Do you expect him/her to just let you imitate their playing?
Do you want a teacher who will expain everything?
Do you want a teacher that sits down with you and analyzes?
Do you want a teacher that teaches you good technique?

What are your opinions?

Well, I'm going to answer as a piano teacher here, but I'll be interested to see how I measure up when other peoples' opinions start coming in. **starts packing bags**

I feel the aim of my teaching is to help students become more independant muscially as they progress. That is, I don't want to churn out pianists who simply copy/imitate my playing (one of me is quite enough!)

Every student has different goals and methods of learning, so a good teacher should be able to recognise those and adapt, rather than have a set programme for everyone.

There are so many things that spring to mind, but as I have a pupil coming in five minutes, I'll come back later

I'm really happy with my teacher and here is why I think I'm happy:

1) The repertoire he picks is tip top from the point of view of being musically innovative (for the time it was written),
and infinitely enduring in its appeal. Nothing cut down or "arranged", but the real mccoy. That's been true all along; he finds
great things to play at every level. Playing such pieces is life enhancing.
2) Once I've got the notes of a piece under my belt, the piece is audibly hugely improved after every lesson on it.
3) He's clearly thinking about what sort of pieces will improve my technique. There's no sense of "only an
adult amateur so who cares".
4) He knows when to give up on a piece: when the only improvement can be had by my playing it for the next 3 months
to let it mature (like a fine wine hey ho!)
5) He has a wide repertoire and a deep theoretical knowledge. I hear what his other students are playing and can't help but
feel I'm lucky he teaches me. (I teach maths at uni to phd level and there is NO WAY I'd agree to tutor at A level or below, so yes,
I appreciate his teaching me. Maybe that's why I work so hard?)
6) I have no idea at all how I compare to his other students. And I don't want to know. But I am a little bit interested in why he does teach me, because I don't think it's the money: there's no sense of enduring his hour with me. But I'm a bit shy to ask.

I would so love a teacher like that... I'll PM you, loops..

My last teacher was fine technically, and good at sorting out a few aspects that needed attention with me - all Feuchtwanger based, as she'd studied with him - but musically...*!! If I did things she played herself, she'd want a carbon copy, down to every detail of phrasing and fingering. And if I tried bringing something she didn't play - I once brought some Debussy - she was no help at all. It just became to much of a chore, and I was resenting having to find the not inconsiderable fee.

I 've met some insprired teachers over the years - sadly most of them too distant to see on more than a very irregular basis. In my view, a great teacher needs a thorough knowledge of both technique and repertoire, as well as the obvious personal skills.

yes, this brings the question of what makes a great teacher at the different levels of students

I would think that for you as an advanced pianist, it would be harder to find someone you can truly learn from.
Particularly if you are interested in a particular repertoire you might have to shop around.
But still, I would have thought any good teacher would have some idea about Debussy.........

I'm nowhere as advanced as you but we discuss phrasing, he convinces me rather than tells me.......there is
at least an illusion of my choosing a phrasing, even though I've no real idea at all, at least, not one I can articulate in words

Actually I think too that these two are probably top of the list, assuming that the know-how is there, so if you're packing your bags I'll come with you! (Where are we going? )

I feel the aim of my teaching is to help students become more independant muscially as they progress. That is, I don't want to churn out pianists who simply copy/imitate my playing
I agree- helping students gain the ability to explore and make their own decisions.

I can never understand why a teacher would want to turn out clones ...
(I'd come with you two if I didn't have this cold!)

Sorry to hijac a bit, but I posted on another board regarding the fact I am looking for a teacher. Should anyone know of a good teacher in the Leicester/Nottingham area, it would be really great

Down to the harbour with a canoe Actually I might wait until I get some life insurance first

What do I want from a teacher:

1. When I explain a problem I am having, show me what I need to do to overcome it

2. Recognise my deficiencies, then quickly show me what I need to do to remedy them

3. ... but not to overwhelm and discourage me by pointing them ALL out at once!

