All About Choosing Piano Schools And Teachers

[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…

[qiqimi]

I desperately need advise, am upset that my gal piano teacher told me it normally takes a 6 years old gal about 2.5 years to 3 years before she can sit for grade 1 exam. I think that’s too long, my gal is above average student n can understand instructions clearly. She is on 1 on 1, half hour lesson n hasn’t miss lesson since she started jan this year.


Teacher reasons that she wants to build up a good foundation for the kid. So teacher take at least a 1.5 to 2 years to teach beginners n another year for grade 1. So total 3 years before kid can sit for grade 1.

Should I continue with the teacher? Is she right? According to music school where teacher teaches, school recommend 6 months to 1 year for intro n 1 year for grade 1. Please help!

Thanks.

[sleepy]

qiqimi:

I desperately need advise, am upset that my gal piano teacher told me it normally takes a 6 years old gal about 2.5 years to 3 years before she can sit for grade 1 exam. I think that's too long, my gal is above average student n can understand instructions clearly. She is on 1 on 1, half hour lesson n hasn't miss lesson since she started jan this year.


Teacher reasons that she wants to build up a good foundation for the kid. So teacher take at least a 1.5 to 2 years to teach beginners n another year for grade 1. So total 3 years before kid can sit for grade 1.

Should I continue with the teacher? Is she right? According to music school where teacher teaches, school recommend 6 months to 1 year for intro n 1 year for grade 1. Please help!

Thanks.

trust your instinct. if you feel that teacher's pace is not right fit for your dd, by all means look for another who share your view and believe in yourdd's potential

my dd is with her 5th piano teacher. switch till i'm satisfied.

her 2nd teacher is like your dd'steacher. insist need 1 year to prepare for grade1 and didn't agree to let us sign up for grade 1 exam. after dd master grade 1 within 3 months, she agreed with us dd is exam ready but we alreadymissed registration date. we switched teacher after that.

in my opinion, a good teacher should be capable of propelling students to greater height, should not be obstinate without assessing indv student's ability and become an obstacle instead.

[Dreamaurora]

qiqimi:

I desperately need advise, am upset that my gal piano teacher told me it normally takes a 6 years old gal about 2.5 years to 3 years before she can sit for grade 1 exam. I think that's too long, my gal is above average student n can understand instructions clearly. She is on 1 on 1, half hour lesson n hasn't miss lesson since she started jan this year.


Teacher reasons that she wants to build up a good foundation for the kid. So teacher take at least a 1.5 to 2 years to teach beginners n another year for grade 1. So total 3 years before kid can sit for grade 1.

Should I continue with the teacher? Is she right? According to music school where teacher teaches, school recommend 6 months to 1 year for intro n 1 year for grade 1. Please help!

Thanks.

ABRSM recommends 18 months from the start of first lesson to completion of grade 1.

Now, of course, nowadays children are brighter, teachers are better trained, and parents are more willing to assist. Hence, nowadays it's becoming more common to see faster results that defy ABRSM's recommendation.

To be able to progress fast, like it or not, you will need teachers who are more specialised. Not all teachers are able to progress faster through the grades without compromising on the foundations. If a teacher had been trained by the traditional route i.e. 1 grade per year on average, he/she may be unable to see beyond this limitation and choose to play safe instead.

From my experience, it is quite doable now to attempt grade 2 within one year of starting lessons provided your child is reasonably 'gifted' and disciplined. Please note this is assuming you get specialised teachers I mentioned above; most likely your normal music school or travelling teachers may not be able to achieve this.

[sacredmusicals]

Dreamaurora:

qiqimi:

I desperately need advise, am upset that my gal piano teacher told me it normally takes a 6 years old gal about 2.5 years to 3 years before she can sit for grade 1 exam. I think that's too long, my gal is above average student n can understand instructions clearly. She is on 1 on 1, half hour lesson n hasn't miss lesson since she started jan this year.


