Do I need a teacher?

[phenomenon]

After years and years and years of lessons as a youth, I returned to piano a couple years ago at age 36.  I am gradually checking off my 'bucket list' of polished 'must learn' pieces (current projects are Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm" and Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata) on my own.  I'm considering re-enlisting in lessons and should probably just visit and interview some local teachers but I thought I'd pose the question here...

What can a piano teacher do for me at this stage that I can't do on my own?  Does it justify the expense?

Teachers on this forum, how would you approach an adult-intermediate returning student such as myself?

Thanks for your input!

[awesom_o]

If you are truly happy with the way you can make pieces sound and you are content with the amount of time it takes you to learn those pieces, then I'd say you're in good shape to work on your own.

Are you confident in the way your technique feels when playing difficult works at performance tempo?

I like to warn people about teachers. Not all of them are good-not even at the university level. Their real job is to teach you how to teach yourself so that you won't need them for very long. Sometimes they don't like to admit this. I always like to say there is no such thing as great teachers, only great students.

Having said that, a good teacher could help you learn how to fit your own musical ideas properly in the context of different styles. If you can already deliver stunning Scarlatti, brilliant Beethoven, compelling Chopin, or rapturous Rachmaninov, then you're probably ready to start teaching your own students.

[brogers70]

If you can get a recommendation for a genuinely good teacher, why not try a few lessons? If your technique is in good shape, then you can stop after a few lessons. If you had developed bad habits in your youth, a good teacher could fix them. The only way I found out that I needed a teacher was in retrospect, by seeing how much my technique improved once I found a good teacher. A few lessons won't cost that much, and you can find out in a matter of weeks whether the teacher is helping you.

[magic_sonata]

Technically speaking, no one needs a teacher. But having an instructor or someone to guide you in your piano studies is definitely and exquisitely helpful. Having a piano teacher will widen your possibility in improving your skills, and fixing other things too. If you can't afford to pay a teacher, talk to a piano pedagogy at your local college. They can give you a few pointers and guide you in the right direction. Because, when learning piano, a teacher is there to help you embrace your skills and learning, but you are the one that chooses to practice and get better. A teacher can not force you to do anything. It's all about your decisions and the choices you make on how dedicated you are to piano.

So, I don't think you need one, but it would push your musical capabilities even further.


magic_sonata

[quantum]

It may be a matter of asking, do you have the tools to progress by yourself?  Or are there aspects you can improve on with regard to self-teaching? 

I've never regretted paying for lessons from a good teacher.  IMO the expense of taking lessons is justifiable even if you are on a tight budget.  A single lesson can save you hours of frustration and problem solving, and bring to light points you may not have considered.  However, if you already have your musical foundation properly laid, you should be progressing to the point of being a self-learner. 

Do you need weekly lessons?  Are you looking to improve certain elements of technique?  Are you looking to polish up pieces?  Do you just need a second ear/opinion about your playing?  Would less frequent lessons suit you better (bi-weekly, monthly, etc.)?