Piano Teacher Frustrations, Me or Him?

[jamesgale]

Hi,

I've had a weird relationship with the Piano, a very on and off kind of relationship. I first started when I was 7 and had a years lesson, but like most people gave up after that and didn't find any piano lessons after School. I did though always gravitate towards the Piano/Keyboard if one was there and experiment (I always improvise at the Piano, and am more interested in composition).

I switched to Jazz Guitar at the age of 12, and that is my better instrument, I also play classical guitar at University where I do a music degree. I'm heavily focused on composition and know im not good enough to be a performer, or want to do that afterwards.

I then started to teach myself Piano from 17 onwards, and when I was 18/19 started lessons again at University to improve my compositional skills, for 2 years I've been full on with my playing believing that it will give me an essential tool in composition, as well as really enjoying it.

Over the summer I got up to a grade 6 level, and could play the pieces from the ABRSM book. I got a new piano teacher this year though, who is rather maticulus I know is good, and very much working on my technique.

The problem is as I feel im advancing very quickly in sight-reading and in general, he seems to want me to get pieces absolutely perfect, up to a performance level, which I would rather go for a harder repoirtoire and spend more time on it. At the age of 20 you start to get impatient, especially when you love the repoirtoire, it seems frustrating.

Recently we have done pieces:

Bach's Inventions
Grieg Lyric Suites (Arietta)
Clementi -Sonatina No.2

Now he wants me to learn Prokofiev Op.65 Children Pieces, and I just feel Im going backwards.
I would rather start pushing myself into Grade 7 territory, as I could play Grade 6 peices rather well but it seems Im going downhill when I know my technique is better and my sight-reading is much improving (I can tackle my way through some of Chopin's easy Nocturnes).

Advice? 

[jamesgale]

Oh and also some

Czerzy School of Velocity studies.

Another Thing:

I dont think it helps I get easily embarresed, and nervous in lessons so I usual play poorely compared to when I practice on my own...

[alars19]

Hello Jamesgale,

Well imho the best way to move on to harder repertoire is to play easier pieces but to play them very well. There are some concepts, like voicing, that become more important to you the more you play a piece, and if you just stay on the surface you might get to the harder repertoire a little faster BUT the price you will pay is that you wont be able to make it sound the way you want.

I do feel the same way you do about working on more advanced pieces though, and the way I deal with this is that I always work on many pieces at the same time: one that is harder and 2 or 3 that are easier.

Dont worry about it too much though, if you feel you are advancing, you probably are.

[jamesgale]

I guess, thank you very much for your reply. I know he is a good teacher, and my technique is improved and im thinking much more musically, it just seems like im not progressing to harder pieces as quickly as I like.

I think its good that doing one piece and then easier pieces, any suggestions for a hard piece based on the other pieces I've done, something that will challenge, but be attainable?

James

[fleetfingers]

Do you have a specific piece in grade 7 or above that you're wanting to learn? Does your teacher know about it?

If not, you should tell him. If he is the type of teacher that does not encourage a student to try something above their level and says no to your request, ask if you can at least try for a month and see how it goes. You can still work on the music at your current level. After a month (maybe sooner), a good teacher should be able to tell whether you're ready for it or not. If you're not, ask him to give you easier pieces that will prepare you for the harder one, and it can be a goal that you're working towards. And make sure that you enjoy playing the pieces you're learning. You should trust your teacher when he gives you music to learn, but if you really don't like it then he might have an alternative piece you like better that will still yield the results he is looking for.

[jamesgale]

There are so many pieces that I like, I can normally find musical elements in any music I play to make it enjoyable. What would be good to improve technique, Im thinking maybe some Bach, or an easier Beethoven Sonata but not the really easy ones?

Recommend? Something Grade 7 + but not too flashy and fast...