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Joined: Jan 2011
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When a student signs up for piano lessons, they are expected to work really hard every day of the week. So you're teacher probably isn't giving you praise because you are doing what is expected.
But if you are looking for this kind of praise, I agree with the others here --- there are plenty of teachers out there who will give it to you. You should begin looking for a new instructor.
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When a student signs up for piano lessons, they are expected to work really hard every day of the week. So you're teacher probably isn't giving you praise because you are doing what is expected.
But if you are looking for this kind of praise, I agree with the others here --- there are plenty of teachers out there who will give it to you. You should begin looking for a new instructor. I strongly disagree with that advice. You are saying that the student should look for a new instructor because he is being taught well, taken seriously, and probably advancing. That is not a good reason to change instructors.
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I strongly disagree with that advice. You are saying that the student should look for a new instructor because he is being taught well, taken seriously, and probably advancing. That is not a good reason to change instructors.
No, that's not what I was saying. I'm sure she's a great teacher or he probably wouldn't be putting in the time at home. I'm saying the student should seek a new teacher because he is looking for a personality that this teacher doesn't exhibit.
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It seems that from what everyone is saying that I shouldn't expect any acknowledgement of the work I put in from my piano instructor.... "Everyone"? I sure hadn't. And I see that some later posts didn't either. And in my view it's about more than just "acknowledgment of your work": it's encouragement and positive reinforcement. We shouldn't necessarily "expect" it, because some people just don't give it, and some people don't need it. If you're a person who thrives on such reinforcement and perhaps needs it, then I would say you would do best with a teacher who is the type of person who does give it. I don't think I could do with a teacher who didn't. I'm not talking about "gushing with praise" either. I think the posts that talked about that were sort of 'beating a straw man' -- taking what you said to an extreme that you didn't mean, and then easily criticizing it.
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On the other side of that particular coin: I'm an ex-classroom teacher (hopefully) at a school. As I watch my fellow teachers 'gush praise' for the load of old crap these kids come up with I do nearly want to puke! I just may have too much self respect to that anymore myself - and yet there are threatening murmurs...
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Noch ein mal "gush with praise"......
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No, that's not what I was saying. I'm sure she's a great teacher or he probably wouldn't be putting in the time at home.
I'm saying the student should seek a new teacher because he is looking for a personality that this teacher doesn't exhibit.
Well here are some thoughts. When we begin lessons at a later age, we may not know what is involved, and so we may look for the wrong thing. If I am looking for the wrong thing due to lack of knowledge, I would not want to be advised on how to find it, because it will not serve me. In this case a teacher who gives praise instead of a teacher who gives playing tools will not help the OP to learn to play well. At the end of the day, a student wants to learn to play well, and teacher personality is a distant third as a way of getting to that goal.
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Noch ein mal "gush with praise"...... Gush mit erbrechen!
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Noch ein mal "gush with praise"...... Gush mit erbrechen! That's kind of what y'all are doing by keeping on repeating the phrase.....the OP never said anything like it.
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I'm saying the student should seek a new teacher because he is looking for a personality that this teacher doesn't exhibit.
Well here are some thoughts. When we begin lessons at a later age, we may not know what is involved, and so we may look for the wrong thing. If I am looking for the wrong thing due to lack of knowledge, I would not want to be advised on how to find it, because it will not serve me. In this case a teacher who gives praise instead of a teacher who gives playing tools will not help the OP to learn to play well. At the end of the day, a student wants to learn to play well, and teacher personality is a distant third as a way of getting to that goal. Keystring, I completely agree. You are there to learn how to play. However, it seems that every time a person asks on these forums about what to look for in a teacher, a good personality fit is always mentioned as a key component that is very important, which I agree with you is a very minor requirement.
Blues and Boogie-Woogie piano teacher.
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....it seems that every time a person asks on these forums about what to look for in a teacher, a good personality fit is always mentioned as a key component that is very important, which I agree...is a very minor requirement. Maybe for some people it's a minor requirement, but for many, it's major, and sometimes extremely major. It sounds like for the OP, it may well be.
