It's because where I am the music department doesn't have 1 flute teacher who teaches everyone, people go out, and I guess, that because I am not a music student, there is less pressure on him to get me up to standard as it were.

I'm very lucky with my current teachers.

My flute(/piano/recorder) teacher puts up with an awful lot! (Such as my turning up at the start of term with an instrument I've never taken an exam on, never had lessons on but want to take grade 5 on that term! Or phoning the evening before the online entries close to ask if she can put a theory entry in for me, as I hadn't got myself registered in time to do it myself.)
I reckon she does fulfil all the criteria being discussed in the Teacher's forum. Plus she's an excellent pianist and accompanist, and accompanies me in flute/recorder exams, which means I don't have the stress of having to play with someone I'm not used to. I don't know what her qualifications are, but I know she's got plenty. She does loads of CPD, attending AB seminars, flute workshops, flute courses etc.
When we're not in the run-up to an exam, she helps me explore other repertoire and work on technical issues and we sight-read duets together and do some practical musicianship work. She also helps me practice aural tests for other exams, as it's a lot easier to do with her as she's got a piano handy and has worked through several grades of aural with me for flute exams, so she knows what my strengths and weaknesses are and which sections need attention.
My results for flute and recorder have been pretty good (126-143), my result for piano was a fairly low pass, but that's a reflection of my attitude to the piano, not of her teaching. In fact it's an impressive testament to her teaching that I passed piano at all!

Organ teacher 1 is an amazingly patient guy. He somehow manages to ask me to do things I think are impossible while giving the impression that he fully expects me to be able to do them while at the same time making feel completely unafraid of messing it up completely. This means that I'm willing to try anything he puts in front of me and usually end up surprising myself by doing OK at it.
I tend to be a very anxious organ student, so his calm, encouraging, reassuring approach brings out the best in me. Somehow he manages to push me further than I think possible, but without ever making me feel under the slightest bit of pressure.
As for qualifications, I know he's an FRCO and he's almost certainly got a bunch of other things, but I don't know what. I havn't taken any exams with him, but he's certainly getting good results in terms of the improvement in my confidence and service playing.

Organ teacher 2 is very good too. She's got a knack for showing me little things that make a huge difference to a particular piece and which seem so obvious after she points them out, but that I'd never have thought of for myself. And she manages to do it without making me feel like a lost cause for not having spotted them for myself. She also expects me to then apply those things to other pieces, so she's equiping me with strategies that I can use to tackle things with increasing independence. She's also done a lot to improve my baroque interpretation. Like my other teachers, she'll help me with whatever random pieces have caught my attention, as well as guiding me to pieces I wouldn't have chosen for myself.
She's got FRCO plus LRAM (organ teaching) and a bunch of other stuff. Results so far have been 135 and 118.

I've had only 2 lessons so far with my current teacher, but it's looking pretty good so far. She's very patient with me and is helping me build confidence and work on some technical issues I've got. She's also encouraging me to broaden my repertoire slightly (it's going to be an uphill struggle for her!), while also acknowledging that I have a particular area of interest and helping me to work towards my chosen goals in that specialism.
She's got LTCL and a teaching diploma and is an excellent all-round musician. Results so far are noticeable improvements in my singing and a slight reduction in my unwillingness to sing in front of other people.

I've only had two private lessons so far with my theory teacher too, though I had some group tutorials with him previously. He's transformed the way I think about theory though. Lessons take place at the piano, not at a table, so everything is related to how it sounds. With specialisms in early music and church music, he's great at explaining concepts in terms of my own interests.
He's got a string of top notch qualifications, including ARCO (which is an organ diploma with a hefty theory component) so he's not only an excellent theory teacher but he's well aware of how it links in with organ music and organ playing, so although we're focussing on the AB grades, he'll mention little bits and pieces that have a wider relevence to me as an organ student. Result for this term - 85 (which, considering I didn't even start looking at workbooks or past papers until after the entry date and that the exam was quite early in the term, is pretty respectable).