4. Be able to demonstrate and clarify techniques at the piano

5. Help with choosing suitable material to:

Further my technical progress
Assist my musical development
Complement the pieces already in my repertoire

(... but not to force theirm own musical tastes on me)

6. Be an objective listener and critic

7. Organise and provide opportunities to practice performance before a non-hostile audience

8. Inspire me, either through the example of his/her playing, or enthusiasm for music, ... somehow

9. To be reliable, dependable, professional

10. Remember me in their will

A skilled guide and a friend

I agree!

well,
a year ago when I decided I wanted a piano teacher and a violin teacher the main thing that got my attention was their level of experience and that they had to be able to teach to diploma standard and beyond.
the reason why is because if I liked them I wanted to 'stick with them' forever kind of thing and I am aiming high with both instruments, I don't think I will want to ever give up on them, so having a teacher who only does up to say 'grade 5' might not have been good as I might have to say 'goodbye' to them at some point once I got past that ability and improved further.

Now that I know more about music/teachers/my ability/my likes and dislikes I also look for other things:
-being able to give constructive criticism
-being able to take feedback/ackward questions and possible 'challenges' in respect of their methods of teaching (I am very inquisitive by nature)
-being honest
-being able to let the student 'take the lead' but also being able to 'lead' when necessary. To give an example: lately I feel quite lost with my piano learning/practicing and I wish my teacher just 'prescribed me' EXACTLY what to do for each practice session, I drop desperate hints to her that I need to be dictated what to do lately but she is so used to me being so independent in my learning that she is just NOT getting it, even though I told her straight at my last lesson! She just keeps expecting me to know what to do despite that I still like her as a teacher and it is not putting me 'off her'
-always having something 'up their sleeve' to 'liven up' a lesson or 'rescue' a lesson when the student feels totally useless!

I am sure there's other things I like in a teacher it's just that it is late at night and am tired LOL
I like different things for myself and my son and I do think that teaching adults and teaching children are often quite different and require different skills anyway.
I have a separate piano teacher for my son and I am convinced that the piano teacher he has is much more suited to him than my teacher would be. My son is 12, I am 38

I like students who ask plenty of questions. I'm not sure what sort of "challenges" you mean though?!

I reckon a good teacher is one who tells you you're rubbish when you actually are, works on you being less rubbish but still tells you you're rubbish when you've gotten good...

Ahh but in todays society you have to tell them all that they are good, and show them ways to make them better or they complain that you're a horrible mean bully and give up and go and play on the Nintendo!

I actually think a good teacher is all of what has been mentioned above but also knows when a student would benefit from moving onto another, not necessarily more experienced but with different musical focuses or character. Not every teacher will suit every student, and sometimes a fresh input can make the world of difference.

I took on a grade 4 adult student a few years back, and he had basically been told that he was never going to progress further. This was by a local teacher who is a very competent teacher in many ways. The gentlemen in question, through careful picking of repertoire is now working towards grade 7.

I also had an adult advanced student who I said from the beginning would have done better with someone who specialises in advanced students. But he refused to move, as he had previously tried other teachers and said I was by far the best, he stayed with me for a couple of years until he could no longer afford the lessons, although I do think I always gave value for money and that I considerably progressed his playing. Also there are not many teachers locally who do specialise in the advanced area.

Wow! I truly think that your teachers are really wonderful!

Well, here is the story of my teacher, please tell me if you think and recommend any changes

This teacher never tells me the truth, always says I'm good. Behind my back, she says that my technique and musicality is bad. Although this is probably true, I'd really much prefer she actually TELL me and point out my mistakes, rather than telling other people my mistakes without telling me directly. Additionally, she never teaches me any technique, musicality etc. and always just "goes through pieces" throughout the lesson. In some circumstances she does not have enough to teach and tells me to repeatedly play the same pieces up to 3 times per lesson just to waste the time. She also dislikes teaching me certain pieces that I like, because she dislikes that particular piece.

Do you think I should change my teacher?

Piano lessons are a big investment, both in time and money and it sounds to me like you don't feel you are getting value for money. There is very little point in asking someone to play through a piece for the sake of it - sometimes, I will hear someone play the piece and there may be so little, or so much to talk about that I will ask them to start it again, but will then start interrupting at bits that need attention. Sometimes I will ask for it again to make sure that a note or timing was correct and secure, but I will always say what I was checking for. Similarly, if I have picked a piece specifically for a technique and they have got it right, I will say what was right about it.

As for the not letting someone play what they want - I do have a particular dislike for 'fur elise', but would never stop someone learning it.

1. Absolutely not. I expect him/her to impart the skills necessary for independent learning. I am not interested in being a parrot.
2. Not necessarily, but one who enables you to find out a certain amount for yourself.
3. Not sure what you mean - analyzses the music or the playing? If you mean the latter, then yes.
4. Yes.

