Is my teacher stretching me too much?

[ElenaWang]

I am a beginner on learning piano, only started learning it properly for 3 month now.  I learned to play electronic keyboard about 20 years ago. I therefor got some basic background in music knowledge and keyboard skills.

Since I started learning, I have studied the following with my teacher:

BWV Anh. II 114
BWV AnH. II 115
BWV Anh.II 113
Invention 1 BWV 772
Praeludium Und Fuge C-Dur BWV 846

and some choices of my own:

Attwood Sonatina NO.1 in G
Attwood Sonatina NO.2 in C
Fur Elise
Chopin Nocturne Op. 9/2 (simplified version)

I have been making good progress by playing the above mentioned pieces, but I have to say that I feel that I have been struggling, rather than getting on very easilly.

My teach is now asking me to practice Grieg Nocturne OP. 54 No.4. I find it very difficult to start with, and it looks daunting. My teacher is an undergraduate student, and he never taught aldult before. I am just wondering whether the teacher has stretched me too much. I only started 3 month ago. I am not sure whether it will do me any good.

Could anybody more expereinced give me some suggestions?

Thanks!

[Bob]

Tell your teacher.  They can find easier pieces for you.  I don't it's good to have piece be extremely challenging.

[ElenaWang]

Thanks for your reply Bob!

I am not sure whether it is a good strategy to have something really challenging to work on in the long term, while have some other pieces more or less about your level as everyday practice and something fun to enjoy yourself.

What is your preferred approach?

[ChristmasCarol]

My number one priority with students is comfort.  There needs to be enough material to be challenging,  a certain progress evident in every lesson,  and some music that soars without having to kill oneself to make it happen.  If I were your teacher I would want to see this question.  If you continue to be stressed, then you may end up giving up.  Not good.  Protect your love and interest in music.  Be good to yourself.  Talk to the teach!

[pianowelsh]

Student teachers are often ambitious and because they have got limited experience of the rep they assign pieces they did themselves (often they are quite sharp learning curve - hence they are at conservatory) Don't be afraid to tell your teacher if your struggling and don't feel a failure everyone learns at different rates but it takes experience to handle this. It may be that they have given you these pieces and that its a case of you work on these as long as it takes before you move on. If they keep pushing say to them  - NO this is too fast! I had a teacher that stretched me to the point of almost giving up and eventually I got to the stage where i took things into my own hands and changed - don't let it get this far! it causes stress. You need a balanced programme and one which is not to demanding on your practice times (which i presume are limited) - make your requirements and aspirations very clear to your teacher and ask him how you can practice them most efficiently because its easy for a conservatory student to think - this is easy they'll learn the notes in a week and finish it off inside the month' but it's not so easy to guage how someone less experienced will react - the teacher -pupil thing is all about trial and error so don't neglect to let them if you are struggling - whether they realise it or not your actually doing them a favour as well as yourself!! keep pressing on 

[Hmoll]

Your teacher sounds very inexperienced. I'd look for someone else.

If you take your study of piano, and progress seriously, why would you study with someone who has no credentials or experience - compared to professional teachers?

Your intuition is right. You are being led down the wrong path. Find someone who can lead you down the right one.

[faulty_damper]

I have been making good progress by playing the above mentioned pieces, but I have to say that I feel that I have been struggling, rather than getting on very easilly.

If you find that it is getting more difficult it should be getting more difficult, for the time being.

Playing is the easy part.  Learning is the difficult part.  It seems that the trouble you are having is with the learning, n'est ce pas?  It gets much easier.

[galonia]

I disagree that you should only get pieces you feel comfortable with.  Don't be afraid to be stretched!  You shouldn't have all hard pieces which take forever to learn, but one or two harder pieces, balanced with some easier pieces which you can learn more quickly is a good idea.  After all, if you only ever played pieces you can learn easily, you aren't going to progress very far very soon.

If you really find a piece feels impossible to learn, you should talk to your teacher first.  Maybe he has a reason for setting the piece, and maybe he can show you how to learn it more efficiently.  That's what he's being paid for.

[Grane]

Hi ElenaWang

Having pieces that stretch us is a great way to grow as some have mentioned.

Assume you are learning the way many believe is best -- hands alone, playing very, very slowly to start.  Later building up speed and then putting hands together.  Some play new pieces as slowly as they can to start.  Using hands alone and playing slowly points out details we tend to miss otherwise.

If you have done this with some effort,  and still have problems perhaps the piece is too hard. 

Good luck and above all have fun!!!


Ed