Piano teacher using books

[pabloj]

Hi, I have recently started piano lessons. Is it normal for a piano teacher to just use books. Basically we go through alfreds books which he also makes me buy. I just play the parts in the book from beginning to end and I am thinking well I could do this by myself instead of paying someone to sit there and listen to me learn from the book. I know I am a beginner but I expected a piano teacher to share his knowledge with me.

Is this how most piano teachers work???

[m1469]

I don't know how most teachers work.  I have a book in my personal library called "the un-method" book which, I think, details pieces to work with in order to build your personal ability through what is considered repertoire vs. a method book -- I have had that book for a few years now and haven't read it.  Essentially, you could say that it's a kind of method book, actually, as method books do a very similar thing.

Currently, I use method books fairly sparingly because my job depends on my students enjoying their experience, and most often, it's the fact that they connect with a particular piece which makes them want to continue.  However, method books can be useful for helping to establish some fundamental orientations with the instrument and with note reading, which is also an essential element in my students enjoying their piano experience.

It is possible that your teacher is waiting to make sure you are getting to a certain point before you venture out of your books, and even if s/he isn't actually saying much doesn't necessarily mean you are not receiving needed attention (though I'm not saying you necessarily are, either).  

I'm not sure what it is that you feel is missing, exactly, but if you are wishing for something like exercises or certain insights, it's possible that your teacher is waiting for the right cue from you, so if you have a particular interest (like in scales  ), perhaps you can politely mold your burning thoughts into a question for your teacher .  

 

[pabloj]

Thanks a lot for your time spent writing that. Your thoughts made a lot of sense and I must say that I too had thought that this is what is happening.
I'm not feeling I am missing something because I have learnt a lot just in the few lessons that I have had with regards to reading music etc. I just kept feeling like I could be learning all this by myself from books or the internet.
 I think I just wanted a reply like yours to back up my own thoughts that the further down the line I go the more I will be able to learn from him, I realise that this is just the beginning and i suppose I need the foundations from the simple books so thank you again

[m1469]

You're welcome .  The benefit for you in working through a book under a teacher's watch is that, even if you could do the exact same thing at home, your teacher is currently getting to know you from the beginning, which lays groundwork for your work together in the future.  He's learning about you now so later you can better learn from him.  Happy journey .

[fleetfingers]

Since you just started, your teacher might be waiting for you to get your fingers moving and to have a few pieces finished before nitpicking the way you play. That is what I do as a teacher.

While the student is first learning the piece, I am very strict about fingering and rhythm. Maybe you're not being corrected by your teacher in those areas, because you are already doing things correctly. I've found that some of my students naturally play with a steady tempo and accurate rhythm, rarely needing correction.

Once they have the basics of a piece learned well enough, we move on to the next one. But, I will have them continue to practice old pieces, so I can work with the student on their technique. We pick it apart and work on dynamics, articulation, wrist and finger movements, tone and touch.

I think some teachers go through method books as a means to teach reading, and their objective with the pieces in the books is not to acheive a polished performance. That's fine for the purpose of learning to read music, but I also think it's important to work on pieces that take a while to refine. That is what will build your technique, and that is what a good teacher is there for. Find a piece that you would like to learn, and ask your teacher to help you learn it. Or, just stick to the ones in your Alfred books, but make sure you are being taught how to play them well.

[keyboardclass]

Doesn't sound like much of a teacher if you're not going away thinking Wow! every lesson.