Whilst I wouldn't necessarily prevent students from learning particular pieces, there are instances when the pieces they provide are totally unsuitable.

Yes. A piece not being to my taste wouldn't stop me from teaching it to a pupil, but if I felt it was too much in terms of technical difficulty etc... I might advise we leave it aside for a while

3. Very important for the morale - I had one who picked up on every single mistake and it was incredibly soul-destroying. (Other points you have made are important too of course, and other posters too).

10. Is your piano teacher loaded then? I must be in the wrong country!

The best piano teacher I've ever met (and I've met a few) knew her pupils' particular talents inside out, and sought material to build on what they could do, and material to help them to learn what they couldn't do. She always gave praise where it was due, and didn't say "rubbish" when the playing was less good; instead, she would make suggestions for how the poor sections might be improved. She knew not to overload a pupil with a vast list of corrections all at once, focusing on the gremlins which were likely to cause the most problems first, then moving on to others when these had got better; she would always listen to a large-ish section of a piece being played right through first, rather than stopping her pupil at every slip, and this approach minimised the chance of her pupil becoming more and more flustered. Any time there was criticism to be given, she would also find a positive to help the pupil find their way through to correcting the negative. If a pupil had not practised, then she would take them through a small section, showing them how to practise it. Her preparation of pupils who were taking exams was exemplary, right down to the mock exam (she'd bring her husband in to be an audience too, to get kids used to performance nerves), complete with giving advice about adjusting the piano stool, and how to sit and focus before playing.

Above all, she showed interest in her pupils, and was open-minded enough to listen to their point of view, and could find as many different ways to tackle a problem as it needed to get round it, instead of insisting only on the one way she'd learnt. I agree that praise is worth less if a teacher then says negative things behind the pupil's back, but I don't see much place for the sort of criticism which seems to be only there to belittle the pupil's efforts, rather than providing support and guidance for improvement.

This just about describes my piano teacher too. He doesn't actually tell me which pieces to do, but gives broad guidance on it as I know myself what needs to be addressed and have knowledge of suitable repertoire - he adds the extra knowledge of technique and style and gives inspiration. I have often gone in to a lesson feeling "down", but I have never come out like it. I have never heard any of his other pupils play as he teaches mostly in schools and a college, but I know from what he says that he develops their playing to the best of their ability. I hear him play fairly frequently, as he gives concerts with his wife, who is a violinist. Interestingly, at my last lesson he said he sometimes feels he is not a very good teacher - we had a good discussion on that one! It seems that all teachers, regardless of their level, have their periods of self-doubt.

Sounds a perfect teacher to me!

I like patient piano teachers. Sometimes, I just can't help being so sensitive. It's just the way I am. I hate it and wish I wasn't so sensitive. As long as their patient, everything ELSE will be fine!

One parent today was chatting to me and saying that she suddenly realised just how much patience it must take to teach. She's a good pianist herself, but she was saying that when her daughter plays the really easy pieces at home, she doesn't understand why she can't read all the notes right away (she's only been learning for 6 months)

I just think of a piece of music that I find difficult, and try to remember that's the way a grade 1 piece might seem to one of my pupils.

Just because I can't remember as far back as struggling over the first five notes on the stave doesn't mean it didn't happen

a teacher who is passionate about music, and can apply it to their teaching to help students. ive had too much experience with a teacher who did not care about students and i think was only in it for the money...

My daughter has just got a new Piano Teacher and you'd love him. He's really kind and patient.

All our teachers have a similar style they hear them play advise suggest things. This guy is so different he is constantly advising about technique, suggesting ways to make things easier and he's really rekindled her enthusiasm for piano. She's only had two lessons and she's saying that the pieces are much easier than she thought. He's just made them seem that way as they are exactly the same G3 pieces she was using before.

A teacher has to place an important emphasis on technique and still be able to instill a love for music (not just the particular instrument). Most teachers are just so focused to teaching the student their instrument that they forget to expose them to the wider world of music out there. My previous piano teacher used to take us to see orchestra and chamber music performances, and organise group lessons where we get to see each other play. I had a teacher before her though, who was so strict on technique that she made me view piano playing as something mechanical and almost 'academic'. Of course, I got really good marks in exams but that did nothing to help my enthusiasm for playing... I was crying after almost every lesson.

Yes, I agree with every single one of you and have validly come to a conclusion that maybe I should reconsider my piano teacher!!!!!!!!!!!!!