JB_PT Pallas Anybody want to start a betting pool to see how long it will take before I can actually play a piece in front of this woman that sounds half as good as it does in my living room?
I've been working with my teacher for over 2 years now. He's awesome, supportive, non-judgmental...and I still feel some degree of nervousness every single lesson. I'm not sure there's been a single time that I've felt like I totally nailed anything in front of him. So this is probably just something you will have to get used to! I do believe it will improve as you get more comfortable, but you may always feel this frustration to some degree. It's just part of the fun of lessons. 🙂
Pallas, first, my sympathies and well-wishes for you and your family. There have been health issues in my own family of late, so I know its not easy to deal with.
JB_PT's experience has been my experience as well, even after 10 years of lessons in my case. It is very difficult (for us adults) not to view the lesson as a performance rather than a learning time. I have to fight the mental habit of thinking a piece needs to be vastly improved from week to week. It would be nice if this happened, but mostly it doesn't. And my teacher does not expect or in any way imply that it should be so. She knows I will not have an entire movement or even the exposition of a sonata ready after a week, but she will want to hear what I have. What better time to have instruction, early in the game before incorrect stuff gets baked in! This is where a longer lesson has advantages, in that you have time to focus and on a few specifics and get them nailed down. I also don't feel I have to play every piece I'm working on for her at every lesson.
From your description of your teacher, it sounds like you have a keeper. As for asking for easier pieces, maybe, maybe not. Sometimes, especially early on, a teacher might mis-judge your level, but generally they have a pretty good idea of what a student is capable of. It may not be at the student's comfort level for every piece, but it will not be too far off the mark. I don't know how many pieces you have going for your lessons, but it's always nice to have a 'throw-away' piece (easy, short) that gives you the experience and satisfaction of completion, some pieces at your level for working on skills, and a stretch piece that you grow into.
I hope your M. G. book helps you structure your practice in a more satisfying and efficient manner, but (in truth) it probably won't be a magic bullet. I think home practice strategies are in many ways specific to the person and their life circumstances--and they can and will change with time and experience. Keep us posted!