All About Choosing Piano Schools And Teachers

[Kee Kor]

Is performing in an exam that different from on stage? Both also you are being judged. Maybe just more pairs of eyes watching!


DS wants to perform well but I really can’t tell if teacher is performance focused. I have never sat in for any lesson before.

[Dreamaurora]

Kee Kor:

Is performing in an exam that different from on stage? Both also you are being judged. Maybe just more pairs of eyes watching!


DS wants to perform well but I really can't tell if teacher is performance focused. I have never sat in for any lesson before.

Yes, very different. I always tell this story of me performing for the first time in public to my students. It was one of NAFA's Music Platform concert during my full time study. I had performed the piece well a few times in the performance class (hence being selected for the concert), but as I sat down on the bench, my right leg began to shake uncontrollably. It was my body's reaction to the stress, this has never happened to me before! Thankfully, my mind was still clear and I got through the performance well, from the audience view it just looked like that I changed the pedal very often.

Only a small percentage of teachers are performance focused in Singapore, maybe less than 1%? That is why you always see students from the same few teachers (and NAFA) in public festivals and concerts. It is not easy being performance focused because the pressure is immense to maintain the students' standards when they went out to play, the audience will inadvertently start to making comparisons and my students need to hold up well to scrutiny. I only began to shift my teaching practice to performance focused last year by taking the plunge to send my students for one of the local music festivals. More stress and commitment, but I am glad as I could see a discernible increase in my students' playing standards and motivation level.

[Dreamaurora]

Kee Kor:

Is performing in an exam that different from on stage? Both also you are being judged. Maybe just more pairs of eyes watching!


DS wants to perform well but I really can't tell if teacher is performance focused. I have never sat in for any lesson before.

Yes, very different. I always tell this story of me performing for the first time in public to my students. It was one of NAFA's Music Platform concert during my full time study. I had performed the piece well a few times in the performance class (hence being selected for the concert), but as I sat down on the bench, my right leg began to shake uncontrollably. It was my body's reaction to the stress, this has never happened to me before! Thankfully, my mind was still clear and I got through the performance well, from the audience view it just looked like that I changed the pedal very often.

Only a small percentage of teachers are performance focused in Singapore, maybe less than 1%? That is why you always see students from the same few teachers (and NAFA) in public festivals and concerts. It is not easy being performance focused because the pressure is immense to maintain the students' standards when they went out to play, the audience will inadvertently start to make comparisons and my students need to hold up well to scrutiny. I only began to shift my teaching practice to performance focused last year by taking the plunge to send my students for one of the local music festivals. More stress and commitment, but I am glad as I could see a discernible increase in my students' playing standards and motivation level.

[Kee Kor]

Dreamaurora:

Kee Kor:

Is performing in an exam that different from on stage? Both also you are being judged. Maybe just more pairs of eyes watching!


DS wants to perform well but I really can't tell if teacher is performance focused. I have never sat in for any lesson before.

Yes, very different. I always tell this story of me performing for the first time in public to my students. It was one of NAFA's Music Platform concert during my full time study. I had performed the piece well a few times in the performance class (hence being selected for the concert), but as I sat down on the bench, my right leg began to shake uncontrollably. It was my body's reaction to the stress, this has never happened to me before! Thankfully, my mind was still clear and I got through the performance well, from the audience view it just looked like that I changed the pedal very often.

Only a small percentage of teachers are performance focused in Singapore, maybe less than 1%? That is why you always see students from the same few teachers (and NAFA) in public festivals and concerts. It is not easy being performance focused because the pressure is immense to maintain the students' standards when they went out to play, the audience will inadvertently start to making comparisons and my students need to hold up well to scrutiny. I only began to shift my teaching practice to performance focused last year by taking the plunge to send my students for one of the local music festivals. More stress and commitment, but I am glad as I could see a discernible increase in my students' playing standards and motivation level.

Oh I see so that's why those students going for competitions and public concerts always come from certain teachers. So if DS is performance focus I should really look into changing teacher for him? DS said he enjoys performing. I must find out if our teacher sends her more advance students for music festivals. Thanks for the input.

[waiyean]

Kee Kor:

Oh I see so that's why those students going for competitions and public concerts always come from certain teachers. So if DS is performance focus I should really look into changing teacher for him? DS said he enjoys performing. I must find out if our teacher sends her more advance students for music festivals. Thanks for the input.

Actually, the parent can always register child for these festivals and competitions. Even if your teacher is not performance focus, you can still tell the teacher of his interest to perform. Your teacher is unlikely to object to preparing your DS for the performance.

