Why string instrument doesn't sound 'beautiful'?

[Dreamaurora]

sleepy:

Dreamaurora:

Exam boards have marking criterias for each grade and examiners have to follow them. Examiners cannot award a fail just because he/she does not like the performance. So technically speaking even if your dd's playing sounds like 'slaughtering chickens' but satisfy their marking criterias e.g. up to speed, secure bowings, etc he will still get the pass.

So it's dd's problem or teacher's problem if still sounds like 'slaughtering chicken' despites regular practice? Should change teacher?
Any advice what attributes to look out for in a good strings teacher?


My dd is aiming for distinction as her younger sister got a distinction, although different instrument. I feel that the first exam experience is very important. If she can do well, she will gain confidence to continue learning. Hence, I do not want to sign her up for exam hastily & demoralise her if she achieve less than satisfying result

Hi, I will try my best to answer this question. I accompanied string instruments for exams and performances before. And for lower grades violinists seldom will have that warm nice tone that good violinists have. So don't despair if your dd's sound is still squeaky. It is only from grade 5 onwards that the quality of tone and vibrato is taken into account towards marking.

As for whether your dd can get distinction. Honestly, no teacher in Singapore can guarantee a distinction. Exam is afterall still a performance and no students can produce a 100% perfect performance. As a teacher, we try to give our students as much performance oppurtunities as possible to get them used to playing in front of people so they get more comfortable and can produce as close to optimal performance for exam or competition. But even the best musicians have off days, and as such distinctions cannot be guaranteed, although a good teacher can maximize the chances of securing one.

However, from my experience and from the few examiners I spoke to. As long all sections are prepared well and the performance is reasonably secure, a merit is usually a given. To get that distinction, you do need to impress the examiner with that something extra. And another thing, as the grades get higher, the requirements for exam get exponentially harder and as such distinctions are much harder to acquire. So that means if a student say scores distinction for grade 3, it does not mean for grade 4 he/she will automatically score a distinction.

And remember what I said that the journey itself is more important than the result itself. Even if your dd does not get the result she expects, but as long she put in her best effort, it is something to be very proud of. As for whether the teacher is good, I always believe the best way to test this is to see the performances of the other students. If the teacher's other students play well and enjoy music, then I see no reason for your dd to change teacher.

Remember that any teacher that promises result is a lousy teacher. A music teacher's goal is afterall imparting lifelong appreciation of musical art and a skill that enrich a student's life. Good exam results is just an icing on the cake.

[sleepy]

Dreamaurora:

As for whether your dd can get distinction. Honestly, no teacher in Singapore can guarantee a distinction. Exam is afterall still a performance and no students can produce a 100% perfect performance.


Remember that any teacher that promises result is a lousy teacher.

:scratchhead: I did not say I'm looking for teacher to guarantee distinction. Even nafa teachers cannot guarantee.
But at the very least, teacher needs to ensure reasonable standard of teaching & sufficiently prepared students to improve probability of distinction.

I'm glad that my dd sets herself a goal & is working towards her goal. She practises consistently. However, I'm not seeing expected improvements. Honestly, slaughtering chicken is not acceptable. At this rate, I would say absolutely zero chance in obtaining distinction.

Hence, the purpose of starting this thread to seek advice, trying to pin point underyling problem so that I can come to a decision whether to let dd continue with current teacher or start shopping for a new teacher

[Dreamaurora]

sleepy:

Dreamaurora:

As for whether your dd can get distinction. Honestly, no teacher in Singapore can guarantee a distinction. Exam is afterall still a performance and no students can produce a 100% perfect performance.


Remember that any teacher that promises result is a lousy teacher.

:scratchhead: I did not say I'm looking for teacher to guarantee distinction. Even nafa teachers cannot guarantee.
But at the very least, teacher needs to ensure reasonable standard of teaching & sufficiently prepared students to improve probability of distinction.

I'm glad that my dd sets herself a goal & is working towards her goal. She practises consistently. However, I'm not seeing expected improvements. Honestly, slaughtering chicken is not acceptable. At this rate, I would say absolutely zero chance in obtaining distinction.

Hence, the purpose of starting this thread to seek advice, trying to pin point underyling problem so that I can come to a decision whether to let dd continue with current teacher or start shopping for a new teacher

It is great that your dd has the ambition to try to achieve ambition. This is very commendable. What you can do now is to convey to her teacher her expectation and discuss with the teacher the plan towards acing the exam. Some teachers take exams more leisurely so the students can enjoy learning more. But I do believe if students are highly motivated and ambitious, then maybe the student should be paired up with a more capable teacher.

In any case, do discuss with the teacher first. Preparing for exam requires very careful planning. If the teacher cannot come up with a concrete plan or schedule and still insist on entering your dd for exam, only then you should look for another string teacher.

