What is the general view on piano teachers?

[collectivecolors]

Hi, I've only had one piano teacher, but what is the general opinion, as in do people see them as those who weren't good enough to be concert pianist? Or, do they think of them as people who have spent so much time analyzing and studying piano that they can explain it thoroughly? I'm merely curious, cause they're some of the first people you interact with that actually understand how to play piano, along with the theory and all the nitty-gritty details of sheet music.

[m1469]

Mine are perhaps the most magical people in the world  .

[Bob]

All of the above.

You can find a teacher that matches you if you look enough, look long enough, and pay enough if needed.

It is kind of off that the least experienced teachers can be teaching beginners, setting the foundation, potentially inspiring them, etc. 

[49410enrique]

my general view is from the left at least in the studio. 

[lostinidlewonder]

Most people are not teachers because they want to do it for money, they are a teacher because it is a calling, something that they need to do. Personally I love teaching more than the concert stage, although performing is a real rush and can be great money. I enjoy being a part of someones musical journey and it is one of my life long goals to understand how the human mind works and learns piano music. It gives as a music teacher a greater perspective on life, through teaching many people from all socio-economic groups, ethinic backgrounds, age, etc etc you get a small window into the infinite variety of individuals that live in this world. That interests us greatly and getting to know how people learn and challenge ourselves to improve how the individual learns.

Of course no all teachers are like this and yes there are some who are just teachers because they need to earn money. Most of these teachers are terrible teachers, but some even learn to enjoy the work. A student can sense if a teacher is interested in their personal learning, as soon as a student senses that the teacher is disinterested, the student then will become also disinterested in the instruction. You can always ask your teacher why they wanted to be a teacher, that answer might make you have different thoughts on your teacher.

I can remember asking my maths teacher in highschool during the last week of my schooling years why she wanted to be a teacher and she gave me a lovely reason. When I asked her what score she got for her enterance into university the score was incredibly high, enough to get into any single profession she wanted to choose. I can remember one student call out, Oh my god and you became a teacher! I can remmeber her laughing at the comment, but I immediatly realised that the student that shouted it out was money minded.

I see two type of people when it comes to choosing a profession. Two main ones I see are 1) Those that choose work due to their materialistic needs/wants 2) Those that choose work due to emotional/personal needs. Of course the two may blend together, it is sad not to however have the freedom in life to have free choice (but us Westerners might have a difficult time appreciating that, I know I certainly do!) I have found that in the teaching profession generally there are more people who are in the 2nd category.

Teaching can be quite a lucrative business to be in and being in the "Age of Information" now helps this a great deal.

[Bob]

I do think there's some truth in, "Those who can't teach," otherwise it wouldn't have been created and wouldn't have stuck around. 

I have heard being a performing music professor is a steady job with a decent enough income -- Steady performances without having your living hanging off audiences so much.  Teaching happens to be included in that.  I've heard plenty of profs say "I love teaching.  Teaching is my calling."  But a lot of times, that seems like interview schpiel and I hear more passion when they talk about performing.  So for a college level job, I could see someone going for that for performance desires rather than teaching desires.

[collectivecolors]

Thanks for all of the answers, they've provided a new insight into my thoughts of teachers. All the points I've seen have been relatively the same, mostly saying that it can very and they're are some great teachers out there who have exceptional talent in their profession.

[Bob]

There is the business angle to it too.  They have to think about that to some extent.

[flyinfingers]

You can find a teacher that matches you if you look enough, look long enough, and pay enough if needed.

How do I get out of the blue zone?


Forget it!  I don't ever wish to be anywhere near LOST even if it is in cyberspace.

[opium_64]

Hi, I've only had one piano teacher, but what is the general opinion, as in do people see them as those who weren't good enough to be concert pianist? Or, do they think of them as people who have spent so much time analyzing and studying piano that they can explain it thoroughly? I'm merely curious, cause they're some of the first people you interact with that actually understand how to play piano, along with the theory and all the nitty-gritty details of sheet music.

The first tutor I had took me through all the grades, and never shown me how to play Hanon and never told me the piano I had was a 'domestic' piano. So my view of him is that he was no good at his job.

[collectivecolors]

The first tutor I had took me through all the grades, and never shown me how to play Hanon and never told me the piano I had was a 'domestic' piano. So my view of him is that he was no good at his job.

So far my teacher hasn't even suggested Hanon, and I've been playing just fine. Just because you feel that something is a necessary resource for I guess "success" your teacher who may have more experience might know something you don't.