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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,678
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But I wouldn't get too excited about this. He probably says to potential female students that they have the sensitivity and intellect to master this instrument. If he believes it, then he is operating on stereotypes and risks not seeing a student how he/she really is. That can hurt proper guidance. If he doesn't believe it, then he is being dishonest which is not good in that kind of relationship. That statement would keep me away for either reason.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 365
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...Teacher started with telling about his qualifications. He has a degree in music from an UK university............ He is one of those few teacher with honors degree around This is a joke right? I'm sorry but I got music degree from a UK university too and despite paino being my 'principal' instrument when I was there I was under no illusions that I was given any instruction on how to be a teacher. Most UK universities focus primarily on the academic world, the pursuit of knowledge and ideas through research and discussion. They are not 'skills training' facilities - and are certainly not professional centres of excellence. I learnt a great deal from my music degree. I learnt a lot of music history and the development of lots of ideas. I learnt how to write coherent essays and how to discuss oposing points of view with people without getting upset. I did not learn much about playing the piano and I certainly didnt learn anything about how to teach people. My music degree has helped me a lot in my career (in Information Technology) and along with my uni peers I know very few who actually work in musical fields since their degree did not (and was never intended to) really equip them for that. Do not confuse a non-vocational university degree with a music college qualification (where they DO focus on skills rather than academic pursuits and are more likely to teach students how to become good teachers). All that said this guy *may* be all that and more - but on the basis of your description of his lesson he sounds like a fool and best avoided. Apart from anything else do you really want to spend a lot of time and develop an intimate teacher/student relationship with someone so pushy and full of themselves? Grade 8 in 4 years?... yeah... right....
Parent.... Orchestral Viola player (stictly amateur).... Hack Pianist.... (faded skills from glory days 20 yrs ago) Vague Guitar & Bass player.... (former minor income stream 15 yrs ago) Former conductor... (been a long time since I was set loose with a magic wand!)
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Joined: Jun 2010
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Good point DadAgain, It would be hard to develope a good relationship with such teacher. However, I need to mention that he has MANY students. Perhaps it's just his standard procedure? Btw I'm working in IT field too @MaryBee: right MaryBee, I somewhat find this is a rather gender discrimination. From what I see, females are getting more and more successful in the society. @hippymusicman : Even though I am a complete beginner, I'm not an idiot. The past 2 weeks I have been doing read-up, learning to read notes with the hope to skip these boring parts in lessons. I can say that I can read notes fairly well. I'm a theory person. I can read up and grasp the concepts fairly fast. However, when it comes to "physical skills" - which means actual playing, I would be rather clumsy. I guess GENE play a trick in every one of us. Some people are good at something and or others are good at other things. This is where I need a teacher to guide me along since I'm not "gifted"
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,461
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This teacher is either really good or smoking something really good.
~Stanny~ Independent Music Teacher Certified Piano Teacher, American College of Musicians Member: MTNA, NGPT, ASMTA, NAMTA
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Joined: Jul 2010
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I am self taught in many areas. I am learning to play Jingle bells right now on the piano. I do agree, however, that it is often faster to have a teacher (in other fields). It is a luxury I don't often have. In the case of piano, if I get decent and like it, I'll probably sign up for lessons, too. But if I don't, I'll pursue something else.
Disclosure: I shouldn't even be here and I don't know what I'm talking about when it comes to pianos, piano playing, teaching music, or politics.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 150
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I think it's important you don't become a servant to your teacher. Like in high school, kids are told to learn things without a sense of knowing why... the student assumes the teacher knows what is best for them.. Do NOT assume they are right. Make the decision for yourself.
In my opinion... Music should not be taught with the focus on what the future of music can give back to you. It should focus on how to enjoy the instrument right now. Every step then becomes 'JOY'. Not there is a point of 'JOY' hidden somewhere in the future..
In my experience, there are many teachers who are convinced they know what is right for you without even asking. And because of this, it's always a good idea to constantly ask yourself 'is this benefiting me?'... 'am I receiving JOY?'
Find a teacher who understands how to really enjoy the piano.. or try to enjoy the piano without a teacher.
This post, like every other post I've posted, is just an opinion. Nothing is the 'right' way to go about it.
It would be wise to take ALL the advice given and then make a decision that best suits YOUR needs. Not somebody elses.
Cheers.
