I really appreciate your comments and views on this topic.

Do you believe in learning independently new pieces etc., moving away from mere lessons from your piano teacher?

Well, here is my story. I decided to learn rigoletto by myself (as illustrated in the other topic). It is up to a standard, but do you think one can perform it at public events without a teacher checking it already?

Thank You

Just wondering why you wouldn't want your teacher's input on this rather fearsome piece? Wouldn't you welcome their advice? If not, why are you paying them?
Just curious.

I haven't had formal weekly lessons for some years now, but when I learn a piece for performance, I usually nip round to my old piano teachers house to demonstrate as I value his opinion!

Even anyone you know who is musical would be useful, just to get some feedback. No matter how good you are, there will always be some little thing that someone else notices that you haven't picked up on.

I often prepare pieces for forum concerts on my own but like to play them for my teacher before the event.
It's good to have something that is all my own but nice to know that my teacher is prepared to either just listen or to comment if I want.

Recording yourself is the best way of judging how the piece will sound. You can get either a pleasant or nasty surprise. But either way, it can be very helpful.

I usually get a nasty surprise

yeah, i know that feeling...i usually do this on a digital piano, as it has an inbuilt memory device, but i always think digitals are harder to play anyway...so thats my excuse when i'm not happy with the recording ! No matter how much i was happy with a piece while practising, i have played in recitals where nerves have made it sound as if i was sight reading it badly for the first time...

I ALWAYS get a nasty surprise !!

Ultimately musicians would be aiming to be able to prepare music by themselves, without input from others, so perhaps trying to see what happens if you do learn something alone would be good practice for this; I have to say, though, that anything I've ever learned "just for me" is way behind what I've been able to achieve with the help of my teacher - and it is important not to learn bad habits too. Perhaps the best thing would be to try this sort of exercise with pieces which are easily within your grasp rather than ones which would stretch you technically?

Since getting my digital piano (to play at night with the earphones on when I can't play the acoustic), I've discovered the funniest thng.

I actually get nervous when I hit the record button...even though I'm only playing to myself

You're not alone on that one! I can't ever play as well if I know I'm recording it as I do when I'm not....

Yes, I tried this as an experiment, it is not THAT frightfully difficult haha to play if you set your mind to it!

Well I tallied them up and people seem to think that teacher's guidance is inevitable and necessary! Well, I've taken it into account and I will do that in the future times!

Thanks!!!!