My first piano teacher got me off to what seemed to be quite a good start. He was the Head of Music in the local secondary modern school. I was 9 years old, but had taught myself to play hymn tunes in octaves before starting actual lessons. I even composed a new tune for one of the hymns - my Op.1.
The teacher ate his evening meal as he shouted instructions, every time I erred from the written note. Although the clatter of cutlery was constant, he was clearly paying attention, for despite being some distance away, he called out any wrong fingerings. I think he may have contributed to my lifelong dislike of music in B flat major. But that’s another story.
I went away to a boarding school and my new teacher sat to my right and gave me full attention at all times. She liked to double my right hand an octave higher at all times. She was very keen on scales and finger exercises, but couldn’t fill me with enthusiasm for either. However, I thrived, and my competitive streak helped me to overtake all the other school pianists, one by one.
My university teacher was a phenomenal pianist. His teacher had been a pupil of Brahms. But he didn’t think it necessary to spend much time on scales, encouraging his students to improve through solving the problems faced in great piano works. I’m not sure that he was right. Being a great pianist doesn’t make you a great teacher.
Oboe lessons? Maybe later...
The teacher ate his evening meal as he shouted instructions, every time I erred from the written note. Although the clatter of cutlery was constant, he was clearly paying attention, for despite being some distance away, he called out any wrong fingerings. I think he may have contributed to my lifelong dislike of music in B flat major. But that’s another story.
I went away to a boarding school and my new teacher sat to my right and gave me full attention at all times. She liked to double my right hand an octave higher at all times. She was very keen on scales and finger exercises, but couldn’t fill me with enthusiasm for either. However, I thrived, and my competitive streak helped me to overtake all the other school pianists, one by one.
My university teacher was a phenomenal pianist. His teacher had been a pupil of Brahms. But he didn’t think it necessary to spend much time on scales, encouraging his students to improve through solving the problems faced in great piano works. I’m not sure that he was right. Being a great pianist doesn’t make you a great teacher.
Oboe lessons? Maybe later...
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