All About Choosing Piano Schools And Teachers

[doramon]

phankao:

gigi288:

Phankao,


I'm looking for a piano teacher to teach my daughter. Can you pm me this Bt Timah teacher's Tel No.?

Thanks.

I'm lazy already. Please search the listings on SMTA. All v good teachers. Don't search by area - the listings not v long. The one that I referred earlier is listed under Suzuki, and yes bkt Timah.http://www.smtasingapore.com/main.php?c=pfl&m=list

Can I check how does the teacher get into the listings? do they get into the listing cos they registered to SMTA or what? I noted a Stellar Chan and Lin Min Hui who teaches in the east. any idea whether they are good?

ATCL, LTCL, LRSM - what does these means? diploma or graduate?

[jce]

Yup, ATCL, LTCL, FTCL are diploma certs from Trinity Music. The AR, LR, FR are from Royal School.

[ilovepiano]

doramon:

I got my son a piano teacher at award music school recently. She is young n I find that she is not controlling the lesson. My son gets to play whatever sing he wants. I told her to be more strict to him. But still she let him do whatever he likes to do. I just find that she is not very structured in her teaching. Award also claims their teachers are all singaporeans n that singaporeans can teach theory better .


My qns are :
1) are singaporeans piano teachers teach better theory?

2) do your think I shld change the piano teacher ? Are piano lessons supposed to be structured?

3) any idea why Yichi music closed down? Thought theyvhave been around for ages...

Hi,

Just some thoughts to your questions.

1) In my humble opinion, I don't think it's true that Singaporean piano teachers teach better theory. I have received musical training overseas before and find that non-Singaporean teachers teach just as well. I think a lot depends on how well-versed a teacher is with the syllabus and whether he/she can put across the points effectively to the students.

2) That really depends on your assessment of your child. Is he learning and growing musically? Do you see any improvements in his playing? Is the teacher open to feedback? Can you child and you communicate well with the teacher? As a full-time piano teacher myself, i think it's important to structure every lesson so that the child is paced properly to pick up new concepts. I have had a transfered student who came to me at Grade 5 and still do not how to read notes and play with proper technique. When I asked him how did his previous piano teacher teach him, he said she just asked him to choose the songs he like every week. :oops: well...there you go!

3) You mean Yicha music school at Katong Mall?

[doramon]

ilovepiano:

doramon:

I got my son a piano teacher at award music school recently. She is young n I find that she is not controlling the lesson. My son gets to play whatever sing he wants. I told her to be more strict to him. But still she let him do whatever he likes to do. I just find that she is not very structured in her teaching. Award also claims their teachers are all singaporeans n that singaporeans can teach theory better .


My qns are :
1) are singaporeans piano teachers teach better theory?

2) do your think I shld change the piano teacher ? Are piano lessons supposed to be structured?

3) any idea why Yichi music closed down? Thought theyvhave been around for ages...

Hi,

Just some thoughts to your questions.

1) In my humble opinion, I don't think it's true that Singaporean piano teachers teach better theory. I have received musical training overseas before and find that non-Singaporean teachers teach just as well. I think a lot depends on how well-versed a teacher is with the syllabus and whether he/she can put across the points effectively to the students.

2) That really depends on your assessment of your child. Is he learning and growing musically? Do you see any improvements in his playing? Is the teacher open to feedback? Can you child and you communicate well with the teacher? As a full-time piano teacher myself, i think it's important to structure every lesson so that the child is paced properly to pick up new concepts. I have had a transfered student who came to me at Grade 5 and still do not how to read notes and play with proper technique. When I asked him how did his previous piano teacher teach him, he said she just asked him to choose the songs he like every week. :oops: well...there you go!

3) You mean Yicha music school at Katong Mall?

yes Yicha music school has moved to mounbatten and then closed down in Aug. May i know as a full time piano teacher, do u go to student's house or the lessons are done at your house? I stay in the east, do you teach students from the east?

[ilovepiano]

pianojazzy:

hmmm, sounds like she needs more preparation. The marking scheme for gr 6-8 is different from gr 1-5, the requirements are definately higher.


Why not let her try again in Feb/Mar period to regain some confidence and get more exposure before trying the next grade?

I agree with PianoJazzy. It's important to have a proper foundation before moving on to G6 and above. The marking criteria for grades 6 and above are more stringent and the expectations is not just on basic notes fluency, but the students must also be able to convey the appropriate musicality/expression viz each of the pieces.

Take a closer look at the examiner's comments and you can have a sense of what are the things that requires further work. Do bring that along to the piano teacher.

I always ask transfer/recommended students to show me their past exam records during auditions as it's important to know where are their strengths and weaknesses. Discuss the results with the teacher. She should be able to share with you how she intends to further work on those areas of weakness.

Preferable to look for a teacher that is equipped with the necessary skills/training (Dip and above perhaps and proven track records) for G6 and above students.

Good luck!

[sunset_dae]

Hi


Does anyone have good piano teacher to recommend that do home visit?
Im staying in west area, pls PM me.

thanks

[ilovepiano]

Hi


Afraid I don't do home visits

[smile]

Hi,


Could you share with me, which is to take first for exam grade 1 : Practical or Theory exam ?

Thanks

[ilovepiano]

Logistically, one can do both Practical AND theory within the same month if they opt for the earlier exam sessions (see below for more details) but many of my students choose not to go for this option as they get very stressed up sitting for 2 exams back to back.


ABRSM EXAM SESSIONS
There are two sessions for PRACTICAL exams every year: Feb/Mar; Jul-Sept
and two sessions for THEORY exams: Mar and Oct/Nov

The dates for theory exams, including time are pre-stipulated. Upon registration, the dates would already be known. What remains unknown will be the exam venues.

Having shared, I personally think a lot depends on the readiness of your child (eg. how well he copes with exams, his familiarity with the syllabus, any other major school commitments during the period, etc.). Ideally, the two should be taken not too far apart as theoretical and practical knowledge are complementary.

Hope this helps.

smile:

Hi,

Could you share with me, which is to take first for exam grade 1 : Practical or Theory exam ?

Thanks

[i3mum]

May I know where do they take the exams?

ilovepiano:

Logistically, one can do both Practical AND theory within the same month if they opt for the earlier exam sessions (see below for more details) but many of my students choose not to go for this option as they get very stressed up sitting for 2 exams back to back.

ABRSM EXAM SESSIONS
There are two sessions for PRACTICAL exams every year: Feb/Mar; Jul-Sept
and two sessions for THEORY exams: Mar and Oct/Nov

The dates for theory exams, including time are pre-stipulated. Upon registration, the dates would already be known. What remains unknown will be the exam venues.

Having shared, I personally think a lot depends on the readiness of your child (eg. how well he copes with exams, his familiarity with the syllabus, any other major school commitments during the period, etc.). Ideally, the two should be taken not too far apart as theoretical and practical knowledge are complementary.

Hope this helps.

smile:

Hi,

Could you share with me, which is to take first for exam grade 1 : Practical or Theory exam ?

Thanks