Is teacher necessary??

[kantsuiex]

I passed the Grade 8 in piano in 2006.
Before the examination, i hated playing piano..
However, maybe I didn't like to play piano for examination, I really love playing piano after the examination, I started playing Chopin's fantasie impromtu and now I am practising Chopin etude and La Campanella and other Paganini's etude.
I really want to conquer all pieces. And my progress isn't very slow. But I think the quality i played is not enough for performance,,,
Do anybody learn piano well himself/herself??
Can you give me some suggestion?
I think the piano lesson is almost useless.....
Flow (45min) : play scales => play sight-readings=> play pieces
I think lessons are just some checkpoints, and I learned no technique...==

[Bob]

I agree about the checkpoint thing.

If you know what you're doing I think you can progress on your own.

Maybe a teacher will help you make faster progress.

I was just wondering about that recently.  I don't think a teacher would put up with an indepth jaunt off into a certain direction, like technique or theory. 

I really depends though.  How much above you is the teacher?  They might know things you won't be able to figure out on your own.  Although, we do have the internet now.  There's a lot of info out there through it.

[slobone]

Actually, it seems like it works the other way around -- the more advanced you are, the more important it is to have a good teacher. You can possibly teach yourself elementary technique, but if you really want to sound good, a teacher can make all the difference.

That's why you so often hear about famous pianists, that they studied with a student of a student of a student of Liszt, or whatever. Even Murray Perahia, who apparently didn't take lessons till he was in college, studied with Mieczysław Horszowski and Rudolf Serkin eventually.

In your case, if you're already working on Chopin etudes and Liszt, now's the time to find somebody really good.

[kantsuiex]

Thx, but how to find a teacher?
My last teacher is not very good........just like the checkpoint....

[slobone]

You can do what I did -- call the music department at your local university. Ask them who their senior piano instructor is. Then ask that person to recommend a teacher who would be right for you. You'll have to tell him/her how long you've been playing, what pieces you've learned, how many hours a day you're willing to practice, and probably where you live (so you don't get somebody who lives too far away.) The question of how much you're willing to pay may also come up.

Be honest with your answers and you'll probably get the help you need. Good luck!

[nyonyo]

I have another idea on how to find a capable teacher. I did this and found an excellent one.

What I did, I contacted the Steinway dealer and told them that I want to buy a whatever model of Steinway. If you mention the bigger model, the salesman will be more helpful. After that, tell them that you also need an excellent piano teacher. They will automatically give you a few of their Steinway artists who teach. They gave me at least 4 names. All of them are excellent pianists. I only contacted one and I am very satisfied with this one.

Looking at the pieces that you are working, you need a concert pianist level. It makes a big different learning from a very capable pianist. But get ready to pay much more than a neigborhood piano teacher.

Good luck.

[slobone]

I have another idea on how to find a capable teacher. I did this and found an excellent one.

What I did, I contacted the Steinway dealer and told them that I want to buy a whatever model of Steinway. If you mention the bigger model, the salesman will be more helpful. After that, tell them that you also need an excellent piano teacher. They will automatically give you a few of their Steinway artists who teach. They gave me at least 4 names. All of them are excellent pianists. I only contacted one and I am very satisfied with this one.

Looking at the pieces that you are working, you need a concert pianist level. It makes a big different learning from a very capable pianist. But get ready to pay much more than a neigborhood piano teacher.

Good luck.

Get the teacher's name first. Then when it comes time to close on the $50,000 Steinway, you can just say "Oh, I decided to make a down payment on a house instead"...

[nyonyo]

Get the teacher's name first. Then when it comes time to close on the $50,000 Steinway, you can just say "Oh, I decided to make a down payment on a house instead"...

Yeah...I just went to Steinway dealer last Sunday. They act as if it is so easy to come up with $50K for a piano. They begged me to put down payment...HAHAHAA. I am not that easy to be forced by a piano salesman. $50K for a piano is kind of too much, unless one really needs that kind of piano.

[kantsuiex]

Thank you very much!

[Bob]

Yeah, uni or college to find teachers.

MTNA  Music Teachers National Association.  mtnc.org I think.  They should have some chapter who covers your area.

[nyonyo]

Yeah, uni or college to find teachers.

MTNA  Music Teachers National Association.  mtnc.org I think.  They should have some chapter who covers your area.

MTNA teachers are usually OK teacher, they are not usually great teachers. Great teachers are usually do not need to join this kind of group. They have their own recognition. They do not need organization to validate their ability.

But it really depends on your level. Not everybody needs a great teacher. We need to adjust to our need and how much we can afford. But having good teacher will make a big different in our piano learning advanture.

