Rant Alert!

I don't know what to do.

I finally got over the hurdle (for me) of contacting a teacher and starting lessons again.

However the teacher doesn't seem to have any plan to their lessons. They decide what we're going to do as we go along, and are always asking me what I want to do next.

I haven't been assigned any pieces and we're not using a method book. I'm only playing pieces that I've chosen and taught myself in my own time (though it is nice to get comments of 'excellent' and 'perfect' when I play them for my teacher...unless they're just humouring me to try and boost my confidence...???... )

I'm aware it may be that, because I suffer so badly from nerves, the teacher doesn't want to push me too hard(?)...but they're not pushing me at all!!

The first couple of lessons I was at least given some scales to work on and learn at home. The last scale I was given to learn was a harmonic minor over 1 octave...I learnt it over 2 octaves and taught myself the melodic version (also 2 octaves), hoping that the teacher would realise that it hadn't been enough...but no.

This time I wasn't given anything. Although I did get a (seemingly surprised?) 'excellent' and 'well done' for my efforts on the minor scale from last time.

On the plus side; My teacher is nice and has been very understanding about my nerves.

I guess I was just expecting (hoping for) a bit more structure to the lessons. As it is I just don't feel challenged by the work(?) and I'm getting frustrated by it all.


*awarethatthey'renottheeasiestpersontodealwith/teachHidden*

Just goes to show, you gotta do everything yourself if you want it done right. My suggestion...get a new teacher or teach yourself.

Hi and welcome to the forum - Have you talked with your teacher?

I am sure that other PW members will have many helpful suggestions.

Lesson books are essential at the learning stage at which you are at, and there should be a plan, which the lesson books partially supply.

I would ask your teacher what lesson books he/she uses with other students, and if you will get one.

The only thing that sounds ok here is that the teacher is still trying to figure out what your needs are (I think you have had 3 lessons), so as to determine what would be the best plan & lesson book.

Tell all this to your teacher, and see what kind of response you get. If they don't answer (and act!) in a satisfactory manner, then start looking for a new teacher.

Three lessons is over-all quite a short time, and your teacher may be trying to figure out what kind of plan would suit you. If that's the case, then hearing some specific information about that might be useful for you.

If "everything just feels wrong", then don't feel obligated to stick around.

Coming from a piano teacher, the number one thing you can do to increase the productivity of your lessons is to honestly communicate with your teacher. You don't have to chastise them, just kindly let them know that you don't feel that you're being stimulated enough. Trying saying "The stuff you taught me last week was great, but I figured it out pretty fast, can you give me a little bigger work load this week?".
As david_a mentioned, your teacher may must be trying to figure out which direction to head, but then again, any teacher who shows up to the first few lessons without some sort of definite lessons structure doesn't really seem to have it all together.
Again, try communicating with your teacher, and if he/she doesn't step up the lesson plan by lesson five, start shopping around.

Yep, I've only had 3 lessons with this teacher so far, so it may just be that they haven't worked out where to start with me yet, but it's still very frustrating not knowing what I'm supposed to be doing at the moment.

If it's the same at the next lesson I'll try talking to them about it (unless I chicken out ).

However, as 'next time' wont be 'til next year now (stupid holidays Bah Humbug! ), I've chosen another piece to learn on my own for now so that I have something to work on.

I've been thinking about getting a book like Alfred's (reading through the posts here a lot of people seem to recommend it), even if I just work through it on my own (though that kind of defeats the purpose of getting a teacher).

Up 'til now I've just been choosing individual pieces that I like by watching youtube vids (searching for things like easy/simple piano). The problem with this is that everyone seems to have a different idea of what constitutes 'easy'.

I don't really know enough to be able to tell if I can manage a piece (I've been sticking mainly to graded pieces, because that at least gives me a limited idea of whether or not I can attempt it ).


*willgetthereintheendHidden*

Don't chicken out!

Open up the dialog; the teacher may have a plan that they aren't sharing with you. Or they may be incompetent.

In any case, I think it would be good to find out! Unless the lessons are free; in which case, I guess you don't look a gift-horse in the mouth.

But somehow, I doubt they're free!