Is there such thing as 'musical maturity'?

[phankao]

jce:

As a teacher myself, I don't apply this \"rule\", if the child is not ready for a new piece then I won't add a new piece. As Fristrom mentioned, if the foundation is shaky why pile on more

But you can give another piece of similar standard, or else young children working on the same piece would get bored and simply not want to practise anymore.

In any case, I think the teacher that hardworking_mom has is horrid!!! I'd change her pronto!

[dasalo]

I asked the same question afew years back and some says yes and some says for some it never happen. To me, I would say yes, there is such thing as ‘Musical Maturity’.


As one gets older, the things they see, hear, experience and learn helps in musical expressions. It depends very much on the child themselves, some are very musical from very young and some are not. It is best to expose them to the history of composers, attend concerts and bring them to parks and let them hear/look sounds of nature/surroundings. Depends on how serious you want or they want to be (we parents must work very hard…lol). Walk/run with metronome helps in rhythm and pulse beating in their heart. Singing also helps.

At a very young age, it is vital to persevere regardless of musical maturity or not to have the basic foundation right. Once they have solid foundation (technical skills) music will just flow when they gets older.

[fristrom]

dasalo:

I asked the same question afew years back and some says yes and some says for some it never happen. To me, I would say yes, there is such thing as 'Musical Maturity'.

Guess you are correct. In a different way, some settle down i.e. mature when they have kids... but some never do.

[jce]

The child won’t be playing only one piece, there would always be a few books on the go so won’t get bored.

[hardworking_mom]

Thanks moms for all your encouragements and suggestions. Ds had another class yesterday. He did better than last wk. Teacher felt he had improved too. I shared with her how I encouraged him and suggested she introduce new song alternate wk to ensure he had mastered old songs first. Since I haven't found an alternate teacher, I will have to be more involved supervising ds etc. Looks like I am learning piano too. :roll:

[jce]

I know of two mums who do that too, ie learn together with the child. One of them actually sits down and have a real proper lesson from me (whilst my colleague teaches the son in another room). Another mum will sit in during the lesson while I teach her daughter. In the latter, it’s still manageable since the daughter is only at beginner stage so the mummy can pick up bits and pieces here and there to help the daughter along.

[peanut_butter]

This rhythm exercise is interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91_j5EioMd8&feature=related?

[fristrom]

hardworking_mom:

Thanks moms for all your encouragements and suggestions. Ds had another class yesterday. He did better than last wk. Teacher felt he had improved too. I shared with her how I encouraged him and suggested she introduce new song alternate wk to ensure he had mastered old songs first. Since I haven't found an alternate teacher, I will have to be more involved supervising ds etc. Looks like I am learning piano too. :roll:

I am glad that to hear the improvement. In my case, I have been sitting in my daughter's violin case since she started learning from the current teacher. I found that it really helps as I know what to look out for when my daughter is practicing. Apart from that, it is a great learning experience, and I definitely appreciate the violin much more now.

[Faun]

fristrom:

hardworking_mom:

Thanks moms for all your encouragements and suggestions. Ds had another class yesterday. He did better than last wk. Teacher felt he had improved too. I shared with her how I encouraged him and suggested she introduce new song alternate wk to ensure he had mastered old songs first. Since I haven't found an alternate teacher, I will have to be more involved supervising ds etc. Looks like I am learning piano too. :roll:

I am glad that to hear the improvement. In my case, I have been sitting in my daughter's violin case since she started learning from the current teacher. I found that it really helps as I know what to look out for when my daughter is practicing. Apart from that, it is a great learning experience, and I definitely appreciate the violin much more now.

I've never sat in my dd's lessons. I prefer to leave her music learning entirely between her and the teacher. I tried to help by reading up theory and understand what the exam syllabus covers but after her grade 2, it was quite difficult for me. Guess I'm too lazy to catch up with her. I'd rather pursue my interest in other instruments Zen Drumming and Guitar.
Having to learn an instrument myself has made me appreciate the struggles she has to go through even more. She also feels that I'm learning with her albeit different instruments.

[fristrom]

Faun:

I've never sat in my dd's lessons. I prefer to leave her music learning entirely between her and the teacher.

Mine started violin at 3.5. I left her entirely with the teacher. When the class finished, the teacher would brief me what she has learnt etc. We tried another teacher who strictly forbid presence of parents. Again, we would be brief at the end of class. I felt quite lost as at the end of each class, I didn't know what *really* happened, and what my daughter is expected to do in the next lesson.

At the end, I looked for a teacher that let me sit in for the class, as an observer. I found it very useful as I know exactly what word/phrase the teacher uses, and at home, I can use the same word/phrase. Also, it helps with the expectation: many things I took it for granted was too abstract for a young kid. The way I see it is that: My role is to remind her what teacher told her, nothing more, nothing less.

It has been a fun journey.