<p>Both my kids have done this... It's tough to practice for two teachers, but both of my kids really have benefitted...particularly if the teachers compliment each other (it doesn't work if they have conflicting styles). Both teachers must absolutely be on board with this.</p>
<p>Bassdad and Symphonymom both point out the importance of both teachers being aware and supportive of the dual strategy. I'm aware of a few situations where the two teacher approach works well. Sorry, as often, my experience is violin related!</p>
<p>The Vamoses "team teach". Mr. Vamos generally takes the technical, etude end and Mrs. Vamos works repertoire. They currently teach at Northwestern and the Music Institute of Chicago for younger students.</p>
<p>Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) has several teachers that "share" students. Many CIM violin students benefit from the practice. The student generally alternates weeks between the two teachers. I understand that sometimes the same literature is studied with both, sometimes different repertiore or studies. It seems to vary with the student and teacher combo. These are not teacher-assistant relationships, but two "known" teachers.</p>
<p>Several schools have teachers who have teaching assistants. Often the assistant will hear etudes that the main teacher doesn't listen to. Or, the assistant will hear repertoire in preparation for the lesson with the major teacher. Sometimes the assistant is a grad student, but sometimes, as at Juilliard, the assistant is quite a fine teacher in their own right.</p>
<p>In all the above, the teachers all support each other with a great deal of cooperation.</p>
<p>Cosmos, to specifically respond to your scenario, I don't think I'd advise trying two teachers unless they both know and are supportive of the situation and your personal development and playing. Although, it might work if you had very different purposes for studying with 2 at the same time. (For instance, orchestral rep with one and bass etude/solo literature with another.) I would be concerned about them discovering the shared student if you think they wouldn't like that. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. </p>
<p>Looks like the best move would be to get something set up with another teacher and then have the dreaded talk with my current teacher about switching. </p>
<p>A friend of mine recently switched teachers... and the way he did it was he basically just stopped contacting his former teacher about setting up lessons and things just ended. I don't think this is the best way to do things; a talk would probably be better. </p>
<p>I definitely don't want to lie to my teacher and tell him that I'm too busy in school to do lessons on top of homework/exams, because it wouldn't be hard for him to figure out that I'd switched teachers. I guess I'll have to give this conversation a lot of thought before doing it.</p>
<p>Good for you, Cosmos! I really admire the attitude - and if things go well, there's the possiblity of learning something in the conversation that will be helpful.</p>
<p>I had wondered if you could finish out this school year, be gone for the summer (as I assume you are returning to your parents' home), and then start up in the fall with someone new. It sounds like you've considered that.</p>
<p>In the face of your courage, I have to provide full disclosure. Years ago, D was given a coveted spot in a popular teacher's piano studio after we moved to a new city. It was clear within weeks that this wasn't going to be a fully positive situation. D was playing at an early advanced level and had had lessons successfully for years with a fairly demanding teacher before we moved. I knew the problem wasn't D alone - it was just a clear mismatch. I "wimped out" - I couldn't bring myself to have "the discussion" with the new teacher who had jumped D to the top of her waitlist and accepted her in the middle of the teaching year. I used the teacher's summer absence to locate a new teacher - and did take D for trial lessons with full disclosure about the situation we were leaving before she began lessons with this replacement teacher. The piano world at D's level was not as tight as the bass world you seem to be immersed in. Since we were not involved at the "tippy top" of the piano teacher pyramid, I assumed - correctly it turned out - that the two piano teachers wouldn't encounter each other and that there would be no awkward situations. I even have to admit to calling the teacher we left and leaving a voice mail with some semi-truths about family emergencies, etc,etc and that we wouldn't be resuming fall lessons. You are a better woman than I am!</p>
<p>Hello Cosmos, just wondering if you won't perhaps get some good advice from your upcoming summer-program teacher? or maybe your former teacher? (didn't you do a pre-college program?)</p>
<p>I'll likely discuss this with the teacher I want to switch to as well as with my former teacher by the end of this month... If things aren't ironed out by the time I get to my summer program, I'll ask my teacher there what he thinks, too.</p>