How do I deal with this?

[penny_18]

I have been learning piano for three and half years now, and for the most part I considered myself a dedicated student, considering I was in high school and everything. But lately, for the past six months or so, I feel like there's something missing. I really don't think I'm where I should be technically and I have never finished a piece and felt good about. I was trying not to worry about it too much anyway, since I know I tend to be overly critical but the other week I had a substitute teacher and I told him about it. Turns out there are many things I've got to improve, especially with my left hand. It got me really down because I really don't know how to make my regular teacher help me with this since she really doesn't care much about technique at all. I actually even tried talking her into teaching me some Hanon exercises and all but no matter what I do she simply tells me to pratice the next one even when I know a haven't mastered the one before that...

I realise some people don't believe in these sort of practice while others rely completely on them. I honestly don't know what to believe in anymore. I mean, yes, there are many aspects of piano playing that go way beyond technique but right now I feel like the lack of it is keeping me from achieving anything. Like, when my teacher tells me I should try to play with more feeling, or with clearer dynamics I just feel like yelling at her "I'm trying! But I just can't get the piano to respond the way I want it to!"

In the end I just feel like I'm trying to right an essay when I haven't even learned to spell yet, you know?

I considered changing teachers, but I'm afraid to do so... She's been my teacher from the start, and we have a pretty good student-teacher relationship going. I felt very unconfortable playing in front of the other teacher, even if he did help me out.

Anyway, I'm really sorry for the loooong post, I'm just really frustrated and in need of advice.

[outin]

I can relate, since I know how it feels not to have enough physical control to achieve what you want to hear from the piano. I am afraid to me it feels you do need to find a different kind of teacher if you want to learn better technique. But that will most likely feel uncomfortable first, both physically and mentally since you might need to break down everything you've learned and build it again.

EDIT:
If you think building better technique means playing Hanon or something like that, it doesn't necessarily. That can be done just as well by using repertoire and simple studies. It's more about focusing on the way you use your body and play the notes instead of just what notes to play and when. This is what my teacher does. Very little time on our lessons is used on how the piece goes, most of the time is used on what and how I am using my fingers, hands and body, the movements and positions. It's sometimes almost tiresome, because she always finds some new thing that I need to improve when I just got something else fixed...And when I don't seem to be able to improve some part of my structure even with time, she will never let it go but brings it back in another piece...again and again...

[bernadette60614]

My advice:

Find a new teacher.  I took a couple of years of piano lessons as a high school student and my teacher, in retrospect, I think was more interested in pleasing the parents (look!  Susie can play the Star Spangled Banner really loud!) than she was in developing students as true musicians.

I can play lots of stuff really loud and fast...but it wasn't until I started working with my current teacher that I realized that I wasn't playing well.

If it helps you might look at it this way:  You're taking up a slot that could be taken by a student who would benefit and thrive under her guidance.  That's just not you anymore.

[penny_18]

I can relate, since I know how it feels not to have enough physical control to achieve what you want to hear from the piano. I am afraid to me it feels you do need to find a different kind of teacher if you want to learn better technique. But that will most likely feel uncomfortable first, both physically and mentally since you might need to break down everything you've learned and build it again.

EDIT:
If you think building better technique means playing Hanon or something like that, it doesn't necessarily. That can be done just as well by using repertoire and simple studies. It's more about focusing on the way you use your body and play the notes instead of just what notes to play and when. This is what my teacher does. Very little time on our lessons is used on how the piece goes, most of the time is used on what and how I am using my fingers, hands and body, the movements and positions. It's sometimes almost tiresome, because she always finds some new thing that I need to improve when I just got something else fixed...And when I don't seem to be able to improve some part of my structure even with time, she will never let it go but brings it back in another piece...again and again...

I think what I'm most afraid of is having to start all over again, but you're right, I don't really see any other choice...

And, I guess I know what you mean. It's like, with my regular teacher I can play any Hanon exercise and it still doesn't help much, but when the other teacher came he made me very consious of every movement and that actually helped a lot more...

Thanks, that really helped 

[penny_18]

My advice:

Find a new teacher.  I took a couple of years of piano lessons as a high school student and my teacher, in retrospect, I think was more interested in pleasing the parents (look!  Susie can play the Star Spangled Banner really loud!) than she was in developing students as true musicians.

I can play lots of stuff really loud and fast...but it wasn't until I started working with my current teacher that I realized that I wasn't playing well.

If it helps you might look at it this way:  You're taking up a slot that could be taken by a student who would benefit and thrive under her guidance.  That's just not you anymore.

That makes sense... I don't think my teacher means to impress anyone, I just think she's not very focused on her students and their particular needs, you know? She's a better pianist than she's a teacher...

Thanks for the advice 

[g_s_223]

+1 to bernadette606. There are many different kinds of teachers out there. I thought my teacher before last was good, but my current teacher is far better and I didn't realise that such a difference in teaching skill was possible. Try to get a teacher with a proper teaching diploma, not just a general musican: there are very specific pedagogic skills developed with the former qualification which really do make a difference.

To develop the LH, the "Training of the Left Hand" Op.89 by H Berens is readily available on IMSL and is an indispensable work.

[penny_18]

+1 to bernadette606. There are many different kinds of teachers out there. I thought my teacher before last was good, but my current teacher is far better and I didn't realise that such a difference in teaching skill was possible. Try to get a teacher with a proper teaching diploma, not just a general musican: there are very specific pedagogic skills developed with the former qualification which really do make a difference.

To develop the LH, the "Training of the Left Hand" by H Berens is readily available on IMSL and is an indispensable work.

I'll look into that, thanks... 
And about the teachers, I guess it's just really hard to know where the really good ones are beforehand, but I'll start looking....