Time to change teacher?

[rovis78]

Hi, I have been with my current teacher for 6 years, he studied at the Conservatory and finished his 10 year piano degree there . I took lessons with my previous teacher for about 7 years before he died. With the current teacher we have played a lot of pieces: Including Chopin etudes, Liszt etudes, some Mozart Sonatas, Bach suites and Italian Concerto in F Major, etc etc, lots of pieces. However after all this time I always en up playing the pieces the way he wants, he doesn´t let me propose ideas and I feel I am starting to become dependant on him. Another thing that seems odd to me is that I have never seen him play the piano a single time, he is good at teaching but I don´t know how good he really plays. Is it time to go on my own with taking ocassional masterclasses rather than having a weekly teacher?. Thanks?

[lelle]

I think a good teacher should encourage the student's own personality, and not rigidly impose their own views as the only way. I think there are some fundamentals to good music making that you just have to know and follow to play well, but within those fundamentals there is infinite room for variation and individual personality. If anything, a teacher's teaching should ideally lead to the student becoming LESS dependent on the teacher over time, since the student has now become equipped with his/her own toolbox that he/she can now use with mastery.

I can't tell you if it's time to switch teacher or drop having a regular teacher entirely and replace it with occasional masterclasses. But if you feel you teacher is blocking you from expressing your personality and taste at the piano I'd at least consider changing teacher.

[dogperson]

From your brief description, it is impossible to judge what is the real issue.  We can’t attend your lessons to evaluate whether how you are asking to play the music would or would not be acceptable and whether or not your teacher is being unreasonable

You should be able to answer how much support you need with developing skills or interpreting music.  If you don’t need support, then it is time to quit lessons. It is a matter of your independence readiness.