Nerves before and during lesson

[bernadette60614]

I'm dedicated and I practice, but I never feel that I've practiced enough...consequently, even lesson is one I dread.

Any thoughts would help!

[quantum]

The lesson is the place to pose questions.  Growth happens during one's private practice time, and questions do arise out of that growth. 

What makes you think you have not practiced enough?  In your view, what would be considered the ideal "enough practice"?

[bronnestam]

I have written this a million times already, but:
after each practice session I make a short summary of what I have just learned/improved. There is always something. Could be a very, very small detail, but everything counts!

Lately I have begun to write this summary down in my journal as well. It is good to look at in periods of self-doubt. I normally get much happier when I see that I, actually, HAVE achieved something even on those days "nothing" seems to happen.

I also think I am a dreadfully slow learner and the physical condition of my hands prevents me from practicing as much as I want - and sometimes I also have too little time! - but when I look in my journal I realize that I am, nevertheless, doing my very best. I am also happy that I am an amateur, doing this for fun and for leisure, so I don't HAVE to push myself more than I already do.

[starlady]

I've had the same problem very badly, and I didn't get over it until I came to understand that a lesson is a lesson, not a performance. You are there to learn something, and if you were already perfect there would be nothing to learn.  And don't worry that the teacher will think you didn't practise; a good teacher can easily tell the difference between a lazy student and one who is working hard but having difficulty with the material.   

good luck--s.

[teran]

I used to be nervous during lessons mainly due to the intimidating nature of my teacher's ability next to mine. I know that seems like a silly reason to be nervous, but when you've struggled to learn 5 bars that your teacher can sight read flawlessly, it can affect you. xD

Also his sharp ear and his uncompromising level of critiquing nuance didn't help in that regard.

Then I realised those were two fantastic things and the reason and so I decided to stop caring, and just sort of went with it. He hardly really interrupts my playing now because I generally come to the lesson with problem passages in terms of phrasing etc so it saves us time in terms of him having to pinpoint whatever problems there are.

I think it's a student's responsibility to work with their teacher as much as the teacher works with them, it really does help you improve much faster.

It's also much more fun than feeling like you're under some sort of negative scrutiny.

[keypeg]

I'm copying this from one of your posts elsewhere

I'm coming to the conclusion that "What is wrong with you?  and "I'm very angry with you for hitting that note wrong again" are the not the best pedagogical tools...

These seem to be a reason for your nerves. 

[j_menz]

These seem to be a reason for your nerves. 

Not sure I agree. They may be a reason for changing teachers, or having a rather sharp discussion about manners, but not a reason for nerves. OP is, after all, the one paying.  She is the one in control, and can leave if she wants. It would be different if she was much younger where parental pressures may be keeping her there.

Personally, I never dreaded lessons. I was a good pupil, but piano was only one of many competing calls on my time and interest (school/friends/work/other activities). So sometimes I'd practiced a lot and sometimes I'd really not done anything to speak of. Sometimes I'd bought a new music book and spent the entire week faffing around with that. That was just the fact of the matter. My teachers knew both my interest and it's limitations and simply had to deal with that. They did. And I'm still playing!

[keypeg]

Not sure I agree. They may be a reason for changing teachers, or having a rather sharp discussion about manners, but not a reason for nerves. OP is, after all, the one paying.  She is the one in control, and can leave if she wants. It would be different if she was much younger where parental pressures may be keeping her there.

It is not as easy to leave lessons as you may think.

That aside, what I have quoted and other threads by the OP suggests reason for nervousness.  A beginner starts with a teacher who does not give any foundations and seems to believe those foundations are already there.  The teacher teaches advanced works, has high expectations, but gives none of the tools for reaching them.  The student continually struggles and, going by what I have quoted, berates her with remarks that are destructive and unhelpful.  How can this inspire confidence.

Additionally, if you go to the Musical Fossils site you will find something that most students who began lessons will tell you is true: that the lessons and the teacher are very important, overly so, what the teacher says will be taken to heart much more than it is by a child who is constantly told what to do by adults, and for whom this is just one of a pile of teachers.

[danhuyle]

Maybe it's time to change teachers. You shouldn't be feeling this way before or during a lesson.

Pianists feel this way because they want teachers to say that they play the piece "like the recordings" and even better.

[j_menz]

It is not as easy to leave lessons as you may think.

Then go for the sharp discussion about manners. Personally I don't see the difficulty, unless you're in some isolated area with no real choice.

Why would you continue to pay someone to not provide the service you're paying for?

[mahlermaniac]

Unfortunately no specific advice to the OP, but just another note in the discussion re: performance nerves. It's not always about the teacher's or the student's expectation about the piano at all. I am very comfortable with my instructor. Yet sometimes my fingers still start to shake when I play for him. Sometimes people are just plain shy or anxious in general.