Music majors I need advice?

Question

My private studio teacher hasn't taught me any new techniques or anything else really in the past couple years. She is making me lose inspiration and the drive to continue music. But I need to take lessons with her to graduate from college.

I want to quit but I don't know how. Any suggestions?

Your answers are awesome. I think you guys are right, I need to stick it out as there aren't any other options (she's the only teacher for my instrument). Maybe I'll talk to the department chair about it though.

Answer 1

I'm not a current music student, but I was a music major in college. My private teacher scared me to death - he threw pencils at me and screamed all the time! I was about to quit too, and I talked to my old teacher from high school. She suggested that I talk to the person who had just been hired as part of a resident quartet on campus, and see if I could work with him instead. I did, and I worked with him the rest of my time there. My best friend was also a music major, and she also had an objection to the private teacher her university had available. She found someone who was more qualified than the university's person, and talked to the department chair about her concerns with the official person, presenting him with an alternative. She was able to study with the person she wanted to study with as well.

In many cases, the studio teachers aren't actually full-time university employees, but part-time people. They basically get paid per student. If there isn't a student for them to teach, they just don't get paid that semester. What that means is that the university has very little commitment to them, and can rather easily make changes. It really isn't in their best interests to force a student to study with a teacher who is not a good match for that student, so they may be more flexible than you think. And by letting them know your concerns with the current teacher, it puts the issues on record, and if they start to hear similar things from other students, they may eventually make a permanent change. If it is just her fit with you, they can make a temporary change and use her for everyone else.

Answer 2

Stick with it. Whatever you do DO NOT QUIT.

I started learning to play the guitar. I love music and playing the guitar. I was taking private lessons for about two years fairly consistantly breaking for exams. Then for another two years inconsistantly because my guitar teacher was holding me back and I was feeling similar to how you are feeling now. In the last two years I hardly learnt any thing new. Maybe two or three new chords. I asked him to teach me some pop songs because I was losing interest, but he said that I was not ready to learn them as yet(B.S.). He was teaching me songs from before I was born that my mom would recognise. I knew people who taught themselves to play the guitar and in six months, they new more and could play much better than me after four years.

So I stopped. But since then I tried to teach myself. It was difficult to get the proper material and guidance. And then when any opportunities came along I sacrificed them for studies. I also sacrificed much practising and learning time for studies. But within the last few years I have been able to cover a considerable amount and I have improved very much and have come a long way.

Here is what you need to do. Stick with the lessons so you will graduate from college, but don't depend on it for your inspiration and drive. Find this outside of the lessons.

One of the most important things for being a musician is networking with other musicians. If you are not in a band, then join one. Help them, and let them help you.
You will probably learn more from other musicians than in a classroom. This is vital exposure that you will not get in a typical classroom setting.
This will be wher you can get your inspiration and drive back.

Also you can find someone else who can teach you. Maybe an older student, or you can even consider paying for additional lessons from someone else.

Good luck and all the best!