So, all my current teachers are excellent teachers who are either a naturally good match for my learning style or are adapatable enough to accomodate it, they're all well qualified and they're all achieving good results (including exam results where relevent).


My previous teachers have been more of a mixture - some excellent, some good, some average and one really bad one.

My second clarinet teacher was excellent. He managed to keep me interested in music through my early-mid teens when I could easily have given up, even though clarinet wasn't actually my instrument of choice. He got me through grade 5 theory when I needed it and taught me the basics of classical guitar. I could also take my orchestra and jazz band music along to lessons if I needed some help with it. He was an excellent classical and jazz musician and played piano, guitar, clarinet, sax and flute. I have no idea what his qualifications were or which was his main instrument. But he was very patient and I ended up with a merit at grade 6 clarinet, a good grounding in theory and an enduring enthusiasm for music (if not for the clarinet).

I don't remember much about my first clarinet teacher, only that he wasn't as good and I did better and enjoyed it more after I changed teacher after the first year or two. I don't think he was a bad teacher, just that the other one was better. I think I passed grade 3 with him, before changing to lessons outside of school.

My first piano teacher was pretty horrible. I started piano at 5 and had a lot of support and encouragement at home (what with living with a piano teacher...), so I made pretty good progress. My teacher used me as a sort of trophy pupil, so I was pushed through the grades way too fast so that she could boast about it. I didn't enjoy my lessons, I didn't play much apart from exam work and I pretty soon started to lose my enthusiasm. I was issued with one exam book book before I'd even taken the previous exam. I was put in for exams that I wasn't really ready for, which made them very stressful. I don't have my grade 1 certificate anymore, but I think I did quite well at that, and I got 99 for my grade 1 theory. But my grade 2 was only a merit, and my grade 3 was a pass. Grade 4 came just two terms later and was a scraped pass (I got the pass mark). That was the first exam session after my 9th birthday and by then I was starting to really hate learning the piano. I didn't mind playing it a bit at home, doing a bit of non-exam work with help from my very patient grandmother (who was adored by all her pupils and always had excellent exam results), but I hated learning at school and doing exams. So I begged to be allowed to give up, and my folks let me.
(This also explains why getting me through grade 5 piano at all was quite an achievement for my flute teacher when I decided I wanted to do it last year - I have something akin to a love-hate relationship with the piano, only it's more like 5% grudging enjoyment, 15% recognition that it's useful, 50% indifference and 30% lingering hatred.)
Qualification - ARCM. Results - a nine year old who was almost put off music for life.

My first official singing teacher was OK. I think I enjoyed the lessons and I got a high pass in the only exam I took with her. No idea what her qualifications were, but I supposed she had some as she was quite a well known teacher in the area.
Second official teacher was excellent, but I had only a very few lessons with her before moving to a different county. I think I'd have done much better with her and I enjoyed the lessons very much and she had an excellent reputation.

My first organ teacher was very good, apart from the fact that I was impossibly anxious in lessons and so tense that it really impaired my playing and his telling me to relax achieved the exact opposite (because I didn't know how to, so I got even more stressed because I couldn't do what he was asking me). It probably had something to do with his being the Director of Music at the church where I play, and I was always terrified of making a mistake in front of him (even though he was OK with me making mistakes) - I think I was just worried about not measuring up to his expectations. He's an excellent organist, a nice guy and a perfectly good teacher - he just wasn't a good match for me, so after 3 or 4 lessons he passed me along to organ teacher 1 and that works so well that I'm even getting more relaxed (or at least less tense) about playing in front of him (DoM) too. And my enthusiam for the organ skyrocketted when I was no longer stressed and anxious about it all.
Qualifications - ARCO and probably others. Result - a more relaxed organ student making much better progress, because he was wise enough to pass me along to someone else. I've also learned a lot about choir training from watching what he does with the choir (he achieves really brilliant results from a modest-size parish choir, some of whom knew very little about music or singing when they joined).

