Consultation... About piano teachers..

[angierc]

I've been learning piano since I was a little with this certain piano teacher.. and never changed teacher since...
My teacher's not actually very knowledgable and I usually try to learn from recordings and other people's criticisms.. Sometimes I feel like I better find another teacher but I can't just bid farewell to the teacher who has taught me for like more than a decade (and has turned to be close to me).
And anyway, even if I want to find a better teacher, my town is quite isolated that although there are many piano teachers, only a few of them are acceptably okay. (many teachers only passed the grade 8 ABRSM exam without much knowledge about music itself.. Apparently, even some of them do not know composers other than the most well-known fellow -even Scriabin, Grieg or Albeniz are not known).

I'm confused.. What should I do? I want to be a pianist someday and I cannot just stay the way it is.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I've been learning piano since I was a little with this certain piano teacher.. and never changed teacher since...
Sometimes I feel like I better find another teacher but I can't just bid farewell to the teacher who has taught me for like more than a decade (and has turned to be close to me).

I'm confused.. What should I do? I want to be a pianist someday and I cannot just stay the way it is.

Just because you get a new teacher doesn't mean that you can't come over to his/her house and screw around on the piano a bit.  I was in the same situation you are with my teacher.  But  I'm sure that if you just tell your teacher, he/she will understand. 

[j_menz]

I'd sit down with your current teacher and discuss how you feel. Explain the situation and ask their advice re "moving on".  If they take offence, then so be it.  You will have given them the opportunity to bow out gracefully. You do, after all, need a teacher who can actually teach you the things you need to know.

A good teacher should actually be pleased to have a pupil outgrow them.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

A good teacher should actually be pleased to have a pupil outgrow them.

Like Paganini?  I heard that when he started taking on violin, he would surpass his teachers in a really short time, and his teacher would refer him to another teacher, and then after a few days, he would surpass him!  So he would blow pass all of his teachers in a few days!

And Paganini was better than all of them!  In his letters, or diary, he would write stuff like, 'yeah, it's been like two weeks with this new teacher now. I learned a couple things from this teacher here and there.  Time to move on!'.  His teachers must have felt extra salty!!!

Dang...  Just, dang...

[j_menz]

You might like to mention to your new teacher, just in passing, that Paganini didn't pick up the violin until he was seven. Just sayin'.

[angierc]

Thanks, j_menz and rachmaninoff_forever..

Just because you get a new teacher doesn't mean that you can't come over to his/her house and screw around on the piano a bit.  I was in the same situation you are with my teacher.  But  I'm sure that if you just tell your teacher, he/she will understand. 

I think so as well... But, -_- I've a double lesson with this teacher.. like twice a week.. Should I cut off to one?

I'd sit down with your current teacher and discuss how you feel. Explain the situation and ask their advice re "moving on".  If they take offence, then so be it.  You will have given them the opportunity to bow out gracefully. You do, after all, need a teacher who can actually teach you the things you need to know.

A good teacher should actually be pleased to have a pupil outgrow them.

I tried to... But every time I tried to tell her, there's like a huge lump of rock in my throat... 
I did as far as "Teacher, what do you think if I get a... Nevermind.."
(pathetic me)

[j_menz]

Try phrasing it along the lines of "I've been wondering about the progress I've been making and where you see me going in the next few years...."

[ajspiano]

...could always take the "ask as many questions as possible that the teacher can't answer route" ..until the teacher decides to refer you to someone else..

If I were in your situation I'd probably consider whether or not you feel you are learning anything much lesson to lesson, or are you just being supervised doing something you know how to do? Ask you're teacher to push you more if you want that. The teacher will either be able to (meaning you don't necessarily need a new teacher yet) or they won't and it will make him/her realise that you have out grown their level of teaching.

Or in the meantime, try to learn some music on your own and see how you go, this will give you a gauge of how valuable the lessons are..

[angierc]

...could always take the "ask as many questions as possible that the teacher can't answer route" ..until the teacher decides to refer you to someone else..

Almost impossible
She's quite unsociable, and my town is quite isolated in the matter of 'finding a good piano teacher'.. so, the possibility of her knowing a good teacher is like less than 30 percent.. So, even if she want to refer me to a good teacher.. the one she knows is like from the neighbouring country... (I wish I wasn't born here..)

Try phrasing it along the lines of "I've been wondering about the progress I've been making and where you see me going in the next few years...."

I'd say "the next year" though.. I'm going to leave that isolated town after I graduate high school.. Well, I'll try to phrase some long lines before getting to the topic..   Quite troublesome to insert a nice intro.. 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

okay, this is a little skit I wrote out for you.  It's a little extreme, but you should get the idea

*looks down in the corner, and rubs hands in between legs in a nervous manner*

You:  Hey umm, can I ask you something that has been on my mind for quite a while?  

Teacher:  yeah sure! Ask away!

