My first lesson (2008) feedback

[Petter]

Hey, Im Petter and I have played piano since I was 11 or 12. I´ve went to alot of different schools for music but I never had any teaching in basic piano technique. The teachers I had were more for inspiration and I really treasure the moments I had with my first jazz piano teacher when I was in the swedish equivalent of high school.

 The thing is that before I started I had no idea what to do with my playing, it just seemed fun. I had other things going then the jazz thing, like pop and classical but unfortunately you were divided into either being classical or jazz so I had no time for classical piano anymore. I continued along that line until I realized that I wasnt playing for fun anymore but just to get recognition and credability. This along with other things led me into personal crisis in my mid 20´s and I stopped playing piano entirely.

 Gradually my interest for piano came back and I started to play around with the Bach´s inventions which I were working on before I started high school. I made some progress since then on my own and my reluctance for strict piano technique merged into realizing I had to learn it out of necessity to progress further. My friend (who is also a pianoteacher) suggested a teacher that she knew could help me, and yesterday we had our first lesson.

 After talking and observing my playing she came to the conclussion that I play more with my wrist then my fingers and that my posture was bad so she gave some advice on how to proceed to correct it. I knew that I had to change something to improve my playing because I have always had alot of tensions and no real stamina or tools to effect the dynamics the way I wanted. She also had a strict view on how Bach should be played and to be honest it didnt really appeal to me. The playing was more aggresive then what I would try to strive for.  Anyway it doesnt really matter, since it was our first lesson and Im sure we´ll make further progress.
 

 Its just that I feel so insecure now about all this even thought my desire was to get a strict teacher. It feels like I´m starting all over again and its discouraging me.
 Has anyone else had any simular experiences with teachers or pupils the can share?
I would be most grateful to hear.

Thanks /Petter

[Petter]

I´m starting to think this thread is in the wrong forum 

[dora96]

Hi petter,

I am properly the opposite to you. I have played and learned classical music for 18 years. I stopped learning after I got my Grade 8, but I still continue playing the piano. I also play for church service. It is hard for me  to play Jazz and contemporary music like hymns. I also envy people can play jazz and improvise music. Once you play classical music, it is very strict and ridge , not just only reading the score, also with every little detail and phrasing, history of the music, it is so important to pass or reach to classical standard. The way to learn, I just follow and play everything written in the contemporary music. It is driven me mad while my fellow church mates can play very colorful with using the full keyboard. I know to change the style from classical to modern play. Once I used to it and know how the music style. it is virtually getting into habit of style. Petter ! Don't get discourage, classical music is so hard, you just need to be patient. I am doing and practicing  my diploma exam . Lots of time, I am just wondering it is worth or not. However, I have to get rid of all my negative thinking and to be positive that if I can improve just 1 percent this month and next 3 months I hope I can improve to 5 percent. It is a triumph for me. It is wonderful to be able to play Chopin , Beethoven, Mozart, Bach etc.....
These composers have made history, honestly, they are like a religious to me now. I worship them apart my God. I meditate the music day and night. Perhaps,  it would to be like that we can exchange  my classical knowledge to your Jazz knowledge in the future. Remember ! Patience !

[jlh]

After talking and observing my playing she came to the conclussion that I play more with my wrist then my fingers

This is probably why she had issues with your Bach... It's a very good thing that she is very strict with how she approaches Bach.  Too many pianists these days try and romanticize his music and when they do it too much, it loses its baroque feel.  If you are used to romanticizing Bach it makes sense that a strict interpretation wouldn't appeal to you.  Since you seem not to use your fingers as much as you should, you probably aren't articulating all the notes well enough, and when she brought that to your attention it made you think she wanted it to be more aggressive. 

In effect you ARE starting over.  Don't be discouraged, though.  Give it some time and trust your teacher and when she tells you of a certain technique or way of playing that is different than what you are currently doing, never use the old way again unless she notices you should change something else.  This will help you develop your technique faster.   I wouldn't give this advice out to everyone, but because you seem to have a teacher you can trust for good technique, I give this advice to you.

Make sure that you are NEVER tense as you play, and realize that you won't be playing better overnight!  What you do NOW will affect your playing in weeks or months, so don't think that you're not improving if after this first week she still brings up the same issues.

[Petter]

Thanks for the answers, It meant alot. I might have played Bach with a romantic touch but to be completely honest I think I mostly played it without any touch whatsoever. I mostly played just to relax and to kill lonely hours I suppose heh. Anyway, I starting to feel more inspired and Im having my next lesson tomorrow. Can´t wait