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V.com weekend vote: Have you ever had two teachers at the same time?
July 27, 2013 at 2:35 AM
Sometimes you just need a different perspective, when it comes to learning the violin, and for that, you might need a different teacher.Even if your violin teacher is quite good, you might need to hear things described a different way for you to understand them. Or it could be that things are not working out with your teacher. Or your, teacher doesn't have time to give weekly lessons, and you need to study with an assistant.
But it can be quite delicate, taking violin lessons from more than one teacher.
One context in which this can work well are things like summer institutes and programs, in which you can leave your home teacher for a while and go study for a nice chunk of time with another good teacher. You might have a revelation, or you might find that you suddenly understand something your teacher had been trying to convey to you.
A bit more dicey is the idea of taking lessons simultaneously with two different teachers -- not that this isn't appropriate in certain situations. It can be difficult, if you are trying to follow two separate programs and the teachers are unaware of each other. In other situations, sometimes one teacher (perhaps an assistant) can help prepare you for another teacher. Sometimes teachers actually work together extremely effectively, one famous case being the teachers Roland and Almita Vamos.
Have you ever had two teachers at the same time? Did it work out well? What were the circumstances?
Posted on July 27, 2013 at 2:41 AM
When I studied the recorder my teacher could see that I was having difficulty with with breath control. Before recorder she had been a singer. He husband on the other hand had been a trumpet player.
So for three or four lessons I study breathing with her husband. So this was a case where the teacher knew I needed someone else for a period of time.
BTW, it worked. On several occasions I had other recorder players compliment me on my breath control.
Posted on July 27, 2013 at 3:00 AM
I've never had two simultaneously during "regular" lesson season.
Posted on July 27, 2013 at 3:23 AM
I think the challenge is when two teachers have opposing perspectives and both want their own way. that's happened to me with ym students a couple times.
Posted on July 27, 2013 at 8:54 AM
I think the teacher was churlish - how different it would have worked out if they had been excited to hear what I had learned rather than threatened. One might think that this would have worked out better if I had cleared the second teacher with the first beforehand. But in this case I don't think it would have been any different because I got the feeling that I was jeopardizing his income more than his teaching. Besides, I'm an adult and not a beginner and need the freedom to take lessons where I choose.
It worked out for the best because I'm now with an amazing teacher who I feel really cares about my progress (I'm back on Suzuki 3!). Would I do the same with this one? I don't think there is any need because she is both what I aspire to be and I am convinced that she has the teaching skills to get me there.
Posted on July 27, 2013 at 12:10 PM
Posted on July 27, 2013 at 12:35 PM
Posted on July 27, 2013 at 1:38 PM
Posted on July 27, 2013 at 2:25 PM
His school music teacher,
his violin teacher,
his piano teacher,
me,
(indirectly) my piano teacher,
(indirectly) my violin teacher,
and last, but not least, himself.
Posted on July 27, 2013 at 3:01 PM
Posted on July 27, 2013 at 3:49 PM
Teacher & teacher's grad student while teacher was on tour, yes
but never two simultaneously, independently, with same mental 'title' of teacher.
There were occasional disagreements in what was suggested but I was always clearly expected to use my own judgement--of course, none of these situations happened till I was of college age.
Posted on July 27, 2013 at 4:44 PM
It wasn't always smooth sailing, and not because the teachers didn't get along or had real disagreements about how to play the violin. It was just hard to know what to focus on, on a daily basis. Eventually I figured out that they wanted to act more as musical coaches, not violin teachers per se. And I was old enough to deal with that. But had I been younger, I don't think this would have worked out.
As for the relationship being like a marriage, I suppose that's true! I have never minded my students playing for other teachers as long as they've asked in advance. I consider that basic courtesy. OK, when I put it this way, that doesn't necessarily sound like a great marriage. But it's honest!
Posted on July 28, 2013 at 5:31 PM
Two teachers--two lessons running at the same time.
Posted on July 28, 2013 at 5:38 PM
Last year, my youth symphony conductor had many things he was doing and wasn't able to make it to all of our rehearsals. So he asked the conductor of the professional symphony to fill in for him several times. Of course, there were a few confusions where the professional conductor would tell us to play something one way, and our conductor would come the next week and tell us to play it the opposite way, but I think I learned a lot from working with the two of them.
Posted on July 28, 2013 at 10:10 PM
Posted on August 1, 2013 at 1:42 AM
Anne-Marie
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