You:  I've been thinking, and you know...  I've been thinking, and...  I put a lot of though into this.  You know, I've been putting a lot of thought thinking of thinking about thinking thoughts into thought thinking things recently and these are one of the things that I put a lot of thought in to because I've been doing a lot of thought thinking recently and...  You know, I've been thinking, and I've put a lot of thought into this and...  I've been thinking about this thought provoking idea that if, you know... I........

Teacher:  I...?

You:  I.......

Teacher:  I... What?

You:  I.........  I've been thinking, and you know...  I've been thinking, and...  I put a lot of though into this.  You know, I've been putting a lot of thought into things recently and these are one of the things that I put a lot of thought in to because I've been doing a lot of thought thinking recently and...  You know, I've been thinking, and I've put a lot of thought into this and...  I've been thinking about this thought provoking idea that if, you know... I've bee-

Teacher:  Jesus Christ just spit it out!!!

You:  I WANT TO GET A NEW TEACHER BECAUSE I WANT TO BE A PIANIST SOME DAY BECAUSE I REALLY ENJOY PLAYING THE PIANO AND I NEED TO GET A NEW TEACHER BECAUSE DESPITE THE FACT THAT I'VE KNOW YOU FOR A REALLY LONG TIME, I DON'T THINK THAT I'M PROGRESSING FAST ENOUGH WHICH IS WHY I NEED TO GET A NEW TEACHER BECAUSE IF I DON'T PROGRESS FAST ENOUGH, THEN I WON'T BE A PROFESSIONAL PIANIST AND THATS NOT GOOD BECAUSE I REALLY LIKE THE PIANO AND I WANT TO BE A PROFESSIONAL PIANIST AND DESPITE THE FACT THAT I HAVE A NEW TEACHER! I CAN ALWAYS COME OVER TO YOUR HOUSE (or wherever he teaches you) AND SCREW AROUND ON THE PIANO BECAUSE THATS FUN AND WE'LL ALWAYS BE CONNECTED TO MUSIC AND IM SORRY!  SORRY! SORRY! SORRY! SORRY!  SOR-

Teacher:  okay okay okay shut up!  Are you sure about this?

You:  *breathing heavily*

Teacher:  are you?!?!?!?!

You: yes!

Teacher:  okay fair enough.  I want what's best for you so, sure.


_____________________________________________________________________


Okay now you don't have to go that extreme, but you get the idea?  Act all nervous and that this has been bothering you for a while, and then stall so your teacher can get the idea that you're really nervous and serious about this, and then she'll tell you to hurry up and say it, and you'll say it.  Ad since she's expecting something a lot worse because of the dramatic scene, she won't be as surprised, and when she's not surprised, she'll be calmed down, and when he's calmed down, then he'll be easier to talk to, and when he's easier to talk to you it's easier to convince her to let you change teachers IF she's a stubborn girl and doesn't really listen to others.  If she's not stubborn  and she's open minded, then ignore everything I just said, and just approach her but act nervous.  I hope she is stubborn though, because I wouldn't want to see this extra long post go to waste!  I put a lot of effort in to typing this you know!!!




But yeah, seriously though, you're possibly thinking that I'm joking because I always joke around, but try it.  This is similar to a term in psychology that I can't remember, but it works!  I do it all the time with my parents!  I take the more extreme route because I think it evokes more emotion.  The goal is to make them anticipate something REALLY bad; worse than you wanting to switch teachers so they'll be almost disappointed that it wasn't THAT serious.  I sincerely hopes this works out for you!

[rachmaninoff_forever]

OOOOOORRRRRRRRRR

This is called the foot in door phenomenon

You ask her to let you do the smallest thing with a new teacher, like...

'do you mind if I get a second opinion on this phrase?'

Then...

'do you mind if I get a second opinion on this page'

Then...

'do you mind if I get a second opinion on this piece?'

Then...  You keep going and going until you get to the point where she'll (yes!  Finally found our that your teacher is a girl) let you switch to a different teacher.

[angierc]

OH MY DEAR rachmaninoff_forever!! *speechless*
I kind of REALLY appreciate that drama dialogue you made!!! Maybe I should memorize it word to word...  (nah.. just kidding.. but I agree that your way might be working good)
But it's almost hilarious talking that way.. So, I'll tune it down... It'll be troublesome if I try to talk so seriously and my teacher start laughing and say something like.. "C'mon... this is ridiculous (laugh) Just spit it out already!"
Than I have nothing to say anymore.. B'cuz the tense in the air just shatters... LOL

[ajspiano]

To give you some perspective -

A few years ago I called up and employer on harassment of staff an underpayment of wages, doing so nearly cost me the job and in turn my home, food supplies etc. (it was my main source of income at the time). That was a nerve racking encounter.

Not to diminish the fact that you feel uneasy about confronting the teacher - All I'm saying is you could have a lot more to lose, and this isnt that hard really, and won't feel that way once its over.

[j_menz]

this isnt that hard really, and won't feel that way once its over.

I'ts also great practice for the odd boyfriend in the years ahead. 

