All About Choosing Piano Schools And Teachers

[starz]

hi all,


thanks for your advise.
My apologies on the typo error.
My child learning with private for coming 2 years (6-8 years old)
As for JMC, it was 2 years too (4-6 years old)

I was wondering after learning with private for 2 years n still in beginner progress, shall i switch teacher?

Teacher is currently using Alfred's Prep course beginner course Level B book and other level b books.
http://www.alfred.com/Products/Alfreds-Basic-Piano-Prep-Course-Lesson-Book-B--00-3090.aspx

Yes , hv higlighted regarding G1 exams However, teacher prefers to start from basic n mentioned depends on my child's progress too.

Thank you.

[phankao]

starz:

hi all,


thanks for your advise.
My apologies on the typo error.
My child learning with private for coming 2 years (6-8 years old)
As for JMC, it was 2 years too (4-6 years old)

I was wondering after learning with private for 2 years n still in beginner progress, shall i switch teacher?

Teacher is currently using Alfred's Prep course beginner course Level B book and other level b books.
http://www.alfred.com/Products/Alfreds-Basic-Piano-Prep-Course-Lesson-Book-B--00-3090.aspx

Yes , hv higlighted regarding G1 exams However, teacher prefers to start from basic n mentioned depends on my child's progress too.

Thank you.

Looks quite basic to be doing this book after having had 4 years of music lessons.

[Dreamaurora]

starz:

hi all,


thanks for your advise.
My apologies on the typo error.
My child learning with private for coming 2 years (6-8 years old)
As for JMC, it was 2 years too (4-6 years old)

I was wondering after learning with private for 2 years n still in beginner progress, shall i switch teacher?

Teacher is currently using Alfred's Prep course beginner course Level B book and other level b books.
http://www.alfred.com/Products/Alfreds-Basic-Piano-Prep-Course-Lesson-Book-B--00-3090.aspx

Yes , hv higlighted regarding G1 exams However, teacher prefers to start from basic n mentioned depends on my child's progress too.

Thank you.

Like many people have mentioned here, the progress seemed to be rather slow if your child has been putting in consistent practice.

From what you have described, the issue seems to be that the teacher lacks direction. Once a teacher has taught a child for sufficient time say one or two months, the teacher should by then have a good idea on the child's ability and discipline level. He/she should then advise you on a learning plan with clear definite goals to be achieved. Even if exams are not planned to be attempted, there still have to be long term goals that can be matched to one of the existing exam syllabus. Examples of this goal maybe by the end of 6 months of lessons the student can perform 3 grade 1 level pieces at distinction levels. This way progress can be measured and the student can feel definite milestones in the learning journey.

What you can do is to ask the teacher for a definite timeline for the various goals. Set a long term target, say your child will attempt grade 2 ABRSM. Then ask the teacher to plan on how to achieve the standards required for grade 2 and the eventual preparation for the exams. If the teacher can't formulate a basic plan for this and still say depend on the child's progress, then yes, you should seriously consider switching teacher.

If exam is expected or the teacher claims to be able to prepare students for the exams, then the teacher should be familiar with the syllabi as well and know what are tested. So let's say a teacher claims to prepare students for ABRSM exams, she must be familiar with the specific requirements for the grades she offers e.g. the various components in the aural tests. Generally not recommended to prepare for an exam if the teacher are not familiar what are being tested in the exams, unless the exam is a less popular one e.g. ANZCA exams. Even if the teacher is not a believer in exams, she must be able to explain a basic syllabus that she is using for her lessons.

[Dreamaurora]

chianchian:

anybody take abrsm exam soon? i am not sure whether i should test the piano or not, it sounds quite expensive and I did look at the piano at the test venue, it does not seem so difference from our home one. and what to test ? how many sessions are necessary?

You really can't judge a piano by how it looks. If your piano is the type with heavy deep keys with good amount of resistance, then you should be able to adapt easily to other pianos easily. But if your piano keys are shallow and light, then you may not be able to adapt so easily if the exam piano keys are heavier and deeper.

If the option to rent the exam venue is available to you, I recommend at least renting it one time to do a mock exam with your teacher. This way you can familiarize yourself with the environment and make some changes if necessary to your playing to adapt to the different piano.

[Blissedsher]

phankao:

starz:

hi all,


thanks for your advise.
My apologies on the typo error.
My child learning with private for coming 2 years (6-8 years old)
As for JMC, it was 2 years too (4-6 years old)

I was wondering after learning with private for 2 years n still in beginner progress, shall i switch teacher?

Teacher is currently using Alfred's Prep course beginner course Level B book and other level b books.
http://www.alfred.com/Products/Alfreds-Basic-Piano-Prep-Course-Lesson-Book-B--00-3090.aspx

That's really too simple given that your child has learn for 2 years .. My da
Yes , hv higlighted regarding G1 exams However, teacher prefers to start from basic n mentioned depends on my child's progress too.

Thank you.

Looks quite basic to be doing this book after having had 4 years of music lessons.

That's really too simple given that your child has learn piano for 2 years . My daughter completed that book within 6 months from start and she is not fast at all ..

[Blissedsher]

phankao:

starz:

hi all,


thanks for your advise.
My apologies on the typo error.
My child learning with private for coming 2 years (6-8 years old)
As for JMC, it was 2 years too (4-6 years old)

I was wondering after learning with private for 2 years n still in beginner progress, shall i switch teacher?

