I've always told my students that my job is not to teach them how to play the piano, but how to practice

How about a teacher who shouted at me after the second lesson and told me that my hands were like claws (because I felt so nervous and tense) and I was a beginner. Then a couple of months later when he discovered that I was playing from memory and was still not able to sight read said that he would be ashamed to admit to anybody that he was teaching me. I ended up shaking before the lessons and nearly gave up. Luckily, I found a really good teacher, after a few more not so good teachers, and am now starting to work towards grade 5.

I might add to the list: If the techer isn't patient, can't tell what you're doing wrong, isn't organized and/or doesn't respect you.

When he writes a love song for you, proposes, and when you turn him down, he writes one of the most iconic peicies in classical music.

I had a piano teacher who would compose music while I would be in lesson. When I finished playing a piece, she would tell me to wait as she played her composition. She'd talk on the phone sometimes too. She never told me what I was doing wrong, and just kept saying, "again, again, AGAIN." I could never pick the pieces for my repertoire; they were all chosen by her. It made me really hate piano lessons and when I practiced on my own. When I got the chance to change teachers, I finally learned to love music and really enjoy playing the piano. I'll never forget her. Eva was the best piano teacher. Instead of dreading each lesson, I would look forward to it and come out of class feeling motivated to practice.

You really hit the nail in the head with the last one... The #1 sign you have the wrong teacher is, for me at least, that you are considering whether you have the right teacher or not

I think that it´s important that you mention the teacher caring about the student. That is so rare. Also, you talk about the teacher being nurturing and supportive. It doesn´t really matter which subject we are learning. But after the relationship with the teacher is over, we only remember if they cared or not :)

I've learned more from watching 15 of your videos than all my piano teachers combined. I can't believe how my musical education was so bad. I made it to grade 8, then switched to harpsichord in college. But never did one of my teacher tell me how to practice. The worse one was always telling me about her other student who was so much better than me, and while I played for her she played at the same time with her right hand on the higher register. I came out of there is tears so often and I was almost an adult then. During all that time I was only playing 4 musical pieces a year that I never chose. I never even thought about practicing sigh reading because I had no time. I was practicing 2 hours a day and I barely had time to go through all the exercises, scales and arpeggios, and the four pieces. I Now I'm retaking my power back. I'm relearning from scratch. I didn't play in 14 years so it's easy as I have forgotten a lot. And the good parts are coming back fast. Thank you Robert. Honestly it's a blessing to have found your channel. I'm relearning my way, with fun, and happiness, but it's good to have some strong basis, and you provide it. ♥ Much love and gratitude.

well, you just made me appreciate my teacher a whole lot more

I actually watched this videos to learn how NOT to teach. I teach piano, and thankfully I already knew not to hit kids in the hands! Thank you!

I agree with you 100%. My students have their lesson on my 9' Yamaha Concert Grand. Some ask me why would I allow my students to play on my personal piano when they are only playing level 1 material and I say what better way is there to develop a good technique and musical expressive playing, even at level 1, than a fine instrument capable of allowing them to do so. No distractions either. Even though I teach in my home, there are no phones ringing, no dogs barking [we have 5] , most students are surprised we have any as they are quiet. My family is quiet during lesson time and can not be heard as well. As for teaching students how to practice, that is instilled on the first lesson and at every lesson thereafter. A specific blueprint on how to fix any problem. Whether or not students follow that advise when they get home is beyond my control. Sorry this is so long. Robert, you do a great job on all your videos. Great advise. No corporal punishment either. Would not even cross my mind.

My first piano teacher used to hit me on my back, squeeze my arm or pinch me if I’m not playing right but I got used to it for 2 years then I started lessons with a new teacher who helped me correct my mistakes by showing me techniques or exercises that would solve it rather than inflicting pain

I had that Kind of experience sadly. I was playing wrong and she was hiting my hand and she took my hand that fast away from the piano that I was shocked. Good to know that Im not the only one with that kind of experience.

