Frustration with teachers

[Saturn]

I saw Ted say this on another thread:

any teachers I've come across here since have been fully capable, for a fat fee,  of stultifying the most inspired student.

Reading this inspired me to start this little rant about my frustration with shitty piano teachers.  If you have a similar frustration, feel free to rant about it here.  But if you have no piano teacher horror stories, consider yourself very lucky.




On this forum, there are a few truly good piano teachers, who seem to think that any decent teacher would teach in much the same way.  For instance, I saw Bernhard say that teachers don't teach only for the money, and something about if the student were passionate enough and offered to do for the teacher whatever he could do, that should be good enough (I probably mixed up the meaning a little bit there).  If only that were true!

But for my part, I haven't met a single piano teacher who was interested in anything other than money.  The last two teachers I've tried were USD$60 and $70 per hour.  For this fee, I feel like I'm hiring a lawyer!  I may as well be.  The teachers I've had experience with were also "clock teachers".  That is, they keep a little clock or watch sitting on the piano, and glance at it constantly.  The minute my time is up, they say "Okay, time's up, see you next week" and shut the book, even if they don't have a student afterwards.  Sometimes I still have questions, and the teacher will answer them (with as short answers as possible), but refuses to allow me a single more minute of pianistic work, on the claim that it would be "unfair".

And for the steep fees, what do I get?  What I get is a teacher who tells me that I must sit at home, and play a piece through at MM 60.  If I can complete the piece without mistakes, I can bump the tempo up to MM 61.  Or if I feel especially confident, MM 62!  Then I must play the piece all the way through at that tempo.  If I make a mistake, I must reduce the tempo back down to MM 60 and start the piece over!  And so on.  I'm not allowed to stop until I reach MM 120, without mistakes.

And supposedly ridiculous methods like these make one a great musician.  HOW?  I refuse to believe that Horowitz, Hofmann, Rubinstein, Rachmaninoff, Gilels, Richter, or any of the other great pianists practiced like this.

Anyway, I think I've said enough here for now.

- Saturn

[squinchy]

My first teacher made me do the metronome thing, except I was to start at 72 and work my way up to 84. It wasn't so bad, actually.

I think I have a good teacher now. She doesn't charge much, and since she's pretty old, many of her students do chores for her in exchange for lessons. The one problem I have with her is her forgetfulness, particularly with fingerings. One week, she'll tell me to play a trill with 3-5, the next 3-4, and something completely different the next, forcing me to change the fingering of the whole area. That confuses my fingers and wastes time.

[puppetmaster]

I used to have a teacher who wouldn't even notice if I made a mistake. And if she ever did, never cared to correct it., just moved on.  

Luckily...I only had her for about 5-6 weeks.

[janice]

But for my part, I haven't met a single piano teacher who was interested in anything other than money.

There ARE teachers out there who aren't into it for only the money.  They are hard to find, but they tend to be (and I'm not being sarcastic here)married women whose husband's are able to support the family on HIS income alone.  Meaning, that the teacher doesn't HAVE to work, but she teaches for the love of it.  And that's true in any area also.  I have a friend who is a GREAT cook (she has been asked by several people if she will cater an event).  She doesn't want to do it as a "job" because that would take away the joy that she finds in this.  Believe me, they could use the money, but she doesn't want cooking to be a "chore".

[Tash]

i love my current teacher, i don't think she's really in it for the money, cos my mum is very bad at paying my fees on time but my teacher never gets narky about it. she's also gonna take me possibly to a few sessions of the sydney international piano comp soon if she has a spare seat how nice is that! my last teacher wasn't as good but she loved teaching, not for the money cos as i said mum's not good at paying the fees on time and she accidently skipped one lesson which my teacher noticed but then i had a such a good lesson and she was impressed that she didn't even bother me getting the lost week! my first teacher, however, was crapppy and she didn't like me very much- loved my friend though, who was before me and half the time went 15 minutes into my lesson, and did i get my 15 minutes overtime as well? no i just got a 15 minute lesson and off i went again.
anyway, saturn i think you need to find yourself a new teacher cos i don't think you're going to hit your maximum potential with having a crappy teacher like that.

[Saturn]

i love my current teacher, i don't think she's really in it for the money, cos my mum is very bad at paying my fees on time but my teacher never gets narky about it. she's also gonna take me possibly to a few sessions of the sydney international piano comp soon if she has a spare seat how nice is that! my last teacher wasn't as good but she loved teaching, not for the money cos as i said mum's not good at paying the fees on time and she accidently skipped one lesson which my teacher noticed but then i had a such a good lesson and she was impressed that she didn't even bother me getting the lost week! my first teacher, however, was crapppy and she didn't like me very much- loved my friend though, who was before me and half the time went 15 minutes into my lesson, and did i get my 15 minutes overtime as well? no i just got a 15 minute lesson and off i went again.
anyway, saturn i think you need to find yourself a new teacher cos i don't think you're going to hit your maximum potential with having a crappy teacher like that.

