Should I look for another teacher?

[Arty]

I recently got my first job in a community theater as a rehearsal pianist.
I thought I could make some money with my piano playing and pay for my lessons.

But when I told my piano teacher, she started saying things like "Oh, it's only a small theatre."  "How do you get the connection?" "There are so many pianists out there they can hire, why did they hire you?"

Well I answered an ad and played for the directors and they hired me.

Near showtime, I was asked to pass along a poster and I brought one to my lesson one day, hoping my teacher would put it up. But she just told me to put it on the piano. The next lesson, the poster disappeared completely.

The dates are clearly printed on the poster. But when the show ended, my teacher asked if I were still playing at the theatre and I answered " The show is over." She replied in a surprised tone, "Oh, it's over already?"

After the theatre job, I began to learn the first movement of the Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto.
I cannot play it up to tempo after one week of learning the notes and yet my teacher just listened and said in my lesson, " I am afraid it has to be much faster. It has to be much faster."

Should I look for another teacher?

Any ideas?

Thanks

[ludwig]

Hi Arty,

Are you getting anything out of your lessons? From what you've said your teacher seems a little un-supportive and a little vague on certain things but I cant give any advice unless I know what she's like when teaching, does she give obvious and not so detailed comments? Is she merely observing or actually teaching you ways of practicing, learning etc..? Personally I feel that for progressive and effective lessons, the student and the teacher should have a good relationship and the teacher should be supportive while the student should appreciate and respect the decisions or advice the teacher gives... Do you communicate well with her? Is she a difficult person?

[Arty]

Hi Arty,

Are you getting anything out of your lessons? From what you've said your teacher seems a little un-supportive and a little vague on certain things but I cant give any advice unless I know what she's like when teaching, does she give obvious and not so detailed comments? Is she merely observing or actually teaching you ways of practicing, learning etc..? Personally I feel that for progressive and effective lessons, the student and the teacher should have a good relationship and the teacher should be supportive while the student should appreciate and respect the decisions or advice the teacher gives... Do you communicate well with her? Is she a difficult person?

She encourages me to play a lot of music. When I do something wrong, she'll say, "Why do you do this?" If I don't play my phrases well enough, she'll throw in comments like "Are you typing? You should make the music speak. Practise your left hand/right hand more" If I ask her how to make good phrases, she'll answer "You know how to make phrases."

Mainly, I play for her, she observes and throw in comments like " I don't understand your rhythm... this is unmusical...you should know how to practise..."

If the phone rings, she'll check it or sometimes she'll scribble something on her appointment book or disappear to another room for a moment.

A lot of times, I listen to several recordings and try to copy the way they make phrases.

She is sensitive. Once, after playing a new piece for the first time, I sort of said, so, this is the opening section and she got really upset, saying "Of course I know this piece very very well, you don't have to tell me!"

So, usually, I play in the lessons and get feed back from my teacher, go home and try to fix things up by listening to recordings, reading books, the web, magazines etc...

[TheHammer]

Okay, it seems to me that you already made up your mind about your own question. You ask us if you should change teachers, and then you name all the negative points you can imagine about your current teacher. I mean, there is really NOTHING positive in your post. Before asking, you already (perhaps sub-consciously) made up your mind, and gave us exactly the information we would need to assure you that changing teacher would be the best thing to do.

Now, I am not saying that this is not the case: you are definatly disappointed with your teacher, and this indicates that she does not fit you very well, so looking for a new one might be worth a consideration.
However, if you really want us to help you, give more balanced information! (On the other hand, perhaps there is nothing positive about her to tell..., well then you certainly should change).

Oh, and btw, do not assume that she is generally a BAD teacher. It might be very well that you just do not fit her. You mentionned that you need help from here on several issues, whereas she always responds that you "should know". This indicates that you want something from her she is not able/willing to give. For clarification read this excellent (and very long) Bernhard-post on the four stages of teaching.

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2450.msg21250.html#msg21250

Good luck

[Arty]

However, if you really want us to help you, give more balanced information! (On the other hand, perhaps there is nothing positive about her to tell..., well then you certainly should change).

Here's the positive side :

There are times when my teacher would flatter me by saying "Wow, your technique and playing has improved so much! You are doing so well."
She always reminds me that in the real world I cannot run to her all the time and get answers. There are always critics in the audience and people will say bad things about you even if you have tried your best. I cannot be a baby who cries and expect Mummy to pick me up....

I think what happens is that my teacher does not like to spoon feed me. My repertoire has expanded immensely under her tutelage. People have noticed a steady improvement in my playing. 

If it sounds negative, it is the way she speaks. She seldom smiles. Her face is stiff. "Everything is hard. Life is harsh, life as a musician is extremely difficult, sometimes painful. You have to shed many tears to become one. If you play like this, no conductor wants to work with you..."

If you have seen the movie "The Piano Teacher" My teacher is sort of like the Piano Professor Erika (without the weird stuff).

I'd say her teaching methods are very effective for me. But I guess my question is should I start looking into another who is more cheerful in manners and at the same time help me to continue to improve?

[ludwig]

I think what happens is that my teacher does not like to spoon feed me. My repertoire has expanded immensely under her tutelage. People have noticed a steady improvement in my playing. 


I'd say her teaching methods are very effective for me. But I guess my question is should I start looking into another who is more cheerful in manners and at the same time help me to continue to improve?

okies, now that I know the positives I suggest you rethink about it.... You have described 2 different problems in this post
1) You need specific feedback, sometimes people need to be instructed, when you hear the results after those instructions you'll gain experience and know how to create that sound/acquire a technical skill etc... maybe you should talk to her about this, state that sometimes you are confused with her comments because you do not know how to achieve the results she's asking....
2) Her negative attitude makes you feel pessimistic about playing in general. But this is contradicted when you say she praises you for the good work you've done. Maybe from all the traumatic and harsh experiences she's had as a pianist she feels the need to speak the truth and thus pushing you harder in your piano playing....