I can add one to the list. When I wanted to learn the piano when I was about 6 years old (my mother played the piano) I was told I should first "learn the basics" and was given a flute to take home and practice basic stuff. A flute... seriously? I was told to stick a hollow piece of wood in my mouth while there was a very nice (albeit "upright") piano at home waiting for me to be played on? If I would have been a bit older I would have shoved this "wooden stick" so far up in his balloon knot that he still wouldn't have been able to walk straight today. Needless to say I never went back to this "music teacher" or any other for that matter. I learned to play the piano myself, although I never learned to read music. But I'm talking late 70s here, so it went okay. These were the days when Jean-Michel Jarre and Vangelis became popular and that was the way I went; electronic music. There's not much need for reading music in synthesizer music anyway. And then the 90s came, with the internet, and I was able to learn all the secrets of scales and chords in a fun and easy way after all. Very occasionally, I envy people who can read music. Especially when I see my girlfriend hammer along on her grand, playing pieces she has never heard before like if she has been playing them for years. But then again; she spend thousands and thousands of boring hours practising the piano while I actually had fun jamming on my cheapo $100 keyboards. All without blowing air through a hollow piece of wood first! Thanks for yet another great video and yet another one bringing up great musical memories of the past!

I was angry at a teacher who sent me a transfer student whom she had been "teaching" for a year and poor little darling couldn't read the first note. She had been instructed to write note names below each note and couldn't read the first note. She had learned to read letters. For a year!!!

Not teaching how to practice is a big issue. My piano instructor does, but my sister has been through three guitar instructors (they keep moving away) and none of them have taught her how to practice independently.

I am a bit late to comment. Many years ago I suffered from a stage fright prior to the piano performance that I ran out of the hall to cry. Instead of comforting me, my abusive and angry piano teacher shouted at me. After that incident, I quit the piano. I never have the right teachers. Those I had were either $$$ obsessed or abusive towards students.

Thank you my first teacher was gifted told me to see music notes like a staircase. Went to a class today played and the lady looked at her watch. I saw a school online that teaches people on the spectrum i have high functioning autism and i will wait till covid 19 is over to start classes.i know its the right thing and I feel impelled to compliment the school for their symqpthetic and great nature. People with autism can play music music and specifically stating that was commendable. Today I heard piano as i played but it was the attitude I cant process background noise and sighing doesnt help. I appreciate practical advice but attitude is important. Realise how gifted my first teacher is. Best wishes in you teaching and hope I contributed to your videos. ❤

I agree with you on all of these. What a lot of people don't realize about the baby sitting thing is that it's important that the teacher gives you their full attention, they need to not only hear you play but they need to see what you're doing so to make sure your doing things correctly and not engraining bad habits.

Along the lines of #4, teachers who are verbally abusive or condescending are just as bad. I once had a teacher who said (in a frustrated tone) "Why are you making that mistake again...I thought we corrected that last week... Do you need your eyes checked?" I almost got up and walked out of the lesson. That was my last lesson with that teacher.

my sister had the promise of being a great pianist but quit after her advanced study teacher rapped her knuckles when she played a wrong note. she never played again. so sad, but she always encouraged me as i advanced.

My teacher used to hit my hands with a cane if I had poor form. Very painful and I'm surprised my parents were never concerned. That was in the late 1980s though.

I'm 36 years old and I'm about to begin my first piano lessons. Hopefully not too late. I'll keep all these in mind. Thanks Robert!

The comment on "grand pianos are harder to play" because of WEIGHT. No, not really. I have played a Boserndorder Imperial that was so "easy to play" that I couldn't even tell there were keys under my fingers, for example. Sure, "American" grand pianos and some assembly line grand pianos feel harder to play because they are regulated to what people expect from them, but it isn't across the board, and it's often the psychology behind the instrument. What is hard to play are spinet pianos because you can't get them to do anything that you want them to do while playing, not because of weight. I have played lots of spinets and cheap uprights that felt "heavy" because the actions were stiff and terrible. I went to someone's house to teach once as a favor, and getting the keys down on their spinet was like sticking your fingers into half-dry cement. Going from that piano to any other piano would be quite a startling moment for that student. I, personally, find grand pianos much, much easier to play, both in terms of weight and getting them to do what I want, of course. Regarding hitting fingers with a rule, that is a really old hold-over from Russian schools of music that made it into the "mainstream" in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, and then stuck around with the veteran teachers. I knew teachers from that era in college that hit their students with rulers all the time. I didn't have those teachers, but they existed 20-some years ago, and my fellow students experienced it first hand. Most teachers assign homework, but they don't teach HOW to practice. Homework is different from HOW to practice. That is so huge, but even great teachers rarely teach HOW to practice. Practicing is a whole skill in addition to learning the instrument you are teaching. From my students' very first lesson, I teach them how to practice. My own children have other teachers for other instruments, but I have taught them how to practice, and listening to them practice is very exciting. :) "Piano teachers" is a delicate subject with me because most are so bad, and just because someone has been teaching a long time, has advanced students, and even teaches at the college level doesn't automatically make them good. I have sat with so many bad college piano teachers, bad master classes, etc, spending half my time asking myself "what???" I used to think I was a terrible teacher myself until I took a break, then started observing other students, their teachers, and had a "fresh" look on the whole pedagogy after my hiatus. Only then had I realized my track record was real, and I wasn't a bad teacher at all, but during the first run I was so scared of being one of the teachers I don't like that I lost confidence in myself. I have that confidence back and it's currently a great second life as as teacher.

