All About Choosing Piano Schools And Teachers

[metz]

sandunes:

Some kids cried, not because being scolded by the teacher, but because of their personality. So u need to find out the cause of crying.

:

That is so true. At times, it's also because the kids can't take scoldings or slightly harsher words/tone at all. One of my kids' piano teacher had such an experience before. And she's not even the strict type.

[metz]

sleepy:

Dreamaurora:

And sometimes even results do not tell the entire story. I am sure many of us have heard horror stories of stellar students who won competitions and gotten grade 8 distinctions or diplomas but swore off piano for the rest of their lives thanks to hothousing by their teachers and parents.

This is exactly what I'm trying to avoid. More important to me that my kids do not give up learning. I feel that motivation is very important to sustain learning journey.

My dd is learning grade 4 at 7 years old. Not exactly fabulous progress if were to benmark against her expected progress if stayed on in nafa. And some said we're not stretching her to her full potential.
However, she's motivated & enjoys learning more so than ever. Good enough for me. My expectation isn't sky high

It could be that. Or it could be that the kids had no interests to begin with.

A friend's son belongs to this category. He was selected for Nafa violin when he was a preschooler. But his mother soon gave up because he has no interest in violin. Instead, he chose to learn electric guitar on his own (mother wasn't supportive) and formed his own band in secondary school.

[sleepy]

chamonix:

parents really have to monitor the situation and judge for themselves. If the teacher's strictness is a result of making things easier for himself/herself, then it's time to reconsider another teacher.

Another possible reason why some teachers are so strict could be due to music school's KPI.
I guess it can be very competitive among music schools too, every school is eager to produce a success story for marketing purpose.

Nafa produced many competition winners. I also recalled seeing a Yamaha music school quarter page advertisement when one of its students won a prize in a piano competition. It's indeed persuasive marketing

[metz]

sleepy:

chamonix:

parents really have to monitor the situation and judge for themselves. If the teacher's strictness is a result of making things easier for himself/herself, then it's time to reconsider another teacher.

Another possible reason why some teachers are so strict could be due to music school's KPI.
I guess it can be very competitive among music schools too, every school is eager to produce a success story for marketing purpose.

Nafa produced many competition winners. I also recalled seeing a Yamaha music school quarter page advertisement when one of its students won a prize in a piano competition. It's indeed persuasive marketing

Just my personal view lah - parents sending their children to Nafa or competitive music schools should try understand the nature and expectations of such schools. As what my piano teacher always tells me, mastering an instrument requires one to work hard at it. To be among the best players, it's just sheer hard work and a lot of drilling. Parents and children must be prepared to put in the hard work and self-driven to achieve the expectations.

It's just like enrolling kids in elite or top performing neighborhood schools.

[Dreamaurora]

sleepy:

chamonix:

parents really have to monitor the situation and judge for themselves. If the teacher's strictness is a result of making things easier for himself/herself, then it's time to reconsider another teacher.

Another possible reason why some teachers are so strict could be due to music school's KPI.
I guess it can be very competitive among music schools too, every school is eager to produce a success story for marketing purpose.

Nafa produced many competition winners. I also recalled seeing a Yamaha music school quarter page advertisement when one of its students won a prize in a piano competition. It's indeed persuasive marketing

Unfortunately this is true, and this is the fact that I have to accept as well. Let's take myself for example. Which one do you think will attract more enquiries if I put this in my biography?

1. Dedicated piano teacher who instill strong love of music in his fun and informative lessons.
2. Teacher of two of youngest students in Singapore to achieve grade 5 with distinctions.

I will be lying if I say I don't plan to milk my teaching achievements to get more good students. The desire for result is strong and some students are even willing to endure some egomaniacal teachers just for the promise of good result. I personally know this girl who used to study under a well-known teacher for her diploma. This teacher was known to be quite terrifying and had no qualm of scolding the students, but this girl endured just because the teacher had a very good track record of passing students for diplomas.

[sleepy]

chamonix:

A friend's son belongs to this category. He was selected for Nafa violin when he was a preschooler. But his mother soon gave up because he has no interest in violin. Instead, he chose electronic guitar and formed his own band in secondary school.

I guess it's alright to switch instruments since they're still young.

My dd1 always tell me she need to try try 1st. Although she plays the keyboard & piano at home whenever she's in the mood, she's not interested in attending formal lessons. She learned a number of instruments (piano, guzheng, cello, recorder) before finally deciding on which instrument she would like to pursue seriously.

[metz]

[quote]2. Teacher of two of youngest students in Singapore to achieve grade 5 with distinctions.[/quote]
If I were a parent aiming for only exams and grades, I'd definitely answer the ad. Hehe

But do be prepared that such parents would have certain expectations of the teacher too.

[sandunes]

[quote]2. Teacher of two of youngest students in Singapore to achieve grade 5 with distinctions.[/quote]
Actually; the above statement will put me off, rather than attract my interest. (but that's just me)

I would be more interested in \"how\" a teacher can engage and motivate the students.

[metz]

sleepy:

chamonix:

A friend's son belongs to this category. He was selected for Nafa violin when he was a preschooler. But his mother soon gave up because he has no interest in violin. Instead, he chose electronic guitar and formed his own band in secondary school.

I guess it's alright to switch instruments since they're still young.

My dd1 always tell me she need to try try 1st. Although she plays the keyboard & piano at home whenever she's in the mood, she's not interested in attending formal lessons. She learned a number of instruments (piano, guzheng, cello, recorder) before finally deciding on which instrument she would like to pursue seriously.

I am of the same school of thought. No point dictating what they should
learn. Both pick up the instruments themselves willingly. Besides music, they did gym, ballet (for my girl), swimming, basketball and badminton. Now, both are taking tennis lessons.

[sleepy]

Dreamaurora:

1. Dedicated piano teacher who instill strong love of music in his fun and informative lessons.

2. Teacher of two of youngest students in Singapore to achieve grade 5 with distinctions.

I will be lying if I say I don't plan to milk my teaching achievements to get more good students.

I would go for number 1

I mentioned earlier I picked a teacher with little teaching experience (ie. no success story to tell) but is super encouraging, over another teacher who is too critical in my opinion but with many more years of teaching experience