Piano Forum

Piano Street Magazine:
Watch the Chopin Competition 2025 with us!

Great news for anyone who loves Chopin’s music! Piano Street’s Chopin Competition tool now includes all 1,848 recorded performances from the Preliminary Round to Stage 3. Dive in and listen now! Read more

Pages: [1] Go Down

Topic: What to do when two teachers's opinions on a piece contradict one another? (Read 1570 times)

claireliii

PS Silver Member
Newbie
Posts: 17

What to do when two teachers's opinions on a piece contradict one another?

on: December 13, 2020, 11:22:14 AM

I have been working on k.282 with a really good piano teacher in my area. I also took some masterclass with a really prestigious pianist last week, but their opinion/interpretation on this piece greatly differs from one another. They offered completely different instructions in terms of timing, touch, and dynamics. Who should I listen to?

Logged

dogperson

Sr. Member
Posts: 1559

Re: What to do when two teachers's opinions on a piece contradict one another?

Reply #1 on: December 13, 2020, 01:11:45 PM

I have had the same situation: excellent local teacher; occasional lessons with a concert pianist but with different opinions. At first, it felt confusing and hugely problematic.

So, I discussed the differences with my local teacher: she did not agree with some of the concert pianist’s interpretation, she did agree with some of it. We discussed everything; she explained her position, and left it to me to decide on the points they did not agree.

I was empowered to make my own decision— recognizing that there will be differences of interpretation even with excellent pianists. Try listening to four-five outstanding pianists play the same music. They will not be identical; and some will be widely divergent. You will fit in the spectrum somewhere after you discuss it and YOU decide what is right for YOU.