Piano 

Bob Vollmer

Piano Buddy

  
Notes on Teachers
 

 

I have had a few teachers and that can be good and bad. The good part is that you get to observe different approaches to teaching. The bad part is that you have to pay for the privilege.

  • There was the teacher who graded my written work while I played my assignment and never watched me play.
  • There was the one that didn’t remember me from one time to the next and had to ask me what I was working on.
  • There was the one who had absolutely no clue as to what she would teach as she began each lesson.
  • And I sure don’t want to overlook the group teacher who took the allotted hour and divided it by the number of students and taught each one sequentially for that number of minutes.

When you first interview with a new teacher they will ask who you have studied with. If you tell them you have had three teachers in the past year, they will probably think there is something wrong with you. Never mind them! You have to find a teacher that is worth the expense, and if that means changing every couple of months until you find one, then so be it! Besides, you don’t have to tell them everything, so just give them one name.

When you find the right one, as I did, you will know. All I’m doing here is letting you know that all teachers are not created equal and you have every right to be discriminating when making your selection.

So what should you be looking for? Well it depends on your personality and your ability. It also depends on how you get along together. Some teachers don’t let you get a word in. I prefer someone more conversational, so I can participate verbally in the lesson. As you might have guessed, I wanted a piano buddy that knew how to teach. There are so many different approaches to teaching that I think it is quite reasonable to do a little shopping around for the one that suits you.

Here are some things that I look for:

  • There should be an evaluation, followed by an explanation of the program they recommend that you follow.
  • At each lesson, they should know where you are in your program.
  • They should keep a progress chart for you or assist you in keeping one for yourself.
  • They should watch you play, not just listen.

My teacher missed nothing. He was able to follow the notes and watch my fingers. He knew if I didn’t observe the fingering, and would review it with me and write in different fingering if necessary. He changed my material periodically and strongly recommended things I didn’t really want to play because that was what I needed to progress. He made sure I had plenty of fun stuff to keep my interest, but he also kept me challenged.

I cannot over-emphasize the importance of being with the right teacher. Obviously they will determine how well you progress and the scope of the material you can play. But they can also make a difference in how much you enjoy playing. To me, that is the most important thing. Keep that drive alive. Don’t let anyone rain on your parade. Find a teacher who will be your Major Domo!

 

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