Friday, December 12, 2008

Why Most Piano Teachers Can't Help You Create Your Own Music!


Most piano teachers have no problem teaching technique or note reading from textbooks. This is what they're good at. In fact, this is the bread and butter of their curriculum because they can make a lot more money by stretching out the "learning process" ad Infiniti.

But, most piano teachers have trouble guiding students and helping them learn how to trust themselves. Why? Because they aren't trained in this! They're trained in getting you from point A to B and while this linear approach satisfies many... it won't help you with your own artistic expression.

Listen, if you want to spend years learning how to play other peoples music (no matter how good it is) then great. You'll be taught this and you'll pay a lot of money for it. In fact, if you were to see a piano teacher every other week for 3 years or more, that's a couple thousand dollars right there!

And what will you have? The ability to read what other people have written in order to play what other people have composed. Thiink about this! Would any other artist, be it writing, painting, whatever.. spend 3 years learning how to write another persons book or paint another artists picture? No way!

The bottom line is - if all you're interested in is note reading and playing other peoples music, then most any piano teacher will do. If, however, you want to be able to improvise and create your own unique music, then find someone who will help you trust in your own unique talents and abilities.

Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Visit http://www.quiescencemusic.com/ now and get a FREE piano lesson!

4 comments:

  1. Edward,

    Keeping in mind that I love your music and I do agree with you up to a point about some piano teachers not teaching or even encouraging their students to make up their own music I have to say that you are being too harsh on piano teachers who teach "other people's music" like you call it.
    Keep in mind that a lot of students do NOT want to create their own music, they just want to play. And by your comment it makes it sound like all those students are stupid for paying for lessons.
    You are also charging for teaching something...

    I try to introduce my students to different styles of music and now actually to yours...which by the way some of them find very disturbing.
    I don't but they do. So they put up with it because I am trying to teach them improvisation.

    Please, there are so many piano teachers out there...we should encourage and support each other because for most of us , we are teaching because we Love music and we love sharing it.

    All the best. Merry Christmas.

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  2. Hi Tica,

    In no way am I putting other piano teachers down. Or students for that matter. As I've always believed, the world's big enough for everyone's tastes. I just am pointing out that in music, students aren't usually encouraged to create their own material.

    That's why I contrasted teaching piano with the teaching of watercolor painting. It's a whole different thing isn't it? No memorizing, no copying of the "masters." Just a desire on the student's part to learn the art of watercolor.

    I have nothing against the classical curriculum. In fact, I love classical music. I just think students are being short changed sometimes when they spend years and years learning how to play the classics and then wonder why they can't just sit down at the piano and play what they feel.

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  3. Anonymous10:53 AM

    Hi Edward,

    My you have a large ego! How does it feel to be so wonderful?
    You have some good techniques but please don't broadcast them at the expense of others.

    Ray

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  4. Anonymous11:57 AM

    Speaking from the student's standpoint, I must say that both of you are correct. I would not give anything for the years of classical training my parents paid dearly for. I have a foundation and grasp of musical concepts that transcends anything I would have come up with on my own. However, there was a glass ceiling there where I was unable to make the leap towards just sitting down and making up music and playing by ear. That is what Edward taught me without even paying him a single penny, just by watching his videos. I feel as if I should send him money for his generosity and kindness. I can now play for hours and have entertained so many people at my gallery and in other venues. I also tell them how to do what I do. They are amazed. I tell them about the Quiescence website also. Thank you, Edward.

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