All About Choosing Piano Schools And Teachers

[phankao]

jce:

Learn the rules and follow the rules the correct way first THEN you may choose to break these rules when the foundation is firm IF you deem right.

Of course, but I wasn't saying to let them play with flat fingers. I said can remind, but not to get paranoia over it. The child might start to hate piano.

[waiyean]

metz:

My then K1 son felt silly cos it was going too slow for his liking. For me, I didn't like how the teacher split the 30 minutes - 15 minutes on practical and 15 minutes on theory. I felt the time could be better used on practical. We stopped after two months of lessons, though she was a very patient and nice teacher.

Perhaps that's why your teacher wanted 45 minutes so that she can do more with your ds? Has your son progressed to playing notes with both hands yet?

Yes, I always wonder how to teach so many things in 30 mins. My daughter started individual lessons with 45 mins, and that is mainly focused on practical, as there is another 1 hour of aural and musicianship group class every week. Already we found the 45 mins too short to do much.

[metz]

waiyean:

metz:

My then K1 son felt silly cos it was going too slow for his liking. For me, I didn't like how the teacher split the 30 minutes - 15 minutes on practical and 15 minutes on theory. I felt the time could be better used on practical. We stopped after two months of lessons, though she was a very patient and nice teacher.

Perhaps that's why your teacher wanted 45 minutes so that she can do more with your ds? Has your son progressed to playing notes with both hands yet?

Yes, I always wonder how to teach so many things in 30 mins. My daughter started individual lessons with 45 mins, and that is mainly focused on practical, as there is another 1 hour of aural and musicianship group class every week. Already we found the 45 mins too short to do much.

I think you are not making apple to apple comparison here. The 30 minutes lessons my kids had were as beginners (N2 & K1). But I realized the teacher made a great difference, even for 30-minutes lessons. With our current teacher (the 2nd piano teacher), my son managed to cover beginner's stuff (2 books) and moved on to Grade 1 exam pieces (working on theory too) within 3 months.

So for Imani, I would advise her to take note of her son's progress. If her ds finds the theory easy, she might want to feedback to the teacher about her son's advancement in academics department. Usually, the more experienced teachers would be able to differentiate and address the needs of the child accordingly.

Your K1 is with Nafa doing higher grade pieces (Grade 4 or 5?), right? I am not sure what duration is suitable for a K1 at such level. Perhaps, Dreamaurora could share how much time his 5 years old had with him in a lesson when he was preparing them for grade 5 exam. That may give you an idea how much time is required for exam preparation.

[Imami]

waiyean:

Hi Imami,

How old is your son? Sounds like the teacher is doing a great job introducing aural and music theory to your son.

Actually music theory has a lot to do with arithmetic. I guess the teacher is probably trying to gauge the level of understanding of arithmetic, to determine how fast or slow to introduce music concepts. I recall my daughter was also shown flash cards with the various kind of notes, and was taught the concept of fractions when she was starting to learn music theory.

She was also asked by the teacher to create a scrapbook of composers and the various instruments just to build up her knowledge. I guess these music appreciation activities makes it fun for the young child to learn music.

Hi Weiyean,

He is five. I have to say I am very happy with this teacher. My son likes her too, so that's as wonderful as can be. 

[Imami]

metz:

It reminds me of my son's very first piano teacher. She was teaching him theory as well as reading music notes. For instance, if the child sees a minim, he should hold the piano key twice as long as the crotchet. Hence 1 minim = 2 crotchets/notes. A dotted minim = 3 crotchets/notes etc; basically, she tried making it like something fun. She even gave stickers as rewards. 

However, both my son and I didn't like this style of teaching. My then K1 son felt silly cos it was going too slow for his liking. For me, I didn't like how the teacher split the 30 minutes - 15 minutes on practical and 15 minutes on theory. I felt the time could be better used on practical. We stopped after two months of lessons, though she was a very patient and nice teacher.  

Perhaps that's why your teacher wanted 45 minutes so that she can do more with your ds? Has your son progressed to playing notes with both hands yet?

The part on wrist and curling fingers is a problem majority of the kids have to look out for as their hands are not strong yet. If the child does not make it a habit to curl fingers, it might pose a problem playing higher level pieces in future.

Oh she did somthi g like that! She would play an app from her phone which produces beats (like drum). If she shows a semibreve, then my son has to hold the key on 4 counts. Something like that. When my son complains too slow, she increase the speed of the beats.

Oh these are theory.... Sorry ah, I only discover... Actually I enjoy sitting in and watching them. I am learning too. Hence, I have never take note of the time, how much she spends on theory/ practical. But my son gets to play of cos.

This week started left hand already. But just one key. She got him to do twinkle twinkle little star. The \"a\" is played by the left hand. U gotta pardon me but I was really really happy to see my little one playing it, even though it's um.... \"broken\" (key by key, not smooth).