1. They teach using a spinet piano. 2. The babysit during lessons. 3. Corporal punishment. 4. Gives no homework. 5. A great teacher will provide you the roadmark to embark on your *own* musical journey.

You are right on the mark. The one that shocked me is hitting a student. Really, as much as a student pays for lessons and the teacher hits you? You’re fired! But seriously, your comments have convinced me even further that I have the right teacher. Nurturing is so important.

I teach piano to children and I watched this video just to make sure I wasn't doing any thing on Robert's list. It's hard to believe there are teachers out there who do these things! I'm not a great player by any means, but I truly care about each and every one of my students. I think that's the most important thing...forming a relationship with each student and making their lessons fun and exciting. (And giving them very specific homework - it's so important that they know what to practice at home!)

I had a great teacher for a little while, except she didn’t give quite as much feedback as I would’ve liked (she went pretty easy because her specialty was teaching children) and she gave NO homework! It’s true, teaching a student how to have individual targeted practice is so crucial to them developing their own skills are efficiently as possible And just assigning a piece or two doesn’t make up for that, as noted in the video. Great point!

I did not have much corporal punishment from the teacher, but I did receive my share of it in dancing school when it was thought that I did not get the dance steps right. While the crafts are different, the principal is similar.

Thank you. My teacher texts and takes calls and feels so disrespectful. I was considering changing, now I definitely will. He feel so uninterested and I have to come up with ideas for homework. Thank you so much

I love your program. I was fortunate to have a good teacher. The love of the piano and music is a blessing, I inherited, , from my dad.. thank you 😊

Haha! I'm teaching myself and frequently have to make sure my cats aren't up to some mischief. At least, I don't hit myself with a ruler.😻

Add lead weights to the spinet to increase its key weight;($20-50)whilst you save for that Steinway

Personally for me, my spinet piano (a 1989 Schimel) has the hardest action I've ever tested, and when I put on the sordina, it's even harder, to play on it rather than playing a normal, let's say, yamaha grand piano.

Well said. None of my teachers have told me what to practice. They just encourage me to practice consistently. What are some daily practice routines? I am a retiree learning the piano and it seems to be a loooooong six years. Don't think I have progressed enough. Don't know if I am my worst enemy.

Wow there is so much stuff that I absolutely agree with but I just wanted to add something else regarding inflicting pain. Robert was referring to the physical kind from wrong notes or mistakes, but the more overlooked pain is emotional or psychological brought on by injury caused by the passing of traditions. I'm a fan of Benjamin Steinhardt when he explains about technique and typically students come from a finger oriented background )curved hand position and isolated fingers rather than using the arms in the first lessons.) Overtime this unfortunately develops into a separation with the instrument when it's treated in the same way as the Gym. Taubman admits in the documentary about her work that part of the idea of training students is endurance--the word is repulsive, it's abhorent. As a result, a student can't progress further with their interpretive ideals when the technique is limited and working against their physical structures )small hands etc.) The how and the why are the most important, not so much the what.

Amen" and one who sings and can't carry a tune. I had a great couple of great ones and two horrible ones. My mom used to sit the last teacher's newborn. she taught me a lot and had me playing piano for our church at 15 and in high school. I am now having to relearn after a stroke, and i'm 63. OnI finger is still stuck, but my church has been patient with me even with the sess ups. but it is good therapy.

