School Band -Instrument Types

[metz]

phankao:

Many professional violinists or other instrumentalists do not know how to play the piano either.

Eh, different from what the violin teacher told me. He said the professional violinsts/instrumetnalists are required to know piano too. Perhaps, need to clarify with him what he meant by \"professional musicians\". The professionals that you know, what do they do besides teaching?

[sleepy]

phankao:

So far, the older 2 did not make use of their CCAs for DSA. FYI.

Me too, don't intend to apply DSA via band CCA. I heard cannot quit band in sec school if enter via band CCA.

However, if she doesn't show up for group practice, only goes for individual instrument practice, I'm not sure how long she will be allowed to stay in her CCA. Most likely kanna kicked out

[sleepy]

Hubby's friend has a diploma in music. He said compulsory to know at least 2 instruments. Wonder why degree only needs one :?

[phankao]

chamonix:

Eh, different from what the violin teacher told me. He said the professional violinsts/instrumetnalists are required to know piano too. Perhaps, need to clarify with him what he meant by \"professional musicians\". The professionals that you know, what do they do besides teaching?

My son's tr is with SSO and conducts schools. As in, they only play music or work with music for a living, lah. That's going professional, right? Like professional footballers ... they make money simply playing football, right?

[phankao]

sleepy:

Hubby's friend has a diploma in music. He said compulsory to know at least 2 instruments. Wonder why degree only needs one :?

Actually my ds' tr does do 2 instruments. Violin AND viola! haha! Gee... like that also considered 2 instruments.

[phankao]

sleepy:

phankao:

So far, the older 2 did not make use of their CCAs for DSA. FYI.

Me too, don't intend to apply DSA via band CCA. I heard cannot quit band in sec school if enter via band CCA.

However, if she doesn't show up for group practice, only goes for individual instrument practice, I'm not sure how long she will be allowed to stay in her CCA. Most likely kanna kicked out

Actually my ds' did intend to apply DSA under their CCAs, but it just was not available to them. The option, I mean. Unless, they apply for schools less popular than their own affiliated school, lah - but why would they do that, right?

My ds2 still intends to try DSA for his CCA.

[metz]

phankao:

chamonix:

Eh, different from what the violin teacher told me. He said the professional violinsts/instrumetnalists are required to know piano too. Perhaps, need to clarify with him what he meant by \"professional musicians\". The professionals that you know, what do they do besides teaching?

My son's tr is with SSO and conducts schools. As in, they only play music or work with music for a living, lah. That's going professional, right? Like professional footballers ... they make money simply playing football, right?

Haha, honestly, I'm quite clueless what constitutes a professional musician. Your definition sounds quite right. But between a music teacher with diploma qualifications and one performing for a living, there must be some differences, right? Even though both work with music for a living.

Perhaps it's not a requirement. But I do know of a SSO member (maybe ex), who does both violin and piano. Let me check with the violin teacher again. It would be good info for parents with musically inclined kids.

[phankao]

chamonix:

Haha, honestly, I'm quite clueless what constitutes a professional musician. Your definition sounds quite right. But between a music teacher with diploma qualifications and one performing for a living, there must be some differences, right? Even though both work with music for a living.


Perhaps it's not a requirement. But I do know of a SSO member (maybe ex), who does both violin and piano. Let me check with the violin teacher again. It would be good info for parents with musically inclined kids.

Definitely those performing would be true perfectionists. It can be quite frustrating. We remember those early \"teeth-gritting\" days during lessons when the teacher screwed up his face at all the intonation problems, even when it's hairline. And not just diploma but studied music for degree and postgrad degree ... so quite specialised in it.

I think it'd be tough for v young preschoolers to take this type of teaching? Mine were quite old comparatively being pri sch age. We are thankful for the exactness that his teacher required. Both my boys play string instruments (alth' different genre) and have good intonation. It's has become what they expect of themselves.

Anyway, none of my boys have any interest in piano. They only tinker on it for fun once in a very very blue moon. So if it's a 2nd instrument, it'd certainly be something other than piano.

[jce]

Not ALL professional instrumentalists know their instrument AND piano. I have quite a few friends who fall in this category. As I mentioned, it’s an advantage to know how to play the piano cos it helps in the understanding of the music as a whole. And as I have also mentioned before, each university/conservatoire’s requirement is different. So some may require a 2nd instrument and some may not. Generally speaking, most, if not all professional musicians out there know at least 2 instruments.


A professional musician is somewhat different from a "music teacher". A professional musician PERFORMS most of the time and probably teaches to get more income (compared to a pro footballer, musicians really earn peanuts, even those who make it big, only the top of the crop really make big bucks). A music teacher TEACHES most of the time. A great professional musician doesn’t necessarily equal to a great teacher, nor does it mean that a great music teacher doesn’t make a great performer. Some manage to get a good balance of both but some really don’t.

[metz]

Finally cleared the air with the violin teacher. What he meant is – for those applying music colleges/universities, they are required have a grade 5 in piano. Otherwise, they will have to take piano as a second instrument for only the first year. Sorry for the confusion. :oops:

[quote]It can be quite frustrating. We remember those early \"teeth-gritting\" days during lessons when the teacher screwed up his face at all the intonation problems, even when it's hairline. And not just diploma but studied music for degree and postgrad degree ... so quite specialised in it.[/quote]Your boys’ teacher has an impeccable background! They must have benefitted immensely under such a great teacher. As for my kids’ teachers, I don’t know much about his background except his position (previously) as the Vice President of Suzuki Music Assosciation (Singapore). Some of his students have made it big in the music industry. He mentioned he taught Li Huei Min before when she was young. Anyway, it wasn’t his track records that mattered to me when I signed my kids up for violin. (Hehe, don't think many with impeccable backgrounds are willing to teach young preschoolers.) I only requested for the strictest teacher and the school assigned my kids to him.
[quote]I think it'd be tough for v young preschoolers to take this type of teaching? Mine were quite old comparatively being pri sch age. [/quote]The teeth-gritting experience? It would depend on the teacher. The violin teacher we have is well known for his fierceness and strictness. I was told students’ crying during his lessons is not uncommon. My son had a couple of tear shedding sessions too. Strangely, he still prefers this violin teacher and refuses to consider any changes.
[quote]We are thankful for the exactness that his teacher required. Both my boys play string instruments (alth' different genre) and have good intonation. It's has become what they expect of themselves.[/quote]You have admirable boys! It would be near impossible for most preschoolers to have such expectations of themselves. Definitely not my kids. The majority would need a great deal of parental commitment and involvement. But for my son, I hope I’m seeing some changes in him. It was the first time yesterday that I saw him reflect on his teacher’s scolding (directly after lesson) and practise on his own. Hopefully, this is one small step towards more self discipline in learning.