Finding New Piano Teacher; Mom's Role

[justsheila7]

Hello, so as the subject probably hints, I've been having problems with my teacher. My mom is making me find a new teacher, but there are some other problems etched into that.

My piano lessons have been variable from the beginning. I think this is normal though...I mean not every lesson can be perfect. However, it is distressing to walk out of a lesson and feel like you haven't accomplished anything. I've been rather satisfied with these lessons recently, but I'm having a hard time with conflicting schedules.

My teacher also cancelled a piano lesson a few weeks ago. I haven't received a makeup lesson and she keeps telling me to send her e-mails reminding her about this. She has told me a few times that she would reply to me that night but it never happens. I do understand that she's busy but it's difficult for my family as well.

Okay, so here's where my mom comes in. I take annual exams and my mom isn't really happy about the "annual" part. I just passed my grade 3 exam and my teacher and I are working on grade 5 (She recommended to skip grade 4 because the standards were similar with grade 3.) and I'm completely okay with that. Apparently, my mom thought that the next exam was in a couple of months so she was shocked when I said it was annual. She thinks I should stop lessons until it comes closer to exam time. Of course, I refused this idea.

All these conflicting problems lead my mom to finding a new teacher. I'm having major problems with this: 1. I kind of like my current teacher, but at the same time want to leave as well. (I guess this isn't really a big problem but still, a lot of students have a difficult time leaving their teacher  . ) 2. My mom's definition of a good teacher is someone who will teach me any level (Even if it's beyond my capability.) she requests. 3. My mom won't let me decide which teacher I want. So, even if I find that I don't like the teacher at all, she's the one who decides which teacher I will get. Basically, I have no say in what piano teacher I get.

I'm trying to explain all of my feelings about this to my mom but it just goes over her head. I take piano very seriously so I don't want to have to work with a teacher that I don't like.

What should I do?  How do I explain these things to my mom? Should I really change that teacher all that suddenly?

Thank you in advance~

[rjarsenault1101]

you should just start searching for yourself for piano teachers. find one that you like, show it to her, and then hope to hell that she likes it too. I do agree though, that you do need a new teacher. you should also probably get the point across that the exams are only once a year, and you have no power over that (assuming you don't).
  oh here's a good idea. if she finds one that she likes, but you don't, just don't go and let her waste her money. onless it's your money, then you shouldn't be having this problem...

[Bob]

College prof, grad student, professional accompanist?

I would judge everything by tests.  Some teachers don't do that.  None of mine ever did, and none of my college profs mentioned them much except for pedagogy courses.

[slane]

The point of learning the piano is to learn the piano, not pass exams.

Learning the piano, from a good teacher, can lead to good exam grades if that's what you want.

[bernadette60614]

Might there be several teachers who would match your mom's criteria?  And, then among that set of teachers, you could have input into the one you'd find "best" for you?

Speaking as a mom, sometimes we think we know best...so you just have to acknowledge that we do. But, speaking as a student, there is always some wiggle room.