How important are WEEKLY LESSONS?

[flutego12]

Current teacher absolutely believes in WEEKLY LESSONS for the full 60 minutes. (ex Conservatory lecturer) and in CONTINUITY - regular teaching. Time tested techniques.

For me this is too expensive at ($90/hr) and more importantly I feel this does not give me enough time to PROCESS what was taught before you know it it's lesson time again, although she believes that if I practiced everyday, I should have improved by leaps and bounds already (been going six weeks). Admittedly practice has not been regular due to various matters.

My ideal is for lessons once a month - checking lessons (half hour $35) - since I'm an adult beginner/ amateur who will not be sitting for exams at this juncture. This becomes more manageable financially and time to perfect new techniques.

My prev teacher had allowed that at my leisure.

Hvg said that, I have much regard for them both. The Conservatory teacher plays excellently.

[Zevang]

I believe the best way is always the one that best suits you. There are many factors to take to account when deciding how frequently you have classes and how long would they be. But maybe the most important factor, at least for me, is the objective, the purpose, the goal you are persuing. If a teacher cannot be flexible enough to deal with it, so it would be better look for another.
It's clear though that a student who wants to get into the professional life as a player would benefit from more frequent classes and this of course suppose more dedication between them. I think this is the reason the conservatories are so rigid about programs and schedules.

[flutego12]

I believe the best way is always the one that best suits you. There are many factors to take to account when deciding how frequently you have classes and how long would they be. But maybe the most important factor, at least for me, is the objective, the purpose, the goal you are persuing. If a teacher cannot be flexible enough to deal with it, so it would be better look for another.
It's clear though that a student who wants to get into the professional life as a player would benefit from more frequent classes and this of course suppose more dedication between them. I think this is the reason the conservatories are so rigid about programs and schedules.

The Con teacher has excellent pedagogy but she is unwilling to accommodate less than the weekly hr as she does not think it would work otherwise. So i guess she will have to expel me v soon =( - that would be such rejection. The other teacher is lovely (too) but her style suits primary school level students better. I hope my current teacher will work something out for me. I may not be absorbing $90 worth of goodies fast enough per week - possibly due to lack of consistent practice but also forgetful muscle mems and sometime mutinous physiological attributes. Ok I'm just not practising as much as the early days.

[evrmre]

I'm currently working with a teacher that is more like your primary school level one... We're having weekly lessons, as I'm sorting a lot of self taught stuff out (like sight reading... have been playing by ear for the last 20yrs). She isn't a slave driver, and isn't going to be the right sort of teacher once I'm ready to progress into some really hard stuff, but she is teaching what I need right now, and pushing me gently to continue improving.

I also practice quite a bit these days. I'm not really looking to become the next Galway or anything (my tastes run towards dubstep and the like, though I'm playing a little bit of classical also), so I'd agree with Zevang... it all comes back to what you're aiming to achieve. Your $90hr teacher might be really great, but I'd guess that is only viable if you're able to spend and hour or so a day practicing what is being taught. However, if your primary level teacher isn't pushing you at all, then perhaps that is not much better?

Finally, there is something I've learnt from swim training. What I was trying to process at first was far too much to take in. But by keeping on with the same coach for some months, I realised that it had gone in... and fallen into place later on as I continued training there. So maybe you should ask that teacher about how much you need to consciously get down, and how much the straight knowledge will work it's own way through your playing as you continue on. You might find that the regular exposure to good teaching has more positive effects than you think...

[flutego12]

I'm currently working with a teacher that is more like your primary school level one... We're having weekly lessons, as I'm sorting a lot of self taught stuff out (like sight reading... have been playing by ear for the last 20yrs). She isn't a slave driver, and isn't going to be the right sort of teacher once I'm ready to progress into some really hard stuff, but she is teaching what I need right now, and pushing me gently to continue improving.

I also practice quite a bit these days. I'm not really looking to become the next Galway or anything (my tastes run towards dubstep and the like, though I'm playing a little bit of classical also), so I'd agree with Zevang... it all comes back to what you're aiming to achieve. Your $90hr teacher might be really great, but I'd guess that is only viable if you're able to spend and hour or so a day practicing what is being taught. However, if your primary level teacher isn't pushing you at all, then perhaps that is not much better?

Finally, there is something I've learnt from swim training. What I was trying to process at first was far too much to take in. But by keeping on with the same coach for some months, I realised that it had gone in... and fallen into place later on as I continued training there. So maybe you should ask that teacher about how much you need to consciously get down, and how much the straight knowledge will work it's own way through your playing as you continue on. You might find that the regular exposure to good teaching has more positive effects than you think...

hm.
I would consider if she'd go half hourly. atm $400 a month .... is just a bit rich for me right now. I should really be pracitsing A LOT to ensure the technique is properly assimilated. I'm $630 down at Lesson 7 and still spluttering in front of her. I believe I manage well at home just working through the techniques stuff me up ... or so I think my excuse is. Someone once said, let the ears dictate - well that was my motto. Now it's visual as well.

Does anyone do the goldfish/ kissingfish/ lizard tongue? Apparently I do... I see Gary Schocker do the lizard but it's a no no.

[zummerzet_lou]

I'm an adult student too, and with a family, and a full time job I can't find the time to do the practise nor earn enough to justify a weekly hours lesson.

I tried an hour every 2 weeks, but found I needed a weekly "check up" for my motivation, and to also stop any bad habits forming so my teacher is happy for a weekly half an hour lesson, and occasionally I make that half hour into an hour to do some extra tone etc exercises.

[purpleflute]

I am an adult learner and I have weekly half hour lessons which seems to work really well. My teacher is quite happy for me take along band music occasionally to have a look at during my lesson. She is very patient no pressure but did say when I started that she expected me to practice for a minimum half hour every day which I generally do.