Got a new teacher, Question on methods? Should I dump him? Open for suggestions.

[bernadette60614]

As a similarly dedicated (or obsessed!) adult student, I'm trying to do this:

Stop obsessing about reaching a goal by a certain time.  "Fall into the process' and enjoy what that process is.

In addition to piano, I have a job, a spouse and a child.  I have found having a child to be the best emotional training for piano.  You can push your kid, you can drill your kid, you can compare your kid constantly to other kids----- and you can suck all the pleasure out of being a parent and your relationship with your kid.

Or, you can enjoy the process of helping your child develop.

For me, at least,falling into the process also me to enjoy the process of raising a child and becoming a better musician.

[briansaddleback]

I just read the first post, so  I will say this,
figure out works best for you and what does not. If Czerny doesnt work for you because you tried it , then that is fine.
If you say it doesnt work for you because the internetz piano wizzes here say it doesnt work for you. Then it is unfortunate.

[reiyza]

Do you guys think I should start a new thread? This thread is getting clogged up for other members to follow. Anyways sorry guys the reply took so long, the assignments were hard to adjust with.

I've only had a few sessions with my new teacher for 5 sessions(1 session/week).

I believe my teacher is nuts, he wants me to play the etude 10-12, waltz op 64-2 in C minor, this coming may, he thinks I can do it with my current skill level.

So far I've only done 20 hanon exercises, and aboout 21 czerny etudes and the only piece I know how to play properly was the invention no 8, and slowly working on invention 1 and K.545 sonata.

Do you guys think that my teacher is over-estimating my skill? I'm really worried about how he sees me.

I really want your opinions guys. Should I change teachers?

*A little side note for those who have been taught with hanon please read: after reaching exercise #20, my teacher skipped no. 21 to 38 and jumped to ex. 39, I mean, is this okay? Skipping exercises like that. Has any of you ever experienced this?


--------------------------------------------------

@Quantum - are you a teacher? You're ideas and insight are very helpful. Thank you,
re:Shortening of Rest - I'm finding it absolutley necessary, because I don't have enough discipline to wake without an alarm, as I tend to oversleep therefore shortening practice times (which is badly needed).
re:Hanon vs Finger lift - now see your point, I my teacher was getting annoyed when I played pieces with fingers high, I always sounded Forte which sucks, I'll adjust my finger height when playing hanon vs real music.

@briansaddleback - this thread has gotten very long for any member to follow, I have been doing czerny dilligently and effectively now that my teacher has shown me the movements to apply proper dynamics. And yes that's why I've come here for help since I know all members of this forums are great.

@bernadette - apparently, my teacher has set a goal for me to play a a chopin waltz and etude by may this year. But I do remember saying to him that I wanted to get to a level where I can enroll in a conservatory. Now I feel pressured as hell.

[keypeg]

For how long are you going to keep second-guessing your teacher and asking the opinion of strangers about his professional choices?  Who will know best about what you can do -- people who don't observe and hear you on a regular basis, or the teacher you hired to guide you?

[reiyza]

Thank you and I see your point keypeg, but he did say in my initial assessment that, chopin will be studied in the later years of my development. But now he took it back, It's not that I don't want to learn them, In fact I loved it when he said it, but I believe that I am technically deficient as of now, and I think if I forcefully learn 2 grade 8 pieces simultaneously, the interpretation will be poor, and I don't want that since I'm going to be playing it at a recital in 2 months. What a dilemma.

[bernadette60614]

I hear you.  I think I take my preparation for my lessons more seriously than anything else in my life (which probably wouldn't be something I'd want to be shared with my husband and son!).

I think every aspiring professional...be it an athlete, a lawyer, a musician, a business professional grows when he/she is challenged.  And, he/she ceases to grow when their anxiety and self-doubt gets the better of him/her.

As an aspiring pianist, I have to repeatedly tell myself:  I am never going to be the equivalent of a prima ballerina.  Those are the people who are selected in childhood and trained from childhood.  However, I can learn to love the process of learning how to dance. And, I can dance for myself and no one else.

Your teacher sounds as if he/she has more faith in you than you do in yourself.  I'm not a teacher, but I don't think any teacher wants to have his/her ears bleed (metaphorically speaking) during the course of a lesson.

I'm repeating this to you, cause I have to repeat it to myself:  Love the process. The outcome will take care of itself. Dance for yourself...but accept someone's guidance.