Teacher reasons that she wants to build up a good foundation for the kid. So teacher take at least a 1.5 to 2 years to teach beginners n another year for grade 1. So total 3 years before kid can sit for grade 1.

Should I continue with the teacher? Is she right? According to music school where teacher teaches, school recommend 6 months to 1 year for intro n 1 year for grade 1. Please help!

Thanks.

ABRSM recommends 18 months from the start of first lesson to completion of grade 1.

Now, of course, nowadays children are brighter, teachers are better trained, and parents are more willing to assist. Hence, nowadays it's becoming more common to see faster results that defy ABRSM's recommendation.

To be able to progress fast, like it or not, you will need teachers who are more specialised. Not all teachers are able to progress faster through the grades without compromising on the foundations. If a teacher had been trained by the traditional route i.e. 1 grade per year on average, he/she may be unable to see beyond this limitation and choose to play safe instead.

From my experience, it is quite doable now to attempt grade 2 within one year of starting lessons provided your child is reasonably 'gifted' and disciplined. Please note this is assuming you get specialised teachers I mentioned above; most likely your normal music school or travelling teachers may not be able to achieve this.

I understand you are speaking from personal experience and you have the results to back up what you say, but surely the progress you described belong to a small percentage of students. Most of my students belong to the one year per grade category and I see nothing wrong with it. I myself progressed similarly, and I probably would not understand why so many students and their parents in such a hurry to get their grade 8s at such a young age. Isn't the journey more important than the end goal?

[Dreamaurora]

sacredmusicals:

Dreamaurora:

[quote=\"qiqimi\"]I desperately need advise, am upset that my gal piano teacher told me it normally takes a 6 years old gal about 2.5 years to 3 years before she can sit for grade 1 exam. I think that's too long, my gal is above average student n can understand instructions clearly. She is on 1 on 1, half hour lesson n hasn't miss lesson since she started jan this year.


Teacher reasons that she wants to build up a good foundation for the kid. So teacher take at least a 1.5 to 2 years to teach beginners n another year for grade 1. So total 3 years before kid can sit for grade 1.

Should I continue with the teacher? Is she right? According to music school where teacher teaches, school recommend 6 months to 1 year for intro n 1 year for grade 1. Please help!

Thanks.

ABRSM recommends 18 months from the start of first lesson to completion of grade 1.

Now, of course, nowadays children are brighter, teachers are better trained, and parents are more willing to assist. Hence, nowadays it's becoming more common to see faster results that defy ABRSM's recommendation.

To be able to progress fast, like it or not, you will need teachers who are more specialised. Not all teachers are able to progress faster through the grades without compromising on the foundations. If a teacher had been trained by the traditional route i.e. 1 grade per year on average, he/she may be unable to see beyond this limitation and choose to play safe instead.

From my experience, it is quite doable now to attempt grade 2 within one year of starting lessons provided your child is reasonably 'gifted' and disciplined. Please note this is assuming you get specialised teachers I mentioned above; most likely your normal music school or travelling teachers may not be able to achieve this.

I understand you are speaking from personal experience and you have the results to back up what you say, but surely the progress you described belong to a small percentage of students. Most of my students belong to the one year per grade category and I see nothing wrong with it. I myself progressed similarly, and I probably would not understand why so many students and their parents in such a hurry to get their grade 8s at such a young age. Isn't the journey more important than the end goal?[/quote]You are absolutely correct and really there is nothing wrong in progressing one grade per year. And I think most parents in Singapore really will not mind if their children can achieve that as long they get to appreciate music. But there exists a group of students and parents who not only wish to appreciate music, but also wish to achieve. They will still wish lessons to be engaging and fun, but also expect the grades to be accelerated and good results are achieved in exams.

This group is willing to pay premium fee and goes the extra mile in sending their kids to established teachers or schools such as NAFA Young Talent. The children from this group are ones that are more likely to become musicians or teachers of the future; and I do wish to have the honour of educating this group. In reality, it's really a catch 22 situation. I want students who are more capable, disciplined with supportive parents; but correspondingly they would expect good result and faster grade progression.