Teacher is currently using Alfred's Prep course beginner course Level B book and other level b books.
http://www.alfred.com/Products/Alfreds-Basic-Piano-Prep-Course-Lesson-Book-B--00-3090.aspx

That's really too simple given that your child has learn for 2 years .. My da
Yes , hv higlighted regarding G1 exams However, teacher prefers to start from basic n mentioned depends on my child's progress too.

Thank you.

Looks quite basic to be doing this book after having had 4 years of music lessons.

That's really too simple given that your child has learn piano for 2 years . My daughter completed that book within 6 months from start and she is not fast at all ..

[reddiechan]

phankao:

starz:

hi all,


thanks for your advise.
My apologies on the typo error.
My child learning with private for coming 2 years (6-8 years old)
As for JMC, it was 2 years too (4-6 years old)

I was wondering after learning with private for 2 years n still in beginner progress, shall i switch teacher?

Teacher is currently using Alfred's Prep course beginner course Level B book and other level b books.
http://www.alfred.com/Products/Alfreds-Basic-Piano-Prep-Course-Lesson-Book-B--00-3090.aspx

Yes , hv higlighted regarding G1 exams However, teacher prefers to start from basic n mentioned depends on my child's progress too.

Thank you.

Looks quite basic to be doing this book after having had 4 years of music lessons.

Switch a teacher. Wasting time, effort and money. You'd have progressed further even on the JMC syllabus.

[starz]

Dear all,


Thanks so much for your advice.

One thing is my child has been slightly inconsistently in her practicing as busy with sch work and activities.

However, even with consistent practicing last yr, i noticed that the teacher usually takes 1 year to complete a book.

Meaning since she first started out with my child (from 6 to 7 yrs old) , teacher completed Alfred book A.

As i mentioned currently on Alfred book B (going to complete soon), also takes almost one year (7-8yrs old).

Now Teacher requested to purchase Alfred book C.

http://www.alfred.com/Products/Alfreds- ... -3130.aspx

So i will predict it will take another year to complete book C as well, meaning from 8-9yrs old?

Hmm still pondering? i guess i would switch to another teacher that can probably progress slightly faster n continue from there. as i m not sure whether is it my child or teacher's problem. Teacher mentioned her intention is to build strong solid foundation. hmmm

[Dreamaurora]

starz:

Dear all,


Thanks so much for your advice.

One thing is my child has been slightly inconsistently in her practicing as busy with sch work and activities.

However, even with consistent practicing last yr, i noticed that the teacher usually takes 1 year to complete a book.

Meaning since she first started out with my child (from 6 to 7 yrs old) , teacher completed Alfred book A.

As i mentioned currently on Alfred book B (going to complete soon), also takes almost one year (7-8yrs old).

Now Teacher requested to purchase Alfred book C.

http://www.alfred.com/Products/Alfreds- ... -3130.aspx

So i will predict it will take another year to complete book C as well, meaning from 8-9yrs old?

Hmm still pondering? i guess i would switch to another teacher that can probably progress slightly faster n continue from there. as i m not sure whether is it my child or teacher's problem. Teacher mentioned her intention is to build strong solid foundation. hmmm

Completing method books does not automatically mean your child have solid foundation. Rather, it's how the method books are being used. It is very much possible to complete many method books but still having weak foundation at the end.

Nowadays, the only teachers who adhere rigidly to completing entire method books are older teachers who were trained this way. It is more beneficial to pick selected pieces that focus on certain aspects of technique and play them really well. So a beginner who plays a much smaller amount of pieces musically with proper technique I consider as having much better progress compared to another beginner who can play a lot of pieces but very average in quality. There are also a much greater selection of teaching materials an beginning repertoire available compared to last time, so I feel sticking to only a method book is severely limiting a student.

Like I have suggested, query the teacher again. Ask her to define what is good progress and what is good foundation. If she is unable to do so, then she's just going through the motions.

[Dreamaurora]

starz:

Dear all,


Thanks so much for your advice.

One thing is my child has been slightly inconsistently in her practicing as busy with sch work and activities.

However, even with consistent practicing last yr, i noticed that the teacher usually takes 1 year to complete a book.

Meaning since she first started out with my child (from 6 to 7 yrs old) , teacher completed Alfred book A.

As i mentioned currently on Alfred book B (going to complete soon), also takes almost one year (7-8yrs old).

Now Teacher requested to purchase Alfred book C.

http://www.alfred.com/Products/Alfreds- ... -3130.aspx

So i will predict it will take another year to complete book C as well, meaning from 8-9yrs old?

Hmm still pondering? i guess i would switch to another teacher that can probably progress slightly faster n continue from there. as i m not sure whether is it my child or teacher's problem. Teacher mentioned her intention is to build strong solid foundation. hmmm

Completing method books does not automatically mean your child have solid foundation. Rather, it's how the method books are being used. It is very much possible to complete many method books but still having weak foundation at the end.

Nowadays, the only teachers who adhere rigidly to completing entire method books are older teachers who were trained this way. It is more beneficial to pick selected pieces that focus on certain aspects of technique and play them really well. So a beginner who plays a much smaller amount of pieces musically with proper technique I consider as having much better progress compared to another beginner who can play a lot of pieces but very average in quality. There are also a much greater selection of teaching materials an beginning repertoire available compared to last time, so I feel sticking to only a method book is severely limiting a student.

Like I have suggested, query the teacher again. Ask her to define what is good progress and what is good foundation. If she is unable to do so, then she's just going through the motions.