Many piano questions

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>My son has been taking piano for 6 years - 2 overseas, and 4 with his current teacher. We have been considering changing teachers at some point, but probably not for a few years, not just for cost (other teachers are a bit more expensive) but also to prep for college auditions. He is NOT planning on a 1st tier school, and is not overly competitive. But I want to be sure he's got the best opportunity we can give him.</p>

<p>I'm thinking of making the change sooner, however, based on the past weekend. He played in two different contests. The first was a festival, and he didn't expect to win because his piece was not challenging enough for his level - but he didn't have time to prepare a more difficult piece. His evaluation had some negative comments on tempo, but his dynamics were good. The next day he played the same piece for the state contest finals (having won the preliminary round). He got the results back today, and they're not very good. It's the most negative grading he's ever received I think. He was listed as deficient in technique, balance and style, and not positive marks for tempo, dynamics and phrasing. </p>

<p>Here's my first question: He has contradictory scores for dynamics at these two places. This happened to him last year between preliminary and final: one praised his pedaling, the other didn't like it. So are some of these contests that subjective? If you get a judge who likes your interpretation, great - otherwise you're stuck? </p>

<p>My second question - if I can form it into a question - has to do with his score. He has really worked hard on this piece, but obviously tempo was off. I don't know if this was an issue during his lessons, but I don't think it was. I'm wondering if we should consider changing teachers sooner. There is a couple in town, both teach. They post their contest results on their site, and 20 of their students won the state finals. Their students win other things, too - like 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in a recent local scholarship. I know it is not only the teacher, but I think that is an important part of it. </p>

<p>I do think technique is a weakness for my son - so should I consider changing for next year, to give him more time to improve? </p>

<p>Third question - how do you change piano teachers, when you've been going to the same one for such a long time? I am trying to balance hurting someone's feelings with what is best for my son.</p>

<p>Any thoughts? Or did I lose everyone by making this too long and rambling?</p>

2

<p>If you feel that it is time to find a new teacher, you should talk about it with your kid and then be open about it to the present teacher; six years is a long time and it is common to change teachers at that point. It may be time for a teacher with greater experience teaching advanced students or improving technical problems. And it can be life changing for the student.</p>

3

<p>I'll tackle your third question, since I'm a piano teacher, and I've been down this road a few times with my own kids.</p>

<p>First, my gut says it's time to change. Six years is a long time. I encourage my students to start looking after about 3 years. I'm on the short end - some teachers never encourage their kids to switch. </p>

<p>Your S is showing some specific deficits. Teachers can get complacent - or perhaps your teacher has tried everything he knows to do - or perhaps he has already made your kid much better than what he started with. A new teaching approach, a new set of ears, a different strength - they all can help.</p>

<p>If your S has always played in "festivals" and suddenly played in an "audition" - they are contests put on by different groups. Festivals are supposed to be positive in nature - you seldom see any real critical comments. Auditions are much more brutal. And yes, some things, like pedaling, are subjective. Some things - like rhythm, are not.</p>

<p>How to switch teachers? Well, first, most music associations will not allow you to "hire" a new teacher without "firing" the old teacher - they have strict clauses that forbid their teachers to try to pull students from other studios. So the teachers won't even talk to you while you're with another teacher.</p>

<p>It's better to involve your teacher. Let him/her know that "word on the street" suggests changing teachers periodically, and you're thinking that time has come. Tell him/her that you would love his input and suggestions - either for specific teachers, or teachers that teach in a specific way. Let him know that you appreciate what he has done for your son - how he has helped foster your S's love of piano, and that you are hoping for another teacher that can take him to new heights.</p>

<p>I won't kid you - it's not easy, for the parent, student, or teacher. But you have time to begin the process slowly. You might even start by asking the teacher if he thinks your S should consider switching. Let him know what you appreciate about him, but what you think might be the benefits of a new direction. It will be less painful if it isn't sprung on him suddenly and negatively.</p>

<p>Or, if your approach tends to be more direct, just let the teacher know that you want S to have every possibly advantage to push the music as far as he can, and to that end, you'd like to switch him to a different level (or type) of teacher. If you know a specific type of teacher you want, that he is not, use that. You want a teacher stronger in theory - or you want a teacher who participates in a different festival - or you want a teacher who can also help with composition, or jazz, or whatever.</p>

<p>And, if you're a real wimp, send your kid to summer camp, cancel lessons and tell the teacher you're taking a break for awhile. Later you can start back up with a different teacher.</p>

