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Joined: Aug 2011
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Hi, I only started lessons a little while ago but I think I must find a new teacher.
To my surprise when I went for my first lesson I found the teacher uses a casio privia digital piano to teach. I'm not a trained musician but I hate the way the thing sounds and feels.
On the website for the teacher he had a grand piano but he told me he sold it. This is someone who has been a teacher for years and has many students. I don't understand. He is nice and seems perfectly capabable of being a great teacher.
I have a great instrument I bought to learn on Essex EUP 123. I love the way it sounds although I can't play much.
I thought maybe I was being a snob or something and could hang in there with this teacher because I was just a beginner and the insturment used for teaching didn't matter much. After reading a lot of posts here it sounds like it certainly does matter.
I don't want to hurt the teacher's feelings and it all feels awkward.
Any advice please would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!
Pam Essex EUP 123FL Started playing August 18, 2011
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I would give the guy a chance if he really seems like a good teacher. You never know why he sold the piano. Maybe he needed money to help someone in his family or something. If after a few months you still don't feel right about it then consider stopping. Also, while I understand the frustration with not having a high quality instrument, at the beginning level I don't think a Casio Privia is going to cause you any problems. While some teachers argue that a high quality piano is important, you have to be realistic about what that means. Unless you have serious ambitions and capabilites, you won't be hindered by even a mediocre digital. Even professionals can play very well on less than desireable instruments and often do for one reason or another. I don't want to say that wanting a nice instrument makes someone a snob, because there is certainly a special joy that comes from playing on a beautiful piano. But in the end the quality of music comes more from the musician than the instrument.
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If I may also share my tale. I've owned one upright, and two 6' grand pianos. I sold them all because they were not "the piano" of my dreams. (a little obsessive here). I currently play on a keyboard - weighted, etc. I loathe playing on it, but it works for me until I find my piano that I plan to keep forever. I am a teacher but I go to the students' homes, but I'm fairly certain that the keyboard would not present a problem for them, as they are all beginners. Actually, my keyboard is in better shape/tune than 90% of the acoustic pianos my students own. I understand your feeling about keyboards, but if he is a good teacher, I would not let that prevent me from studying with him.
Piano teacher, BA Music, MTNA member
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Although it is a lot more important that you have a good instrument to practice on (which it sounds like you do), I think you are justified in feeling a bit misled when the instrument shown on the teacher's website didn't match what you were presented with. And in any event, sticking with a teacher because you don't want to hurt his or her feelings is never a good idea. In the same way, if I have a student who is not clicking with my way of teaching and not putting in the work requested, and we've worked through the possible solutions, I don't keep them in my studio for fear of hurting their feelings. Go with your gut feeling. It will probably lead you to the happiest outcome.
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I completely agree. If you aren't comfortable now, then it will probably get worse.
Working on: Reworking Bartok's Suite Opus 14, Chopin's Polonaise Op.40, The Military (so much fun!)
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So you've had...one lesson with this teacher? I hardly think that gives you a fair assessment as to whether or not this is a good teacher for you. You're basing it solely upon his instrument, which he had to sell for whatever reason, none of your business. Maybe he fell on hard times, but he could still be an awesome teacher. Give him a chance, at least a couple of months (unless there is something obviously wrong with him like he's a creep or something). If after that you don't like him, then part ways and know that you gave it a godo shot. If you leave now after one lesson, you might find a teacher with a nicer piano but ends up being mean or just not your kind of teacher. Then what? You go back to this guy and actually give him the chance he deserves to get to know you and tailor his lessons plans accordingly? Do it now, and then if after that time you don't like him then it's a godo idea to leave.
Last edited by Morodiene; 10/06/11 09:20 PM.
private piano/voice teacher FT
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To my surprise when I went for my first lesson I found the teacher uses a casio privia digital piano to teach. I'm not a trained musician but I hate the way the thing sounds and feels.
On the website for the teacher he had a grand piano but he told me he sold it. This is someone who has been a teacher for years and has many students.
Eveewonder, You've mentioned you hate the way the teacher's piano sounds and feels. I think that matters. The rest of the info looks like it came from the website. Teacher advertises a grand, actually has a digital. Advertises that he has years of teaching experience and many students. But again it's just what he SAYS on the website. I've never heard of a serious teacher (or any for that matter) selling their grand and teaching on a digital. I think you've met a dud and would do best to follow your instincts and RUN! If it were me, I'd say that "It's not going to work out" to continue lessons and thank the person for their time. I would not go into any reasons why.
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I agree with Ann. I think your instincts are correct. There is an issue of integrity here. And this guy represented himself differently in his promotion than what you experienced. It would feel like a bait and switch to me!
Carl
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Thanks. I just hate any confrontation.
I have been at it since August. The keys are harder to push on my acoustic piano and seem to go down further. The digital keyboard keys seem to be lighter and don't go down as far and have like a very quick spring to them that sometimes thunks. It is also usually set at a low volume.
I'm just starting out at all this. I'm only learning how to play for my own pleasure but I put time into it, I'm serious and want to learn properly.
Pam Essex EUP 123FL Started playing August 18, 2011
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Hi Eveewonder,
Quitting is not necessarily necessary.
It would be useful if you can bring up your concern. In your case it is a legitimate concern that you feel the teaching instrument limits your ability to properly learn technique. Maybe you'll find out it's only temporary, maybe the teacher can arrange for an acoustic. Maybe the teacher will agree with you and suggest finding another teacher.
I think one of the worst things for a piano teacher is to have a student quit and not know why. If the issue still remains and is important to you, then you may need to find another teacher.
Last edited by lechuan; 10/07/11 04:03 PM.
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Eveewonder, when I asked a similar question here a few months ago, the reply was that if I felt a difference, it was time to switch to taking my lessons on an acoustic piano. I may be a bit more advanced than you (early intermediate), so I don't know if the difference in replies you're getting is that people think a digital is OK for beginner lessons. I also got told that the piano should not be turned down in volume.
What frustrated me about lessons on the digital (at a music store) was that I couldn't show my teacher any of the subtleties of touch that I had practiced at home, so she didn't really know how I was playing. I've switched to taking lessons at her home studio on an acoustic, and am much happier. I'm happier even though it's a harder adjustment from my home piano to the teacher's grand, than it was from my home piano to the music store digital.
I agree with lechuan about finding a way to raise the subject with her.
Last edited by PianoStudent88; 10/07/11 04:26 PM.
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