You have said that her teaching method is very effective for you learning.. I think this is a great experience, except the fact that she needs to explain and elaborate what she wants you to do to achieve something. I don't think there's anything wrong with an uncheerful teacher, unless she's somehow discouraging from your learning...

Are you one of her good students? How long have you been learning with her? Do you dislike her as a person? Does she inspire you to practice? Will you find a "better" teacher not considering the personality/negativity? I think you should ask yourself these questions and more...

[rhapsody in orange]

Hmm how about being more positive towards your teacher? You can try smiling to her or being friendlier to her, and maybe she would retaliate. Communicate with your teacher, talk to her and let her know how you feel about the music and stuff. This might lighten the mood during lessons instead of having the i-am-the-teacher-you'd-better-listen-me mood.
And you mentioned that her teaching methods are very effective for you, so that's another point you should consider as well. If you change to another teacher, his/her teaching methods might not work that well for you.

[Jacey1973]

If you have seen the movie "The Piano Teacher" My teacher is sort of like the Piano Professor Erika (without the weird stuff).

I'd say her teaching methods are very effective for me. But I guess my question is should I start looking into another who is more cheerful in manners and at the same time help me to continue to improve?

Hey sorry to digress - but what's this movie called "The Piano Tecaher", i've never heard of it...

[Arty]

Are you one of her good students? How long have you been learning with her? Do you dislike her as a person? Does she inspire you to practice? Will you find a "better" teacher not considering the personality/negativity? I think you should ask yourself these questions and more...

Yes. She has said before that she enjoyed teaching me.
I have been studying with her for 2 years since my last teacher passed away.
I cannot say I don't like her. She has not done anything bad. It's just she is below average in looks and the way she says things make her very unattractive.
My problem would be to find a more pleasant, charismatic teacher.
It might take me years to find one.
Oh well, maybe I am too demanding as a student.

[Arty]

Hey sorry to digress - but what's this movie called "The Piano Tecaher", i've never heard of it...

The Piano Teacher is a movie based on a novel of the same name, written by the 2004 winner of the Nobel Prize For Literature, Elfriede Jelinek.

The author is an accomplished pianist who attended the Vienna Music Conservatory.

There is a website about the movie.
https://www.kino.com/pianoteacher/

However, don't watch it if you are faint hearted. It is emotionally disturbing.
Some people find it sickening. The story is about  Erika Kohut, a  piano professor at the Vienna Conservatory, who becomes involved in a perverse, destructive relationship with a student.

The movie contains scenes of nudity and violence.
Viewers discretion is advised.
Rated R

There is an existing thread:
https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4143.msg38306.html#msg38306

[greyrune]

I cannot say I don't like her. She has not done anything bad. It's just she is below average in looks and the way she says things make her very unattractive.

I wouldn't have thought attractiveness is an improtant quality in a teacher.  It might even be bad, could be a distraction if you spend all lesson oggling them (there was an amusing post i saw in the teaching section about a student who spent the most part of the lesson with an erection, i don't know how true it was but it proves my point.)  If you get on with her i would take her negative comments as a good thing.  I've yet to find a teacher that will constantly praise me, the exact opposite in fact, and i've found it much more motivationg.  If you only hear the bad things you work harder on them and try to correct them.  If you are told how wonderful you are then all that will happen is that your ego will be boosted and you'll stop working so hard.  Well this is how it works for me at least, i don't know about others. 

My problem would be to find a more pleasant, charismatic teacher.
It might take me years to find one.
Oh well, maybe I am too demanding as a student.

Yes maybe you are.  Maybe she is not the teacher you click best with but i would say if you are being pushed and are progressing well then stick with her.  On the other hand if you are actually unhappy, dislike going to lessons, aren't learning, by all means change.

[quantum]

For me it is absoutly essential to have a teacher that I can both get along with and be inspired.  If lesson time is enjoyable it helps you progress and a much better rate.  I do agree that finding a teacher you click with may take some effort, but it is well worth it.  Your teacher may be a good teacher, but the chemistry between the both of you may not be the best mix. 

[whynot]

Your teacher isn't pretty enough for you?  Maybe she feels your disdain for her lack of physical beauty and that makes her extra stiff with you.  I have other questions about your posts, because changing teachers is such an interesting and important topic, but I can't get past the fact that her unattractiveness bothers you.  I find that very saddening.     

[sznitzeln]

I think its good that your teacher doesnt spood feed you, and that she does critisize as well as praise you. Both sides are important. That she is strange shouldnt be a problem, not to you I think its interresting with strange people. My teacher  can say pretty horrible things, but they have a grain of humour in them, and I dont take his critisism too literarily. It also makes me have more conficende in him, that he can say pretty controversial things and be sure about them, and doesnt worry about being politically correct.

But what you wrote is somewhat different, and I think this is very very serious. It seems she is jealous of your success and almost wants to hold you back. If I were you I'd look for a new teacher, but keep this one until you find someone that is as talented and knowledgable, and also honest, but whose critisisim is more constructive.

If you want you can try to talk things out with your teacher, but I believe that you cant change a teacher. (Unless the teacher shows a willingness to co-operate). But if she gets upset because you told her something she already knew, it doesnt seem to be the case.

Its good to have different teachers also, good cop, bad cop
One that tells you that you are so much better than everyone else, and one that says you play like crap
Find a "good cop" ...

good luck, J