You're lucky to have found such good teachers now!  I wish one of my teachers would've been so nice as to take me to an international piano competition!

I agree that I'm not going to hit my maximum potential with crappy teachers like the ones I've found.  That's why I'm currently "shopping" for teachers, but I can't seem to find one that I really like.  And if I ever do, they have exorbitant lesson fees that they won't compromise on.  What can I do?  I'm rich in passion, but not money.  Hence my frustration with teachers.

Also, Janice, yes, there are teachers that are not in it for the money.  My second serious teacher (not including the teachers before that which taught me only in group lessons and such) was one of those people you mentioned: a married woman who teaches even though she doesn't have to.  She did it because she loved to spend time with kids, and she loved her students.  The only problem was, she didn't have a lot of real, serious knowledge about music or the piano.  I'm not saying this is the case with all such women, just my experiences with the one I knew.

- Saturn

[Shagdac]

Sorry to hear Saturn, that you've been unlucky with piano teachers. Don't give up looking, they are out there as Janice said. I'm very fortunate in that mine is a real gem. My lessons are 1 hour...but I have yet to get out in less than 1 1/2 hours. And he is also very knowledgable, and an awesome pianist himself (not that I believe a piano teacher HAS to play piano well).

I think the only complaint a person should have though, would be in not being able to locate a piano teacher that fit their needs. I think it is SO very important to interview with the instructor to find out if you are the right student for them, and they are the right teacher for you. Their education, experience and ability will all influence what they can teach you. And it makes a huge difference if say you want to take for a few years and just learn to basically play popular songs, accompany in church, etc. or if your goal is to perform, compete or something along those lines.

If what you are looking for is discussed prior to beginning with an instructor, and you have inquired as to their teaching methods, and asked how they could help you acheive your goals, then you should have a pretty good idea as to what to expect from them as a teacher. If you have had bad experiences in the past, you should also let them know what you are NOT looking for as well, what didn't you like in your last instuctor.

If you go for several lessons....and things don't "click", I wouldn't waste anymore money or time,(me personally).

Best of luck to you Saturn in finding a teacher who fits your needs. I know how frustrating it can be. You may check at the local University or Colleges and see what they offer, (sometimes professors teach on the side, or even senior students of piano performance). Word of mouth (references) is also important.

Good luck, hope you find someone soon!

S

[ivoryplayer4him]

i am a piano teacher, and i can completely see your concern and problem.  The teacher you have obviously does not care about you.  See...I charge 10.00 Per lesson, thats all, nothing more, and if they want to pay less then that is their option.  I never time the lesson, and i never make them pay for cancellations.  Critiria in that way is you need to look for.  Someone who is relaxed.  I love music, i absolutly love it, but i also love teaching.  You can have a person who loves music, but if they dont love teaching, then it will be a waste of time.  I suggest you put an ad in the paper, write up an application for the teacher to fill out, and explain to them what you have experianced, and what you DONT WANT TO HAPPEN.  Dont worry if you dont find someone right off.  Take some time.  Prove to these people you have a love and a passion for it.  ask them what they think they can do for you and make them stick to it.  If you take control in the situation then you will find someone you want.  See...i let my students pick how they want to learn (as far as speed).  I can dig deep within their intellect, or we can "just learn piano".  If they are smart they will pick the first one.  I dont know, this is just some thoughts to try to help you.  Dont lose hope and dont back down from what you want.  Never settle.

[Swan]

a married woman who teaches even though she doesn't have to.  She did it because she loved to spend time with kids, and she loved her students. - Saturn

Hey!  Sounds like me!  Except for the not knowing too much.  

It may sound funny coming from a teacher, but I too have a teacher phobia!  I've had plenty of them throughout my life, and weren't overly wrapped in any of them (except one who was very good).

I bought myself a violin not too long ago and organised a teacher.  Talk about cafuffle!  On the phone she didn't know what times were available - it took her forever for us to finally settle on a time.

First lesson, and she spent most of the time, "adjusting' a shoulder rest.  She didn't teach me anything I hadn't figured out myself.

The next week, she rings to say that time wasn't good for her, and can I come at this time.  Well I was teaching my own students then then, so I thanked her for her time, and said I'd teach myself.  Been enjoying it too.  

Yes, there are BAD teachers out there.  

But there are really good ones too!  The problem is sorthing through them before you give up and declare us all useless!

Like someone else said, try to get a few referrals.