What to do after no longer having a private teacher

[astrelin]

I recently started university and since I moved from my hometown I no longer take lessons. I have access to piano practice rooms so I have been playing on my own for the past semester. I was a serious and advanced student in high school and did a lot of competitions and performances, I've played a few concertos with orchestra before and performed some difficult pieces. I am still feeling kind of lost without a teacher though, I want to learn new pieces and get better but I don't really feel confident in teaching myself. Recently I've been learning chamber music to play with my uni friends and some Chopin etudes on the side to improve my technique where I think it's lacking, and I'm thinking of picking up a classical sonata and something from the WTC. I feel like I would miss a lot of important musical and technical details learning something without a teacher and in general would appreciate any advice for my situation -- teaching myself, how to learn repertoire, etc. Thanks!

[lostinidlewonder]

Likely it is a case of developing your self confidence. You already have a lot of training and lessons under your belt so draw from those lessons and ask yourself what would you have gone through in your lessons. The more you do it the more comfortable you will become with your self guided journey. You can always look for a teacher who might give you a lessons every now and then just to check if what you have been doing is on the right track.

[geopianoincanada]

When I abruptly lost my first teacher a while ago I fell into a terrible blue funk. I couldn't even go near my piano. It felt like a close family member had died, that is how close my teacher meant to me.

After some time examining whether I should enroll in a private music school, or try things solo, or try to find a new teacher I chose the last selection and I did find another teacher who is at least as good as my first teacher.

Yet I have never forgotten the magic of our lessons times together, first teacher and I.

[pianistavt]

It's sounds like you might be 18 or so, so it makes perfect sense that you want to continue with a teacher, rather than on your own.  I'm not sure what Univ you're going to, but most I know of have a music department.  You should go and talk to them - perhaps ask to meet with one of the piano faculty.  I'm sure they can make some recommendations.   Or, have you already done this?

[astrelin]

It's sounds like you might be 18 or so, so it makes perfect sense that you want to continue with a teacher, rather than on your own.  I'm not sure what Univ you're going to, but most I know of have a music department.  You should go and talk to them - perhaps ask to meet with one of the piano faculty.  I'm sure they can make some recommendations.   Or, have you already done this?

The piano faculty at my uni charge several times more than my old piano teacher did, and my old teacher was already $100USD/hr with a DMA, and BM/MM from Juilliard. They are $300-$400/hr if you're not a music major, which I'm not. So it is impossible for me because financially it's just too much right now I'm just planning to do my best without a teacher, and maybe when I have a career and can pay for lessons I'll look for a teacher.

[pianistavt]

You're talking yourself out of a challenge with your rational dead-end thinking.

Networking is an important aspect of life.  It doesn't come naturally/easy to most.  University is the time and place to start developing these skills - they'll be used for the rest of your life.   Try to pick someone who seems friendly.  They may be able to recommend someone nearby, outside of the university.  I think they should have you on their radar, sounds like you're very accomplished.

[ranjit]

The piano faculty at my uni charge several times more than my old piano teacher did, and my old teacher was already $100USD/hr with a DMA, and BM/MM from Juilliard. They are $300-$400/hr if you're not a music major, which I'm not. So it is impossible for me because financially it's just too much right now I'm just planning to do my best without a teacher, and maybe when I have a career and can pay for lessons I'll look for a teacher.

Given that you are already a student at the university, and a very accomplished pianist, see if someone might give you a discount. Additionally, you can take lessons every two weeks or every month -- professors will usually be amenable to that kind of arrangement. You can try to approach people after performances, for instance. It's hard, I know, but worth a shot imo.

[stringoverstrung]

You could go for a  demanding piece and then arrange see your teacher once every quarter to get guidance.

this can help to focus and to get some great advice in a limited time window.