Why do I need a teacher?

[korsol]

Mabye this is a stupid question, but I've got the impression that everyone thinks it is necesary to go to a teacher. I've played for many years and had a teacher. But I was kicked out of the school cause I became to old. Im not very good, (Im struggling to learn Moonlight Sonata 3rd movement), but I can't see how a teacher can learn me å piece. Since it is so long time ago since I've had a teacher I don't know what good it will do to my playing. Im thinking about going to a teacher, but it is expensive and I need to know what good it will do before signing up.

[jgallag]

Teachers save time. Lots of time, if you have a good one. They can also keep you from developing destructive habits which can cause tension and injury in the future. They can guide you to literature you would otherwise never encounter, and they can motivate you to progress and enjoy the art of music. That would be a good teacher.

As many people love to say, there are millions of ways to play the piano. Thus they emphasize that technique is individual and so on. However, many, many of those ways of piano are wrong, and can prevent progress, and even cause enough injury to stop you playing the piano again. How can you know that you are playing the correct way (which I assume you are not if you're struggling) without someone to guide you?

I'm firmly in the camp that you need a teacher. However, I do not believe that having any teacher is better than having no teacher at all. If you say lessons are expensive, I'm assuming you have a teacher in mind. So you should ask this teacher if: a) you may view one of his/her recitals and see how his/her students perform, and b) you may take a sample lesson (paid, of course) to decide whether or not you want to pursue further study with the teacher. I don't see any reason that a teacher wouldn't comply with either request.

[turayza]

Even if you're just planning on playing for fun, having a teacher will make your learning sooo much faster. Of course, you want a teacher who will actually help you...but a good teacher will probably only take a student who wants to improve (how much time are you willing to devote to practice every week?) Also teachers will catch things in your playing that you won't (that's why they're there.) Making music is more than just playing the notes--you can do that on your own. But if you want to create art, you'll need a teacher to guide you.

[bestpianosoftware]

Not everyone thinks you need a teacher to be able to learn.  Some people learn to play piano by ear.  And they do not have mentors.  Check out web sites that offer tutorials and teach yourself how to play piano. Get yourself a piano lesson DVD and learn through your own pace.  Nobody will criticize you for being a slow learner.   

[braintist]

It depends if you can teach yourself and critique yourself you dont need one

[nyonyo]

Hi,

You might have not good teacher. If you did, you would remember what a good teacher can give you.

In the past, I had so so teacher. I always thought that why I should get a teacher. I can practice myself etc. But now, after paying big bucks, I realize what I had missing. Therefore, if you want to get a teacher, you should get a a really good teacher so you won't think that you waste your money and time.