My never ending story of searching a piano teacher

Animisha · 2024-09-25T09:28:30+00:00

For years, I was a happy student at Piano Career Academy, but I reached a point where I wanted to choose my own pieces, prompting me to search for a new pian...

Animisha

Swallowtail

The lessons are mostly about classical work, but he told me that it is fine to chose your own pieces and send him the music, which is what I did.
I have previously studied with Christie Peery (also at Artist Works), and she was much more strict and had a system with certifications. The feedback from Zachary was much more relaxed, in a good way.

Animisha

Swallowtail

Now I had my second feedback from Zachary. I am very satisfied!

I had originally thought that I would just have three months with him, with up to five video submissions and then hire a new online teacher, but I am seriously considering instead to buy a year with Zachary with unlimited video submissions. Unlike some of you, I don't actually enjoy piano lessons - to me they are a source of stress.

When I was a student of Christie Peery, she basically said, -It is no use to send a video unless you think it is perfect. With Zachary, for both the videos I sent, my question was: -What should I work with when polishing this piece? So the videos I sent were not perfect, and that is fine for him.

Also, this feedback suits me because I can keep my own practice schedule and I don't have a teacher who asks me to play through a piece before I am ready to play through, or a teacher who argues with me that I should play contrary scales (which I think is a waste of my time).

PS He also has lessons, but I am not interested in them, I prefer to play pieces of my own choice - which he allows.

Pallas

Animisha I'm glad to hear that you've found something that's working for you. ❤️❤️❤️ I believe in prioritizing enjoyment over pursuing an "ideal" that actually doesn't work and destroys the enjoyment of learning. I wish you all good things in your piano practice.

ShiroKuro

Animisha When I was a student of Christie Peery, she basically said, -It is no use to send a video unless you think it is perfect

That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! The teacher should be helping you improve, so of course what you send won’t be perfect. Good grief!

I hope it continues to go well with Zachery!

twocats

Animisha PS He also has lessons, but I am not interested in them, I prefer to play pieces of my own choice.

It's so great that you found someone you like! Are you sure that his lessons will force you to play pieces of his choosing? You can always ask!

Animisha

Animisha When I was a student of Christie Peery, she basically said, -It is no use to send a video unless you think it is perfect.

ShiroKuro That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! The teacher should be helping you improve, so of course what you send won’t be perfect. Good grief!

It was not that bad. For the first eight pieces, she had made very elaborate lessons, and if you did exactly what she said, she would give you a pass. For all other pieces, she had recorded them, both a moderate tempo version and a final tempo version. You were also supposed to watch the feedback that she had given to other students. Then, if you played the piece correctly on your first submission, you got "Peery Certified High Honors".
Students who followed her program did improve. However, I never felt happy with her system.

Animisha

Pallas

Thank you so much, that is soooo kind of you! ❤️❤️❤️

Sgisela

twocats Artistworks (where Zachary Deak teaches online) has a model where they have pre-taped, detailed lessons that he has put together. So I think what @Animisha meant was that the curriculum lessons are set. But she is allowed to submit anything outside the curriculum for review, and he is happy to give feedback.

Totally agree that it makes no sense to have lessons on things that are perfect! The point of lessons is to work through problems.

Animisha

twocats It's so great that you found someone you like! Are you sure that his lessons will force you to play pieces of his choosing? You can always ask!

Sgisela So I think what @Animisha meant was that the curriculum lessons are set. But she is allowed to submit anything outside the curriculum for review, and he is happy to give feedback.

Exactly! I will edit my post.

ShiroKuro

Animisha I never felt happy with her system.

I can see why, it doesn't sound student-friendly.

Player1

Animisha

You can contact her and let her know about your busy schedule and ask her to hold a slot for you. Otherwise you might find that this opportunity has been filled by another student.

Animisha

Player1

Thank you, but there is no need for that. There are so many more piano teachers than piano students...

Fetivi

Hello Animisha, thanks for pointing out the differences between Christie Peery and Zachary Deak. I like the concept of Artist Works with the video exchange. In my opinion that gives you more freedom than having on-line lessons through skype or whatever. I was not aware that you could sent recordings outside the curriculum to Zachary Deak and I think this is a big advantage above Christie Peery. Christie Peery also has a website for teaching her own method and she has educated piano teachers who use her method for their students. So I was a bit surprised that she also offers her lessons much cheaper at Artist Works. I think because she doesn't need Artist Works she is a bit more strict in her terms of sending in recordings. I did have a look at some of the lessons of Zachary Deak and was not too impressed about what he teached in his sample lessons, but it's good to hear that his feedback is good for you and that you are allowed to sent recording outside his curriculum. Did you sign up for a year and can you sent limitless recordings and get feedback? Because with the 50% off now that would sound like a good deal.

Sgisela

Fetivi Hello Animisha, thanks for pointing out the differences between Christie Peery and Zachary Deak. I like the concept of Artist Works with the video exchange. In my opinion that gives you more freedom than having on-line lessons through skype or whatever. I was not aware that you could sent recordings outside the curriculum to Zachary Deak

flagging @Animisha as this way she will be notified of your post.

Animisha

Hi Fetivi, welcome to Piano Tell! 😊

Fetivi I think because she doesn't need Artist Works she is a bit more strict in her terms of sending in recordings.
I think that it is her personality.

Fetivi I did have a look at some of the lessons of Zachary Deak and was not too impressed about what he teached in his sample lessons,
I agree with you on that, but I have had years of lessons at the Piano Career Academy, and after that, online teachers. So I didn't sign up because of his lessons, I signed up because of the feedback. I can practise the piano without a teacher, but I do need feedback!

Fetivi Did you sign up for a year and can you sent limitless recordings and get feedback? Because with the 50% off now that would sound like a good deal.

Exactly! Feedback is like:

"You need to be very careful with the pulse. You have a tendency to antcipate some of the downbeats. It is beter to be a litle late than too early. When you play too early, you lose the weight of the piece."
"Be more accurate with the pedal. You you should make clear and delayed pedal changings between measures."
"When the a tempo part starts, you start to play too fast."

All very valid points!

Animisha

PS Thank you Sgisela! ☺️

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