[windy_cheml]

I have another idea on how to find a capable teacher. I did this and found an excellent one.

What I did, I contacted the Steinway dealer and told them that I want to buy a whatever model of Steinway. If you mention the bigger model, the salesman will be more helpful. After that, tell them that you also need an excellent piano teacher. They will automatically give you a few of their Steinway artists who teach. They gave me at least 4 names. All of them are excellent pianists. I only contacted one and I am very satisfied with this one.

Looking at the pieces that you are working, you need a concert pianist level. It makes a big different learning from a very capable pianist. But get ready to pay much more than a neigborhood piano teacher.

Good luck.

haha, a good way.

[tgpianist]

A good teacher is imperative. It is of the utmost importance. It must never be overlooked or sacrificed.

[mukubella]

.

[nyonyo]

Also - I have struggled to afford a good teacher.  The last one I talked to charged $125 an hour.  OUCH! 

There are many very expensive Piano teachers outhere. Be careful not all of them are good.

In 1994, I remember that one teacher from Moscow Conservatory (not piano performance- he has doctorate in composition) who lived in CA had charged $125.

There are many teachers, so don't be too afraid to try.
My teacher charges me $80, he is from Moscow Conservatory, Julliard and won many competition as well as a professor in a University. I am very happy with his teaching. Do my Steinway suggestion, it will, for sure, lead you to a good piano teacher.

[thierry13]

Flow (45min) : play scales => play sight-readings=> play pieces

This TYPE of lesson is obviously useless. And it's not long enough. Take real lessons with a great teacher and it will be worth it. I wonder how can people at your level think lessons are useless and how people studying in music schools think their lessons are allways so instructive if they have a good teacher. A lesson is useless if the teacher is bad. One can allways learn from a great one.

[kelly_kelly]

MTNA teachers are usually OK teacher, they are not usually great teachers. Great teachers are usually do not need to join this kind of group. They have their own recognition. They do not need organization to validate their ability.

I actually found my teacher through the MTNA website, and so far she's excellent  I disagree that joining MTNA is a means for mediocre teachers to "validate their ability": most join for the competitive and performance opportunities it offers their students.

[opus10no2]

A sponge in a desert holds more water than a rock in an ocean.

[dozapp]

Currently my lesson consists of no scales, no sightreadings.  If I am learning several pieces at the moment we have a schedule set to determine which piece or 2 I work on to prepare for the next lesson.  When the lesson comes, I will play both piece in their entirety (or as far as i have gotten in the piece) consecutively, my teacher takes notes (in my notebook).  Then we go over the notes and work on the technique needed to overcome where my weaknesses in that particular piece are.  Then the last 5 minutes or so is used to decide what I need to prepare for next week.  My lessons are 45 minutes long.  These are the best lessons I have ever had and I believe they are ideal and efficient. 

[lina rose]

hi, i had 3 different teachers when i was a child and i stopped taking lessons when i was 12. Now, i try to teach myself and i've been thinking of finding a new teacher since i've been having quite a hard time learning some pieces...the problem is that i'm afraid of having a teacher i don't like, that's kind of why i stopped taking lessons...


oh, this was my first post. yay.

[xpjamiexd]

Well I'm not at the same level as you obviously are, but I found my playing (technically and musically) has improved greatly since I got a teacher.

[bernhard]

I passed the Grade 8 in piano in 2006.
Before the examination, i hated playing piano..
However, maybe I didn't like to play piano for examination, I really love playing piano after the examination, I started playing Chopin's fantasie impromtu and now I am practising Chopin etude and La Campanella and other Paganini's etude.
I really want to conquer all pieces. And my progress isn't very slow. But I think the quality i played is not enough for performance,,,
Do anybody learn piano well himself/herself??
Can you give me some suggestion?
I think the piano lesson is almost useless.....
Flow (45min) : play scales => play sight-readings=> play pieces
I think lessons are just some checkpoints, and I learned no technique...==

Have a look here:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2115.msg17860.html#msg17860
(the advantages of a teacher – comparison with typing)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2246.msg19041.html#msg19041
(Young teachers – why young/bad teachers are not a problem – When the student is ready the right teacher will appear)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2749.msg23873.html#msg23873
(self-teaching – the pitfalls. Analogy of frying an egg - principles of fingering)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,5569.msg53917.html#msg53917
(when are you ready to be without a teacher – roles of the teacher)

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,8399.msg85048.html#msg85048
(questions to ask a prospective teacher – reasons why payment should be monthly)

Best wishes,
Bernhard.