In Need Of Advice

[chopinisque]

I'm changing teachers and I don't know how to tell my current teacher.  I'm not even sure I should change.  The reasons I'm changing teachers are:

- she makes me play dull sonatinas by Kuhlau and the odd Hadyn sonata because they are in the book I have.  She doesn't bother to make them interesting.  She knows that I  would practise like crazy if she gave me a Chopin or a Beethoven or something like that because I'm already interested in those.  Instead she gives me songs I have no interest in and doesn't even try to make them interesting.

- She treats them as exercises.  One lesson, she'll tell me to learn two pages and then another two the next and in 2-3 weeks we move on to a new song even though I've not had the time to master or memorize the piece.  I can learn a dozen pieces and have nothing to play when someone asks.

- After four years, I've not have a recital, performance or competition of any sort.  And I have stage-fright.  It's so bad that I sometimes suffer stage fright when playing for her.  I get all nervous and slip over all the notes with shaking hands and try not to laugh (I laugh when nervous) but she just attributes it all to lack of practice. 

-  She believes in progressive learning and that everyone should learn the same pieces.  Definitely not pieces above their level.  And if someting is way below my level, she tells me to learn it myself and will give no real help.  She told me that songs can't improve technique.  Only Hanon can!  If I can't play a song fast or well, it's probably because I haven't had enough slow Hanon practice.

- She doesn't know what TO is.  Although I 've seen her use TO, TU and a mix of both, probably from instinct.  Fingers must always be perfectly curved.  Flat finger playing = WRONG.  Wrist movement is forbidden and only fingers should do any playing.  She isn't open-minded about such things either.

- I go to a sort of music school which is  a shoplot used as a showroom with classes in the back.  She doesn't really seem interested in teaching me and will walk out halfway through my playing to do I-have-no-idea-what but I've seen her chatting with colleagues and the manager sometimes during such absences.  When I tell her not to, she claims that she is still listening.  But I feel that she just isn't interested in my musical education.  I practise almost daily to play to the walls of a claustrophobic room at the end of the week.

- She doesn't bother with aural training.  Not until the last 3-4 lessons before an exam.  Then, at that eleventh hour, she suddenly expects me to sight-sing and clap accurately.  She'll become very frustrated and scold loudly, almost yelling sometimes, as if it was my fault. 

- Any theory she teaches me is for exam purposes.  She doesn't seem to think there is any other reason to learn theory.  Composing has to be away from the piano because there won't be a piano for me to try it during exams.  She doesn't think composing is an artform but an exercise for an exam.  I have told her that if composing means simply writing a bunch of notes on paper and hoping it comes out nice, I would rather not take the exams but she has ignored me on that issue.  Likewise, I have told her that I'd rather play what I like and not take exams if exams will just mean that I have to play dry things.

Are these reasons enough to change?  I mean she doesn't do it all as straightforward as that.  But after learning from her for four years, I have come to notice all this and it has made me think twice continuing.  I enjoy few of the classes and most of the time, I go there to have my interest of music reduced.  But I'm not sure that I would find a better teacher since Malaysia seems to be plagued by mediocrity.  Or am I just being picky?

And if I should change teachers, how do I put it to her.  I told her today and she asked why.  I stated some of the reasons and perhaps she might change.  She is probably thinking twice about some of them but I seriously doubt that she'll change all that much.  After all, this is not the first time I complained.  She didn't seem to take me seriously.  Thinking that I'd better get it to her clearly that I wasn't joking, I told her again at the end of the class and she seemed to be pretty upset about it. For some reason, I'm feeling very bad about it.  How do I put it to her nicely?

I have put much thought into it and have been wanting to change teachers for quite a while but finding a better teacher and not wanting a to get into an argument with my teacher has detered me until today, when I finally had enough... courage(?).

Please help.

Chopinisque.

PS I apologize if I sound garbled, am too wordy or whinny but I'm really feeling desperate.  I feel like if I continue like this, I might get nowhere.

Edit:  Also, I do practice lots so it shouldn't be that.  However, I also split my practice time between her pieces and rogue pieces that I learn in secret on my own.  I have shown her a few of these and she has ignored them.  I'm forced to do this to keep my interest for the piano alive.  (Or that's what I think I'm doing.  On second thought, it might also be because I like learning pieces rogue.  Probably a mix of both)

[kembleguy]

Chopinisque,

I was in the same sort of situation about a year ago. After nearly 2 1/2 years of lessons I found that there wasn't much progress in my playing, especially technique-wise. I asked for technical exercises (such as Hanon) and wanted more structure on the long term (setting goals, playing for example etudes to achieve those goals etc.) instead of playing whatever piece I liked. I felt that my teacher wouldn't be able to teach me like that, because she hated technical exercises herself and never got somesort of diploma. So I started looking around and took a number of 'preview' lessons (I don't know the right word for a free lesson you take to learn about a teacher and his/her way of teaching before actually taking lessons) to pick a teacher who would understand me and have the experience and skills to give loads of feedback. And, although I found it very hard to tell my former teacher " Hey, I don't want any lessons from you anymore", I'm very glad I did it. My new teacher shows me new pieces, tels about experiences he had in concert (organ mostly) and came with some technical exercise 'ideas' (not only Czerny, but also Clementi sonatinas and Heller etudes, which I think are very fun to play). I now heve the feeling that all the effort I'm putting in practicing really is worth it and leads to something. It boosted my motivation too.

