with her.  Thanks to all who responded.  Now . . . more responses are welcome!  Hit "reply" and add your thoughts!

BTW, it is interesting that when Horowitz gave lessons to Byron Janis, Janis said that Horowitz never demonstrated ANYTHING.  I guess he had his own vision of what a piano teacher should be, and for Horowitz, demonstrating passages was not part of it.

It takes all kinds to make a [music] world!

[dan101]

You can learn something from every teacher (even the negative ones). I think that you see the positive aspects of your teachers. This will get you far in your studies. The only type of teacher to be avoided always is one that makes you repeatedly feel bad about yourself and your playing. This, of course, is not the case with the teachers that you've mentioned. Best of luck for continued succes in your musical education.

[dmc]

Perhaps this teacher is only giving you a big-picture critique because she feels that you have evolved to where you don't need detailed direction and are capable of building on whatever ideas she gives you.   As an advanced student, she may view her role as a coach more than a teacher (i.e. she wants you to become your own artistic person rather than what she thinks you should be or a clone of her).   If so, that is a measure of professional respect. 

Just a thought...

[keyofc]

Alzado,
I'm glad to hear you found a teacher you're happy with!
If I were in your situaiton - one thing I'd do is stop her after she plays something
so well for you.  I'd ask her if she can remember the roadblocks in the piece and how she overcame them.

It might be a real eye-opener for you and help your technique a lot if you can draw
things like that out.

[slobone]

The only important thing question is whether you're satisfied with your progress. There's no one right method of teaching.

As for the lack of praise, that could be a plus. A lot of teachers overpraise their students when they don't deserve it, and give them a misleading sense of where they are.

Ideally, every teacher would adjust her methods to the individual student, but that may be too much to ask.

[amelialw]

I agree.

It would be bad if you had a teacher who praises you all the time.

I have an excellent teacher but she only praises me when I do really good work, or only when I really deserve it.

[mike_lang]

I have an excellent teacher but she only praises me when I do really good work, or only when I really deserve it.

I had a teacher once who never praised his students.  Once, I asked him if I had played the passage well, and his reply was: "Did I say it was wrong?....Then it's right."