[lostinidlewonder]

I don't think many teachers would want to teach the same student for more than 10 years. I certainly would feel like a failure if a student needed me every week after that period. I prefer NOT to constantly lead my students to water but give them the ability to lead themselves to water.

Also no reasonable teacher will admit that they could teach EVERYTHING to one student, all experienced professional teachers will admit that there is a limitation as to what they can transfer to an individual student and they would encourage students to move on once they have absorbed all they can. Of course not all students work hard and some students could stay with one teacher for 100 years because they don't practice! But students who actually do the work and want to improve will certainly discover that the resource they can get from their teacher will run out in time, then it is of course time to move on and find someone else.

This is normal, no teacher should feel bad about it, if they do then naturally they must be new to the job. I understand that after many years you can develop a friendship with the teacher, if it is a true friendship then it will last even though the lessons end, if it ends with the lessons then it is not really a friendship.

[angierc]

ajspiano: well, I get what you mean..
j_menz: how do you know I'm a girl, anyway..?

Also no reasonable teacher will admit that they could teach EVERYTHING to one student

Very much agree about that one..

[j_menz]

j_menz: how do you know I'm a girl, anyway..?

Omniscience.

Or it's on your profile.  

[angierc]

Omniscience.

Or it's on your profile.  

*no comment*

[pytheamateur]

If you want to become a professional pianist, then it is inevitable that you will need to be trained at a conservatory, or have lessons with conservatory teachers.  Just mention to her you wish to study at a conservatory and ask her how best to prepare for it.  If your teacher is at the level you describe her to be, then she should know that she cannot train you to become a professional pianist.  If she is a good teacher, then she should not be offended at all.

It is a norm that conservatory students have different teachers previously.

[hfmadopter]

I've been learning piano since I was a little with this certain piano teacher.. and never changed teacher since...

I'm confused.. What should I do? I want to be a pianist someday and I cannot just stay the way it is.

I used the same teacher for a decade but she was good, very knowlegeable and knew how to teach. But when I wanted to branch out a bit I asked her about this course I wanted to take that had to do with working over more pop style music. My concern was it would derail what she had done with me for a decade. She had no problem what so ever with me taking that course. She was very strict in her teaching but yet open minded as well, if that makes any sense. Couse she knew my roots were deep for classical too, so I wouldn't stray way off course on her.

If you want more than what you are getting I think that's a good sign !

[angierc]

If you want to become a professional pianist, then it is inevitable that you will need to be trained at a conservatory, or have lessons with conservatory teachers.

I WISH!! but no conservatory teacher in my place... Or I should say, there are like only 'a few, (read: can be counted with just one hand or less) conservatories in my country, and I don't live in the capital.. So, I have to migrate before I can study with those teachers.. But since I'll take piano after I graduate high school, I'll eventually study with a conservatory teacher anyway.. But I just need to have a quite more knowledgable person to teach me.. Like perhaps a conservatory graduated teacher.. that's like only a few (read the same as above) in my town.

I used the same teacher for a decade but she was good, very knowlegeable and knew how to teach. But when I wanted to branch out a bit I asked her about this course I wanted to take that had to do with working over more pop style music. My concern was it would derail what she had done with me for a decade. She had no problem what so ever with me taking that course. She was very strict in her teaching but yet open minded as well, if that makes any sense. Couse she knew my roots were deep for classical too, so I wouldn't stray way off course on her.

If you want more than what you are getting I think that's a good sign !

The circumstances kinda differ, though...  But I wish I can get perhaps someone very knowledgable, like how you described your dear teacher...

[hfmadopter]

I WISH!! but no conservatory teacher in my place... Or I should say, there are like only 'a few, (read: can be counted with just one hand or less) conservatories in my country, and I don't live in the capital.. So, I have to migrate before I can study with those teachers.. But since I'll take piano after I graduate high school, I'll eventually study with a conservatory teacher anyway.. But I just need to have a quite more knowledgable person to teach me.. Like perhaps a conservatory graduated teacher.. that's like only a few (read the same as above) in my town.
The circumstances kinda differ, though...  But I wish I can get perhaps someone very knowledgable, like how you described your dear teacher...

Yes, she was a New England Conservatory graduate and had also played out in the trade or field if you will and was the catholic church organist as well. She migrated to our area after living most of her life in the Boston area. Here she taught out of her living room. These days in a couple of towns away ( about 22 miles from here) there are two teachers that also are teachers in the school system, one music teacher at elementary level but she rents a hall to teach piano from when off duty from the school, her sign says all ages all levels. Who knows , sounds like a big nut to crack to me? The other is music director at the high school and teaches multi instruments in a little studio he has.. There are other teachers around our town , I have no idea about their credentials. My teacher has either passed away now or otherwise has moved on, she would be maybe 95 by now.

Maybe you could find someone with a little better credentials than your existing teacher's till you move on.

[graceandbeauty]

It probably would be best for you to find another teacher.. Do it gently is all I can say! Next time when looking for a teacher get one so over qualified that however good a pianist you become she will always be able to teach you!