Two teachers

[grasoon]

Hi all, this is my second post in this forum first time also about learning method. This time is also about learning method. Please understand that English is not my primary language so if there are any mistake, please forgive me. Below is my situation. By the way, I am an old beginner I am now 39 years old and have started study piano for about three years. Piano is my hobby.

I am now studying with two teacher. The first one is my teacher for almost two year. Mainly, she teach me pop and jazz piano (my request). Jazz voicing and theory, turnaround, block chord over melody, and studying from real book are my main tasks.

My son also learn how to play piano but with piano school not private lesson like me. I drop him off and wait for him to finish his class. One day I realize that I should use this one hour to study piano too because I don't want to waste time. I decided that I'll learn piano at this school. The lesson is a classical since I wanted to improve techniques such as my left hand and other techniques. So far, we are studying song from piano book mainly is jazz (bass clef and treble clef)

So far, I have studied with this school for almost three months. Teacher is great and I have learned a lot. However, I am having problem with the homework from both teachers. By the way, they both know that I have two teachers and they don't have problem. One is good at Jazz and one is good at classical.

I do not have enough to practice homework from both teachers and it made me less confident when piano class is coming. However, my playing is better and I am very satisfy but practice time is killing me.

The proper question should be "What is the best solution to this problem?" but it would be a silly one 555. I am a grown man with family but can't solve this tiny little problem, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!!!

[quantum]

Just to clarify, are you saying you do not have enough time to practice the work that is assigned to you?

[grasoon]

Dear Quantum, you understand correctly.

I know that I shouldn't have started with second teacher at the first place. However, I really want to get better and I thought that I would be able to to sync both classes together (in term of knowledge and technique) but I have failed to do that so far  Therefore, I am now having trouble with assignments assigned to me.   

[outin]

I have the same problem sometimes even with one teacher. You should just talk to the teachers about reducing your homework. Or accept that sometimes you are not "ready" in one week and need to take more time with your assignments.

[robert07]

It's ok, grasoon. Sometimes, we faces such problems, and can't take any decision.

In my opinion, Continue learning from two teachers, but select one as the main. Let you like jazz. let them know that and tell other teacher that I'll practice as much as I can after practicing the jazz.

good luck.



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[grasoon]

Thank you all for your kind advice 

[gregh]

Once you get things figured out and settled into a routine, it would be nice to get an update on how things are going.

[grasoon]

I know that this is probably not the question that 39 years old man with family should ask. But, I would be greatly appreciated if you (I mean anyone) can share your ideas on how to organize my time. Here my daily evening schedule.

17.15              Arrive home and then have to
17.20-18.20     Go to gym doing exercise (doctor's order due to hypertension, slight hearth problem)
18.30 - 19.30   Teach son piano, homework, other little things
19.45 - 20.15   Have time for myself to practice piano (mainly on homework from two teachers)
20.15 - 20.45    Play with son (his routine)
21.00.             Go to bed. So far I have to go to bed with my son, otherwise he wouldn't want go to bed. His excuse to play more. I am thinking about sneaking out and practice (I have digital piano but I usually fall asleep before my son 555

I used to wake up around 5 a.m. prepare myself to go to work and have about 15 to 20 minutes to practice (mostly technical stuffs like scales, chord inversion, turn around) but I don't do that anymore (just getting lazy  )

How is it? I think I go to bed way tooo early. But I think it has become my habit to go bed early, plus I am very tired from work out as well.

[outin]

I know that this is probably not the question that 39 years old man with family should ask. But, I would be greatly appreciated if you (I mean anyone) can share your ideas on how to organize my time. Here my daily evening schedule.

17.15              Arrive home and then have to
17.20-18.20     Go to gym doing exercise (doctor's order due to hypertension, slight hearth problem)
18.30 - 19.30   Teach son piano, homework, other little things
19.45 - 20.15   Have time for myself to practice piano (mainly on homework from two teachers)
20.15 - 20.45    Play with son (his routine)
21.00.             Go to bed. So far I have to go to bed with my son, otherwise he wouldn't want go to bed. His excuse to play more. I am thinking about sneaking out and practice (I have digital piano but I usually fall asleep before my son 555

I used to wake up around 5 a.m. prepare myself to go to work and have about 15 to 20 minutes to practice (mostly technical stuffs like scales, chord inversion, turn around) but I don't do that anymore (just getting lazy  )

How is it? I think I go to bed way tooo early. But I think it has become my habit to go bed early, plus I am very tired from work out as well.

For me your practice time does seem a bit short considering you have two teachers. I practice at least an hour a day (with exceptions of course) and even that seems too little at this point. I wish I didn't need so much sleep.

My advice is get back to the morning practice. But instead of doing technical exercise in the morning, do more brain work. At first you may not feel really sharp just woken up (depending on how morning oriented you are, I have never been) but the fact is that normally after a night's sleep your brain is rested and can handle more and the learning is faster. After a full day at work and with family there's a lot going on in there, you're obviously tired and it is difficult to really focus on mental tasks. I have noticed that I learn new pieces and solve tricky spots faster if I work on them in the morning. Weekends are a luxury...

So keep going to bed early and wake up early for a quiet morning time with the piano

EDIT: But keep your evening practice as well, because what you learn then will be reinforced in your sleep.

[gregh]

I start work at two o'clock in the morning, so I can tell you something about getting up early. You get used to it. As long as you go to bed on time to get a full day's/night's sleep, there's no drag (except on the weekends when I stay up until eight at night or so... then it's hard to get to sleep on Sunday).

As long as you go to bed on time to get a full day's/night's sleep, there's no drag.

As long as you go to bed on time to get a full day's/night's sleep, there's no drag.

As long as you go to bed on time to get a full day's/night's sleep, there's no drag.

Are you getting the idea that I'm trying to tell you something? If you can get some practice done in the morning, I think that's a great idea. But don't lose sleep over it, that will not improve your health or happiness over time. One or two days short on sleep is okay, but if it's routine it will wear on you.

(Some people also need more sleep than others. Some are perfectly happy on six, some need ten. Whatever you need, be sure you get it.)