[Dreamaurora]

Kee Kor:

Oh I see so that's why those students going for competitions and public concerts always come from certain teachers. So if DS is performance focus I should really look into changing teacher for him? DS said he enjoys performing. I must find out if our teacher sends her more advance students for music festivals. Thanks for the input.

Yup, if your DS is really keen on performing then he will best suited with a teacher who has this same goal.

By the way I am not implying that a teacher who is not performance focused is not good, in fact there are many excellent teachers who are low profile and never bother to send their students for performances, festivals, and competitions.

[Dreamaurora]

waiyean:

Kee Kor:

Oh I see so that's why those students going for competitions and public concerts always come from certain teachers. So if DS is performance focus I should really look into changing teacher for him? DS said he enjoys performing. I must find out if our teacher sends her more advance students for music festivals. Thanks for the input.

Actually, the parent can always register child for these festivals and competitions. Even if your teacher is not performance focus, you can still tell the teacher of his interest to perform. Your teacher is unlikely to object to preparing your DS for the performance.

That is true. But the teacher will most likely not have the necessary support system to maximise the chance of the child to perform at his best. Can still join the festivals and competitions lar for experience, but if want better awards and prizes then need the teacher to be on board to plan.

[metz2]

mummychua:

thanks for your reply. sorry to ask, but how do a non-musically trained parent know if a teacher is technically competent. what the paper qualification a teacher should have?

the thread is so long, i have no idea where to start looking.

This is one big problem most non-musically trained parents share, especially in the beginnning. We have no idea of what to expect from the lesson, much less if the teacher is qualified and teaching our little ones well. It's indeed a headache when one has to source for a music teacher.

One way I have learned (still learning) to assess teachers' playing techniques is through watching video clips of their students' performance/playing. It would be an extra bonus if I get to watch the teacher's playing. At first, it may be seems impossible. But after some time, we would probably pick up some desirable techniques in playing.

Another quality that I looked for in teachers is strictness in laying a strong foundation. IMHO, a child with a strong foundation will be able progess better. My kids have been with a few violin teachers. Some of the foreign teachers (from a music school) they had were participants/winners of various competitions, soloist and a professor. Under them, my kids progressed rather fast. (And if they had been hardworking, they would be able to complete grade 8 by P6). Unfortunately, I felt they were missing out something in their playing and took them out from the school. Now, they are with a local performer-turned-teacher who is very particular about sound production, the way they drew the bow, pitch, tempo etc. Progress is much slower but I can detect an improvement in their playing.

The following are some music teachers that I would like my kids to learn from. Unfortunately, the distance to their studios are too far for us. Nonetheless, I have picked up some ideas of what to expect for our next piano teacher from their video clips.

Mrs Chew does not believe in rushing her students through exams. I like her students' playing as they are soothing and not choppy and I can feel the mood of the pieces they are playing.
http://www.kidsmusichub.com/PIANO.html

Ms Winnie Tay is another piano teacher that I have come to appreciate. From what I understand, she is not big into abrsm exams but focuses more on performances. I truly enjoy watching her students perform.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy1jB7 ... mtRj6qqFLg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX6rnLY1oBY

[phankao]

Dreamaurora:

Kee Kor:

Oh I see so that's why those students going for competitions and public concerts always come from certain teachers. So if DS is performance focus I should really look into changing teacher for him? DS said he enjoys performing. I must find out if our teacher sends her more advance students for music festivals. Thanks for the input.

Yup, if your DS is really keen on performing then he will best suited with a teacher who has this same goal.

By the way I am not implying that a teacher who is not performance focused is not good, in fact there are many excellent teachers who are low profile and never bother to send their students for performances, festivals, and competitions.

Waiyean and Dreamaurora is correct - you can just send for festivals on your own - competitions - yes and no - depends on whether you are confident in helping to prep your child for competition. It's not a matter or winning or losing, it's how you prepare for the competition and how the child is taught to handle the situation (sometimes tenacity is required, some quick-reaction on-the-spot, etc) and how to handle the outcome.

I'm one of the parents who sends for festivals on my own - at first all done even without asking the teacher(s). But now, every single one have to ask. hahhah.

[sacredmusicals]

I don’t mind admitting that I am not part of the 1% of teachers that Dreamaurora mentioned. When I learned piano my ex teacher was just one of those SAHMs who gave piano lessons to pass time. I did not have intensive performance training. I did not recall of my teacher even organising a single student concert. And my playing standard was perhaps not anywhere near these performance focused teachers’ students. But I can say that by no means I think my ex teacher was inferior. I still love music and piano up to today. As far as I am concerned my ex teacher was a great teacher.