All About Choosing Piano Schools And Teachers

[mambo12]

Can I get some recommendations for piano teachers for daughters aged 4 and 6? No experience at all. Preferably not too far from Toa payoh. Tks!

[Imami]

fifiyeo:

:siao: BTW, DS plays well on the piano but sings like a toad. how??

:hi5: I have one toad at home too! :rotflmao:

[Dreamaurora]

fifiyeo:

:siao: BTW, DS plays well on the piano but sings like a toad. how??

Well, as long can reasonably sing in tune okay lar. ABRSM still quite old fashioned in insisting instrumental students to sing for exams; other exam boards have little or no singing in their aural tests.

Can practice singing more often though. Simple arrangements of nursery rhymes are great for sing-alongs.

[Dreamaurora]

[quote=\"amk\"]Thank you, Dreamaurora.

I have been reading your posts.
You are a great teacher. :udaman:
I would definitely send my girl to your class if you are nearer.
Too bad.... it way toooo far. :sad:

Thanks to fifiyeo too.
[/quote=\"Dreamaurora\"]

Haha no lar, you are too kind.

I am still amateur, still got a long way to go before I can be considered decent.

[Blue Pearl]

I agree with amk. I find you a very passionate teacher. Like she said, you are far … consider opening a branch near to central … you sure have our support.

[Dreamaurora]

Blue Pearl:

I agree with amk. I find you a very passionate teacher. Like she said, you are far ..... consider opening a branch near to central .... you sure have our support.

It's one of my plans in the future. Now is the time for me to learn the ropes first and fully upgrade myself. Passion does not carry a teacher far in this field, certifications and track records still speak volume. One step at a time.

[bgmum]

Dreamaurora:

fifiyeo:

:siao: BTW, DS plays well on the piano but sings like a toad. how??

Well, as long can reasonably sing in tune okay lar. ABRSM still quite old fashioned in insisting instrumental students to sing for exams; other exam boards have little or no singing in their aural tests.

Can practice singing more often though. Simple arrangements of nursery rhymes are great for sing-alongs.

I was told by my DS's piano teacher that for aural, one can play back on the piano if he or she does not prefer to sing. My DS did that for his piano exams.

[Dreamaurora]

bgmum:

Dreamaurora:

[quote=\"fifiyeo\"]:siao: BTW, DS plays well on the piano but sings like a toad. how??

Well, as long can reasonably sing in tune okay lar. ABRSM still quite old fashioned in insisting instrumental students to sing for exams; other exam boards have little or no singing in their aural tests.

Can practice singing more often though. Simple arrangements of nursery rhymes are great for sing-alongs.

I was told by my DS's piano teacher that for aural, one can play back on the piano if he or she does not prefer to sing. My DS did that for his piano exams.[/quote]ABRSM? Not possible. For grade 1-3, Section B Echo Singing for aural requires student to sing. For grade 4-8. Section B Sight-Singing can only be attempted by singing. Section A Melodic Memory can be attempted by playing back on the piano though, which was what your DS probably did.

[bgmum]

Hi Dreamaurora, thanks for the clarification. Think that's probably what he did

[Dreamaurora]

bgmum:

Hi Dreamaurora, thanks for the clarification. Think that's probably what he did

Yup.

To attempt the sight-singing well at the higher grades do need consistent singing practice to develop the vocal cord and to familiarize the more complex intervals.

So basically, a student who lacks opportunity to sing outside of piano lessons are severely disadvantaged when it comes to the sight-singing component of the aural. A teacher who is faced with such student will make a calculated decision whether to improve or to just forgo the sight-singing component if an exam is looming. Sight-singing takes time to improve and cannot simply be fixed within months for most students. It is only 1/3 of the aural test, so technically, if the section A and C of the Aural test is executed well, it is still merit overall as the penalty will be at most 3-4 marks.

This is why recently I incorporate singing homework for my lower grades now to slowly make them more comfortable to sing. A lot of local students I teach are very shy when it comes to singing because they are very self-conscious. So I am also thinking of incorporating vocal ensembles in the future.