All About Choosing Piano Schools And Teachers

[Dreamaurora]

sleepy:

My dd is burned out from piano. I think ovewhelmed by grade 8 pieces.


Didn't help that demand from school is heavy. Usually near bedtime by the time she finished homework. So she doesn't feel like sitting for another 45 minutes to an hour practising after completing her school work. She just want to play or read storybook. I can empathize with that la. Need to wind down.

She does her school work enthusiastically but her interest in piano (practicing for exam) diminishes to zero. She can attend piano lesson, doesn't touch the piano at all the entire week, then goes piano lesson again. Of course kena scolded left right center by piano teacher.

We have stopped her weekly piano lesson. Not making progress anyway.

Just wondering in such a situation, how long a break is desirable? ie. to recuperate
Actually do kids even return to the same instrument after taking break? I heard some would switch instrument, some would stop completely

I will most likely switch teacher if she chooses to return to piano.
Teacher expecting her to go exam this Sep. We didn't sign her up for exam. Too ambitious la.

I just would like to share my experience with my preteen students who made the switch to me halfway through their learning.

Kids will grow up eventually to become preteens and they will start to form their own mindsets and exercise their freedom. For a high-commitment activity such as piano, if they have not developed the passion and discipline by this time, they will simply stop practicing because they see no point in it anymore.

This is the situation that some of my preteen or teenage students found themselves with their previous teachers. Coupled with being entered for exams they did not wish to, their interests were practically almost killed.

So the first thing I did whenever I accepted this kind of student was to slowly develop their love for music first. This I achieve by letting them freely choose from an exhaustive list of music specified for a grade (ANZCA and RCM Canada syllabus are good for this purpose). Freed from the constraint of an exam syllabus, they will learn to appreciate and take ownership of the pieces they learn; consequently they will be more motivated to play the pieces for self-satisfaction. If they still express interest in taking an exam, then I will lay the options for them. If they don't want ABRSM anymore, so be it, the most important is the goal they want to work towards to is something they desire and willing to.

I do understand it is very disheartening to see a student giving up piano. I myself honestly admitted that I made some missteps that perhaps resulted in a few of my earlier students giving up, and I did not feel good about it. My approach now is more student-oriented and geared towards developing their independence rather than a somewhat autocratic approach that I used earlier in my career. And so far my current students respond much better to this teaching approach.

Perhaps you can use this break to let your DD explore more music on her own. You can let her listen to recordings and see if she expresses interests in learning some pieces for her own enjoyment. Then hopefully she may want to take up lessons again to better those pieces.

[engp9337]

Grades 1 - 3 no much difference, can pick anyone to aim for exam. Go thru one by one is really waste of time, which will not help keep interest but kill interest

[Porky Pig]

My fren’s daughter sat for her Grade 3 exam recently. She just managed to pass (borderline). Does this mean that she is (1) not serious enough, (2) didn’t prepare thoroughly, (3) not talented in piano, (4) too distracted with school work and other tuition stuff. My fren has been scratching her head for an answer so that she will do better the next round.

[Dreamaurora]

engp9337:

Grades 1 - 3 no much difference, can pick anyone to aim for exam. Go thru one by one is really waste of time, which will not help keep interest but kill interest

I am very surprised that you said that, definitely there is a significant enough difference between each of them that ABRSM recommend one year gap between them. The progress between the grades can be accelerated definitely with more quality practice time and better instructions, but whatever is covered in each grade definitely can't be skipped. The exams are absolutely optional though and I do agree with you going through them one by one is absolutely counterproductive to keeping interest.

The problem is since some parents (and teachers) think this way, they tend to sign up the kids for grade 3 prematurely without ensuring sufficient repertoire to be learned for the lower grades and the technique to be developed properly.

[Dreamaurora]

Porky Pig:

My fren's daughter sat for her Grade 3 exam recently. She just managed to pass (borderline). Does this mean that she is (1) not serious enough, (2) didn't prepare thoroughly, (3) not talented in piano, (4) too distracted with school work and other tuition stuff. My fren has been scratching her head for an answer so that she will do better the next round.

Could be any of the reason above, though I have to say that (3) is inconsequential in achieving a decent mark. ABRSM exams are designed in such a way to reward security and fluency achieved by thorough preparation and planning. So even if a student is not very musical, if he/she is thorough in ensuring a well-rounded preparation and secure program, a good merit is definitely very possible. Though distinction at higher grades do need that something extra from the students.

If the daughter is disciplined and consistent with practice, then perhaps the teacher's competence is questionable. One other possible reasons could be also inability to handle nerves.

[waiyean]

engp9337:

Grades 1 - 3 no much difference, can pick anyone to aim for exam. Go thru one by one is really waste of time, which will not help keep interest but kill interest

Hmmm... Between grade 1 and 3, there are significant differences, not only in the pieces, but in the scales requirements and aural components too. Also depends on age of child... Broken chords are okay for young child, but arpeggios a bit difficult to stretch. Also, i guess the examiner will expect differently in term of tones and dynamics between grade 1 vs 3 right?

