Hi Guys,
I'm in a pretty unique situation (or so I think) and would like to seek fellow teachers and students perspective.
I'm both a piano teacher and a LRSM student, and am currently learning in a music store from a sweet lady. However, I feel that I'm not exactly "growing" under her and it is upsetting me as I felt that lessons are expensive, and I would love to absorb all kinds of knowledge I could possibly know from a teacher.
A little on my teaching background, my lessons with my students tend to be very fast paced and goal oriented. I put my students through a very structured lessons so we both know our direction in music learning. Now, when I reflect back onto my own piano lessons, I do not feel the same way. A typical hour lesson goes on like this:
- 15mins chat about her pets (she's an animal lover and I'm not, but I respect her joy and so listens to her "stories")
- 15mins on reading through my writings for LRSM submissions, of which she corrects my sentence structure and simply rephrase. There was no suggestions in my contents! TBH, I'm a little annoyed as my English although not exactly fabulous, I thought was fine (maybe someone could let me know on my English standard after reading my post!) And when she corrects the structure, it felt like it wasn't me who have written the submission.
- 20mins on telling me her life story / siblings / parents / some mundane stuff.
- 10mins on listening to my repertoire that I practised. During this period, she could be yawning away (yea I get that I don't play exactly very well in my learning stages) or texting or picking up a phone call. Things that I do not condone even during my own lessons as I felt it is very disrespectful to my students. No feedback, just pointing out mistakes which I admitted before she could even say anything. Nothing.
When I first studied under this teacher, I thought it was interesting as it did not struck me that piano lessons could be so "personal", but it kind of annoy me to no end now. How do I change the dynamics of the lesson without being rude? What's more, her personal stories have drawn us closer together that it feels like we are some sort of relatives because I just know so much about her..
Then there is another lovely lady in the music store. Very knowledgeable, that even my teacher would seek her help if she's stuck with a certain issue on music. Almost like a walking music dictionary. I have been taught under her a few times when my own teacher could not have lessons with me. The items that we covered in one lesson were way more than what I have done in a year with my teacher! I felt so inspired and renewed after that lesson.
I was contemplating to change to the other teacher, but these 2 teachers are great friends who hangs out a lot together. I do not agree with my teacher's teaching style, but I do not wish to break her heart too as changing would obviously meant that I felt the other teacher was a better one.
Lastly, I'm trying to complete my LRSM asap as the cost is driving me crazy. My current teacher is much more flexible in students registering for the exam as she reasoned we could probably do a retake on certain portions (I'm strong in my quick study / viva voce / written reports except for the LRSM repertoires which I've yet to achieve playing consistency - I'm doing both performing and teaching dips).
The other teacher on the other hand does not agree with that, her idea is that student has to be in tip top condition even if it means taking 100yrs (kidding) and pass the entire exam in 1 attempt. If the possibility is 99.99% of passing, she would not allow the student to do so.
Sincere thanks to anyone who would take time to read this chunk
Topic: Dilemma on piano teachers