4

<p>Competitions can be quite subjective. For example, I've seen contradictory remarks from 2 different judges who heard the same violin performance - "Beautiful, relaxed vibrato" vs. "Vibrato is too wide". Personal preference can make appearances on the judge's comments. My S played a competition once (mixed instrument, concerto comp.) with 3 judges - a violinist, a pianist and a flutist. The final page of his composition required a gradual accelerando to the end of the work. I heard the performance - no problems there, in fact very positive comments from the violinist over this section which is technically difficult. But, sure enough, the flutist wrote "Don't rush the final page". Judge obviously didn't know the work and didn't refer to the score that was provided. Presumably your S had pianists who knew the literature, but judging can vary depending on who is doing it.</p>

<p>Teachers have different philosophies regarding competitions. Some of the piano and string teachers in my area have their students doing competitions frequently. They will generally explain that they think that the music is learned to a higher standard. They will often also say that competition results are unpredictable - if you do a lot of competitions and play well, you are more likely to win something at some point. Having competition winners also benefits teachers; the lists of competition winners these teachers can display ensure a full studio of fine talent for the teacher to work with. </p>

<p>If you couldn't guess, I am not big on competitions although my children did play in some carefully selected violin and piano competitions. There are exceptions, but I think that frequently, the competition requirements are allowed to run the teaching rather than the needs of the students. </p>

<p>Teachers are used to students changing teachers. (I've changed my kids from personal friends and maintained the friendships.) Be courteous and express gratitude for all the years and knowledge. In one case, I had my daughter audition for the new teacher and be accepted before I told the old teacher. Another time with son, I discussed the best teacher to send him on to with the teacher we were leaving. Sometimes, a teacher that feels that they are not as effective as needed (for whatever reason) will discuss a change with you - don't feel that you must stay with someone just out of loyalty.</p>

<p>One other thought, I don't think you indicated your S's age. I know my son's violin teacher wouldn't take any high school juniors who had technical difficulties needing to be fixed before college auditions - and only took high school seniors in the most exceptional of cases - no problems, advanced student, expansive repertoire and new to area! Teacher felt there would be too much work to do and it wouldn't be fair to anyone involved if the timeframe was too short and college expectations were on the line.</p>

<p>Crossposted with Binx. We never ran into the music association rules affecting studio changes, but that doesn't mean you won't! Maybe you can check local customs regarding this.</p>

5

<p>Six years is a very long time for one teacher. My son has had four, in eleven years; a couple of these changes were not necessarily by choice (one moved, one became so controlling there was no choice but to let her go). I think each time he has moved to a new, more challenging teacher, he has made giant leaps musically. I have seen this with many other kids too, who did not progress nearly as much by staying with one teacher as they would have had they moved to a new, more advanced teacher (and once they did change teachers, improved dramatically).</p>

<p>It is hard to look for new teachers, and I did find it stressful. However, my son auditioned for a number of different ones as he progressed, and each time we were told that teachers understand that some students "move beyond" them, and that professionals do not take these kinds of changes personally. I am not sure I ever believed them, but we have had wonderful teachers (including the controlling ones) who generally looked at my son's needs first, and their own second (aside from a prima donna too...ah yes).</p>

<p>I also think that it is really hard to repair issues of technique, phrasing, dynamics and style, particularly in a short amount of time. Perhaps your son is still years away from auditions, but a good teacher is imperative if these are considered deficient areas by objective judges.</p>

6

<p>I should clarify - ds has been with his current teacher for 4 years. The first 2 years were overseas with a different teacher. But it sounds like 4 years is still a solid amount with one teacher.</p>

<p>Ds is finishing 8th grade. We originally thought about him changing after his sophomore year, but that may be too late, if much of junior year would be building up his audition repetoire. I think it would be harder to do that with a new teacher. </p>

<p>I don't know about being able to secure a different teacher while he's still under his current teacher. The new teacher I'm thinking of has a waiting list, and recommends continuing to look for another teacher while waiting to hear from her.</p>

<p>I think it will probably never be easy to change, but I also don't want to link it to the competition - especially for my ds. So it makes it tricky to talk to him about it right now! Plus the fact that he hates change. But it sounds like change is a good idea at this point.</p>

7

<p>If your kid is not making good progress - definitely change. Wish I had done that. My first teacher didn't move me along, I didn't participate in competitions - didn't even know they existed till I switched teachers. I spent too much time with the first teacher that I think it hindered me instead of helped me. I believe I could have been so much better. Yeah, I'd change - wish I had changed sooner. Google music teacher associations in your area. Good luck!</p>