As a newcomer, first I'd like to say hi to everybody and to let you know that for the past few months you all have inspired me a great deal through your posts in this forum, so thanks!

My question today has to do with the following: I've taken piano lessons at different points in my life, but always abandoned the instrument after a while. A few months ago I bought a digital piano (I live in a thin-walled apartment in Manhattan) and decided to apply myself. I've worked through the first three preludes and two fugues of Bach's WTC I, and now I'm beginning to work on the C# Major Fugue. Though I'm not playing the pieces well as I would like to, I've really enjoyed the process and find myself practicing between one and two hours every day. The thing is, I love Bach, especially the WTC, because it is so rich and challenging.

I can see that I really need a teacher at this point, somebody who can spot bad habits, correct technique, help with fingering, help me articulate certain phrases, and a long etc.

I would like to continue learning the pieces in WTC (and in order!). For some reason I find it really rewarding to go about it this way. Teachers in the past had me work on pieces by different composers, a movement of a sonata here, a polonaise there. And really, I either got bored with some of the pieces, or didn't really like them, or just didn't find it satisfying, and would abandon the instrument. Taking on the WTC appeals so much more to me, it's like chipping away at a huge block of stone, a monumental task. The pieces in the WTC are also relatively short, and so different one from the other (yet part of a cohesive whole), and so beautiful.

I'm finding the C# Major Fugue to be very challenging, but I don't want a teacher that tells me to put in on the shelf for a while while I work on a nocturne or something, or to skip the C# Minor fugue (my favorite piece in the world) because it's too hard. Even though I am reluctant to play pieces outside the WTC, I'm prepared and willing to do exercises and scales.

So I want a teacher who will be willing to take me through the WTC in order (no matter how unreasonable this request is), who knows and understands and loves Bach, and who is in addition a great all-around docent. Living in New York, there are probably lots of instructors out there that more than fit the bill.

How do you all think I should approach this? Where can I find a good teacher that is willing to go along with me in my obstinate project of playing the WTC in order? In these forums? Craigslist? I'm open to all suggestions and look forward to your responses.