Piano teacher he say no.

Just wondering if this makes any sense, after hearing, reading and talking about playing exercises/scales are important my new piano teacher states his method of teaching does not include any form of scale or exercise playing, also he is quite certain that any of the 'professional exams' are a waste of time, he admits that he is quite radical in his approach and not that well thought of in the field due to his different methods.

I should be starting my first lesson in a few days and just wonder if anyone has any thoughts on this, or has anyone been taught in this way ?

Howdy, Drumey. Your teacher's approach sounds similar to the book by Chuan Chang, called 'Fundamentals Of Piano Practice.' Here is the URL to the first chapter on piano technique, and learning musically, rather than intuitively. http://members.aol.com/Mccc8888/chapter1.htm

Cheers,

P.S. Here's another interesting approach, although it seems to be the equivalent of strumming a guitar, rather than picking out the notes: http://www.playpianotoday.com/ The technique works and it's an exciting and interesting method of learning, but it's not complete enough, in my opinion. There is nothing on musical training, reading notes, or developing skills that one can build on. Still, it may be just the thing that someone else is looking for if they can't afford lessons, or are disinclined to go what is considered by some, to be the 'long way,' to learning how to play.

Regards,

Let us know what 'this way' is, after you've had a few lessons. Exercises can be done by playing music. Scales must be known to read music. Most famous jazz pianists do neither. We'll watch for your post in a couple weeks.

Mason c

I guess if it works for you, then it's good. And sooner or later you'll play scales anyway, because they appear in pieces quite often. And if you take small parts from a piece and prctice those that's also some kind of excercise. So, perhaps your teacher's approach will work. But be on your guard and change the teacher if you are not satisfied.

Bye, Christof

and ... 'anyway you won't be the next Pogorelich' says the kind teacher (but you should pay as if you are going to be Pogorelich even if you have to play on his worn-out piano - which of course doesn't matter because Pogorelich you are not)

Michel de NostreDame

I would say if you have to play scales anyway, you'd rather learn them so you are prepared for them. I think technical excercises are good for me, because I won't stumble over some passage where I need some technique I've never encountered.

Bye, Christof

Mason its going well and he seems excellent, I've started with a few simple pieces to correct my fingering, although he is teaching me that I should play the keys using only the pressure from my wrist to pull down the fingers and not actually pressing the keys with pressure from my fingers (does that make sense?) anyway it seems like a more natural way to play, is this 'normal'??

My understanding is, know how to use both - both 'finger pressure' and 'wrist pressure' as you put it. Some situations call for one and some the other - though you'll always see exceptions (great pianists approaching it the other way). My current piano teacher uses them both (you can see it by the way he plays - so marvellously agile) together seamlessly.