Many years of practice, but I still lack...

[faa2010]

Hello,

I have played piano for more than 10 years as an amateur. 

Right now I feel frustrated because I am figuring out that I have many faults in my playing: techinique mixed with sight-reading (legatos, stacattos, etc), my hands are not very independent from the other, following the correct rythym, flow.

My parents are very proud when I play the piano in front o many people, and they think that I have a lot of experience in playing, but that makes me feel bad because in reality (which is also proved by comments of people who know), I lack many things.

I want to improve, but it has been difficult to find someone who can give me a correct guidance because I feel that I can easily frustrate the one who instructs me.

I am thinking in taking an admission exam for a music school so I can improve my technique (and become a pro pianist during the process).

What do you think?

[iansinclair]

A little humility is a very good thing.  Too much humility is a very bad thing.  I don't doubt that you have faults in your playing and technique -- particularly if you have been going along without much, if any, instruction.  Every single last one of us has faults.  But that doesn't mean that those faults can't be corrected.  When you find a good teacher whom you like, don't worry about frustrating himm or her.  Let him or her be the judge of frustration!  And you will only frustrate your teacher if you don't try to follow his or her suggestions as best you can.

[outin]

I must be the most frustrating student ever for my teacher... I actually am surprised she hasn't politely asked me to not come back
What people do for money 

But finding a teacher is probably the best thing for you if you feel that way about your playing. Some people can happily go on with their own style no matter how inadequate, but not all of us can avoid the self critique.

The teacher can handle it, I think you should only worry about being able to motivate yourself to accept instruction that may force you to get back to basics. It's doesn't always work for me either, there are many moments when I would rather just do as I want. I have noticed a pattern: I tell my teacher that I am unable to execute something the way she wants. We then leave the subject and the next lesson after some private time with the piano I have to admit that I was wrong...

[brogers70]

Find a good teacher! Really. I went years without a teacher and had accumulated bad habits that held me back and meant that even with lots of practice I was not progressing as I had hoped. A couple of good teachers over the past few year helped an awful lot. Many frustrating problems are actually pretty easy to fix if someone tells you what to do about them. All you need do is take a month or two of lessons, and if the teacher is good you will be able to feel the difference pretty quickly. It may take patience and work to get where you want to be, but you should quickly feel that you are on the right track, if you've found the right teacher.

[hfmadopter]

The very first step is realizing that something is lacking. The second is actually admitting it to yourself and wanting to act on it. That is all very healthy. Let your parents be proad, they  have a right to be, you have stuck with something you like to do, you are able to play in front of a crowd or group of people and to them it probably sounds great. You are on your way, go find that teacher and do even better !

Piano and music is a life long ambition anyway. I see nothing wrong here, just if you stop. That would be a shame if you really like it.

[faa2010]

Yesterday I played the Invention no 1 in a recital, and it didn't turn out fine for many reasons, one of them is that I forgot some parts (even though I have practiced it for a long time) and also I was thinking in doing the correct tempo and have the right rythym.

Just when I re-played it at home many times (and also this morning), it was good. Maybe I was weary at the recital.

This is my aim:

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=49028.0