Taking a break from lessons

[leemond2008]

Is this a good idea every now and again? I've so far had about 13 or 14 lessons and with christmas fast approaching (yeah its depressing I know) I'm looking at my funds and I think I may need to take a break to save a bit of money.

At the moment I have a 1 hour lesson every 2 weeks (£30 an hour) so that's £60 a month which I'm struggling to afford at the moment.

Does anyone else ever take time off from their lessons?
How does it affect your progress?
How does it affect your motivation?
Do you feel as though you have no direction?
And finally how do you feel when you go back to your lessons?

I know it might sound like a pretty stupid question but I'm a little concerned about feeling like I've let my teacher down and also worried that it will damage my progression.

[adodd81802]

I put my lessons on hold for a similar reason, £18 for half hour and I had 1 lesson a week hoping to eventually have that as an hour! (do the maths!)

So In answer to your questions, I have taken time off from doing lessons however I did this at a point where I had some goals in mind as set by my lessons, so i've had enough to work on to see me through.

I've also spent a lot of time doing research, looking at studies I don't think it will affect your progress if you still spend time learning. In result, new knowledge gives you new ideas, new goals and continues to motivate.

If you're still doing lessons and you feel you have no direction or motivation maybe you need to question what you're doing right now and make sure it's right for you. If you are attending piano lessons for your own hobby or because you want to, make sure they go in the direction you want to go.

I am yet to go back to my lessons at the moment, but I think you need to remember as long as you're paying for lessons, the relationship between you and your teacher is strictly business. If you have been honest with them and they act rude or insulted, then from a professional perspective, they weren't the right teacher anyway.

I don't know your level but I wouldn't rely 100% on the teacher for progression, you have to go out there and find what works for you, how to play correctly with your hands, how to learn the music correctly to your taste.

I think that the purpose of a piano teacher should be to help us get to where we want to go. not where they want us to be, because then without them how do you progress that way?

Don't be discouraged, just use this time to develop yourself, maybe not even at the piano, but musically and as a person so you can discover where you want to take this talent.

Hope that helps.

[leemond2008]

I'm 100% happy with my teacher it was more of a case of the progression that was concerning me.

I've got one more lesson that I've already paid for in two weeks time and I might see if we can spend a bit of time putting together a type of plan for whilst I'm taking my time off.

We've also done Skype lessons in the past so I might even see if she will be happy to give me a 1/2 hour lesson every couple of weeks because that would still keep her updated as to how I'm doing and wouldn't cost me anywhere near as much

[ffchopinist]

I can't speak for anyone else, but as for my personal experience: I took 10+ years off from lessons, and it definitely affected my technique and progress.  During that time where I practiced on my own, I unfortunately developed lots of bad technical habits that my teacher is now trying to undo. You probably wouldn't take that much time off, though, so I'm not sure what that would be like.   

Lessons can definitely get expensive, though, and it's not good to be financially stretched either.

An idea: Would you be able to talk with your teacher about your financial concerns at all?  It's possible that your teacher would be understanding and care about your development as a pianist, too - maybe he / she would be able to work something out with you in terms of a discount in exchange for other things!  Not sure what he/she would need, but some ideas would be to offer your services in something you're skilled in that she happens to need in exchange for a discount on lessons (ex: does she need a website built or designed, for instance? help with errands on a regular basis? babysitting for her kids? etc.)   Hope that helps jog some ideas.

In the end, though, you know what's best for you and your finances + development, so take the above with a grain of salt.  Good luck!

[Bob]

If your teacher will do it, you could meet less often or for less time.

Depends what level you're at.  There is a positive to be able to completely prep a piece on your own though.  And to some extent, you're already doing that.  Meeting less often shifts the balance more towards you and gives you that periodic direction.

Work on technique.  That can easily burn up some time.

Another idea... Get a cheaper teacher.  Or space lessons out... and add in a cheaper teacher now and then.  It would be getting another person's input on things. 

[yewtree]

Leemond, try not to feel to down about having to miss lessons.  
The longest break I had to take was 4 weeks due to family matters. I missed my lessons though they were not as expensive as yours.   While you are having a break, make sure you get lots of practise,  consolidate what you have already learnt .   Brush up on any weaknesses you may have, such as sight reading,  scales, arpeggios .  Maybe you are fine on those, I don't know.    
My tutor takes  a break towards Christmas as it is a busy time of year for him , and summer holidays  But that enables me to catch up on what I am doing.  Until lessons resume.