Advices dear teachers and professionals.

[mr_skyflakes21]

Hello, I just found out this site in Google, and i am amazed with the stuff offered here, such as sheet music and etc. But the one I was become amazed off is the forum section. Because in my opinion, it covered almost anything that a piano student, teacher and a performer may need.

Last week, I enrolled in a piano lesson near at my house. Because since then, I am already interested with classical music. Before I enrolled at the piano lesson, I  myself studying about guitar for 4 years, and I can say that I'm in an advance level of playing(on guitar not on piano).

However, I really want to learn playing piano, and I am serious with that. I'm planning for it for quite some time ago but I can't find a good situation where i can decide to study it or not. Until the time came and now I'm already enrolled in a piano lesson.

This is my first time to enroll in a lesson where there is an official study of a certain thing. Unlike on the guitar where i sing along with my friends at the street, i just learned to play by ear and gradually influenced by some stuffs.

My point is I want to know how could I know that my teacher is capable of teaching me the proper way of piano playing. Just last day I already began my lesson and my teacher just taught me the basics of music theory. I don't know yet what she is capable of.

If I can't find my expectations on her(maybe not now because my next lesson would be next week), it would be grateful if I can get some advice for the professionals and teachers here.

Thanks a lot!

[tsagari]

Hello and wellcome,
Am I allowed to give you an advice because I am an adult student not a teacher or profesional?
I would tell you how it happens with my teacher
Here is the story. She was and still is the teacher of my son and because he started yound I was always present during the lesson.
I Know music - I used to play guitar during my teen years -, so every time he was given these beginners pieces,  I've tried them myself so I could monitor my son's progress.
I remeber trying a piece -five bars I think - and I said myself what a fulish borring piece of music this was and what stupid things young kinds have to play.
We went to the lesson and the strangest thing happened she played the piece for my son to lisen, it was such a wonderfull play of a few bars that brought tears to my eyes. Beyond that insident  I can speak for ages about how I value a teacher but I leave the space for the professionals

[hyrst]

Can your teacher
- Intuitively work out what you need and how far to stretch you
- Do they give you time to answer questions or try something out
- Are you comfortable with them
- Do they respond easily if you ask to change the way they are approaching you
- Do they have a plan for you individually or do they just present a method book or particular syllabus of their own that you are expected to follow despite needs / interests
- Do they try to use a variety of approaches to help you learn (e.g. touch, modelling, colour, memorising, talking)
- Give you a good example of the music you are learning
- Do they work on time or work over time if they are running late
- Do they act professionally
- Do they seem to present most things you need to learn (technique and reading) at a pace you feel comfortable (not overwhelming but still challenging enough)

Do you feel comfortable and are you able to play something after each lesson that you could not play before?

[mr_skyflakes21]

My lesson just got started last day. She teach me some note reading and some beginner exercises.She requires me to buy a book called Eckstein and John Thompson Grade 1. I think positively and treat it as an introductory approach by her. Because a friend of mine(who is by the way a conservatory graduate major in piano) insists that my teacher must teach me about building coordination, speed and gradually control. Did she miss something or is that common? It's my first time on an official lesson. I don't know if this is right or wrong. She ask me if I am a beginner and I said yes.

[hyrst]

Hi,
I would give it some time.  She might be a teacher just following the book methods or she might be using these as a tool to approach the things you need to learn technically.  If you have any doubts about things, ask her more about her approach and raise your concerns with her.  See what her responses are. 

I also use method books, but as a source of something interesting to play while working on the basic elements of actually playing.  There are some schools of teaching that work on coordination and basic movements before even touching the piano keys.  This can be an excellent approach, but it is less common in certain cultures because students want the satisfaction of playing a tune - it is their understanding of why they are learning (this applies where I am in Australia). 

