[bvhoyweg]

I'm this year my 3th year with the same teacher. He is a couple of years young than me. Everytime I think now I know the basics, he gives me another piece which makes me discover (and solve) another weakness. Although I find my progress is slow, I'm progressing. I play a lot better than 3 years ago. My teacher is a bit chaotic, but nothing I can not handle. The way he plays really impresses me: his sound is my example, what I would like to achieve.

But now I come to a point where I feel I need more fundamental practice like overtones, scales, chords, long tones. I feel my teacher focusses more on the fun of playing. Which in itself is OK. The school where he is teaching advertises with this: the importance of the fun of playing.

So I feel I arrive to the point where a more structured approach would be more beneficial for me.

I live in a university town, which also teaches music bachelors and majors. I have a choice of teachers, students still studying themselves and looking to make some money. It seems I'm in a luxery position to chose a new teacher. My preference would be somebody who finished studying.

When do you outgrow a teacher? When is it time to change? Anybody else in this situation?
Or am I just to impatient with my slow but sure progress?

Bart

 

[KeithL]

I would suggest starting by talking with your present teacher and letting him know what your concerns are. Ask him to do some work in creating a learning plan that charts a path to your specific objectives as a player.

You also might want to contact some of the other folks in the area and ask them how they would approach helping you attain your goals. It's really a bit like a job interview since you are trying to hire someone who has a plan that's a good match for your goals. You might want to even book a single lesson with a couple of them to see how things go and see if someone else might be a better match for your current needs as a player.

My observation has been that many of the people offering private lessons are good instrumentalist and fine musicians but not particularly good teachers. Most of them are performance majors so teaching was not the main thrust of their curriculum. This is fine for students who are beginners or slightly beyond but at some point a student is going to require a more specialized plan.

 

[Keith Ridenhour]

I routinely check out new teachers. I have studied with one skype guy for 4 years, one woman for a few monthes and a guy on flute for a few monthes. Each one has strengths and weeknesses. But as long as you can get the depth from whomever you study with its all good. I've improved my chops dramatically from all my flute lessons. Much has applied to sax. I have one teacher who is molding the clay of a finshed project Ie how Id record a CD. ONe other teaacher I'm with is getting into a much deeper knowledge of the modes of the melodic minor scale and many more uses for my diminshed scale. My flute teacher is hammering me to play a double time mix bop line. So all of these are good focuses. I'm spending say 150 a week on lessons but I make that and more in gigs and my teaching practice , so my studies are paying for them selves. I love it But you hit on a great point . You always have to assume that there is more depth to a topic you are looking at. And the teacher may or may not take you there. Also I don't particularly want to sound like my teachers (maybe the flute guy , hes a monster) but I do want to mimic the studying my other teachers did to get to pro level K

 

[ZootTheSim]

This pad powder paper is your test, Grasshopper. When you can blot its length and leave no trace, then you shall have learned.

 

[Reet McVouty]

This pad powder paper is your test, Grasshopper. When you can blot its length and leave no trace, then you shall have learned.

Yeah Zoot, I think this may be lost on the OP. I doubt he's old enough to remember Kung Fu.

 

[ZootTheSim]

No doubt. It falls to us mature folk to keep the memory of bad 70s pop culture alive.

 

[Reet McVouty]

No doubt. It falls to us mature folk to keep the memory of bad 70s pop culture alive.

Well, I have to fess up. I have the complete box set ...

 

[ZootTheSim]

Cool! But lest we hijack the OP's thread any further, I will merely point to this related thread:

https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showt...ball-Adderly-in-Episode-Of-T-V-Series-Kung-Fu

 

[Reet McVouty]

I'm this year my 3th year with the same teacher. He is a couple of years young than me. Everytime I think now I know the basics, he gives me another piece which makes me discover (and solve) another weakness. Although I find my progress is slow, I'm progressing. I play a lot better than 3 years ago. My teacher is a bit chaotic, but nothing I can not handle. The way he plays really impresses me: his sound is my example, what I would like to achieve.

But now I come to a point where I feel I need more fundamental practice like overtones, scales, chords, long tones. I feel my teacher focusses more on the fun of playing. Which in itself is OK. The school where he is teaching advertises with this: the importance of the fun of playing.

So I feel I arrive to the point where a more structured approach would be more beneficial for me.

I live in a university town, which also teaches music bachelors and majors. I have a choice of teachers, students still studying themselves and looking to make some money. It seems I'm in a luxery position to chose a new teacher. My preference would be somebody who finished studying.

When do you outgrow a teacher? When is it time to change? Anybody else in this situation?
Or am I just to impatient with my slow but sure progress?

Bart

Bart, I wouldn't be surprised if you don't already know the answer to your own question. Just because you are asking it means it's time to move on. You also seem to know what kind of instruction you want to apply toward advancing your playing. Look for a teacher that actually plays the saxophone and is accomplished in music theory. But remember the lessons you got from your first teacher, remember to have some fun.

 

[adamk]

I had 5 flute teachers.
I took the best from each one.

 

[bvhoyweg]

This pad powder paper is your test, Grasshopper. When you can blot its length and leave no trace, then you shall have learned.

Yeah Zoot, I think this may be lost on the OP. I doubt he's old enough to remember Kung Fu.

Oh, a walk down memory lane...
Now I only need to find pad powder paper on a large rol.

 

[bvhoyweg]

Bart, I wouldn't be surprised if you don't already know the answer to your own question. Just because you are asking it means it's time to move on.

You are right, asking the question is answering it.
I just want to avoid being impatient. I have a reputation...

 

[Reet McVouty]

Oh, a walk down memory lane...
Now I only need to find pad powder paper on a large rol.