All About Choosing Piano Schools And Teachers

[jedamum]

Thanks everyone for sharing.

[phankao]

Dreamaurora:

micollh:

thanks sleepy !


btw, to prevent grading during psle year.. any path advise for 6 yo till then ?

The end goal would be to achieve grade 8 by P5 July (yes, some of my students' parents actually request this to be achieved). So let's say start as beginner at 6 year old. Can try this plan (assuming your child starts this month):

Age 7 - July/August 2014 (Grade 2 practical exam)
Age 8 - October 2015 (Grade 5 theory)
Age 9 - February 2016 (Grade 5 practical exam)
Age 10 - July/August 2017 (optional Grade 7 practical exam)
Age 11 - July/August 2018 (Grade 8 practical exam)

Of course, this will depend on your child's natural ability and teacher's teaching skill. I have to stress that this is assuming that your child is reasonably 'gifted', the teacher is very skilled and experienced in preparing this kind of progression, and you are providing the necessary support and help in practicing.

How come not Diploma at Age 11? haha.

[Dreamaurora]

phankao:

Dreamaurora:

[quote=\"micollh\"]thanks sleepy !


btw, to prevent grading during psle year.. any path advise for 6 yo till then ?

The end goal would be to achieve grade 8 by P5 July (yes, some of my students' parents actually request this to be achieved). So let's say start as beginner at 6 year old. Can try this plan (assuming your child starts this month):

Age 7 - July/August 2014 (Grade 2 practical exam)
Age 8 - October 2015 (Grade 5 theory)
Age 9 - February 2016 (Grade 5 practical exam)
Age 10 - July/August 2017 (optional Grade 7 practical exam)
Age 11 - July/August 2018 (Grade 8 practical exam)

Of course, this will depend on your child's natural ability and teacher's teaching skill. I have to stress that this is assuming that your child is reasonably 'gifted', the teacher is very skilled and experienced in preparing this kind of progression, and you are providing the necessary support and help in practicing.

How come not Diploma at Age 11? haha.[/quote]Haha, I think for that to happen has to start lesson at 4 years old, or father/mother is a piano teacher.

[sleepy]

phankao:

How come not Diploma at Age 11? haha.

There is indeed a p4 girl in dd's piano class pursuing diploma

[phankao]

Dreamaurora:

phankao:

How come not Diploma at Age 11? haha.

Haha, I think for that to happen has to start lesson at 4 years old, or fatherther is a piano teacher.

I know a few who did ATCL diploma at 10 or 11. Parents don't play instrument leh. I think they started around 5 or 6.

[phankao]

Dreamaurora:

phankao:

How come not Diploma at Age 11? haha.

Haha, I think for that to happen has to start lesson at 4 years old, or fatherther is a piano teacher.

I know a few who did ATCL diploma at 10 or 11. Parents don't play instrument leh. I think they started around 5 or 6.

[Dreamaurora]

phankao:

Dreamaurora:

[quote=\"phankao\"]

How come not Diploma at Age 11? haha.

Haha, I think for that to happen has to start lesson at 4 years old, or fatherther is a piano teacher.

I know a few who did ATCL diploma at 10 or 11. Parents don't play instrument leh. I think they started around 5 or 6.[/quote]Yeah, actually quite common, especially for strings because quite a few string players attempted their grade 8 when they are 8 or 9 as instrument is less an issue compared to pianists. Piano I am aware a few also, though rarer.

To be honest, I really see no point in attempting ATCL at such a young age. I believe when a student is at diploma level, he/she must be well-versed in musical knowledge and be familiar with different musical styles. That is why I believe DipABRSM/ALCM assesses a student more accurately. That being said, preparing for ATCL at age 11 could be useful as a guideline to acquire some performing repertoire for other purposes such as competition.

And I do feel it's kind of tragic that one of the most common discussions about learning music in Singapore (and similar Asian countries) is about exams and grades. I think more constructive topics such as exposing children to different types of music, music making in a group, inspiring children to practice and perform, will be more relevant to music making.

[micollh]

Dreamaurora:

micollh:

thanks sleepy !


btw, to prevent grading during psle year.. any path advise for 6 yo till then ?

The end goal would be to achieve grade 8 by P5 July (yes, some of my students' parents actually request this to be achieved). So let's say start as beginner at 6 year old. Can try this plan (assuming your child starts this month):

Age 7 - July/August 2014 (Grade 2 practical exam)
Age 8 - October 2015 (Grade 5 theory)
Age 9 - February 2016 (Grade 5 practical exam)
Age 10 - July/August 2017 (optional Grade 7 practical exam)
Age 11 - July/August 2018 (Grade 8 practical exam)

Of course, this will depend on your child's natural ability and teacher's teaching skill. I have to stress that this is assuming that your child is reasonably 'gifted', the teacher is very skilled and experienced in preparing this kind of progression, and you are providing the necessary support and help in practicing.

Thanks !! shall take this as my gal's piano journey's guideline.. i wont stick strictly to it.. but will refer to it to avoid the PSLE/piano grading..

[micollh]

sleepy:

micollh:

thanks sleepy !


btw, to prevent grading during psle year.. any path advise for 6 yo till then ?

I think it depends on the child's pace. My dd2 started piano (group) lessons at age 5 before switching to individual lessons from grade 1 onwards. Now learning grade 7.
In any case, I told her confirm I will not enrol her for exam after first half of p5. If she's keen to pursue grade 8, then it's entirely up to her to work harder and faster. She is p3 now.

I feel that the key is to clear grade 5 theory exam as early as possible so as not be caught in the predicament I mentioned earlier.

My dd1 sat for her grade 5 theory earlier this year. Had to put her practical on hold until she clear theory paper. So if were to register for practical exam, the earliest will be next year which is her p6 year.
In view of that, I already persuaded dd1 to suspend her cello lesson since end of last year. This year P5 is busy enough, not gonna add more stress to juggle daily practice on top of school commitment and preparing for music exam next year.

thks sleepy for sharing ! noted !

[micollh]

any experience piano teacher for grade 1 to recommend in SK area home teaching? heh heh looking for more option…