OK to study with two teachers?

[ilychy]

Hi everyone,

As some of you may know, it's quite affordable to register for private piano lessons at college (with a university professor), and now that I have this opportunity, I am wondering if it is possible to continue taking lessons with my private teacher plus start learning from a second private teacher at college. Would either teacher be offended if they knew, and would I benefit from the extra workload and perspectives? Or, is this not a sound idea?

Any thoughts and suggestions welcome.

Thank you,
Ilychy

[jimbo320]

Not sure, having never had a teacher myself, but IMHO what would be the harm in learning from two sources? As long as you're upfront about it I don't see why they should get upset. It's your time and money. You want to learn piano not a certain persons style.
Well, that's how I see it anyway...

Good luck in your endeavors...

[ilychy]

Thanks for your honest input, jimbo320. Yeah, I suppose if I work on different repertoire, there is nothing to come into conflict between the teachers.

[chopinspride]

Can a dog have two masters? No.  Anyway, when are you going to find time to practise 4 pieces with one teacher and 4 with another? I was in the same dilemma, but when it comes to technique etc, say one teacher tells you to put you hand in this position for this passage, and another says put your hand in this position, who are you going to obey? 
 
Lot's of luck
Keep me informed if you want to

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

[ilychy]

Can a dog have two masters? No.   Anyway, when are you going to find time to practise 4 pieces with one teacher and 4 with another? I was in the same dilemma, but when it comes to technique etc, say one teacher tells you to put you hand in this position for this passage, and another says put your hand in this position, who are you going to obey?  

Thank you for your input, chopinspride. That's what I'm worried about -- too much work. But then again, if I can practice both teachers' assignments to, let's say, 80% of what I would for one teacher, is it really harmful? And if I work on separate repertoire, different advice on hand positions could be compartmentalized to their respective works? Hmm...

[jimbo320]

Since when are teachers masters that we should obey?

[m1469]

I think it really depends on what your circumstances are, and what it is that's leading you into anything you are doing!  For me, to work with any teacher, it has to be something that I feel quite deeply (even deeper than I know) and it happens that I have two very amazing teachers in my life - who I also feel are extraordinary and amazing individuals.  My circumstances are also not usual in that I travel to both of my teachers and don't see either teacher every week.  I am deeply, deeply grateful for both of my teachers and my experiences with each.

[lostinidlewonder]

Can a dog have two masters? No.  

I know it is a rhetoric, but they can But they usually listen to one more so than the other.

Anyway, when are you going to find time to practise 4 pieces with one teacher and 4 with another?

I think this is the most important against having multiple teachers. If however you manage to get them to teach the same pieces, then I couldn't see what would be wrong with this and it would be certainly encouraged (getting two professional perspectives on how you should tackles the same piece is very good information). A good teacher will give you a lot of work, enough to push you but not overwhelm or underwhelm you. If you have 2 teachers teaching different material they will literally overwhelm you if they understand your learning rate.

 However if you discuss with them that you are having several teachers then I am sure a good teacher would be very interested in this and want to work with the other teacher. You should perhaps mention to your teachers that you are indeed taking lessons from another teacher as well and that they both have to share what repertoire you need to learn and time you have to spend.

[jollisg]

Now when school starts I'm going to have two teachers. My regular teacher (who I've had for de last 5 years) and a teacher who works as a teacher at the Royal College of Music (in Stockholm, Sweden). It was my regular teacher who suggested that 
I don't know how's it gonna be like. I think I'm going to work on the same set of pieces with both of them. But we'll see.

I don't think one will say "put your hand like this for this passage" and the other tell you something different. That would be if you have one teacher with russian technique and one with another. The most teacher teach the same things, but sees it from different angles.
But tell them that you have another teacher. If you hide it, it will be hard!

[jimbo320]

Hey Jollisg,
Sounds like to me that your personal teacher has the right idea. When you realize that there's more than one way and style, maybe you'll seek your own. Let them "open the door but you walk through it".....