When is it Time to "Divorce" your Teacher?

[f0bul0us]

Most won't come out and say "there's nothing else I can teach you", so when do you know that you'd be better off on your own? Or is everyone better off with a teacher at all times? Also,  are there any concert pianists still taking lessons while being as successful as they are?

[donjuan]

Behind every great concert pianist, there is an even greater teacher.  I dont think musicians can ever stop learning, therefore, it is impossible to not have a teacher.  My teacher tells me all the time that he learns a lot from teaching me.  He learns how students work, and as a result, he can teach even better.

A good teacher will never say "There is nothing else I can teach you".
donjuan

[Saturn]

Most won't come out and say "there's nothing else I can teach you", so when do you know that you'd be better off on your own?

Generally this happens as your goals change.  Maybe you started taking piano lessons just as a hobby (or because your parents forced you to) but are starting to take it more seriously now.  Maybe you want to become a concert pianist, and your teacher doesn't have the knowledge or experience to take you there.  When you start to feel like you're not getting anything from the lessons, you should find a new teacher.

Or is everyone better off with a teacher at all times?

A good teacher will not only teach you about the piano and about music, but will also show you how to teach yourself.  So you shouldn't be dependent on your teacher.

It's always good to have a good teacher.  But a bad teacher will hold you back.  So know how to discern between them, and when to cut yourself free.

Also,  are there any concert pianists still taking lessons while being as successful as they are?

I'm not sure about pianists.  But I remember my violin teacher telling me something about the violinist Jascha Heifetz.  Heifetz wouldn't play a piece publicly until his teacher, Leopold Auer, had heard it (and critiqued it) first.

- Saturn

[ahmedito]

Ive had the good luck of having my two piano teachers say: There is nothing I can teach you that "x" cant teach you better.

Not exactly I have nothing left to teach you, but more like admiting that someone else would be a much better teacher for you at your stage in development.

[bernhard]

Yes, many concert pianists still take lessons, although these are more like master classes. It is also common for concert  pianists to go to “music summer camps” built around some famous teacher. Susan Tomes – the pianist with the Florestan trio has written a wonderful book (“Behind the notes”) where amongst other things he talks about her experiences in two of these “music camps”.

Perhaps the most famous example of a concert pianist still having regular lessons is Eugeny Kisssin who still has lessons from his very first piano teacher. I am sure there are others, but they may not like to talk about it (Pogorelich actually married his piano teacher).

Best wishes,
Bernhard.