New teacher says student should quit piano and try another instrument

[pascalxus]

So, my wife decided to try out a new piano teacher because he was highly recommended by friends.  He's not exactly a "teacher" but rather a performer who does some teaching on the side to make ends meat.  He's very expensive and somewhat selective about the students he takes because he prefers to teach older more advanced kids.


So, we bring my 9 year old daughter there and he has asks her to play some pieces she's working on.  She's in the Nancy faber series and learned all the pieces from level 1, level 2, level 3A and is now on 3B and just happened to be on the Jeopardy theme song in that book (admittedly, probably not the best way to make a good impression on a new teacher).  After hearing her play this and finding out that she's been learning from a teacher that teaches nancy faber, he politely recommended that our daughter switch to another instrument.  I asked why and he said it was because she'll never reach a high level of proficiency in piano (at least high enough to where things get "interesting"). 

I didn't get the feeling that our daughter is struggling.  She seems to learn all the pieces with ease (just 10 min of practice per day for a week and she can easily play any piece in 3B).  Admitedly, she doesnt want to practice much but still enjoys piano lessons.

Is he correct?  does the nancy faber series ruin a kid's chances of playing at an ameteur advanced level?

[lelle]

If she is enjoying herself she is already at a high enough level where things get "interesting".

I think it's such a sad mindset that people shouldn't have lessons if they don't show the potential to react some arbitrary level of proficiency.

What matters is if you enjoy yourself. The only reason to switch instruments is because you want to.

Teacher honestly sounds narrow minded and boring to me. Find a teacher who is happy to provide stimulating lessons at the level your daughter is at.

[ranjit]

After hearing her play this and finding out that she's been learning from a teacher that teaches nancy faber, he politely recommended that our daughter switch to another instrument.  I asked why and he said it was because she'll never reach a high level of proficiency in piano (at least high enough to where things get "interesting"). 

This is so dumb it honestly makes me angry. There are concert pianists who started out when they were 9 years old. If Faber is a bad way to learn, you suggest switching teacher. You make your assessment of how a student might learn based on what you see in terms of their strengths and weaknesses, and even that is just a preliminary assessment.

What the teacher should have said: I think starting kids out with Faber gives them a poor foundation. I would suggest you find a teacher who teaches using this other method instead. Then maybe come back to me after a couple of years once you reach X level.

Instead, the teacher seems to believe that deficiencies in the first couple of years playing piano can never be fixed. I have seen people learn piano in all sorts of ways, and it is seldom a straight line. I have seen people start in high school go on to become piano performance students.

[geopianoincanada]

Dump that "teacher".

[lostinidlewonder]

...He's very expensive and somewhat selective about the students he takes because he prefers to teach older more advanced kids.
...my 9 year old daughter ...She's in the Nancy faber series ...now on 3B ....Jeopardy theme song .... After hearing her play ....he politely recommended that our daughter switch to another instrument.  .... he said it was because she'll never reach a high level of proficiency in piano

There are two important issues at work here.
1) If he is solely interested in advanced children then your daughter does not fit his criterion, this is clear based on the works she is doing.
2) He has no right in telling you she should switch instrument, it's just outright rudeness and he demonstrates he has a very limited view as to how to nurture the many piano journeys that are possible.

He really should have said that your daughter isn't advanced enough for lessons with him and here are a selection of other teachers that would be more appropriate. That would be a fine response, not this oh give up piano you'll never be good enough garbage.

Personally if I were only to teach advanced students (which I don't) and your daughter came to me I would provide her with the amount of material I would expect my average advanced student her age to get through. The content of the work would either make her work bloody hard to get the work done or she would just admit she dislikes lessons with me and can't keep up with it. I've had students say to me in the past that they want to be a concerting pianist but I know they are far away from doing such things, so I put them in a regieme to work towards that and they often then realize it was a bad idea. I don't have to tell them anything just show them what is needed!

Also why would you bother spending much money for a teacher if your daughter isn't obsessed with playing the piano? You mention she doesn't like to practice a whole lot but enjoys piano lessons. You can find a much better teacher who would charge a lot less and give your daughter the enjoyment of piano at the level she is comfortable with. Children who play at a very high level and are highly motivated will generally practice the piano hours and hours a day, if that isn't your daughter then don't go for a teacher like you have described here.

What the teacher should have said: I think starting kids out with Faber gives them a poor foundation. I would suggest you find a teacher who teaches using this other method instead. Then maybe come back to me after a couple of years once you reach X level.

I think that it doesn't necessarily give a poor foundation it depends on the student. I would hope that it isn't solely the material the student learns with though!

[00range]

In this context, telling a student to switch instruments is staggering stupid.

In my experience I have found teachers who only want to teach advanced students really don't know how to teach, or are too lazy to. Much easier to have already accomplished musicians come in, pay you, offer some token advice on interpretation and send them on their way, after all he has his performing career to worry about.