I remembered dreamaurora mentioned about one of the common problems with most kids is that their fingers don't curl enough. But why need to curl?

If need to curl and play, I need to trim all my nails to botak.

[phankao]

Imami:

If need to curl and play, I need to trim all my nails to botak.

Er, Yes, I have very short nails. If play violin, nails must also be regularly trimmed.

[Imami]

metz:

So for Imani, I would advise her to take note of her son's progress. If her ds finds the theory easy, she might want to feedback to the teacher about her son's advancement in academics department. Usually, the more experienced teachers would be able to differentiate and address the needs of the child accordingly.

thanks Metz, noted on monitoring my son's progress.

But the part in red, what do u mean? why need to tell the teacher about the academic aspect?

I have to say I am quite impress with my son's memory and understanding on the different instruments, how they sound like, the different notes and the counts etc. Even the part on playing a part of twinkle twinkle little star. But I do know this is just a start. He definitely is not going to like the teacher as much when she drills him further. Hahaha

After hunting for a suitable teacher/piano, reading up, asking around for so long, I actually don't feel like asking my son to go for grading. Is there people like me - let their kids learn but don't go for grading?

I hope he enjoys playing the piano and likes music. The other day we happened to switch the tv to Okto and caught an orchestra performance. We had much fun spotting the different instruments, discussing where and why they are staged that way and how each sound like. It was a moment for me to remember. This happened a few days before the lesson in which the teacher tested the instruments. Which probably explains why he knew the correct answers.

[Imami]

phankao:

Imami:

If need to curl and play, I need to trim all my nails to botak.

Er, Yes, I have very short nails. If play violin, nails must also be regularly trimmed.

ok, a small price to pay - if I can play piano and/or violin. I just need to figure out how to live with short short nails.

I know I sound like a bimbo. I keep my nails, never cutting them botak. When they break and I have to trim them botak, I can't seem to pick up pens, coins or paper. So need time to adapt if I really need to keep nails really short. But again, it's a small price to pay - if I can play piano and/or violin.

[Dreamaurora]

phankao:

jce:

Learn the rules and follow the rules the correct way first THEN you may choose to break these rules when the foundation is firm IF you deem right.

Of course, but I wasn't saying to let them play with flat fingers. I said can remind, but not to get paranoia over it. The child might start to hate piano.

Yes, very true. Young children may not have the maturity to see the reasoning behind proper technique and posture; that's why very important to have parents continually reinforcing proper technique at home. Even then I tell the parents to just gently remind and provide a fake plastic tomato on the piano; most kids won't response well to negative reinforcements and will hate the instrument.

[metz]

Imami:

metz:

So for Imani, I would advise her to take note of her son's progress. If her ds finds the theory easy, she might want to feedback to the teacher about her son's advancement in academics department. Usually, the more experienced teachers would be able to differentiate and address the needs of the child accordingly.

thanks Metz, noted on monitoring my son's progress.

But the part in red, what do u mean? why need to tell the teacher about the academic aspect?

I have to say I am quite impress with my son's memory and understanding on the different instruments, how they sound like, the different notes and the counts etc. Even the part on playing a part of twinkle twinkle little star. But I do know this is just a start. He definitely is not going to like the teacher as much when she drills him further. Hahaha

After hunting for a suitable teacher/piano, reading up, asking around for so long, I actually don't feel like asking my son to go for grading. Is there people like me - let their kids learn but don't go for grading?

I hope he enjoys playing the piano and likes music. The other day we happened to switch the tv to Okto and caught an orchestra performance. We had much fun spotting the different instruments, discussing where and why they are staged that way and how each sound like. It was a moment for me to remember. This happened a few days before the lesson in which the teacher tested the instruments. Which probably explains why he knew the correct answers.

From your sharing, I believe your son is pretty advanced in the various subjects. For kids who are stronger in math, they tend to pick up theory faster. I see that in both my kids. In fact, when the first piano teacher showed her surprise when he could do whatever she taught him easily (including dotted crochet etc), my son couldn't understand her reaction. In short, he was bored by the way she taught him. With our 2nd teacher, she taught him at his level and he was much more challenged.

There are some parents who don't send their kids for grading. Phankao and Ammonite are two good examples. Both my kids have yet to take any practical exams except for grade 5 theory exam. Without exams, I feel their teacher is able to give them an all-rounder music education. However, depending on your child, the need for exam may arise in the future. For instance, MEP in secondary schools requires at least an ABRSM grade 3 in an instrument. As I understand from friends the MEP is a pretty interesting program which my son may be interested, I am letting him take the abrsm exam in the near future.

Otherwise, the need to take graded exams depends on the kids and their parents. Graded exams do have their positive points too.