My first secondary school class music teacher was brill and taught us form, score-reading, etc. Second one couldn't control the few disruptive kids in the class, but we still managed to cover some interesting bits and pieces. Both ran choirs and ensembles which I took part in (mostly after I'd dropped music as an academic subject) and that did more than anything else to get/keep me interested in music.


Then there are all the great people I've learned from who aren't actually my teachers....

My nan taught me singing unofficially until I started lessons in 6th form. She also helped me a bit with piano and theory.
My grandad was extremely supportive of everything I did (musically and otherwise) and we used to listen to a lot of classical music together and he'd tell me things about it.
Above all, it's thanks to them that I grew up in a home where music was valued and where singing and playing were not only actively encouraged, but just taken as an integral part of life.
My friend Paul has encouraged me with organ especially, and music in general, and taught me to play on the pedals without looking at my feet and gave me a crash course in organ stops and registration. He kept my enthusism for the organ going when I was finding it tough and stressful, and continues to guide me through the times when I worry that I'm never going to get any good at it and am wondering if I'm wasting everyone's time by even trying to learn to play. He's got no qualifications in organ, but I wouldn't be where I am now without his help and encouragement, so he's every bit as much responsible for my overall progress as my official teachers, past and present.
There have also been various friends over the years who have indulged me with "goes" on their instruments and/or have taught me the basics. They've mostly been completely unqualified, but enthusiastic, and the results have been that I was able to get a tune out of almost anything I could get my paws on.
And I have several friends who are musicians and/or music teachers, with various qualifications, and I learn a lot from watching/listening to them play, from playing with some of them, from page-turning for some and from the informal advice and encouragement they give.

When you look at it, there's a very large number of people who've contributed to my musical development over the years! :-)
The most important result is that I love music and have a lot of fun playing various instruments, though having some good exam results is nice too.

T.

And the Oscar goes to.........



(Only kidding around!)

EVERYBODY! All the inspiring individuals who've been the right teachers for their pupils at the time, whatever their qualifications, methods, personalities, age, knowledge, experience, whatever!

My GCSE teacher is a ###### teacher because he obsesses about the instruments he is only intrested in.

My Violin Teacher is a fantastic teacher she is brilliant at what she does and is so much fun!!

I've found three teachers really inspiring:

My kids' first piano teacher, patient, with an uncanny knack for saying the right thing to inspire and guide without belittling her pupils, gentle and patient, and able to teach the same thing several different ways. She kept careful notes on her pupils, had in mind what skills she was wanting to impart, and let the kids choose their material, but also put material their way from which they could benefit. There was never any sense of pressure in her lessons, and she let interesting diversions happen, coming back to the original agenda in an unforced way. From her I learned lots about good teaching practice, and also how to practise myself, and to count.

My first recorder teacher took on an adult learner with a huge heap of hang-ups and not much self-esteem as far as music went, and turned her into someone who could play in public, and be confident enough to meet up with total strangers to play. He teaches in a way which allows a pupil to develop without making them feel small or inadequate, and is also an inspiring and accomplished accompanist. He got me through three exams, and taught me so well that I got my first ever distinction at 39, then another two in subsequent years - and took my playing to a stage beyond my most ambitious dreams. He finally released the music in me, and I can't thank him enough for that.

My new recorder teacher has taken on an adult learner who is now needing to learn how to learn by herself a bit more, and how to prepare music with less guidance; she's equipping me with the skills to do that. Again, she manages to cope with what technique I have and build on it rather than pulling it apart, and she is challenging me to think more for myself. She's also a very interesting person to talk to in her own right, speaking seven languages and being a computer expert as well as a recorder player and cellist.

I, like Aquarelle, met my inspirational music teacher at Grammar School - I was 11 at the time and was not allowed to have private piano lessons as my father said that music would get me nowhere. The teacher in question was an absolute wonder. I think she saw someone of some talent in me, and involved me so much in music in the school. I wish she knew that I had become a music teacher myself in adult life, but I have not heard of her since leaving school. Miss Patience Dowle, where are you?

