All About Choosing Piano Schools And Teachers

[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

[sleepy]

chamonix:

I am of the same school of thought. No point dictating what they should

learn. Both pick up the instruments themselves willingly.

:hi5:

[Dreamaurora]

chamonix:

If I am a parent for aiming for only exams and grades, I'll definitely answer the ad. Hehe

Haha, true. But the demand is still there judging by the hordes of kids auditioning for School of Young Talents.

But there is a flip side to this. Most of my students pick up piano without any expectation of stellar result. When they actually managed to improve or get good result in exams, they are pleasantly surprised and get motivated more. I always stress its the journey that matters. Although my students take exams, I tell them even after they put in their best efforts and they only secure a pass, it is a still a job well done. And for some of them, even passing an exam is like a super big achievement for them. And failures are not the end of the road really. I had an adult beginner student who took grade 5 under me and failed because of some really poor time management. But the failure actually stirred him up more and he learnt from his mistakes. Fast forward 2 years later and he just passed his grade 7 under me a few months ago. I am really proud of him, and I dare say even more than the two 6 year olds.

I think criticising a student's playing just because it is not up to my expectation despite the student putting in his/her best effort is a very mean thing to do. A teacher can criticize a student's attitude, but never the student's effort.

[Dreamaurora]

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

Haha, the logical solution for me would be to put BOTH then. :imcool: