To change or not to Change??

[asianpianoer]

I have a problem.
I heard ... from another piano teacher that my teacher's students never do Amus.... when they ask he just says they're not ready. - But I know of one person that my teacher has done amus with.
I only moved to this teacher this year and the teacher seems good - I'd prefer to do harder pieces but when I play the teacher picks up things on the easy one so yeah.
But teacher wont even start preparing me for AMus until I have a Kawai piano (right now I have a Victor Baby grand and a upright concord) - because apparently it would be a waste of time and i might get bad habits if i started preparation on this PSO.
I really want to do Amus next year before school gets too busy. I have spoken to another teacher who thinks that the piano is not a valid reason to not start preparation or do the exam. I know of other good teachers... possibly better than this one. (more experience)
I don't want to change because it takes lots of time to get settled with a new teacher but my parents think if I would waste time with this one then it'd be better in the long run.
What do you think?

[Bob]

If you know what pieces you want to play, I'd get started on them right away, regardless of what piano it's on.

[quantum]

I have spoken to another teacher who thinks that the piano is not a valid reason to not start preparation or do the exam.

I very much agree with this.

What is even more suspicious is that your teacher is partial to brand names instead of the inherent qualities of a good piano. 

You do not need a top brand piano to study diploma level repertoire.  Playing on lesser pianos is actually good experience for making music on inferior instruments.  Concert instruments you will play are not always in the best condition, thus it serves you well to be able to cope with such a piano. 

Do you let your teacher hinder your progress.  I've had teachers that tried to do that to me, but I always persevered.  If you want to do AMUS, then start studying on your own.  Do the groundwork and show your teacher you are serious about studying these pieces. 

Not all teachers and students work well together.  If you are feeling that this teacher is not a match for you, move on. There is no point in taking lessons with a teacher you do not feel will help you excel to the next level. 

[prongated]

But teacher wont even start preparing me for AMus until I have a Kawai piano (right now I have a Victor Baby grand and a upright concord) - because apparently it would be a waste of time and i might get bad habits if i started preparation on this PSO.

What a joke! That's one of the most ridiculously idiotic statement I've heard to come out of a "piano teacher"! Even when considering that the standard of music education in Australia is low compared to just about any other developed nations, this is just plain...well...let's just say I'm aware of people there who tried to teach their students through AMus when they themselves failed on more than one occassion.

In contrast, I know of at least one international competition prizewinner who practised most of the time on a Yamaha upright piano. Sorry, but for me one has to know absolutely nothing about piano playing to come up with a statement like that!

[quantum]

Have you heard of the pianist Helene Grimaud?  She practiced for years on an old out of tune upright.  She preferred to spend her money on wolf conservation (her other passion) than to buy herself a grand.  Have your teacher listen to her recordings and hear if such a practice piano limited her development. 

[asianpianoer]

well ... my teacher wants an even action.... well that's what I think.
So I should change??? even though it wastes time and I'll have to adjust again?.... I did go to this teacher off recommendations.
But even before he heard me play - he knew what grade i was and that I had a scholarship - he asked us to buy a new grand...
@quantam.. yes i will do that if i decide to stay on.

[quantum]

It seems you are torn between staying in this current situation or moving on.  Your current teacher gives you some sense of stability, however you have raised several doubts.  Moving on poses the challenge of searching for a new teacher.

Do you really want to continue with this teacher if you sense the tendency will be towards shaky ground?  He may be good, but do you work well together?  His knowledge will not serve you well if the student-teacher relationship is not sound.  In such case you will end up distracted by uncertainty rather than focusing on the music. 

The search for a teacher is a daunting one, but patience will eventually bear fruit.  I studied with many teachers before I found someone I could truly work and develop with. 

If this is someone who you think may not turn out to be the best teacher for you, than move on.  It will take several lessons before you get a sense of your teachers working habits and if they work with you.  Doesn't matter how many people have recommended this teacher, if you can't work with him than it is better to seek someone else. 

But even before he heard me play - he knew what grade i was and that I had a scholarship - he asked us to buy a new grand...

This seems questionable to me.  A persons ability at the instrument is not as clearly delineated as grading systems dictate.  How does a teacher give an accurate opinion of a persons playing ability without first hearing the student play (or at the very least listen to a recording)?

[asianpianoer]

@quantam. thank you for all of your advice. i really appreciate it and yes I am torn between changing or not.

well. I'm not sure. I think the teacher-student relationship is actually really good. We have fun, yes sometimes he can talk too much instead of actually teaching me. I think he is a better teacher for theory and composition (yes i have lesson in that with him as well). I feel that he is holding back because he knows I dont have a certain piano. He like tells me about recordings and... well he's even bought me some and seems to care about what I do.
The teacher that I'm thinking of changing to seems to be more experience and has taught competition winners... but I will first have to see if this teacher will take me on and if he too wants me to buy a new piano.
I would prefer a teacher that pushes me really hard. I'm one of those serious students who are too old to be a prodigy but still young to care - in the middle. Like i want to do harder stuff but I'm unsure of how actually good I am as a pianist as I did 8th grade 2 years ago and then my old teacher told me to go to the conservatorium if I was serious. I keep thinking that he's not pushing me because I'm not actually good enough... I know you can't help me on this because u haven't heard me play I'm just giving u a better idea of my situation.
thanks everyone for your input

[keyofc]

quantum,
haha - what a heroine this wolf conversant must be....

[keyofc]

Ok Quantum,

I apoligize! LOL!  I just looked her up on google and see what you meant.
I thought you were totally making something up.
And that she preferred to talk to wolves then buy a grand piano.  I assumed not much
money would be needed if she was investing in sound equipment .....

Anyway - I see she worked for the conservation of them - not the conversation!

[urlicht]

Think of it this way. What percentage of instruments have you performed on have had a perfect (or even working!) action? I'd say for me it would be maybe 10 percent. All of the rest have had some kind of problem that had to be coped with - the worst is when you don't get a chance to take a couple minutes with the piano before a performance and find out in the middle of playing that a whole section of keys is dead or something.

So I definitely don't agree that this should hold you up.

Now, that being said, remember that Horowitz used to ship his piano around with him so he'd be sure to always have an instrument he was comfortable with. But don't do that until you're rich and famous