All About Choosing Piano Schools And Teachers

[Lucky]

hi GreenQ


I also just started my gal (5 and half years) on 1-1 piano lesson at Yicha Music school (Katong Mall).

The teacher told me that student will progress faster with 1-1 lessons instead of group ones.

I also have no intention to buy a piano until maybe after a few months later when I know that she is really interested in pursuing the art. Otherwise, it may be a white elephant after a while.

Yicha allows its students to practice using their pianos on weekdays afternoon and evenings when they are less packed with piano schedules.

Also, they told me not to purchase a keyboard as the feel and touch is totally different from the piano.

[corneyAmber]

Hi Barney,


Preparing them for music exam is the same as school exam. When they just started pri 1 they also won't know how important or serious the exam is.

So it is just pre-preparing them for exam. Of cos it will be difficult as most parents do not have music background and it will be difficult to help them, not like sch work which parents can help. Hence it is recommended to take later.

However, if the child is ready and his/her parents and teacher are willing to take the resposiblilty and go ahead wth it, there is no harm.

Of cos taking exam is stressful and if not dealt with it well, it will definately make an impact on the child's passion on music. Hence parents and teacher will have to monitor closely.

My youngest students who took gr 1 practical is 5 and theory is 6. Normally during registation period, i will let the parents know they can take the exam and discuss with them first as they see the child everday and they are the ones who see them practise and do the homework etc.

Hope this helps

[barney]

Hi pianojazzy


Thanks for your reply. I have friends who send their young kids for grade 1 theory and/or practical and some have regretted it. No time to coach their kids, kids have homework and school test on top of it.....and everyone feeling stressed. I think that's not a good sign, think got to wait till the child is ready and willing to take up the challenge.

Wow you have students who take grade 1 at 5 and 6, that's impressive. You mind sharing how they fare in the exam and how do you prepare your students for the exams. Do you have students who sign up for exams but do not want to prepare for it? I'm still considering if I should let mine take the exam, very worried that it will kill her already very little interest in music. :?

[H2O]

my son has been learning panio for more than a year and he is nowhere close to take grade 1 exam.

He went for his 1/2 hour panio class every week, never bother to practise at home.

Thinking that he has no interest and wanted to stop him, he refused and insisted to continue.

how? :?

[hugeclaw]

H2O:

my son has been learning panio for more than a year and he is nowhere close to take grade 1 exam.

He went for his 1/2 hour panio class every week, never bother to practise at home.

Thinking that he has no interest and wanted to stop him, he refused and insisted to continue.

how? :?

haha..sounds exactly like my son. he's 6 this year and has been taking piano classes since 41/2. so far, haven't heard any advice from the teacher that he's ready for exam. actually by 'normal' standard, how long does it take a child to go for the grade 1 exams?

[Poonie]

Read in several posts here that many parents have bought or are considering buying key board for your child who is a beginner at piano. I gathered that some of you have paid around $400. Those who have yet to purchase one might want to check out Mustapha Centre at Serangoon Road. I bought one for my kids at the recommendation of their piano teacher. It is a 5-octave Yamaha keyboard with very good sound. Bought at at slightly under $200. Then I bought a stand from Yamaha. In total I paid $200 plus.


Hi pianojazzy
You mentioned in one of the earlier posts that a Swiss piano made in Shanghai is recommended. I am looking for one. Could you recommend some brands? I only know of Steinway and Sons

[gigue]

Hi! Has anyone heard of the music school called Musical Kidz at Bukit Timah Shopping Centre? They seem to be offering a new syllabus from NZ and Australia called ANZCA - is anyone familiar with this new syllabus? Any comments welcome! Thanks in advance.

[corneyAmber]

Hi Barney,


Some sees exam as a motivation and they are more willing to practise. Of cos the others think that it is stressful especially parents as they have to monitor and coach them. As they grow olders, the have more commitments from sch and they might not have the time to prepare for exams. That’s y i always say start young.

You do not have to take exam for every grade. Normally i will let them take a gr 1, to let them have a feel what is exams. Then i will monitor how they prepare, how the parents help and how they cope. Then i will suggest for the next exam to skip or take or just leisure till they are more ready etc.

There are some students who practise for exams only and refuse to practise other repetoire etc. Hence these students have to take exam every yr and gr to make sure they have a steady progress. But of cos this is not a good way to learn piano. However these are just different ways to help students to progress etc.

For younger students taking exams, i try not to push too much as they are still young. As long as a pass or merit i would be satisfied. However for older students, as they know how exams are like etc, i have higher expectations for them. I have different expectations for different students are they have different learning curves and they are individuals etc.

H2O, Maybe you might wan to talk to his teacher and try to find out what is his problem. It might be the teacher or he is just plain lazy.

Hughclaw, there is no fix duration as to how long to take to grade 1. Normally it takes about 1-1.5yrs for students for students who practise and start at the age of about 4-5. For those who didnt practise regularly and start at a younger (2-3yr old) age will take longer.

Poonie, will pm you the brand and location as dun wan to be seen as advertising. Steinway and sons is one for the best brand but is also very ex. Cost at least 40k for an upright.

Gigue, ANZCA is new in here. They brought in a few years ago. The standard is similiar to ABRSM which is more popular here.

[gigue]

Hi pianojazzy, thanks for the info on ANZCA. I’ve also enjoyed reading your website where you shared on piano teaching. Would you mind sharing how you prepare your students in sight reading? Usually, this is one of the poorer performed sections in the examination. Thanks!!

[corneyAmber]

Hi Gigue,


I do not teach sight reading specifically as i start with sight reading from the very first lesson. Which is to read and count as they play. Every lesson, they will be reading new materials which is building them up on sight reading. Hence there is no need to prepare them for that. As for exams, before the exam, we will play some specimen sight reading test but normally i use books which are more difficult than the specimen sight reading test from ABRSM. This is how i teach sight reading

Hi Zody,

After the 3rd yr, they will be prepared for ABRSM gr 1 theory exam. After the whole course, they will be taking Yamaha grade 9 exam. In group lessons, the teacher will not recommend on exams till they finish the course and go on to one to one. That is when the teacher will see if the student is able to take exams or not. It is good to see that your girl plays the piano regularly. It is a good habit. Keep it up!
As for the quality of practising, it depends on whether she put her heart in to play the song properly or just play for the sake of playing etc.