... such a vital organ
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Joined: Mar 2010
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I turned off the offer to be his student in the end because I have feeling it's going to be dreadful lessons with high level of expectation from him. Good choice! Question to all teachers: does the level of mastery requires harsh training and stresses? No way! Mastery actually requires the absence of stress. Real mastery that is. Not just, on the surface, "look at the amazing piece I can play" mastery. Real mastery is making meaningful music, right? This takes patience, a holistic perspective - mind, body, emotion and spirit. All four things need to be happy and work together. You can't just force external results and call this "mastery". Has any pianist mastered the instrument through the "joyful way"? The ONLY way to master it is the joyful way! If you include emotion and spirit in your definition of "master". I feel that the teacher is an expert in his field. However I'm afraid it's not going to be enjoying the piano but rather technical drills and stressful training. He's not an expert, he's a technician but not an artist. Should I find another teacher? Of course
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,391
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I think it's important you don't become a servant to your teacher. Like in high school, kids are told to learn things without a sense of knowing why... the student assumes the teacher knows what is best for them.. Do NOT assume they are right. Make the decision for yourself. There is a balance. Young children go through a phase where they ask "why" to everything, even if they don't really care to know the answer. When given an answer, they will repeat "why" unendingly as a little joke. This is one instance where it is better not to answer the question. However, most other times, it is always a pleasure as a teacher when a student of any age asks "why". It shows they care to learn more and to understand, or it shows something that they don't quite understand, or perhaps something that you did not quite explain well enough. I think you are talking from a very limited view here, presuming that all teachers are like the ones you have experienced. Or, perhaps you have been the first example, where you ask "why" without end, not really caring for an answer but simply trying to see how long the charade can go for until they give up answering you. In my opinion... Music should not be taught with the focus on what the future of music can give back to you. It should focus on how to enjoy the instrument right now. Every step then becomes 'JOY'. Not there is a point of 'JOY' hidden somewhere in the future.. I agree 100%, with the caveat that it is a good experience to perform for others in a recital or group lesson setting so that they don't develop a shyness about playing and sharing their love of music with others. In which case, some thought does have to go in preparation for such events. Joy can be found in this, but it's a different kind of joy, one that comes from being diligent and seeing a task through to completion. Also, if a student tells me that they want to pursue music as a career, I will of course take the steps to help them prepare for auditions and life as a musician. Again, there can be joy in this as well, because if you are doing what you love, you even enjoy the work of it. In my experience, there are many teachers who are convinced they know what is right for you without even asking. And because of this, it's always a good idea to constantly ask yourself 'is this benefiting me?'... 'am I receiving JOY?' I often will get students who have no idea what they want to learn, they just love piano and they love the idea of playing piano. As a teacher, then, I must take the lead and teach them what I feel they should know. I always tell them that as they progress, they may encounter pieces they wish to learn and they are always welcome to bring them to me to work on. Sometimes they are not appropriate for their level, and if I think that is the case, I will try to find an easier version of the same piece, or if they really wish to play this version, then I let them know that it would be very difficult and recommend that they use that piece as a goal, and then I will assign them pieces that will help them get to the point where they can attempt the piece. A student can't always see the benefit of doing certain things, however, and at some point they do have to trust the teacher. That *is* why you're paying them. They are the experts and they actually *do* know what is best if they are good at what they do and if they are considering the student's interests as well. At some point, you have to hand over the reins and let them do what you're paying them for.
private piano/voice teacher FT
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,562
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We have to consider that in the case of any freelancer you need to have a package of different skills to make it: 1. Be good at what you do (piano playing in this case). 2. Be good at what you do (teaching in this case). These two are completely differnet, and although in none of the two cases the utter most mastery is requiered I would largely prefer a very good teacher but not soloist for my young sons, or a beginner than an excellent soloist but poor teacher. 3. Be able to sell yourself. This guy may very well have the above two (although this very pushy attitude would destroy the 2nd in my experience), but on No. 3 he simply sucked! For me, and I feel for the rest of the world a trial lesson is a trial lesson, with no strings attached. Otherwise you don't get to call it that! If on the bloody summer you are eager to book your very last free spot this seems quite iffy, to be honest. It's the summer! Unless this guy has a first name of Sviatoslav or something (refering to Richter here), there's little chance he was truly booked for the season to come. Finally, I was in a lawyer today, to draft some contracts needed, etc. He named his prices and I hesitated, since I didn't expect THAT much. But I explained that it's not that he does not deserve the amount, it's that I don't, currently have it. I was put in very mild pressure to start doing work and leave payment until later (since he knows me and trusts me). He won me over by 90%. The 10% remains unsold only because I still don't know this can fit my budget! Point is that no professional in their sane mind will be SO pushy! Bad business, in my opinion!
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,949
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Young children go through a phase where they ask "why" to everything, even if they don't really care to know the answer. When given an answer, they will repeat "why" unendingly as a little joke. This is one instance where it is better not to answer the question. Not just young children!! Some teenagers also get a kick out of asking "why" ad nauseum. My favorite response to such inane questions is: "BECAUSE I SAID SO!!"
Private Piano Teacher and MTAC Member
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Grade 8 in 4 years?... yeah... right.... Oh, this is definitely possible. There is an influx of piano prodigies in recent years. One of my colleagues complains, "They play difficult pieces, but they play without feeling." Well, not the ones that I've heard. These little geniuses will blow your mind.
Private Piano Teacher and MTAC Member
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Question to all teachers: does the level of mastery requires harsh training and stresses? Has any pianist mastered the instrument through the "joyful way"? In my experience, students who can withstand some level of harsh training and stress do tend to be better pianists. Strict teachers tend to churn out better students. On the other hand, I've also seen a handful of teachers who take the inspirational route. They maintain high standards; however, they have pleasant personalities and are really nice to their students. One of them told me, "If you can get the student to want to play the piano, you've won half the battle." I spoke to one of their students, who told me, "My teacher is so nice to me, I want to play well for her." I guess it boils down to matching personalities between the teacher and the student.
Private Piano Teacher and MTAC Member
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To OP: I offer first lesson free to discuss potential student's goals and and find out what they want. After I know what my new client want, then I will tell them how I will provide them the things that they want. I will tell them the curriculum, the time frame to reach their goal and what they have to do to reach their goal. Your teacher doesn't sound like interest in knowing what you want. That is a big turn off for me!
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Joined: Sep 2008
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Question to all teachers: does the level of mastery requires harsh training and stresses? Has any pianist mastered the instrument through the "joyful way"? I feel that the teacher is an expert in his field. However I'm afraid it's not going to be enjoying the piano but rather technical drills and stressful training.
Should I find another teacher? Please share your opinions.
Just because someone has a degree or an "honors" degree, that doesn't necessarily mean they are a good teacher. I think you should steer clear of this teacher if I were you. I absolutely hate when people introduce themselves by essentially reading their resume. If I wanted to know if someone had an overpriced degree, I'd ask. It's obvious the teacher was focused on looking good and not at all focused on getting you started. It doesn't matter if this teacher is an amazing pianist. It's about teaching you!
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Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:34 PM
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Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:23 PM
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