All About Choosing Piano Schools And Teachers
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Thanks for your article, 2ppaamm !!
You are a great mum !! Your children are very fortunate to have a mummy like you !!!
Very inspiring...must put up to encourage myself !!! Must also learn from you, sit with gal when she practice her piano.... which I didn't :oops:
Thanks so much.... -
sleepy:
Hi sleepy (I like your nick...
I feel that I would not hesitate to change teacher if teacher's style of teaching doesn't suit my child or teacher is not meeting myexpectation. My dd is with her 5th piano teacher now.bicky:
Is there a normal routine/progress for piano?
Is it norm to take 3 yrs training before one can sit for G1 exam? Or is it the school want to prolong the lesson?
As to what's the norm, a good teacher is the key factor, follow by child's diligence in practising. However, to progress to grade 1 after 3 years is kind of too long in my opinion. My observation is typically after 2 years of weekly lessons, should reach between grade 1 to 3
),
Never cross my mind to change school or get her a Pte tutor. Didn't want to destruct her learning. Also feels that learning with school is more fun & get to perform. But, if she needs to wait for 3 years before getting to G1 exam, then I may consider switching her to a Pte teacher.
Yes, she will practice her piano every evening for half an hour. From what I see (I know nothing about music), she seems to pick up fast. I am also not sure. May consider getting her pte teacher....
Thanks for your advice...
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2ppaamm:
I think whether a child is ready or not depends on both the teacher and the child. If you are not happy with your child's progress, or if the teacher's speed is not per your expectation, you can definitely discuss with her or even change a teacher whose style matches yours.ThinkingLoft:
[quote=\"bicky\"]Hi,
May I have advice from mummies or teachers here?
Is there a normal routine/progress for piano?
My gal was with a piano school since last year Mar (K2). She passed her beginner exam last year. I happen to ask her teacher today when will she be registered for Grade 1 exam, the teacher told me next sep (2012). When I ask her why not Mar, she told me she is not ready. I am kinda confuse. Everytime, the teacher will tell me she is very good, she is ok at the end of the lesson. Then why is it she is not ready to take up the training for G1? Is it norm to take 3 yrs training before one can sit for G1 exam? Or is it the school want to prolong the lesson?
I am not sure if I should let her continue with the school or to engage her a Pte tutor?
May I have your advice pls?
Thanks alot!!
Having gone through piano lessons myself (I have a Grade
and am also now going through it with my daughter (she's in K1 this year), I thought I'll share with you the little I know.
Unfortunately, whether a child is ready to take Grade 1 or not really depends on a lot of things, and you do need a good teacher to be able to make the assessment. For example, strength of her fingers. Also, taking exams will mean a lot of time commitment to practice the pieces, scales, sight-reading and so forth.
Having said that, if your daughter has passed her beginner exam, it is a natural progression to move on to Grade 1. If her teacher said she is not ready, I think you should ask her for details what are the areas she is not ready and what are her plans to help her get ready (eg. if finger strength is an issue, there are technical exercises which they can do to help strengthen it).
My daughter started piano lesson last year in May and this year, she is preparing to sit for her Grade 1 in July/Aug. When we (teacher and I) discussed last year whether she should be taking her grade 1, the teacher gave a very good evaluation on her areas of strengths and weaknesses. She also made a monthly progression plan (like by end of Jan, she should be able to do this, by end of Feb, % of completion of certain exercises, etc).
So I don't think it's fair that your daughter's piano teacher just brush you off with a \"she's not ready\".
Thinking Loft
I have an article written about this some time ago, and I will PM that to you later.[/quote]
Hi 2ppaamm,
May I request the article? Pls pm to me. Thks. -
No, her teacher has never feedback to me about her fingering, her strength or anything. She did tell me that she need to learn a bit more on the theory. As for practical, she is quite ok. She needs to ensure her theory is ok before she can go for her practial exam.
You definitely do not need to pass theory before you take practical exams. Like that your daughter will end up taking Grade 1 after she hits P1 cause theories requires a certain level of reading and writing skills. A lot of young children take their practical first then catch up on their theories when they are more ready. -
ThinkingLoft:
Theory is not needed for the practical exams until grade 6. To take grade 6 and beyond, you'll need to show your grade 5 theory certificate. Theory is also important when the child plays the scales and studies the pieces. Having said all that, it is normally a stumbling block because young children find theory a lot harder than practical, while older children find theory a lot easier.No, her teacher has never feedback to me about her fingering, her strength or anything. She did tell me that she need to learn a bit more on the theory. As for practical, she is quite ok. She needs to ensure her theory is ok before she can go for her practial exam.
You definitely do not need to pass theory before you take practical exams. Like that your daughter will end up taking Grade 1 after she hits P1 cause theories requires a certain level of reading and writing skills. A lot of young children take their practical first then catch up on their theories when they are more ready.
Necessary devil, but don't beat up the child for theory, it is not worth it. I left it till they needed to take the Grade 6 exams, which is normally about 8 for my children. -
ThinkingLoft:
My gal is in P1 now. If she is taking her G1 from this school, she will be in P2 by then.No, her teacher has never feedback to me about her fingering, her strength or anything. She did tell me that she need to learn a bit more on the theory. As for practical, she is quite ok. She needs to ensure her theory is ok before she can go for her practial exam.
You definitely do not need to pass theory before you take practical exams. Like that your daughter will end up taking Grade 1 after she hits P1 cause theories requires a certain level of reading and writing skills. A lot of young children take their practical first then catch up on their theories when they are more ready. -
Hi parents
I have zero music background. My 6 yr old boy is learning piano. I find it hard to supervise him because I don’t even know which piece he played, and whether he played correctly or wrongly. I can only encourage him to practise. What can I do (other than sending him for more lessons) to help him progress? Thanks! -
orvinc83:
Hope this helps.Hi parents
I have zero music background. My 6 yr old boy is learning piano. I find it hard to supervise him because I don't even know which piece he played, and whether he played correctly or wrongly. I can only encourage him to practise. What can I do (other than sending him for more lessons) to help him progress? Thanks!
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=165144856880183 -
Hi 2ppaamm
Thanks for the link. It gives sound advice. But I can’t be like her cos I really have ZERO music knowledge. At least she had learnt to play different instruments (maybe not piano but others) in school. -
2ppaamm:
INTERESTING read .... and I read your other Notes as well !! thanks for the link :thankyou:
Hope this helps.orvinc83:
Hi parents
I have zero music background. My 6 yr old boy is learning piano. I find it hard to supervise him because I don't even know which piece he played, and whether he played correctly or wrongly. I can only encourage him to practise. What can I do (other than sending him for more lessons) to help him progress? Thanks!
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=165144856880183
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