Robert, hey, good to meet you (on KZfaq). 😊 I'll be 100% honest, this is where I stand with regard to my teaching piano: (Regarding your points): 1.) I have a Roland F-120 digital piano that I use to teach piano lessons at my studio. Yes, it was a bit pricy. My parents paid for it, actually. (Most musicians are not very affluent...) Because I rent rooms in homes, etc., am moving around somewhat, etc., and I am not very well off, I really don't want to have an upright or grand piano, etc. right now. That kind of piano needs a more permanent kind of location... I also have to have a room that is appropriate for teaching music lessons in the house to teach in-studio. (Or rent a place to teach lessons, etc.) Further, most of my students have lessons in their own homes (I drive to their homes, 95% of the time), so then it has fallen to them to have an upright or grand piano, on this point. (Interesting critique of spinnets, I grew up with a spinnet piano. Because I also play (French) horn, played the piano quite a bit in younger years, have worked on more demanding stuff, etc., my fingers are pretty darn strong overall, etc. One family I teach has an especially resistant/tough to play grand piano, regarding finger strength needed to play well on it, etc. For me, yes I can feel the difference, but to be honest (and I have played all kinds of pianos before), it wasn't THAT big of a difference compared to the other grands, uprights, etc. I have played. And again, I played my family spinnet piano (Baldwin) quite a bit growing up, along with many other pianos in all sorts of places. To me, a Steinway grand piano feels AMAZING. It isn't hard to play, not in the slightest. The harder to play grand piano in one of my student's homes-that piano is still a fair bit more resistant than a Steinway. (Not sure of the brand/manufacturer of the grand piano, offhand.) Of all the over 100+ piano students I have taught for some 12 yrs. or so (and my primary instrument is the horn, and I compose music at a more elite level still, compared to my more semi-pro or somewhat less experienced pro level horn playing), only a handful of my piano students have ever entered any piano competition, two of which have placed in the top 3 in their skill level-they were both early intermediate pianists. (This was a pretty stinking seriously competitive piano competition at Central Washington University...) ...The vast majority of piano students (for the vast majority of non-university professor, etc. teachers) are, to state the obvious, not going to be professional level concert pianists, or even semi-professional pianists on some level. That is simply the reality that 99% of us face every day. Of course you are aware of this. We all would love to have grand pianos, but most of us don't. And upright pianos are often lacking in sound quality, projection, etc. A serious pianist, one who will likely not be pro level, but still have respectable ability, etc., will not be seriously hindered by a spinnet or digital piano, in my opinion, esp. if they are also playing on other pianos here and there. They will only be hindered by not practicing, not practicing enough, etc. As to your other points, I think I passed all those with flying colors. But you know, we're not made of money... 🤷‍♂️ I'm just taking your video very seriously, and to heart, is all. Every word. I am already spread fairly thin at times doing composition, horn AND piano. Teaching piano was, in my situation, one of the few things I could do that I truly enjoyed that was a more reliable source of income. The same is true for so many, MANY piano teachers out there. If there was an upright piano that had a truly outstanding sound, I would consider getting that piano in the future. But as it stands, it just doesn't make sense until I own a home, etc. 🤷‍♂️

I had a teacher whose piano (a spinet, by the way) was in the middle of the livingroom in his family house, with no walls/dividers between one room and another. One could be in a lesson and suddenly get absolutley distracted bc his mum/sisters or whoever gets home starts cooking, eating, chatting about their days, etc., almost like we weren't there. *It was very very annoying* I ended up quitting his lessons bc of that, despite him being amazing teaching music theory and harmony.

All five signs describe my piano teacher from the 1970s when I was 8 years-old. My mom searched for a neighborhood "piano teacher" whose 30-minutes lesson fee was the lowest she could find. My piano lessons were held in the "teacher's" living room at her house, learning on a spinet piano, while the teacher's two kids (younger than 8 year-old me) played or ate their food in the living room while lessons were in progress. She would occasionally tap the back of my hands with a pencil when I hit the wrong notes. I lasted about 12 lessons before I told my mom that I wanted to quit piano, which she allowed me to do. It wasn't until I was 54 years-old did I resume my piano education at my local community college where I found a *great* piano teacher and where I can practice on a grand piano in a school piano practice room. As of this comment I'm currently in my third semester of piano studies.

Excellent advice, particularly regarding the importance of homework / daily practice assignments. I've yet to have an instructor who takes the time to establish a recommended daily practice approach.

I rarely get tangible homework assignments. Sometimes they are very vague like “improve your listening skills or sense of rhythm.” Sometimes the exercises are just over the top: now as homework practise the remaining 11 scales in the next 2 weeks.

