All About Choosing Piano Schools And Teachers

[metz]

sleepy:

Actually I prefer to stop lesson totally. No point attending lesson once a week and not practising much over the week. Won't have any improvement.

If that's the case, it's definitely better to take a break until she can find the time to commit.

sleepy:

I persuaded my elder girl to kiv her cello at end of last year. Can see that she's really tired from school workload. At bedtime, she's still worrying about skipping her cello practice the entire week because too much homework & project deadline, no time to practise that week. That happened so frequently. From weekly lesson become bi-weekly, become once a month because there's really no spare time. We are lucky teacher is very accommodating.

Although she insisted there's no stress in learning cello, I feel that it is weighing her down, like something unfinished at the back of her mind. So I decided, forget about music, I rather she sleeps earlier to recharge. She feels so 可惜 to stop at grade 7 at that time.

Our piano teacher also proposed bi-weekly lessons for P4 initially as she understood the GEP workload. But I thought he might be fine with weekly lessons. Guess we are 'lucky' that his school is quite 'relaxed'. Except for semester 1, he wasn't really swamped with school work.

For my son, his stress came from Chinese. He started off with the same amount of workload on HCL like the rest of his classmates. Bad decision. He was working till past 12 am on some weekdays for Chinese. In term 2, I requested his HCL teacher to excuse him for Chinese Compo, which made the situation more manageable. I supposed we learn along the way how to help our kids manage their school life better. :xedfingers:

sleepy:

However, that decision of mine indeed took some weight off her shoulders (with hindsight) and even improved her performance in school. And honestly speaking, I'm way happier that she gets first in class than gets a distinction in music. Keke, very practical mama yo :evil:

haha, I think most parents would share the same sentiments. The hard truth is distinctions in abrsm exams aren't going to help in school results and PSLE.

[Blue Pearl]

No wonder parents wants the kids to finish the exam as young as possible so that they can handle the heavy school work load later in life.

[metz]

fifiyeo:

Ok, I think I need to slowly let DS know that he might need to lower his expectations. He has always wanted to learn to play a musical instrument which we have put off until now. He seems to think that he'll do well but I think it won't be easy taking exams and all, so he might be disappointed.

If the intention is just taking abrsm exams, it may not be as tough as you have imagined. Just make sure he knows the commitment involved for exams.

However, if the intention is to learn and master an instrument well, then it is altogether a different matter. It is, indeed, not easy.

[waiyean]

metz:

Not stressing you and your dd. But just stating a fact.


PS: But do go easy on her and yourself at times. It's not gonna be an easy journey (involving hours of practices for higher grades).

Haha, yeah, I understand what you mean, thanks.
Good to hear the experiences from you parents who have \"been there done that\". That's why I mentioned in previous post that my daughter is just at the start of a journey.

I was at the Lang Lang piano recital last Saturday, and I overheard a piano student seated behind me telling her friend that she practices 4-5 hours daily, and even that is not enough. I guess you can only do that if you are studying music. Otherwise, there are just too many \"higher priorities\" competing for the time and attention.

[Moving from Sengkang]

Hi, I am looking for a piano teacher to come to my house near Buangkok MRT, to teach my daughter from Feb 2014 (her Pri 2 year). He/ she should be of a sunny character, animated, and strict, but not fierce. My daughter is a beginner. Would you know of anyone please? Please PM your recommendation. Thank you very much!

[Imami]

waiyean:

I was at the Lang Lang piano recital last Saturday, and I overheard a piano student seated behind me telling her friend that she practices 4-5 hours daily, and even that is not enough. I guess you can only do that if you are studying music. Otherwise, there are just too many \"higher priorities\" competing for the time and attention.

how old is this person, Waiyean?

Regardless of the age, I always wonder - how people can practice 3hours or more daily(as in where got so much time?) Unless playing the piano is the main activity?

But having said that, it is really quite easy to practice 45min to 1hr (as in time passes fast). As we need to agree on the time to practice, I always keep an eye on the start time of my child's practice. It doesn't feel that long but by the time we are done, it's usually more than 45min later. Ah, I am a slave driver.... :clubmyself:

[waiyean]

Imami:

how old is this person, Waiyean?


Regardless of the age, I always wonder - how people can practice 3hours or more daily(as in where got so much time?) Unless playing the piano is the main activity?

But having said that, it is really quite easy to practice 45min to 1hr (as in time passes fast). As we need to agree on the time to practice, I always keep an eye on the start time of my child's practice. It doesn't feel that long but by the time we are done, it's usually more than 45min later. Ah, I am a slave driver.... :clubmyself:

That person is a teenager, looks above 15.

It's tough to squeeze in anything more than 3 hours practice daily. Daughter is in full day school, and both parents are working. Only opportunity is early morning and at night. I am fortunate my neighbours haven't start complaining.

Before competitions and exams, I do go on leave and pull daughter off school just to squeeze 4-5 hours practice though.

[Imami]

waiyean:

Before competitions and exams, I do go on leave and pull daughter off school just to squeeze 4-5 hours practice though.

wow.... :udaman:

[sunflower2005]

so far. what competitions has your daughter go to ?

waiyean:

Imami:

how old is this person, Waiyean?

Regardless of the age, I always wonder - how people can practice 3hours or more daily(as in where got so much time?) Unless playing the piano is the main activity?

But having said that, it is really quite easy to practice 45min to 1hr (as in time passes fast). As we need to agree on the time to practice, I always keep an eye on the start time of my child's practice. It doesn't feel that long but by the time we are done, it's usually more than 45min later. Ah, I am a slave driver.... :clubmyself:

That person is a teenager, looks above 15.

It's tough to squeeze in anything more than 3 hours practice daily. Daughter is in full day school, and both parents are working. Only opportunity is early morning and at night. I am fortunate my neighbours haven't start complaining.

Before competitions and exams, I do go on leave and pull daughter off school just to squeeze 4-5 hours practice though.

[waiyean]

sunflower2005:

so far. what competitions has your daughter go to ?

Just a couple, sent you PM.