I'm 12 years old and I already play piano better than my teacher. What should I do? Sincerely, T.N.
It doesn't matter if we're talking about your piano teacher, your
voice teacher, or any other music teacher. You need to find a good
teacher. And don't delay. My first teacher taught me bad habits and
wrong information and they had no clue about proper technique. I
learned much too late that they were unqualified. It's very hard to
unlearn bad habits. It's much better to have a teacher tell you the
truth (the facts) when you're young. Then you get it right the first
time. Remember that teachers only can teach you what they know. It's
sad that anybody can hang out a shingle and teach private lessons but
few are really qualified. Find someone with a legitimate music
performance degree from a legitimate, respected music school. Have they
won performance awards in their field? Graduated with honors? Are they
a Recording Artist? Do they still perform as a soloist regularly in
public in the field in which they teach? Above all, do they love to
teach?
If you can answer yes to these questions, then you won't learn bad
habits. Bad habits, when left unchecked and unrecognized over time, can
lead musicians to serious physical problems, such as carpal tunnel
syndrome, and can lead vocalists to serious physical problems, too,
such as nodes on the vocal chords. Teachers without the proper
background are simply unable ~ because of their lack of knowledge and
experience ~ to properly identify, address, and correct these technical
problems that can lead eventually to the young artist losing the
ability to perform. Carpal tunnel syndrome and vocal nodes usually
require surgery to attempt to correct the issue. And sad to say, the
young performer or vocalist is usually never the same after the
surgery. All because their teacher failed to notice and properly coach
the young artist to protect them from injury. Call it what it is: this
is a complete travesty, an utter disgrace to the music teaching
profession.
Your teacher MUST be a performer ~ don't take lessons from a piano
teacher who can't or doesn't play in public (past their prime?), or
voice lessons from someone with a speaking difficulty (ie., lisp). The
key to learning is PROPER TECHNIQUE. Correct technique unlocks the
instrument, and a teacher who can't play, can't show you how. They are
simply out of touch.
MY MOTTO for 26 years has always been ~ THE BEST TEACHER IS A GOOD
EXAMPLE! Go find a GOOD EXAMPLE! If you need assistance in doing so,
please write to me, and I will try to help.