Daddy did a few of these (like pain)

you mentioned corporeal punishment for a mistake. i definitely agree with that it is not good practicd. i come from a time, when in elementary school, in the late 1940's it was common practice in elementary school take ruler and smack a child across the knucles very sharply. i suppose no one ever consider the long term damage that could be inflicted on a child as a result the use of this practice, i.e. joint danage. i don't know if thlsis still in practice or not. in any case it is not good practice. i always swore that if a teacher ever did this to one of my children there would be hell to pay, on the teacher's part. hands are such primary importance, that damage at an early age can lead to serious problems later in life. take care of your hands. you only get one pair!

Very informative as always, super thanks. Really makes me wonder what you might suggest a "homework" assignment might be for very young students? Level 1 approximately. Maybe you can mention a couple of examples of "typical" lessons for various levels??? Of course each individual will likely need or benefit from a very specific homework repertoire, there must be some sort of Association Guidelines about time and content???? Our daughter has had 3 different teachers, and I have no comment about the one with a stick, and we feel they are all exceptional though I get the impression you started onto something we maybe missing out on regarding the homework assignment. Thanks again and I hope all goes well in Arizona

My first teacher was great, but after two years with her, we moved to a different city where I studied for another 2 years with a different highly rated teacher. That teacher was a nightmare. She once got angry because I hadn’t gotten enough of a new piece memorized and shoved me so hard I fell off the piano bench onto the floor. I was 9. She also would smack my hands if I didn’t keep my wrists perfectly flat while playing. Fortunately she moved to another state when I was 11. This was in the late 60’s.

Wow, no comments yet? Liked most of your points. Obviously anything other than teaching a lesson is particularly bad. But what if all the student wants is a general musical education, does not plan on playing in any concerts or competitions and most importantly have electronic keyboards to play? Tailoring a lesson or series of lessons to the needs and aspirations of the students is probably the most important thing I do as a teacher. I have had students who could sight read Bach but still wanted help with interpretation. I have had professional musicians as students who just wanted to improve their hearing, so I set up exercises to help improve that. Others wanted help traversing difficult passages that I had not studied. But I always taught methods, so I did inform my students not only what and how to practice, but also what to expect from their experience. As my fame grows, who knows? I can't rule out eventually having another grand piano as I once had. But right now, my very tall old upright is a good musical instrument to begin with, which I plan on restoring the action on as I can manage it. I already recovered the keys once I got my technician to substantiate that the pinblock was still sound and there were only minor signs of wear on the belly portions. A new set of hammers, regulation and replacement of some action parts and I would have a very nice and certainly adequate instrument from which to teach. We all would like to do our best to promote pianos and pianism, but we didn't even know that player pianos spelt the eventual drift to demise of pianos, music and culture itself. Taking music out of the schools was practically the death knell. Do we keep at it? Sure. But increasingly we are a sideline to what used to be part of hearth and home. Best

Great lesson and great teacher!

2:20 that was piano education in China! This brings back memories of studying piano when I was really little back then

Your last point really hit home with me, Robert. I had several piano teachers. The very best one had me play for her and told me, "You need technique practice". I'd never even heard of that! My previous teachers (3) just gave me pieces to practice, and turned me loose. I made SO much progress in just 16 months or so with this teacher. 45 years later, I'm still using her methods.

Interesting comments. Many people including myself had music lessons in the past or have a teacher now. Brings up a gray area. During a lesson we have a teacher around to help and answer questions. But when practicing in private, we are supposed to repeat the things that were taught. Some people don't progress to a certain level, do we put all the blame and responsibility on a "bad" teacher? Or do we assumed that they didn't spend enough time practicing or simply lack talent? After a few years, if a student hasn't progressed to a certain level, can we assume that the student lack talent or interest and let someone quit? Some people grew up in a musical family. Everybody at home plays an instrument and can't live a day without music. Many young people got into a music program or hooked up to a private music teacher because their parents wanted them to be involved in activities that would emphasize discipline and boost self-esteem. We all enjoy listening to music on the radio or in concerts to some extent. Not everybody appreciate the weekly music lessons if practicing music becomes too much like technical exercises. Some who had lessons in the past ended up hating playing music.

not prioritizing teaching of sight reading or the encouragement / explanation of it. I wouldn’t say this is the hallmark of a bad teacher as they have so much else to teach. But I do think it is a problem

Here's my little story. I(and my brothers and sisters) all took piano lessons from my parents good life long friend. They became friends in high school and my mother even went on one date with him ! Anyway he was a wonderful soft spoken Christian man that could play the piano and organ very well He played at all of our weddings which meant so much to us. As I look back I thank the Lord for such a gentle and kind teacher and I miss him very much.(he passed in 2003).