[phankao]

Dreamaurora:

And for lower grades violinists seldom will have that warm nice tone that good violinists have. So don't despair if your dd's sound is still squeaky. It is only from grade 5 onwards that the quality of tone and vibrato is taken into account towards marking.

They are not expected to be have a vibrato except for grade 5 and up. And they are also not expected to be able to tune their instruments themselves. Too bad not many accompanists can tune in the studio bc the piano inside the studio might be different from the piano outside the studio or the tuner that is used outside the exam studio. Often, the student, esp if very young, would be too nervous to notice or say that their instrument is not exactly in tune either. ;(

Dreamaurora:

As for whether the teacher is good, I always believe the best way to test this is to see the performances of the other students. If the teacher's other students play well and enjoy music, then I see no reason for your dd to change teacher.

I agree with this. However - do you know the teacher's other students???

[sautille]

sleepy:

No le, sounds more like slaughtering chicken to me :faint:
Teacher said won't sound delightful so soon, need more time. Yet teacher asked dd to sign up for exam! Huh? This kind of standard can go for exam :nailbite:

You might want to share your your concern with the tutor, specifically:
1. Position of bow - playing too near to the bridge or finger board?
2. Bowing technique - pressing too hard all the time? not varying bow speed?
3. Intonation

All the best for your DD's musical pursuit!

[phankao]

sautille:

sleepy:

No le, sounds more like slaughtering chicken to me :faint:
Teacher said won't sound delightful so soon, need more time. Yet teacher asked dd to sign up for exam! Huh? This kind of standard can go for exam :nailbite:

You might want to share your your concern with the tutor, specifically:
1. Position of bow - playing too near to the bridge or finger board?
2. Bowing technique - pressing too hard all the time? not varying bow speed?
3. Intonation

All the best for your DD's musical pursuit!

Another way is to have her practise slowly ... slow long long bowings on only the 4 open strings alone (don't press left-hand fingers). concentrate on tone quality. Then practise simple scales using individual long bowings - again concentrating on producing a beautiful tone. Then start doing 2 notes of the scale per bowing(like a \"slur\") and once again concentrate on producing a beautiful tone. Spend some time each day to just do those exercises. Many will see some improvement.

[corneyAmber]

Sleepy, how about getting a second opinion by consulting another cello teacher? just like seeing another doctor for a second opinion.

[metz]

Your dd1 is learning cello, not violin, right? Then, how can it sound scratchy like slaughtering chicken? :? Maybe just not musical?


Could she have applied too much rosin on the bow? My son's playing on violin would sound extremely scratchy whenever he did so.

Another way is to go on YouTube and observe how other music students are doing. That might give you some ideas what to expect. Or perhaps, you can try asking your dd2's piano teacher for an honest opinion on her playing?

[karmeleon]

chamonix:

Another way is to go on YouTube and observe how other music students are doing. That might give you some ideas what to expect. Or perhaps, you can try asking your dd2's piano teacher for an honest opinion on her playing?

This is a good suggestion. Go to Youtube and search out the very same pieces that your dd is playing. Preferably find those of kids using 3/4-size or other fractional sized cellos to see how the sound production is.

[sandunes]

sleepy:

Hi parents with kids learning string instruments, appreciate your advice


My girl is learning abrsm grade 3 exam pieces right now. Her sight reading is quite good. For pieces that teacher never teach, she can self learn & play.

However, I noticed her playing is not that ideal. Does not sound 'beautiful' to me. Even for grade 2 pieces which she's familar with, somehow still doesn't sound 'beautiful'.

I'm not sure it's teacher's problem or her problem...

I wonder if you are refering to musicality when u said \"it doesn't sound beautiful\".

I think it depends on the child's personality too. Sometimes, esp. for exam pieces, they put too much stress on themselves not to make any mistakes while playing. This will affect how the song will turn out. To be able to really \"feel\" the music while playing, they have to memorise the pieces, hear and sing the pieces in their heads while they are playing. It's easier said than done. So as long as your dd is showing interest and putting in the effort herself, my advice is to continue to support her during the early years of learning and lower expectation a little bit. (bcos I tend to be very critical too but I have learn to bite my tongue :oops: )

As to whether the teacher is the right one, I can't really advise u.

There are a few things I look out for in a music teacher.
-The chemistry between the teacher and my kids
-How well the teacher can play and the style of playing (I don't need to know the qualifications. Once I see them play, I will know)
-Teaching style of the teacher and flexibility ie. able to accommodate my 2 kids with very diff. learning styles/needs.

I rely a lot on my gut feel. If I think something is not right, I will try to change it either by talking to the teacher / changing. Sometimes, change is good.