Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Teachers Forum This place is really dead

I've definitely learned some useful things from this forum, ideas that I've incorporated into my own teaching. What stops me from commenting here or asking questions more often is that there are so many non-teachers chiming in with opinions that many threads become uninformative. It's the internet so people are free to say what they want, but taking lessons is a completely different experience than being a teacher.

Well I guess I’m right to stay away then. Shame, because I’d have thought teachers could benefit from the informed opinions of people on the other side of the coin.

The opinions of parents of students don't carry much weight because they are not informed. You really have to go through one year of teaching to really understand many problems.

Burnt out? absolutely.

I don't feel welcome here in the least. I check it every so often, but it's not a place I feel comfortable visiting.

There’s your answer OP. 😊

And this has been the topic of quite a number of relatively hot threads ...

Gosh, so as a teacher you have no interest in the experience and opinion of students, present or former, about particular teaching methods? You would have no interest in hearing from someone who studied for 15 years up to college diploma level, that’s just irrelevant to you? That’s mind blowing, but it sure explains why this board is dead.

Piano_Dad - and I think I might be stepping away just about now...

Nah, just ignore those complaints.

Illegitimi non carborundum ...

Would it be worth starting a new thread on burnout? I hate to derail this one, and yet burnout does affect both students and teachers. Some of my own practice has shifted towards routine maintenance instead of growth, and that is largely new time commitments at work but partly energy level as well.

But starting a new thread is risky, not being a piano teacher and wanting to risk the inevitable opprobrium.

Not 100% sure I used that word correctly. It popped into my mind while I was typing so I grabbed it.

I read plenty of posts but rarely post myself. To be honest the fact that the site is not mobile friendly dissuades me. Typing this now the text is tiny but already goes off the screen both sides, ewhich gets worse if you zoom in....

When uninformed (or misinformed) non-teachers chime in with their opinions, all you have to do is stomp on it the most forceful way possible.

But I always "try to" keep in mind that we don't all live in the same realities. My clients are mostly well-off and can afford to buy grand pianos (they just don't choose to). This is very different from teaching in places where parents can barely afford to buy piano books.

Well, I won't make such a blanket statement. There are intelligent parents and intelligent students who can make very astute observations and write about them in a cogent manner.

There are some "piano teachers" whose opinions I'm less inclined to corroborate. I remember one time there was a "piano teacher" who started a thread on how to pedal correctly, and she linked a bunch of late-intermediate videos to her website. I almost vomited.

Alternatively you could consider those opinions, take on board any helpful new perspectives and simply ignore the rest. There’s really no need to be aggressive about it! I find one of the most valuable characteristics of any teacher, music or otherwise, is humility.

PS written before your second post AZN.

Yes, doesn't it?

I'm interested in every bit of feedback I get from my students, and I continually learn more about many things by doing more research, more listening and talking actively to my students.

I don't fight with my students. I fight with other teachers who are close-minded and totally uninterested in changing.

There are things I'm doing right now that work that I did not do a year ago, things I discovered that work better. Without this change, everything would get old, and I'd have to quit. Without input from students, some of whom have excellent ideas, this place can turn into a non-stop gripe-fest.

Hello Gary,

Some tips that may help

On the right hand side of the screen, once you are logged in click your name.

Then click on the number of posts you have

Now you will see a list of your postings. When you click one of them this takes you to the post in that thread.

Gary, I try to limit my time, because I can get so caught up in the conversations and spend hours reading. This forum can be addicting. It runs into my practice time and I need all I can get.

I would like to think there are no fights, but debates and each side provides evidence for people to make a well informed decisions.

"If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't' thinking." George S. Patton

Gary,

I Don't Particularly Like Modes A Lot......................my piano teacher does!

ShyPianist, companies spend millions on customer surveys and marketing. I am not a piano teacher, however I have an education background in nursing and have taught. Input from customers is important for any organization or businesses that seek to thrive.