I started piano lessons at age 16. My teacher hit me on the back with her fist one night because I broke one of her rules: read the music from the bottom note to the top. (Is this a real rule?) While sight reading, I gave myself away by placing my right hand on the keyboard first. Next thing I knew, I was sprawled out across the keys. I lasted a year and a half.

I’m thinking about taking lessons but I’m scared to be a slow learner and be hard to teach...

I’d add a teacher that doesn’t use a metronome is bad news. And a teacher that doesn’t teach music but only the instrument is bad news. By that I mean, simple theory worksheets assigned with songs, techniques they are learning.

true. relatable with other music as well,

Instead of physical intemidation, I prefer mental intemidation. I've been teaching for 50 years and find the mental aspect works better than anything, e.g., "What was that? What was that you just did?" Aside from joking, this is a good video on what you should look for in a teacher.

An obvious deal breaker was my teacher. He was an excellent performer and teacher who did everything right EXCEPT he made lewd sexual comments to me. I laughed it off at first then I TOLD HIM OFF and quit his lessons. He made me sick.

I’ve never heard of piano teachers hitting students for playing wrong notes. Is this for real? I don’t think it’s even legal

The most persistent problem that I had with music teachers, on the piano to some extent, on the 'cello even worse, was how to play when one is double-jointed. Some of my teachers on 'cello were utterly worthless (and clueless) about how to help me to overcome the problems of double-jointedness in the hands and at other joints of my body. I know that few pupils are likely to have that problem, but it is NOT rare.

My piano teacher always assigned music I didn't like. Her taste in music was different from mine. In frustration I finally quit lessons, and then resumed learning on my own only after six years away from piano. I discovered quickly that I could play at a much higher level, without the preliminary hoops and hurdles of having to learn such things as the detested Clementi sonatinas (which I couldn't stand). On my own I learned works of Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Bach, Schubert, Brahms and Mendelssohn (and some others as well). Then, after sixteen years away from piano due to a hand injury, I am playing again but this time I am consulting a teacher by FB Messenger (she lives 11,000 km away). The old nagging hand injury prevents me from relearning quickly all the Beethoven & Brahms I played before, so I focus more on Mozart, whose sonatas are less strenuous for the hands.

I had a teacher who send emails, listen to stuff he is learning to play, during my lesson.

Old world teachers, such as those from Russia sometimes do #4 in the US even today. A friend of mine was married to a piano teacher from Russia who would use corporeal punishment with her young pupils. My friend had to tell his ex-wife that she couldn't do that sort of thing in America. I've heard that some Russian parents though have their children go to Russian piano teachers just because they have an expectation the teacher will be stricter.

Surely to goodness whether the teacher happens or not to be a great pianist should be on the list!! They also need to have a refined ear, a comprehensive knowledge of the piano literature and classical music in general, they must be enthusiastic and capable of communicating the length. breadth and JOY of the subject. (I have personally met too many teachers who know NOTHING! They barely passed their grade 5 and think it's an easy money-making racket to set themselves up as piano teacher because there's no governing body to oversee standards.) Before you accept anyone as your teacher THEY must perform for YOU and then YOU judge if THEY'RE right for YOU! Goodluck!

great video robert!

What about playing/practicing on a keyboard. In Addition to my Steinway Model O, I have Roland FP30 keyboard which I can practice at night at 3am(LOL). Thanks for you comments.

Had a teacher that lived by the three Bs. Bribe, Beg, Beat. Thankfully i never made it to the third B. I moved on. Old school. lol

I thank God for my God teachers. & for Robert Estrin's interesting and thought provoking videos.

I have a piano teacher who’s quite old (70s) and she’s sweet and all but she’s been very all over the place. It seems like she hasn’t taught me anything and I’ve been going to her lessons for over a year. It seems like all she does is just gives me sheet music to play each week and that’s it. She did hit me on that hand once cause I couldn’t get a rhythm down which still bothers me but idk, I’d feel bad asking my parents to get a new piano teacher.

Useful video

Now that brings back old lessons memories! I smile now, to think of the little old lady piano teacher who routinely slapped the back of my hands with a rather thick 18" ruler, whenever I played with straight hands and fingers, as opposed to having my hands in the "correct cupped position". And then there was that nasty guitar teacher who carried that long metal, extendable pointer (looked like an old car antenna) who wacked my wrist and fingers whenever they weren't in the, "correct fretting position". Ouch! And let's not forget the holy nuns at Catholic grade school who would smartly wrap the back of my outstretched hands with a yard stick whenever I was caught doing something in class that I wasn't supposed to do. Life as a young school kid was tough, back in the day! HA!

