All About Choosing Piano Schools And Teachers

[Dreamaurora]

sacredmusicals:

belle_116:

Hi......I'm looking for a female Piano teacher to coach my 11yo DD who is currently at Grade5. We are staying at Jln Bukit Merah, prefer if teacher can travel to my plc. Please share if you hv any teachers to recommend.

Dreamaurora stays and teach around your place.

Thanks for recommending me. :salute:

[phankao]

Dreamaurora:

Several Western teachers I spoke to before were actually quite surprised that I gave full one hour lessons to kids as young as 4 year olds. They all express concerns if the kids can sustain the concentration level for that duration. But in Singapore and some Asian countries kids are exposed to various types of enrichment classes from very young age, so I think they somewhat mature faster.

I do have to turn away quite a few very young children aged 3-5 because they could not sit still and understand my instructions, but so far, I would say around 30% of young kids who enquire my lessons are suitable for private one-to-one.

Hah - my 5yo is one such kid that cannot last that long! Sometimes even the 30mins that is his official lesson time can be challenging!

.

[Dreamaurora]

phankao:

Dreamaurora:

Several Western teachers I spoke to before were actually quite surprised that I gave full one hour lessons to kids as young as 4 year olds. They all express concerns if the kids can sustain the concentration level for that duration. But in Singapore and some Asian countries kids are exposed to various types of enrichment classes from very young age, so I think they somewhat mature faster.

I do have to turn away quite a few very young children aged 3-5 because they could not sit still and understand my instructions, but so far, I would say around 30% of young kids who enquire my lessons are suitable for private one-to-one.

Hah - my 5yo is one such kid that cannot last that long! Sometimes even the 30mins that is his official lesson time can be challenging!

.

Haha, I was one such kid too. I remembered when I was in kindergarten I would not be able to sit still and I was always punished by the teachers. I might have mild ADD though, because I still could not sit still even up to today in concerts and movies.

[Pinkyblueysim]

Hi - I am looking for a piano teacher for my 10 yrs old gal. Grade 3 now. Not looking to push for exams but for her to enjoy. Staying in Bishan - the teacher can come to my place or I can go to her too. Please let me know if you have recommendation. Thanks!

[phankao]

Dreamaurora:

phankao:

[quote=\"Dreamaurora\"]

Several Western teachers I spoke to before were actually quite surprised that I gave full one hour lessons to kids as young as 4 year olds. They all express concerns if the kids can sustain the concentration level for that duration. But in Singapore and some Asian countries kids are exposed to various types of enrichment classes from very young age, so I think they somewhat mature faster.

Hah - my 5yo is one such kid that cannot last that long! Sometimes even the 30mins that is his official lesson time can be challenging!

.

Haha, I was one such kid too. I remembered when I was in kindergarten I would not be able to sit still and I was always punished by the teachers. I might have mild ADD though, because I still could not sit still even up to today in concerts and movies.[/quote]My boy doesn't like repetitions, so when the teacher suggests he plays the same things back with her suggested improvements, he would throw a tantrum. *sigh*. but he'd be happy exploring new items, pieces, games, etc.

So well, so far, I don't try to push the 30min lessons. Our home practices are rarely long. I believe in Focussed Short but practising everyday. It's a rare day when we skip practices. Even overseas we bring his violin. Only cannot bring piano. Then he gets a break from piano. haha.
.

[Porky Pig]

I have a nagging question that is to let my gal attend a group lesson in music school or attend a 1-1 lesson. She is currently 4 years old now and we stay at Pasir Ris. Do not have a piano currently but if she is really interested, i may eventually purchase one. Can you guys please enlighten me? Also please provide good music teacher contacts? Thank you.

[kuddles01]

Hi


Need advice here.

My gal just started to learn at Yamaha(Music appreciation course) at CC but the pace a bit slow. Also, the teacher is not really strict in techniques. However my gal show great interest and enjoy going for the lessons. Its a 2 years group lessons and price is cheaper than school.

She is coming to 6 and wanted her to learn piano and taking exams.
Should I continue for her at Yamaha(JMC) at CC and engaged a private piano teacher to prepare her for Grade 1? Or go to school-Yamaha piano course(group) where she will learn from Beginner and take exam to Grade 3 only? Then start to look for a private teacher again. Really clueless here as I have no knowledge in this field.

Also, if those private teacher who conduct recital concerts every year is it good?
What about those have track records that their students scored distinction?

Thanks in advance!

[Dreamaurora]

Porky Pig:

I have a nagging question that is to let my gal attend a group lesson in music school or attend a 1-1 lesson. She is currently 4 years old now and we stay at Pasir Ris. Do not have a piano currently but if she is really interested, i may eventually purchase one. Can you guys please enlighten me? Also please provide good music teacher contacts? Thank you.

You will probably need to trial with a private teacher who teaches and more experienced with this age group. Then the teacher can assess if your gal has the attention span and process more detailed instruction. Not all 4-6 years old can start immediate 1-1 lesson.

[Dreamaurora]

kuddles01:

Hi


Need advice here.

My gal just started to learn at Yamaha(Music appreciation course) at CC but the pace a bit slow. Also, the teacher is not really strict in techniques. However my gal show great interest and enjoy going for the lessons. Its a 2 years group lessons and price is cheaper than school.

She is coming to 6 and wanted her to learn piano and taking exams.
Should I continue for her at Yamaha(JMC) at CC and engaged a private piano teacher to prepare her for Grade 1? Or go to school-Yamaha piano course(group) where she will learn from Beginner and take exam to Grade 3 only? Then start to look for a private teacher again. Really clueless here as I have no knowledge in this field.

Also, if those private teacher who conduct recital concerts every year is it good?
What about those have track records that their students scored distinction?

Thanks in advance!

The atmosphere and feel of private lessons can differ greatly from JMC lessons. But under good private teachers, a motivated student can flourish and progress much faster than in group setting.

In my opinion a teacher's job is to realise the student's best ability. When a teacher advertise track records of distinction, I feel that he/she is sending the signal that only distinction results are worthwhile. And obviously not all students from a teacher or a school will score distinctions. I am aware a lot of music schools plaster distinction exam results all over their windows and boards, and some private teachers proudly display their students' mark sheets and results. I personally find it distasteful, but hey, they are just catering to the mindset of most parents.

So I find the most important is a teacher who respects a students' boundary but still willing to push the student further. If the best a student can do currently is a merit , then if the student scores a merit or close, then that is a result that is worthy of respect.

I think any decent teachers should provide some avenues for their students to perform outside exam settings. But not all teachers may have the resource nor the time to organise their own concerts; in this case they allow their students to tag along another teacher's concerts or join music festivals.

[Blue Pearl]

Dreamaurora - yeah i am looking for a good piano teacher for my gal but really dun know how.


Anybody here has a good contact to share.

Appreciate very much. Thank you.