I'd say look around to see what teachers you can find in your neighbourhood. Use the experience you've had with your current teacher to know what you want so that you can ask potential new teachers what they think about your ideas and what their plans would be if you decided to take their lessons. If you can't find a better teacher that then, well, uh... You will! If it wouldn't be on the basis of skills than on grounds of a better personality. A teacher who understands you, comes up with own ideas and tries hard for you but can't play that well is also motivating more than an ignorant 'ah well, at least I make some money out of it...' teacher.

I hope my post makes sense to you. Good luck.

[shasma]

well i've sometimes felt this with my current teacher, i've had him for about 6 years now i think. the major problem i'm having with him is that he doesn't really understand what kind of pieces that i want to play. sometimes he gives me pieces that i really don't like to play, and then i play kind of poorly and he'll just make me practise it more. the only solution there is to these kind of problems with a teacher is to talk to him/her. i tell him that i can't find that specific something that's in some pieces, and he'll either help me see the beauty of the piece or just introduce me to another piece that i can work on at the same time.

my advice is to just tell him/her how you feel about your situation. i know it's awkward and you don't want to hurt your teacher's feelings but you have to think about your own musical progress. sometimes it just doesn't work with a specific teacher and it doesn't have to be your or her fault.  she has a specific way of teaching, it'll suit some of her pupils, some pupils will hate it. you are obviously the latter category... just be honest that's the best thing i think, but if she takes it really personal it might be better to take lessons with another teacher. i can't imagine how horrible it would be to play in front of someone that loathes you.. lol... i guess i'm encouraging you to look for another teacher, since you know what you are looking for in a teacher it'll surely not be too hard to find someone that you really think can make your learning a lot of fun

[steinwayguy]

Get a new teacher as soon as possible.

[BoliverAllmon]

if you are unhappy with the outcome of your lessons with your teacher then get a new one. Don't waste your life and talent away with someone who could care less. I was stuck at college with a real crapper of a teacher. Her main method was to just to bang it out on the piano until miraculously it comes together.  I had to finally pay for private lessons on the side to another faculty  member. Since doing that though, my playing has improved greatly. Don't waste any time. There is too much music to learn.

boliver allmon

[galonia]

I'm changing teachers and I don't know how to tell my current teacher. I'm not even sure I should change.

...

And if I should change teachers, how do I put it to her. I told her today and she asked why. I stated some of the reasons and perhaps she might change. She is probably thinking twice about some of them but I seriously doubt that she'll change all that much. After all, this is not the first time I complained. She didn't seem to take me seriously. Thinking that I'd better get it to her clearly that I wasn't joking, I told her again at the end of the class and she seemed to be pretty upset about it. For some reason, I'm feeling very bad about it. How do I put it to her nicely?

If you don't think this teacher is giving you what you need and want, and you have already discussed it with her with no results, then you should definitely change teachers.  You need to find someone whose goals match yours.

And by the sounds of what you've written, your teacher doesn't seem all that interested in your musical development/education, as you have pointed out, so I don't think she will take it too personally if you go to someone else.  She may be upset by the loss of income, but that's not your concern.  If she does take it personally, then she is probably thinking that you're a fool for not following her methods, especially if she is adamant her methods work.  But since you feel her methods don't work for you, then that is not your problem what she believes.

I trust my teacher entirely; I think for myself, but I know I can do this because my teacher encourages me to explore and experiment.  At the same time, I know she gives good advice, so I can always try what she suggests.

So find yourself a teacher who works for you, with whom you feel comfortable, but just tell your current teacher that you're leaving.  You don't have to justify anything to her.  Just give her enough notice, as per your agreement.

[will]

Are these reasons enough to change?

Without question.

Or am I just being picky?

No. Even if yes, you have a right to be picky.

And if I should change teachers, how do I put it to her. I'm feeling very bad about it.  How do I put it to her nicely?

There is no reason to feel bad about it. Tell her thank you for all she has done for you. Say you would like to change to another teacher simply to get another perspective on playing piano.

[chopinisque]

I guess I must be right then to change teachers.  Thanks.

[sznitzeln]

I was rather shocked by your post...
Especially by this:

- She doesn't know what TO is.  Although I 've seen her use TO, TU and a mix of both, probably from instinct.  Fingers must always be perfectly curved.  Flat finger playing = WRONG.  Wrist movement is forbidden and only fingers should do any playing.  She isn't open-minded about such things either.

I have seen lots of top shelf pianists play through hellish passage work with straight fingers... Especially pianists with small hands... We all have our own position...

And as for the wrist movement... ITS ESSENTIAL
And you play piano with all of your body... not strictly with the fingers...
Technique becomes SO much easier when using the entire arm... Often the arm moves like the musical phrase... The fingers follow..
When you play a scale you should strive for the feeling of making a glissando.

But I also think you shouldn't forget about the fingers... I believe finger dexterity is also very important.

You should absolutely find another teacher.

Jacob