What are the contents and contexts of the exercises you are doing?  Your friend's comments seem to be the source of your concern.  I think this might be a general principle rather than what you would expect to encounter in your first lesson.  Remember your teacher is also trying to figure you out and what your needs and ambitions are.  Communicate with your teacher.  If they are a good teacher you will be helping them to help you.  If they are not, than this is a good way to find out - a good teacher will explain what they are doing and why.  If you need something different, they should be able to adjust their approaches.

[db05]

I think you should let your teacher know where you are coming from. You can play guitar, by ear. If you know your chords on the guitar, you can learn your notes by finding the chords on the piano. Playing simple songs shouldn't be that hard for you.

Thompson is good for sight reading. Read through your pieces a few times, then go on to the next. If you're not satisfied with a piece, leave it for tomorrow and you'll find it a lot easier. The key is seeing patterns in the music.

I've never used Eckstein; most of my technical exercises are from Hanon. I don't recommmend technical exercises in this case; I think if you have the coordination for guitar playing, finding your way on the piano would be a lot easier - basic coordination, control of LH, playing by ear and musicality are some skills you already have. The music notes are like tablature with rhythm and dynamic marks. So just adjust to the piano notes, and you're set to learn more advanced technique. 

[mr_skyflakes21]

Anyway, Since she only taught me about note reading, inversion, intervals and other stuff and just allowed me to play John Thompson Grade 1 book, what should i do next?I want to practice piano but I don't know what or how to practice PROPERLY. Since I am thinking that it might led me to a bad habit of playing resulting to my slow progress.

Do you think I'm hurrying?

[db05]

I want to practice piano but I don't know what or how to practice PROPERLY. Since I am thinking that it might led me to a bad habit of playing resulting to my slow progress.

With regards to practicing properly. You're on the right forum. Use the search option for specific topics.

Try these links for tons of useful info.

CC. Chang - Fundamentals of Piano Practice
https://www.pianofundamentals.com/

Jamie Andreas - Principles of Correct Practice for Guitar
https://guitarprinciples.com/

- a lot of ideas on here apply to other instruments as well. Like I said, you can relate your guitar experience to piano playing.

Do you think I'm hurrying?

I don't think you'd be rushing as long as you are THINKING every step of the way. Try not to zone out and always be goal oriented.

[tsagari]

CC. Chang - Fundamentals of Piano Practice
https://www.pianofundamentals.com/

Take this advice very seriouly now that is ealy. One thing you will definately learn from this book is how to practice which is very important

[hyrst]

Try to relax.  You can't quickly develop habits that will slow your progress.  Keep basics in mind - listening, relaxing, using momentum and gravity, sitting well, taking breaks, conserving energy, rounding and relaxing your hand, playing at a slow enough tempo to keep a sense of rhythm once past initial reading.  Enjoy your work. 

[mr_skyflakes21]

I am currently reading the Fundamentals of Piano and this book looks so promising..
Anyone who wants to give comments about this book?Thanks,...


Thanks hyrst..Nice...Gold memeber..

[00range]

Try making a list of several pieces that you love to listen to and would equally love to play. See if your teacher will help you take the steps to get to these pieces if they are too difficult for you right now. (For instance, playing the Hammerklavier may be impossible, but there are many pieces worth learning for their own merit that will help you progress toward your ultimate goal - even if you never get there, you will improve drastically trying to.)

Having these long term goals will give you direction and motivation through the hard, boring times.

[etcetra]

I think the most important thing for a teacher is the ability to identify what you are struggling with and clearly showing you how to deal with that problem.  I had good number of teachers who just told me to "Do this" or "do that" and get frustrated because i couldn't do it the first time, they never really explained how to do it.  It's very important early on to learn how to break down the learn process to small bits that you can handle, you improve much faster in the long run that way, you will feel more secure about what you learned and probably be much happier with your accomplishment. 

So i guess the question to ask is are you happy studying with a teacher while making a slow steady progress, or are you and your teacher frustrated because you don't feel a clear sense of direction and progress in your study?