Last night my flute teacher told me he doesn't want to teach anymore. I was his only pupil. He has a well established flute career and decades of experience, but doesn't have the interest in teaching. Also he doesn't feel I'm progressing as well with him as he thinks I could without him. (Huh? I thought I was progressing)
He reckons I don't really need a teacher, as I'm happy putting in the hours and 'grown up enough' to work out what I need to work on. Quote "all you really need is a good tutor book, a book of studies, and scales".
I always thought the real role of a teacher is to make sure you don't pick up bad habits, understand what needs work and advise when you're ready to move to the next thing? I'm not at all sure about trying to teach myself. BUT I'm also not sure right now about making an commitment to another teacher - I would be rather wary/unsure of how it would go.

I just don't know what to do.

It is quite hard to teach yourself what you don't know.

It is quite hard to know what you need to know until you know it.

Flippancy aside, your former teacher's comments sound like something he invented to make you feel better about not wanting to teach you any more. There is a basis of truth in what he says. Adults can be expected to do more for themselves than can children, but there comes a point where even the most enthusiastic and intelligent adult will come unstuck without guidance.

A tenner says the first thing to go wrong will be your breathing.

I recommend finding another good teacher.

Steve

Snugglivixen, you know darn well that you're progressing. So don't worry about that.

I agree with Steve that it would be a good idea to find another teacher. Ask around at your local music shop or have a look at the ISM website or Musicteachers. And don't be afraid to book a consultation first to see if you and your prospective teacher are going to "click" or not.

Best of luck

Katyjay

ps why not ask at your orchestra if someone can suggest a teacher for you?

Thanks Steve and Katyjay. I know I need a teacher really.... was more self-doubt than anything.

What's ISM?

I've looked on musicteachers, and while there's no-one really close, there are a few further afield for if I can't find closer.

I'm hoping to find someone within a few miles if possible.

Any other websites I could check?



p.s. he had the cheek to email me with details of a friend of his who teaches and 'would be willing to accept me' That lives 20 miles away!!!!

Incorporated Society of Musicians - website here.

ISM register of private music teachers here.

Steve

For a somewhat more comprehensive list of teachers - though not a list actually accessible on the web - it's also worth contacting the Musicians Union.

Depending on where you live, some people find the ISM is rather thin on the ground with their teacher register.

Of course you can motivate yourself to do the work, etc....BUT a teacher can listen to what you are doing for you, can isolate the bits you might struggle with, and no, a book can't do that for you!
That is why it took me seventeen years to get I'm not sure quite how far by myself, and two to get to grade 8 with a teacher.
Good luck with finding another, and may they be as good as mine is!

http://forums.abrsm.org/index.php?showtopic=12471

I think its a bit unfair of your teacher to say this. I've been "dropped" by a teacher before (who wanted to stop private lessons). If all you want to do is learn little bit of music then teaching yourself is fine but to get to any serious standard you really need someone to teach you who knows what they are doing. I taught myself classical guitar when I was about 19 and developed so many bad habits (like using the wrong fingers!) that when it came to actually taking lessons I had to go right back to the beginning and gave it up!

The other problem with teaching yourself is that you can be making all sorts of technical mistakes and not knowing about it, or you can simply not have anyone to ask when you get stuck!

I find that when it comes to violin and singing I couldn't cope without a teacher to monitor what I am doing, teach me new techniques, sort out my bowing/breathing and sometimes just give me some encouragement (my violin teacher spends a lot of our lesson trying to boost my confidence and reassure me that not all musicians can just pick up a piece and play it like a virtuoso immediately, most need to take things apart and work at them, including professionals!). Without this kind of support I'd have given up long ago.

Plus there's that wonderful feeling when something you really couldn't get the hang of is simply put right by altering your bowing or breath control and it all starts to come together. Without a teacher to do that for your, you'd have been banging your head against a brick wall for weeks!

Find yourself another teacher!

You might consider negotiating for fortnightly or monthly lessons of twice or four times the teacher's usual lenght. That way, you do less travelling and the time wasted at the beginning and end of the lesson is associated with more teaching. The Reading University Music Department had instrumental teachers who visited and students had 30 minutes per week. I arranged to have one hour per fortnight.

Oh yes, I know that feeling!!!

I think even though it seems okay to teach yourself at the elementary level, it is not a good idea. You may not know the correct technique or make mistakes without knowing. You'll find it very difficult to correct those mistakes when you are accustomed to the bad habits. Actually, having an experienced person to guide you can save you much time in learning as s/he can give you instant feedback.