Dear students/teachers/substitute teachers, Have you experienced this?

[reiyza]

I scheduled for a session today with my new teacher, apparently it's the 2nd time we're meeting, and worst of luck, my teacher wasn't there(and didn't inform me), but he did leave a substitute teacher. The sub. Teacher was great in playing only(i think),  he played the whole movement of beethoven piano sonata no. 8 in front of me, but when it comes to teaching me, he sucked bigtime!!!!!

Since I dropped my previously memorized 3 pieces at my the request of my real teacher as to not to reinforce bad habits, the sub teacher told me to relearn all of it again and with dynamics. What the F**k!! He didn't even bother to ask me what I've learned from my realt teacher!

As a person who has a 9 hour work shifts/day that rotates from, morning, pm, night each day, I find this absurdly aggravating and absolutely dumb!! What a waste of time.

And what's worse, the sub teacher had his own student with him, and he let him play my same piece that I'm currently learning(the invention #8). The student played it so well that it seemed like he's showing off.! It feels like I want to punch them both!

Maybe I misinterpreted them because I was angry. Or what?

Though the way the student played seemed like he challenged me.!!


Teacher's, Fellow Students! Do I accept this challenge? Any thoughts?

[quantum]

Studying with multiple teachers is a reality for a student that seeks music education at university level education (most likely includes many conservatory diploma programs as well).  For those who have had few teachers, or even a single teacher for that matter, it can be an eye-opening experience.  Fact of the matter: you will be presented with teachings and methods that do not always agree with one another. 

Teacher abc says to do x.  But why should I do x when teacher opq says to do y instead for the same situation? 

What to do? The answer will come from the student himself/herself.  It is not case that one teacher is correct and the other not, nor is it the case that one solution is better than another.  The onus lies on the student to discover which solution is most appropriate for them, their situation, their background, their level of development.  The solutions presented are options, and it is often a good thing to have these in multiples.  However, the student needs to take the effort to do the ground work and self-examination to discover which solution works best for them. 

For a student still searching for stability in their technique and musical understanding, it can certainly pose feelings of confusion and uncertainly.  However, navigating these parallel approaches to solving problems is part of the growth process.  You will find yourself better grounded if you work through the struggle of finding what solutions work for you, as opposed to taking to a single school of thought and hoping it will all work out in the end. 

From your other related threads, you appear to be at a level at which the study with more than one teacher could be a beneficial one. 

As for subbing: it is a rather standard procedure in music schools.  Sometimes you may not completely get what the sub teacher is working towards but the change in perspective can be healthy, even if you totally disagree with what was taught. 

Should your sub teacher have asked for previous lesson history - probably.  It would have given better informed context on how to instruct you.  The sub could have also been observing something in the current lesson that warranted another approach.  As you develop, good teachers will also develop and modify lesson plans.  So don't expect to be going on the same path week-to-week, even from your regular teacher. 

At the end of the day, you will get teachers that do not agree one some things - and that is just part of the game.  As for your role as student - be flexible and learn to juggle conflicting ideas. 

***

This thread would probably be better in Student's Corner. 

[outin]

If you have settled and pay for lessons with a particular teacher of course this is not acceptable and you should get your money back. If it's some sort of an establishment where it's clearly stated that your teacher can change anytime without prior notice then it's just bad luck. I would say talk to your teacher next time and tell him/her that you don't want lessons with this other teacher (or someone else you don't know) again and agree on what should be done in case the teacher needs to cancel lessons.

[keypeg]

There is something wrong with this on multiple levels:

a) If the teacher is going to be away, he should advise you ahead of time, and give you a chance to reschedule with him.
b) Going by what you described in your other post, I can't really see a substitute teacher at this point.  The original teacher has a plan for you, after observing, and another teacher cannot just jump in and continue that plan.  It is too delicate.  (I am assuming some things about his teaching which may or may not actually be there).

My first profession was as a classroom teacher, which is different, but the idea of substitutes exists there.  We were required to have written lesson plans, for the week, so that if we were sick, the sub could see what was being taught, how, what happened before, and what would happen afterward.  Classroom teaching must be more structured and more planned ahead because you have a bunch of people all learning at the same time, plus it usually has to go according to existing curriculum guidelines that exist in the province, or state, or country etc.  There are some differences.

If there is going to be a substitute for private teaching, then at least that sub should be compatible.  Sometimes a different teacher can give some valuable insights, but I would not want to be "taught" in the manner that this person did.  Maybe he can play well, and his student can play well, but to me this is not teaching.

What you experienced was humiliating and unnecessary.  You have just been induced to practice in a better way, and that means not trying to sound impressive, but letting the warts hang out so that your skills can be developed where they are lacking.  The last thing that you need is to have an accomplished pianist show you up, and then have his accomplished student show you up.  For what purpose?  What was he trying to "teach"?  Anything?  (!!!!!)

[reiyza]

@quantum - the original teacher told me not to touch my self learned pieces. The other one told me to bring the sheet music of those pieces in order to polish and include dynamics. I really don't get the sub's motives, he's making me look like a really advanced pianist when I'm not, and forced me to sight read invention number 8 and play with HT. remember from my thread that I said I wasn't a good sight reader, apparently, the sub has just discovered that weakness of mine and was kind of dismayed with me, then his student walks in and just plays the no. 8 without the score. Yes, I did benefit from the 2nd teacher, he showed more variations on how to approach hanon, but other than that, he just showed off his skill, playing numerous bethoven sonatas and asking me "is this the piece you like?"

I remained calm and kept smiling at him, but in my mind, I killed that sub teacher and his student multiple times.


@outin - yes, it's an establishment, and they assign specific teachers to a student according to their skill. And by sheer luck my original teacher fits the role perfectly. But everyone has their own emergencies/commitment, I can't blame my real teacher in being absent since things like that happen to me too. The frustrating part was that the secretary was informed earlier about my teacher's abscence, but failed to inform me. I'll also kill that secretary In my mind!!!




@keypeg - yes, I felt very provoked, maybe it's just what bernhard described in one of his posts, the one about teacher student incompatibility. Apparently, I quite saw the sub teacher and his student at performance level, since I'm a beginner, I was unable to grasp the concepts that the sub teacher was throwing at me, and expeting me to do things I literally cannot do(yet). It's like he's treating me as some kind of reincarnated franz liszt.! But that said, it provoked me to finish the no. 8, I still won't touch the previous 3 pieces. (although I have been trying to play the pathetique with my new technique.)

[Bob]

It could be done.  Sounds like it wasn't done well.  Playing through a piece isn't teaching.  I didn't read the whole thread.  If a sub came in and worked with the student I could see it being a plus.  Working the student meaning the student plays and the teacher guides.  If the student gets pointers and a new perspective on things, it's a plus, an addition to the regular lessons. 

Otherwise, I've heard of rescheduling with the prof.  Reschedule a week?  Not a big deal.  Just add another lesson in somewhere (spaced out).