All About Choosing Piano Schools And Teachers

[Miaor]

The issue with managing the balance of achieving high standard of playing and maintaining motivation level is one that many teachers constantly struggle with.


I myself want my students to play at the highest levels as possible very early. The issue here is children often do not automatically have the desire to excel immediately right from the start. An iron-fist approach will still produce good exam results from the kids, but the dang9er is the kids may lose interest. But naturally competitive children will understand and come out just fine.

Most students we teachers will encounter in our teaching will not be the NAFA Young Talents type, so I think we should carefully pace the kids as they progress through the

I would not say its common, but I did see it happening with a few of my students. When the students get distressed, then I have to find out why and vary my approach to try to alleviate the problems. Placing proficiency over interests have its benefits, but I would say very few students will flourish this way. Waiyean is right to assert that if you are willing to fill in the gaps that the teacher has created in pursuit of excellence, then this kind of teacher will be good.

So for example, you can teach your own son those pieces the teacher refuse to go through and expose him to additional pieces outside what the teacher go through. This is why normally parents who engage these kind of perfectionist teachers are normally proficient in the instrument themselves, otherwise hard to fill the gaps. But if you are fully dependent on the teacher to impart both the skill and pique his interest, then it may be harder for the child. In this case, either you take a gamble and hope your child will eventually be self-motivated by the time higher grade or try to source for another technically competent teacher but with more flexibility in teaching approach.[/quote][/quote]
Unfortunately I am not proficient in any kind of instruments and neither is my husband. Too bad

[Dreamaurora]

Miaor:

Hi waiyean, thanks for your suggestions. My son was very motivated when he chose the hard piece at the beginning. I was very glad to see he was engaged to practice although he did have hard time to learn that piece. I tried to persuade the teacher to let him go even he couldn't do it right on the competition, he still can gain good experience from working hard and trying his best. The teacher was concerned about the bad outcome might lower his standard and rejected firmly despite our eagerness. My son's enthusiasm towards the competition disappeared after I told him the teacher wanted him to play another easier piece. I also felt very frustrated and personally thought the damage was even worse than losing the competition. I dont expect my son to be a great pianist but I do care that he can gain positive experience and reinforce his lifelong techniques like self discipline, confidence and creativity etc, which in my opinion are far more important than the fingerings and examinations. But now piano learning gave me a stressful,frustrated and rebellious boy. Our relationship also gets a lot of tension because of piano learning. This is not a typical enrichment I want to engage for my son.

Maybe it's because I didn't do a good job on filling the gap of interest. Could you enlighten me how?

Some teachers are very competitive and they are very protective of their image. Good image and strong public showing means more good students; it's a matter of simple economics.

I wish I can say that all music teachers are in this field to impart live long appreciation for music, but similar to the tuition industry, many teachers are in this for the money and prestige. And these are very powerful motivators to become very good at this craft.

Perhaps if your son want to really play that piece badly, you can organise a mini concert where he can present that piece?

[reddiechan]

@Miaor, which piece is it that your son is so insistent on?

[Dreamaurora]

This is a Czerny exercise set for grade 4 new syllabus as B6 piece, and you will be pleasantly surprised that this is not a typical mindless Czerny exercise. Very intricately written and requires good musicianship to pull off. I find that this is actually harder to play compared to Pleyel's Adagio set for grade 5. The texture here can be rather awkward for the hands to play. I am not fully satisfied with my rendition; I will probably revisit this sometime later.


[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRXx5FP8mOs][/youtube]

[Dreamaurora]

Some grade 1 pieces to end the week.


Grade 1 2015-2016 B1 Das Schaukelpferd

This year's Das Ballett. Simple and attractive with little position changes.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tRMcmmXsQg][/youtube]

Grade 1 2015-2016 B2 Lovet Faller

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvy2y5wXPYI][/youtube]

More difficult than it looks. Requires fluid rotations of the elbow and forearm to accept smoothest playing. Probably not suitable for children with smaller hands.

[pirate]

Dreamaurora:

This is a Czerny exercise set for grade 4 new syllabus as B6 piece, and you will be pleasantly surprised that this is not a typical mindless Czerny exercise.

Actually, I find most Czerny pieces to be nice. Shhh.... don't tell dd that they are merely exercises!

[peachbubble]

Hi Dreamaurora,


It's so kind of you to share your performances. Enjoyed it and please continue to share. Thanks! :please:

Peachbubble

[arielina]

Hi,


I’m thinking of letting my children learn piano. Purpose is to strengthen their ablity to focus, increase their self-confidence and also if any luck, they would love playing piano as a lifelong hobby.

However, they are 7 and 3 years old respectively, with no music background at all.

Is it too late to start my 7 year old? (if not, what kind of lesson is recommended?)
Is it too early to stary my 3 year old? (if not, what kind of lesson is recommended?)

Sorry if I’ve asked questions which have already been discussed in this forum long ago. I have gone through this forum from 2008 posts till now but still confused and have no idea what is better for my children.

Please anyone can advise?

Thanks a lot!

[Dreamaurora]

arielina:

Hi,


I'm thinking of letting my children learn piano. Purpose is to strengthen their ablity to focus, increase their self-confidence and also if any luck, they would love playing piano as a lifelong hobby.

However, they are 7 and 3 years old respectively, with no music background at all.

Is it too late to start my 7 year old? (if not, what kind of lesson is recommended?)
Is it too early to stary my 3 year old? (if not, what kind of lesson is recommended?)

Sorry if I've asked questions which have already been discussed in this forum long ago. I have gone through this forum from 2008 posts till now but still confused and have no idea what is better for my children.

Please anyone can advise?

Thanks a lot!

Hi Arelina,

7 years old is by no means too late to start, unless you plan your child to finish grade 8 by P6. I myself started as complete beginner at a very \"young\" age of 17 and still ended up as a professional, so really it's never too late to pick up an instrument.

3 year old is possible to start private lesson, but the primary considerations here will be if you are willing to sit down with your child during practices and finding a teacher who is familiar with teaching methodologies suitable for this age group.

There are various factors that may affect what kind of teacher will be suitable for your children. Perhaps you can provide more info by answering the following questions:
- Do you play the piano yourself to a decent level and willing to assist regularly in practice sessions?
- Are your children naturally competitive in academic studies?
- Do you expect regular exams be taken and the results to be consistently excellent?
- Would you mind if your children don't play at the highest standard but love learning and playing, or do you place excellence above the interests?
- Do you want regular performance opportunities for your children?

[Dreamaurora]

A couple of grade 2 pieces today to serenade the night owls here to sleep


Grade 2 pieces in the book this time round are rather difficult to play. This A3 Cantabile is more difficult than it sounds, but will be good for students with excellent technical controls. Do note that the ornaments are not required at this grade.

Cantabile by Johann Baptist Vanhal (Grade 2 A3 ABRSM 2015-2016 Piano)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np1-qWoxgxY][/youtube]

I think most people will like and want to play this one from the book. Very sweet and relatively simple to execute. My interpretation adds damper pedal and some basic rubatos which are also not required at this grade.

Lullaby by Vitalij Neugasimov (Grade 2 B2 ABRSM 2015-2016 Piano)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsjasG7mlzk][/youtube]