Should teachers focus more on finger numbering than learning notes on the staff?

My first guitar teacher would hit me with a pencil on the head if I made a mistake. One day my mom sat in on a lesson...Yeah that stopped real fast...

How loud should the Digital Piano be to be as close as the Grand Piano?

It seems I got 5* piano teacher, I'm so lucky) Thank you for your video!

Well I had great teacher who taught me on an 18th and 17th century spinets, also clavichords, square fortepianos and harpsichords haha!

Expanding on some of your points: For #2: Not only babysitting kids, if they are distracted by anything and not entirely focused on you during the lesson, that's a problem. And this goes for any private music teacher, not just piano teachers. If they can't be 100% focused on you during the time when your lesson is, they need to reschedule and if they don't and instead try to teach while distracted, find a different teacher. For #3: Abusive practices as a whole should not be tolerated. And again, this one applies not just to piano teachers, but any private music teacher. This includes, yes, physical abuse like corporal punishment/hitting with rulers, etc. but also mental abuse too. Of course teachers need to critique their students for them to improve, but it should be balanced with encouragement and positive feedback as well. Critiques should be specific and constructive and aimed at helping you learn what you need to do in order to improve. A teacher who is not creating a positive environment where you want to improve and instead is just shaming, belittling, and overall tearing you down is a bad teacher that you should run away from. And that is probably far more common than physical abuse (which as I've already stated, is of course also wrong). For #4: This one again applies not just to piano teachers, but also to any private music teacher. They need to give you specific goals to strive for and tasks to do during each lesson so that you have something specific to work towards for the next lesson and know what you're supposed to do to achieve the goal and be ready for the next step. Just showing you pieces of music and saying "learn this" is not good enough. They need to assign you specific tasks to do/goals to strive for. Like telling you which measures to focus on and giving you direct advice for how to practice said excerpt. Then of course, build on that in future lessons.

Robert: I think you mentioned being instructed by Ruth Slenczynska who was physically abused by her father at the piano when she made a mistake. She is still a phenomenal pianist despite the treatment she endured. Just goes to show the indomitability of the human spirit.

My teacher had her baby sit in on my lessons! She hated Schubert too. I should've realised.

Thanx, Maestro.

great video, Robert.

My teacher has an upright. Is this OK?

I had my first teacher that tapped my wrong notes fingers with a pencil extension. Yikes!

Thanks this is very interesting.

Babysitting neighbor's kids during class 😂

My piano instructor doesn’t give me homework... and just gives me advance pieces when I’m just starting out. He makes me wanna quit

What if I have a digital piano? Is it possible to develop good technique on digital pianos?

O might add: schools ir teachers that take tio manu students. Always looking at the click and making the students feeling nervous and distracted.

I'm self learning, my way. No one to yell at me but myself. No one to slap my hands but myself. But I watch a lot of tips on KZfaq on piano playing. And I don't have to pay for lessons!

AMEN !!!

Since I have a teacher that comes to my house, most of these isn't an issue (Except I have a digital XD)

Omg i needed this

My teacher played angry birds after he printed out a easy piano sheet from google I switched piano teachers and now my new teacher is the sweetest best teacher ever!!

I want you be my teacher.😌😌

What if the teacher eats biscuits with milk during the lesson and then touches the piano with his wet milky fingers?( That happened to a friend of mine). And also, then same guy puts his finger in his nose the whole time and then touches my fingers. His piano also has some hair on it, I don't know why.

My teacher screamed at me when she did not like my playing, most of the time. She's totally choleric. She's been a real professional! I was with her for years as I should.

One needs a grand piano, because it has 3 working pedals. Uprights often have only 2 pedals or 3 pedals with one being a fake. Your teacher needs to know proper pedalling like 1/2, 1/4, flutter pedalling + much more. The elder Schnabel wrote a book on pedalling, but his son wrote a very poor pedalling book when dad's was no longer available. I'd rather have a grand for pedalling than for piano touch, as a tuner, piano technician, can change touch quite easily.

My teacher used to slap my hands when I got things wrong

Five signs? He names 4 right ? Or is it just me?