[fifiyeo]

Dreamaurora:

engp9337:

Grades 1 - 3 no much difference, can pick anyone to aim for exam. Go thru one by one is really waste of time, which will not help keep interest but kill interest

I am very surprised that you said that, definitely there is a significant enough difference between each of them that ABRSM recommend one year gap between them. The progress between the grades can be accelerated definitely with more quality practice time and better instructions, but whatever is covered in each grade definitely can't be skipped. The exams are absolutely optional though and I do agree with you going through them one by one is absolutely counterproductive to keeping interest.

The problem is since some parents (and teachers) think this way, they tend to sign up the kids for grade 3 prematurely without ensuring sufficient repertoire to be learned for the lower grades and the technique to be developed properly.

I think there should be some difference between grades 1 -3. Perhaps not as huge as the higher grades. I do agree that holding the kids back to do every single exams might be a waste of time and interest killer. DS is very unhappy playing his 'baby stuff' maybe because many of his friends in school are at least grade 5 and up. I think maybe this is a push factor for him.

[Dreamaurora]

fifiyeo:

Dreamaurora:

[quote=\"engp9337\"]Grades 1 - 3 no much difference, can pick anyone to aim for exam. Go thru one by one is really waste of time, which will not help keep interest but kill interest

I am very surprised that you said that, definitely there is a significant enough difference between each of them that ABRSM recommend one year gap between them. The progress between the grades can be accelerated definitely with more quality practice time and better instructions, but whatever is covered in each grade definitely can't be skipped. The exams are absolutely optional though and I do agree with you going through them one by one is absolutely counterproductive to keeping interest.

The problem is since some parents (and teachers) think this way, they tend to sign up the kids for grade 3 prematurely without ensuring sufficient repertoire to be learned for the lower grades and the technique to be developed properly.

I think there should be some difference between grades 1 -3. Perhaps not as huge as the higher grades. I do agree that holding the kids back to do every single exams might be a waste of time and interest killer. DS is very unhappy playing his 'baby stuff' maybe because many of his friends in school are at least grade 5 and up. I think maybe this is a push factor for him.[/quote]Personally I think playing a lower grade piece extremely well can be extremely satisfying as well, more so than doing a hack job of a more difficult piece.

Anyway, healthy competition can be a powerful motivator. One of my current students felt exactly like your DS who felt underwhelmed because the rest of the classmates were grade 5 and up, and he pushed himself to take grade 5 exam within one year under me after immediately passing his grade 1 (and managed to accomplish it). And since I was quite particular in ensuring stuff for each grade were not skipped, you can imagine the amount of work he put in.

Now obviously this is an exception case and I always caution parents that it is always more prudent to be on the safe side and take things slow especially if the kids are not the competitive type. But if the students themselves are willing to go under the pressure, then I should not limit them.

[fifiyeo]

Dreamaurora:

fifiyeo:

[quote=\"Dreamaurora] I am very surprised that you said that, definitely there is a significant enough difference between each of them that ABRSM recommend one year gap between them. The progress between the grades can be accelerated definitely with more quality practice time and better instructions, but whatever is covered in each grade definitely can't be skipped. The exams are absolutely optional though and I do agree with you going through them one by one is absolutely counterproductive to keeping interest.


The problem is since some parents (and teachers) think this way, they tend to sign up the kids for grade 3 prematurely without ensuring sufficient repertoire to be learned for the lower grades and the technique to be developed properly.

I think there should be some difference between grades 1 -3. Perhaps not as huge as the higher grades. I do agree that holding the kids back to do every single exams might be a waste of time and interest killer. DS is very unhappy playing his 'baby stuff' maybe because many of his friends in school are at least grade 5 and up. I think maybe this is a push factor for him.

Personally I think playing a lower grade piece extremely well can be extremely satisfying as well, more so than doing a hack job of a more difficult piece.

Anyway, healthy competition can be a powerful motivator. One of my current students felt exactly like your DS who felt underwhelmed because the rest of the classmates were grade 5 and up, and he pushed himself to take grade 5 exam within one year under me after immediately passing his grade 1 (and managed to accomplish it). And since I was quite particular in ensuring stuff for each grade were not skipped, you can imagine the amount of work he put in.

Now obviously this is an exception case and I always caution parents that it is always more prudent to be on the safe side and take things slow especially if the kids are not the competitive type. But if the students themselves are willing to go under the pressure, then I should not limit them.[/quote][/quote][/quote]

My goodness that's an achievement! But NO, I won't let my DS know about this. He was already asking why not grade 5 for first exam and we simply told him that it's not possible!

I can imagine how much time your student must have put into the practicing and I don't think I can allow that 'cos DS will need to study.

[Dreamaurora]

Dear all,


I am organizing a public performance for selected students at Library@Esplanade Open Stage at 2:00 PM next Sunday on 13th. It is absolutely FOC and you can just pop in to watch if you are free that day. My students will be presenting an entertaining selection of mostly light non-classical piano music including music from Disney movies and video games such as Final Fantasy. I will also be joined by vocal students of Mdm Joy Chen to present various light-hearted songs. And oh, the 2 very famous songs from Frozen are in the vocal program (you know which ones).

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