I live in Portugal, and here we don't follow any of the grades you're used to, our grade system was made by the National Conservatory.
I pay 60€ for my classes, and I'm having lessons for over an year, but I know that I have learned something... since I now know how to read sheets, play some super mega simple music with both hands I don't feel like I'm were I should be with all the time I've spent learning. I feel like she doesn't push for me you know? I don't have all the free time in the world, and I do enjoy to practice, but it's weird...
The money is for having lessons alone, last year I had leassons with a woman that was learning pop music... it was awfull! and I decided this year, that since I'm paying so much I could train myself to do the 5th grande exam as an external in the Conservatory. I wanted to do it in the next 5/6 years, or less (lol) but my teatcher doesn't even have the programm, so that we can see what i should be learning. it seems like I have to wait for the next year to start learning what I need to my exam.
The conservatory in my city, since I'm over 18, asks for like 39€ for the inscription and 150€ for the classes, and I think I will have classes of piano, theory, I will learn how to sing (ah ah).
I would have exams to pass from a level to another, it's more like... school! lool I don't know....
What do you think? I do have a good relation with my teacher, but I don't feel like I'm improving... should i change? should I go to a more heavy environment? there aren't many places to learn here, and the place where I'm now is the alternative to the conservatory, since people say that it doesn't have many conditions.
right now I've learned major scales with 2 octaves, 4 arpeggios, 2 Hanon exercises, Shumann's A little piece, and i'm now learning Heller op.45 no 1, that I think is way to fast for my technique.
I feel that I should know more then this after a year...