Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Should I get a teacher or just learn by myself?

Okay. This is my little story. I'm not an adult, and I'm not considered a beginner (though I have lots to learn), but still...

I started piano lessons when I was eight. I'm now sixteen. I was never the best student when I was taking lessons (I finished after my freshman year in highschool because my teacher moved away). But the thing is that now that I don't have a teacher I am like the exact opposite and have become a much better piano player than before. alot of my peers who started piano lessons before or at the same time I did say that I'm better than them. And when they ask if I have a teacher and I say not anymore they are really impressed.

but my question is should I get a teacher again? I have a problem with too much structure and learn best by myself. BUT I know that there is much much much more that I need to learn.

So...?

Probably depends on your pianistic goals.

Why do you think you are the exact opposite of when you had a teacher and have become much better without one? Only because it was too structured? Are you now playing music you want to play where you weren't before? Do you think your teacher was very good? Did you like and get along with your teacher? Did you find your teacher and the instruction motivating? Did you have any say in the selection of your teacher? Are you practicing more than you were before? Is the pressure removed now that you don't have to go to regularly scheduled lessons and "perform" in front of your teacher? etc. etc.

You don't have to answer those questions above, I only ask them to help you answer your own question.

I think the right teacher is invaluable especially when you know you still have a lot to learn. The key of course is finding the right teacher which may mean "auditioning" several before you find one. There are many, many things that can be learned from a good teacher that you will not find in any self-teach book and that you will very unlikely discover on your own.

Depends how talented and intelligent you are.

In my opinion, playing an instrument is a very practical [intuitive] and not particularly complicated discipline and little can really be taught to an intelligent pupil, it's more a case of prompting. Taste is the most important factor and it is a subjective matter that likewise changes according to subjective choices.

Get a teacher. One who really challenges you. It will help you focus and get your mind off other stuff.

Jodi

there are tons of piano teachers out there. im sure at least one will enjoy your taste in the pieces. sometimes there are just certain things in pieces that only someone with more experience can point out.
make sure your teacher is flexible too. im entering my jr yr in high school and the workload's starting to get heavier...so i wouldnt want a teacher who's strict on timing and re-scheduling of lessons.

unless you find a good teacher, you can just study on your own (with plenty technique books and resources around you could find). having a bad teacher is worse than having no teacher. i have a friend who told me a horror story about a teacher she had, who pretty much killed her desire for playing music.

Joseph: You might try calling one of your local universities to see if there are any younger instructors who might better relate to you and your needs. A good instructor can be immeasurable to your growth as a pianist and musician.
Jon

Get a teacher. I like Jdsher's idea.

Boy, I never knew 16 is considered an adult!

Huh?

JosephS stated:
He said he was 16 and he's posting here in the Adult Beginner's Forum. It's fine by me if he posts here but all I was saying is he's not an adult!

what the...

anyhow, thanks all for the tips. I think I'm going to try out a teacher to see how I'll do. It'll be an interesting new chapter in my piano playing life.