My teachers are amazing

I had one from age 4 to about 7, she was a student and taught me keyboard, then I moved onto a friend of my Nan's who I'm still with now (for piano), she's also great and has nice cats

I've had two violin teachers, one in primary school and one in secondary school, I still see the first one as she conducts the orchestra I'm in. The second one is very dedicated, she introduced me to the people who I'm now in a string quartet in (which she also set up, we were in year 7/8 when it started)

I've been taught by the same lady at school for 6 years, she's just fantastic! She's always available if you have a question and puts so much into the music department, she also gets her classes cake at special occasions like last lesson before exams, people's birthdays and last christmas she brought in a box of 'musical crackers' each one with a little whistle in and the whole class (there's only 7 of us!) played carols on them all lesson Then there's my other school teacher, she's been around since I was in year 10 but didn't teach me till year 11, she's amazing too, she helped me a lot with my violin recital earlier in the year. I help out in one of her younger classes and although the kids can be bastards at time it's still the highlight of my school day on a friday

But then saying all that I have had my share of bad teachers, including an australian who thought that a good lesson was singing 'waltzing matilda'

I just have the best flute teacher ever! He is so patient and kind! He makes me work hard but it doesn't make it seem like work! I have reached levels I didn't know I could reach and he never puts me down. We spend most of the lessons laughing at ' special musical moments' ..... very encouraging and lovely.

Now he is teaching me clarinet and hopefully ..piano. He has encouraged e to play the piccolo and inytroduced me to playing in a concert band- very supportive atmostphere and have made many friends.

I hope that he doesn't move away! One really fab reason for staying in Somerset!!!:-)

I would have to say yes.M ypiano teacher iso wonderfully different and doesent do most things the conventional way. I have only really been studying music for about 2 years now and find that with a good teacher helping you the journey with its peaks and drops are far more enjoyable. She will always get me to stratagise how to play a particular peice of music and brings out the best in me. I never thought that I would be ableto play a peiceof music but Im sure you can all relate to the feeling when you are able to play a peice of music. She is also very precise and ensures I work hard to get where I need to be. She can tell if someone hasent been practising. She is Understanding patient and a peasure to be able to learn from.

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I take some of this back!I have just had a really bad flute lesson- went away feeling rubbish!:-(
He still is a good teacher- but I don't like the way I feel at the moment!

My piano teacher is amazing. She can prod me to work harder and do more, but she's so nice about it that I never go away from a lesson feeling downhearted. I've improved pretty rapidly since I started lessons with her, but I'm not sure how, because although she gives me challenges, I never feel like she's trying to cram it all into my head.

No..it was for my own good! He's a brilliant teacher!!! We both had a bad day!:-)

mmm yes!
absolutely she is the best piano teacher i've ever known

she quite strict to her students but a nice person actually

My Mum was my piano teacher for over 11 years!! She helped me achieve Grades 1-7 practical and Grade 5 theory! I look back now, and I realize how much effort she put into teaching both me and my sister, who she taught up to G8. She had only achieved up to G8 piano herself, but she had one of the best pianists in Singapore as her teacher when she was growing up.

I have another teacher now is a really lovely older lady and I really enjoy all my piano lessons.

I have been so blessed to have such great teachers!!

I've copied this post into this thread because I know someone who has been inspired to find a new teacher from reading this thread and this post is another one which is helpful to anyone thinking of changing their teacher.

Well I guess my teacher is no where near what you jus said mad tom...
my teachers confident im gonna fail my grade 8 on monday,
I always fell like poopoo afta my lessons are over...
He doesnt give me no confidence boost or encouragement...
and hes got no paitence what so ever!!

...I jus wanna prove him wrong and ace my exam

awww....

best of luck for Monday!

Thank You

I have no idea how my teacher got me through to grade 8 distinction in just 2 years. She is truly an amazing teacher. Lessons dont feel like im learning anything but when i come out i feel much more confident in what i do and can do anything i want to. She teaches through fun. Its simply amazing.

I hope one day to be as amazing at passing on knowledge and making fun as she is

Thankyou

x