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I can see that it would be for some people. But with the exception of a very mean-spirited teacher, the student should work with what they have in the teacher, and focus on learning how to play the piano.
As a teacher I have to do essentially the same thing in reverse...learn to work with all styles and types of students and their personalities. I don't get to cherry-pick personality styles with my students, and have never "fired" a student because of such an issue. I just deal with it, and learn a lot in the process.
Blues and Boogie-Woogie piano teacher.
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I think as a paying customer, you have the right to want to have some positive reinforcement. That isn't important to everyone, but maybe it is important to the OP. And I don't get the feel that the OP is looking for gushing or over the top compliments. Just some acknowledgement.
I also think it's well within a teacher's right to decide a student isn't a good fit in his/her studio. I know my son's teacher has done that. Mainly because he doesn't think students are practicing. He isn't necessarily care how fast students are moving, but unless you're at the piano 5-6 a week for a reasonable amount of time, he will know and he will encourage you to move on before giving you the ax.
I think personality may be a minor requirement for those prepping for conservatory and professionals. But for young kids and people playing for pleasure, I don't think it's so horrible to want to actually want to come out of your lesson feeling happy and gratified.
Last edited by kck; 02/23/11 02:44 PM.
Amateur musician, piano and violin parent
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I also think it's well within a teacher's right to decide a student isn't a good fit in his/her studio. I know my son's teacher has done that. Mainly because he doesn't think students are practicing.
Not practicing is a different issue than what we are talking about.
Blues and Boogie-Woogie piano teacher.
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To no one and everyone: I don't believe in insincere praise. It's a lie. Any other praise is good. Human beings need encourgement. My students need it from me, and *I* need it from *them*. Let me quickly voice my usual general irritation at an incredible amount of assuming about what the OP means, and what the teacher is doing. It's why I now generally avoid this forum.
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....Any other praise is good. Human beings need encouragement. My students need it from me, and *I* need it from *them*.... Great point. That's a flip-side of the issue. Teachers are people too. And just as what has been said about students, maybe not all teachers need that. But some or most probably do need it, or at least very much appreciate it, to one extent or another. P.S. I do some consulting work and I'm rarely given any direct show of appreciation -- and I've learned to accept that. It's basically just "business." The way they show their appreciation is they pay me, and they use me again. But IMO music teaching, while it's also a 'business,' is quite different.
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Different strokes for different folks. I like a little positive reinforcement now and then, and try to give it as well! My adult student, especially, seems to appreciate when I notice that she is getting something that she's struggled with previously. I have to work at it at bit, because as I sit in the teacher's chair, it is easy for me to pick apart everything. Seems I can always find something to improve. Sometimes I have to recognize that what this child needs is a "good job" and to move on.
When my son was looking for potential colleges, he had trial lessons with a number of different teachers. His teacher up to that point was a great encourager, exactly what he needed to gain confidence and skills. But as he visited different college teachers, he told me that he was grateful for the praise, but maybe he was ready for someone a little tougher. Many of the teachers he was meeting were very positive and friendly and eager to work with him, but didn't seem to be pulling him further. Then he had a lesson with a teacher who did not praise at all. He criticized everything. It seemed my son did nothing well. My son felt terrible, embarrassed, inept. He was very shaken by that lesson, and said, okay, maybe he'd like a teacher a little bit more in the middle!
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I want to go back on some of what I said. Praise or recognition are also important, because it is hard work, sometimes with no visible progress to the student's perception. When you have put 7 - 14 hours into what you present to the teacher the following week, then it's human to want some kind of response once in a while. I think what I was actually addressing were the perceptions that I mentioned which are often there, and that can get in the way. But that doesn't mean that this is where the OP is at.
So how do teachers feel about it: Do you need recognition from students about a job well done? Or is the fact that a student consistently tries what you say and progresses through it enough of statement?
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It is possible to push people hard, be really "tough" about important things AND give lots of encouragement.
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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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