[keypeg]

Thank you and I see your point keypeg, but he did say in my initial assessment that, chopin will be studied in the later years of my development. But now he took it back, It's not that I don't want to learn them, In fact I loved it when he said it, but I believe that I am technically deficient as of now, and I think if I forcefully learn 2 grade 8 pieces simultaneously, the interpretation will be poor, and I don't want that since I'm going to be playing it at a recital in 2 months. What a dilemma.

Since your initial assessment he has worked with you and observed you.  If he is indeed a decent teacher, then he is using his judgment.  You believe that you are technically deficient.  What does he believe?  And why?  These kinds of things should be discussed between you and your teacher.  No person on this board will be able to judge.

[quantum]

I believe my teacher is nuts, he wants me to play the etude 10-12, waltz op 64-2 in C minor, this coming may, he thinks I can do it with my current skill level.

So far I've only done 20 hanon exercises, and aboout 21 czerny etudes and the only piece I know how to play properly was the invention no 8, and slowly working on invention 1 and K.545 sonata.

Do you guys think that my teacher is over-estimating my skill? I'm really worried about how he sees me.

Sounds like your teacher is getting you out of your comfort zone.  Under the careful guidance of a skilled teacher this will benefit your playing and skill development.  You did have a list of pieces you aspired to play and it seems as if your teacher is guiding you towards that direction.  It appears you have a great teacher, trust in his teachings.  Looks like your teacher is forming a plan to grow your skill.  

*A little side note for those who have been taught with hanon please read: after reaching exercise #20, my teacher skipped no. 21 to 38 and jumped to ex. 39, I mean, is this okay? Skipping exercises like that. Has any of you ever experienced this?

I would describe it as rare that a student will be assigned an exercise book cover to cover.  You only need to do exercises that are beneficial to improving some aspect of playing.  The majority of learning comes from repertoire not exercises, so you are not really missing out if you skip some.  You don't need to do every exercise in a book in order to successfully gain skill from an exercise book.  One does not learn music in order to play exercises, rather one uses exercises to learn to play music better.  

Your teacher seems to be selective about exercises that are assigned to you, this is a good thing.  

@Quantum - are you a teacher? You're ideas and insight are very helpful. Thank you,

Yes.  I've studied under a number of teachers (with various instruments) so have been exposed to a variety, and at times extremely contrasting, pedagogical approaches.  In my experience, there are teaching approaches work better than others depending on the student.  There are also pros and cons for a given approach.  So all must be taken in balance.  

re:Shortening of Rest - I'm finding it absolutley necessary, because I don't have enough discipline to wake without an alarm, as I tend to oversleep therefore shortening practice times (which is badly needed).

I urge you to re-examine your thinking on this.  Rest is extremely important for our brains to operate optimally.  Shortening sleep and extending practice hours can in turn counteract what one is really hoping to achieve - a quality learning environment where we can easily absorb the material at hand.  I would recommend that  you aim for sufficient sleep and efficient practice sessions.  

There is a saying that if you need an alarm to wake up, you aren't getting enough sleep.  

[reiyza]

To everyone that has helped me here, especially dcstudio, keypeg, quantum, brogers, bernadette, and the ones who put up with this thread up til now(the ones I missed). I believe I'll post another thread when a new concern arises, I'll switch to the repertoire and performance section when the time comes, for the meantime, I'll still monitor this thread for your replies.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

@quantum - Thanks for the response, and as always, very invaluable. . He wants me to start studying Op 64 no 2 hands separate right now. Apparently he was pretty impressed at how steady I was improving but still he emphasized slow play, he told me he expects me to play 1 or 3 chopin etudes this year then the Liebestraume no. 3(Overkill). I'll start to believe in him more and myself, and no more self-underrating stuff. And after playing hanon scales. I absolutely loved the technicality and the musicality of each scale(when played with variations). Skipping half of the book was actually worth it.
And about Rest, does waking up automatically count as fully rested? Even though you've just slept for 3 or maybe 4 hours? I find taking naps in between sessions(in the time when I am beginning to lose focus) fully beneficial, I have my body's energy up and my attention refreshed.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

@keypeg - Many thanks to you also, and about your message sharing your practice methods it was very helpful in the long run. Yes I'll try to follow my teacher to the letter, I do believe my playing has took off from when I initially posted here. I'll try to share a recording of my recital here(If I don't CHICKEN out of it .)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry for the late reply, I'm so deluded by my playing and practicing, that I'm starting to forget how to use the computer. literally.

Thanks guys!