Confused Student

[becky8898]

Hi everyone, im not a teacher im a student.  Age 12 been playing for 7 years.  I have a problem and I was hoping to get some feedback from the teachers here. 

My problem is my technical level is starting to pass my teacher  who I really really like a lot.  I dont want to hurt her in anyway .  But more and more when She needs to correct something I did or show me another way of doing it she tells me rather than showing me by her playing the passage.  This is really frustrating and makes me feel like im not going to progress as fast as I should . I havent told my parents who are pushing me very hard in my studies. I just dont know what I should do.   Just  hoping someone here would have some  good advice. 

Here are the main pieces im working on. 


Chopin etude opus 10 #4 (Done to within 90 pct of tempo )
Beethoven Waldstein Sonata  (Just starting last movment. )
Beethoven First Piano Concerto - Close to being able to play it thru at good tempo.

Thanks so much for any advice.

Cheers, Becky

[m1469]

But more and more when She needs to correct something I did or show me another way of doing it she tells me rather than showing me by her playing the passage.  This is really frustrating and makes me feel like im not going to progress as fast as I should.

What is frustrating for you, exactly?  Is it that you are actually not making progress anymore and are not gleaning from how it is going, or is it more that you are just afraid it will eventually mean that?  What really matters is that you are still learning what you need in order to keep making progress, whether that's through words or demonstration or whatever other means.

However, just a few thoughts.  Showing doesn't necessarily have to be the actual passage, but could be a very specific spot within it, perhaps in a spot between two notes or with just a certain idea.  And, sometimes, a teacher can show but the needed information doesn't transfer just because of that.  And sometimes, for whatever reason, a teacher can't or doesn't show and learning still takes place.  Sometimes a teacher's entire philosophy precludes playing for the student nearly altogether!  So, don't get too stuck with one idea on how you think it needs to be.  Frustration shouldn't happen unless something's truly not working.  You can't expect a teacher to have everything you are playing at %100 performance level at all times, and judging by what you wrote regarding your pieces, it seems you feel you have been making progress thus far.

[stevebob]

You don't say how long you've been with this teacher, but you're describing a situation that was perhaps bound to happen eventually.  For many (if not most) people, musical growth naturally unfolds with a succession of teachers/mentors.

I definitely think you should share your feelings with your parents.  I recall from your introduction that you have a very musical family, so it's very likely that this subject will be familiar ground to them.  There's every reason to expect your parents will understand your concerns, respond with sensitivity, and work with you in deciding how to proceed.

[mcdiddy1]

The pieces you are playing are some very challenging repertoire. As you get to become more advance, you have to realize the teacher is going to be playing less and less to insure that you begin to be more independent. That being said unless your teacher is a concert pianist, it is pretty unrealistic to expect the teacher to have every advance piece under their fingers. As a teacher you would want to give a good model of aspects you are discussing but that doesn't mean she cannot help you grow musically without showing you. You may potential have surpassed her technique-wise ,which is a result of  great teaching, but probably have not surpassed her musically. If you are only 12 and playing literature that advanced, I would suspect she has a great deal of musical knowledge to pass on to you.

If you feel your progress in not improving rapidly enough, just take in consideration people improve in peaks and valleys, so there is not always a steady incline of improvement. If i were you, suggest she show you what her suggestions are. If you unsatisfied with the suggestions, it would not be the worst thing in the world to have a trial run with other teachers. Having a broad range of  teachers can be very refreshing and aid your development. It it doesn't return you could always return. However i personally would give your current teacher the benefit of the doubt and try and increase the amount of communication of ideas. I am sure your teacher has a great deal more to offer you.

[becky8898]

Hi All, just wanted to say thanks to those who offered there advice to me.  I did finally tell my parents and they discussed it with my teacher and came up with a great idea.  My Dad hired another teacher along with my first teacher. Actually more like an asst teacher. He is working on his masters in piano performance and his technique seems to be on a level with mine, but of course he knows way more pieces. Yesterday was my first lesson like that and it was a blast. Not only could I see and hear the musical passages , but we could do stuff together. Tried out a mozart sonata for four hands, and was able to run thru mozart piano concerto #26. It was just dreamy with him playing the orchestra part. Plus he is really cute.

Once again a big thanks to you guys for your comments and advice.

Cheers and happy new year, Becky.

[brogers70]

It was just dreamy with him playing the orchestra part. Plus he is really cute.

This kills me. I'm 52, been playing for 12 years, I practice like a maniac, and I can barely get through most of the Mozart sonatas. I'll be able to play the Waldstein about 5 years after I'm dead. And here's a girl so young she still thinks about dreamy, cute piano teachers and she's knocking out the Waldstein and the First Piano Concerto already. Arrgh. I should have started when I was a kid. Next life.

[stevebob]

Take heart in the depth of your appreciation for music even if you're a latecomer to it.  Starting as a child is a huge advantage, but things still might not have turned out as you would hope.

I'm thinking of this quotation by Thomas Paine:  "What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly."  I got a very early start with piano study, and I can attest to the truth of Paine's words. 

[brogers70]

Take heart in the depth of your appreciation for music even if you're a latecomer to it.  Starting as a child is a huge advantage, but things still might not have turned out as you would hope.

I'm thinking of this quotation by Thomas Paine:  "What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly."  I got a very early start with piano study, and I can attest to the truth of Paine's words. 

Amen to that. I absolutely love music and playing the piano. It's disappointing that I don't have the technique that I could have had if I'd started young, but I really love every minute of practicing.