Teacher plays too much?

[farm boy]

My teacher wants to play my pieces at every lesson - I know he is trying to show me what to do but I almost have to force myself back onto the piano to get a go at what he is trying to show me - any comments?

[pytheamateur]

My teacher wants to play my pieces at every lesson - I know he is trying to show me what to do but I almost have to force myself back onto the piano to get a go at what he is trying to show me - any comments?

I think it's a question of degree and depends on the difficulty of the piece, how much he is playing and how well he knows the pieces, etc.

I used to have a teacher who practically ceased to demonstrate after I reached grade 8.  I would learn pieces like Mozart and "easier" Beethoven sonatas with her and we would sit and listen to CDs for a significant part of the lesson

I also once had flute lessons with a teacher for a couple of months.  She only took out her instrument to demonstrate once or twice.  Because of that I found her teaching rather uninspirational.  She was a professional flautist and I get the feeling that she was simply too tired from her professional playing and did not have the passion left to play herself during lessons.

But now I also understand that it is rather pointless for a teacher to demonstrate a whole piece if he has not been practising it himself.  Even if he is a concert pianist, it is unrealistic to expect him to do that to a level of a recording without practice (unless he happens to be an exceptional sight reader like John Ogdon).  For that I would rather listen to CDs at home.  However, it is always helpful when he demonstrates particular passages.

[farm boy]

Thanks for reply.  I am around the Grade 8 standard.
I have been going to this teacher for around 6 months (maybe more) and I guess I have grown up with lessons where you essentially are working on say 2 to 4 pieces for presentation to the teacher at each next lesson.  My current lesson is 1 hour and it is sometimes difficult to get thru one piece.  I understand, if there is a problem area that there is no better way than to be shown how to handle it, or what you are doing wrong, but I sometimes wonder why this teacher would then continue to play thru the rest of the piece (with comments) instead of saying - there you go, you try that.  I  suppose I am simply seeking comments such - this is normal, don't fret, this is good teaching, carry on, etc, etc, or otherwise.   

[mcdiddy1]

In my opinion this is good teaching, just not excellent teaching. I think demonstrating for students is important but it can be over done. Sometimes it is better to lead the student to "discover"  the answers for themselves. I don't think spoon feeding the student every possible musical detail and saying "play this like me" will help the student grow in to their own. But that being said, I am not in the room with you and your teacher so it really isn't my place to judge anyones method.

If I were you, I would bring a note book and write down all the pointers he gives. Maybe if he sees you trying to write down all his pointer he may slow down to give you time to write it down and remeber them. You could also ask if you could try and see if you are doing it right.  Ultimately if he has all that great information about playing the piece, you want to soak up knowledge and you should let him teach the best way he knows how but at the same time communicate to make sure you are getting the most out of your lesson.

[pianoplayjl]

A  teacher should demonstrate but not too much so that a student understands what they're talking about. However, too much is bad.

[farm boy]

Thanks everyone.  Yeah I often feel he plays too much and so do a couple of his other students I have met.  I think he just likes to play.  I must admit I am often demotivated and confused after a lesson.

[cjp_piano]

Thanks everyone.  Yeah I often feel he plays too much and so do a couple of his other students I have met.  I think he just likes to play.  I must admit I am often demotivated and confused after a lesson.

This is unfortunate. I know some teachers start by demonstrating a section but then just get carried away and continue by finishing the piece. He probably loves music and loves playing and just gets into it. Have you tried just flat out interrupting and saying, "Can I try?" After all, YOU are the client and YOU are paying for it, so YOU should get what you want out of it.

[m1469]

It depends.  I definitely enjoy my teachers playing for me, for various reasons, but I don't feel as though they are divorcing themselves from my own progress and development (and I have learned a lot because of it), nor do I feel they are disrespecting our time together when they do so.  When I play for my own students, generally it is for very specific reasons and if I have a student who doesn't understand this, I let them know that I expect them to be listening and watching, since I am playing for their benefit and not my own!  The thing is, though, some students don't understand this, and I believe some teachers do play for reasons completely unrelated to the student and the lesson.