what a lesson should consist of

[buddy]

Maybe I should have have posted this on the student's corner but, what I would like to know is---what should my lesson consist of?  Generally speaking we do theory and then the teacher asks me if I have any problems with my playing.  I am shy so...that is a tough one.  I am playing part of the the grieg concerto and I c an't believe you guys have been saying that it is easy.  It is not.  i would really like to know what your lessons consist of.  Thanks.

[jlh]

I think you're asking a very tough question because every student is different, therefore every lesson will be different.

About the Grieg Concerto... difficulty is a concept relative to the player.  To a professional pianist, yes, it's not that difficult.  To someone who's been playing under 10 years, it will be more of a challenge, generally speaking.

[pianoannie]

Maybe I should have have posted this on the student's corner but, what I would like to know is---what should my lesson consist of?  Generally speaking we do theory and then the teacher asks me if I have any problems with my playing.  I am shy so...that is a tough one.  I am playing part of the the grieg concerto and I c an't believe you guys have been saying that it is easy.  It is not.  i would really like to know what your lessons consist of.  Thanks.

I would think that your lessons would include your teacher helping you study and analyze your piece; helping you find appropriate techniques and motions and fingerings to get through tough spots; as s/he listens to sections you've worked on, s/he'll help you notice things you may have overlooked and ways to make it sound better.  Although it's fine for your teacher to ask you if you are having any problems with your playing, your teacher should be listening and watching to determine whether or not you are having problems.

[buddy]

Thanks pianoannie-I do love my teacher and an hour is really too short a time for a good lesson.  The theory just takes up so much time.  We have made new goals for the new year and am going to see if I can add more time.  Understanding the music is great, but, playing is even better!

[pianoannie]

How much of the hour is spent on theory?  And what kinds of things is your teacher covering with you?
I think I emphasize theory pretty well, but I can't say it dominates my students' lessons (nor does my teacher spend much of my lesson on it).

[buddy]

I would say generally 45 minutes is spent on theory, chapter by chapter through college music theory.  Sometimes we do some transposing of keys,sometimes chords, sometimes picking out secondary dominants. Things like that.  I know I need to learn all that but I have never finished a song with him.  Never.  I will sometimes work on parts of a song and work on the counting or pedal.  We don't work on speed.  I really don't think I have ever played a complete song.  He continues to give me more and more songs but i feel nothing is ever finished.  Even if I tell him that is a goal of mine he seems to move on to whatever he wants.  Well, now I can think of one song I played all the way through, but we never went back and fixed my problem areas.  I seem to keep moving on with new songs and never perfecting.  Annoying. 

[Brian Healey]

You should voice your concerns to your teacher. 45 minutes out of a 60 minute lesson seems too long to me. The theory is certainly important, but it shouldn't overshadow your playing time in a lesson (in my opinion). In my experience, the teacher generally relates theory information as it pertains to the particular pieces being worked on, but in your case, the teacher seems to be separating the two.

How old are you? Are you actually in college? If so, then I would suggest taking a theory course on your own from the school, and ask your teacher to focus more on your playing. If you're not in college, you could still probably attend a class for future college credit, although it would mean more $ (unless the professor allowed you to audit). At any rate, I would consider asking your teacher to chill on the theory a little bit, even half and half (30min./30min.) would be an improvement.


My karma ran over my dogma,
Bri

[ChristmasCarol]

My lessons look more like one quarter theory.  I agree, your teacher should be picking up what you need to work on, and then giving you specific ways to work on the passages that are a problem.  It is normal to question your teacher's methods.  I encourage my students to communicate with me if they have questions.  One student wrote down her issues for me last week.  I loved it.  She's a little girl but that made her in charge of her own playing in a way that is powerful.  Maybe you could write down some of your problems and thoughts.  Record yourself.  You will pick up on many things just listening to it.  Also get a recording of the piece.  Does your teacher play it for you?
Well there's my two cents.

[buddy]

Thanks for your input.  I am out of school.(I did not go for music)  I played growing up but never did learn the theory part. I quit for awhile and am now back full force and practicing a lot because I love it.  In fact, I can't believe I gave it up for so long. I play pretty well but have some issues that I never seem to conquer.  Perhaps what I need to do is keep this teacher, as he is teaching me a lot and get another to deal with the playing.  I feel I need more instruction attacking a piece, I need to get faster, I need to make sure my rythm is correct......pedalling, things like that.  My goal is to have a perfect piece when I am done.  I have the time, the willingness-now I need the instruction and help.  I started feeling maybe he thinks I am not capable but I feel I am because I am willing to work as hard as it takes and I have the time to put into it.  I have enjoyed reading all the threads here relating to my issues and they do help too.  I have printed out a bunch to read as I have the time.  This is a great place to look for answers.

[pianoannie]

Buddy,
   As others have said, 45 minutes sounds wa-a-ay out of balance.  To be honest, when I have adult students, I encourage them to study theory on their own time (either online or in books) and that I will be glad to answer questions.  I think an adult is perfectly capable of understanding the basics without too much teacher assistance.
  It's your money, and if you don't mind spending it on a second teacher to teach you to play, that's fine.  But if it was me, I'd have a talk with the first teacher, and request that lesson time be spent on playing.  I know someone else said maybe your teacher could do 30 minutes each, but I still think that's far too much.  I think your lesson should be spent in playing, with the teacher helping you with theory concepts as they apply to what you're playing (key signature, relative minor section, various cadences, scale runs, modulation to the dominant key, etc).  Even those things I listed aren't *essential* to the casual piano player (which is not the "correct" thing for a piano teacher to say, but it's my opinion!)    I know that understanding theory helps a pianist to see the "big picture," it helps in memorizing, and I find it quite interesting myself.  But it's not something I force-feed my adult students, and I wouldn't pay a teacher to teach it to me for 75% of my lesson.
   Don't be afraid to insist on what you want, or to find a teacher who will respect your wishes and goals.
pianoannie