How can I tell my teacher??

[gelato123]

So,
On an earlier post I expressed that I wanted to learn more challenging works than what my teacher was currently assigning me, so I went ahead and bought a book of Chopin polonaises. 
I learned one of the easiest polonaises, the "Military" polonaise, and it's just about memorized and ready for performance (at least in my opinion) after about 3 weeks.
Now, my teacher wants me to perform a Brahms intermezzo as a Romantic-era piece in a comprehensive piano adjutication-thing (I think it's called the Piano Guild or something of the sort), but I really want to play this polonaise instead.  I just love it.  I also want to play it at my student recital instead of the Bach prelude & fugue in b minor from WTC II.
Do you think this would be too much to ask, to request to learn a piece with him which he did not choose and also to play it instead of his selections at some public performances? Piano teachers, how would you feel about this and would you say yes/no?

On a more technical note, does anyone have any tips for nailing those trills in both the right and left hands??
Thanks 

[brogers70]

I think that you have to trust your teacher enough to tell him what you are doing. If you don't trust him in the first place, then it's probably better to find another. I don't think you should hide things from him, though; just tell him what you are up to. If he has reasons you should stick to the Brahms and the Bach, listen to them - you don't have to agree. If he's been right about things you resisted at first, give him the benefit of the doubt. But if time and again "your way" has been more productive than his, find a teacher better suited to you.

[countrymath]

"Hello, teacher. I want to play this polonaise instead of this XXXXXX"

[bachbyte]

I've had a similar problem - I did my Grade 7 a while ago, and wanted to begin playing some Grade 8 standard pieces, and chose a Schubert Impromptu that I liked. However, my teacher said ( very politely) that I shouldn't do that one, and chose another one for me ( which was about grade 7 or less standard,) and then stopped me playing that too after a week. I decided I would learn it anyway, so I have been learning it without her help, which isn't really an ideal solution, as it makes me feel guilty, and also it means that she doesn't realise how much practise I have been doing, because I can't show the piece to her I haven't really found a solution to this either, but I would suggest maybe learning it to a good standard before showing your teacher, and continue playing the pieces your teacher suggests, which will show them that you are dedicated to that piece, and that it hasn't been affecting your other work... Let me know if you find a way to make it work!

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

I think it's important to just be honest.
Show him the polonaise and tell him you want to learn it.
Just because your teacher assigns another piece doesn't mean you can't bring up the piece you want to play. Personally I'm horrible at learning pieces on my own, so whenever I want to learn something really badly I'll tell my teacher. Usually she's happy when I bring pieces, it shows that I'm interested in music and that I know what I like.
 I'm pretty sure your teacher would want to know about the polonaise. I don't know about performing the piece, but I don't see what is wrong with learning a piece you picked, as long as it isn't too unreasonable (if you just started learning piano for example, you probably shouldn't demand to learn grade 8 pieces right away) which I don't think it is. Your teacher could help you make the polonaise better.  Just tell your teacher you've been practising the polonaise and that you want to work on it in class and hear his opinion on it. See what he says. I think your teacher's thoughts will be helpful and valuable to you.