Child wants to quit piano

[jedamum]

Busymom:

jedamum:

Sleepy, my k1 does not like to perfect his playing. So long he gets the tune or melody right, he loses interest to try to play the piece nicer or he'll proceed to change the rhythm or add notes cos he said sound nicer. Should I be strict on this?

Many young children lack the patience to perfect a song. With the right teacher, this can come later. Just make sure for now that the basics are right, eg hands not resting on piano, no flat fingers but curved, proper seating posture, etc.

In fact, by changing the rhythm or adding notes, it shows that he can be creative, which is a good thing. If he is in the Yamaha Junior Program, it would be a good thing as part of the program teaches them transposition, harmonising, variation, etc.

busymom,
thanks for your comments. it seems like my boy is only interested in following the rules during the lesson with the teacher. when practicing with me, he'll tend to do have all the bad habits coming out. we just started in July and he is finishing his Primer A book. intend to stay on for now due to affordability. not sure where to go forward to look for suitable teacher as he adores this young 'cute' teacher.

[jedamum]

sleepy:

jedamum:

if only i had enrolled the elder one in the younger one's preschool (that preschool have a good music programme as part of their music lessons) to expose him to piano/keyboard early and if only the elder one is interested/has flair (he is tone-deaf like the father) in music. i find that in the long run, for those interested, it is a good hobby and good for destressing. personally, i feel that besides academic, kids should have some 'skill' which they can carry on to enjoy when they leave school/outside school curriculum

It's never too late to pick up an instrument. My dd1 only started attending cello lessons formally in P3. Not very early too.

Perhaps your ds may be interested to explore drum or guitar? I have the impression boys like these 2 instruments, especially during their teens

sleepy,
ds1 is tone-deaf and no flair. i think he'll find it stressful to pick up music. haha... and he has no rhythm-sense too......can see....a total bookworm type! ds2 on the other hand told me he wanted to do guitar 1 month after picking up piano.

back to topic, i find that if finances permit and the kid is interested, can continue piano. since now only in lower primary. but have to make it a 'way of life' (ie daily involvement) and not just attend weekly 1 session only.

[Busymom]

jedamum:

Busymom:

[quote=\"jedamum\"]Sleepy, my k1 does not like to perfect his playing. So long he gets the tune or melody right, he loses interest to try to play the piece nicer or he'll proceed to change the rhythm or add notes cos he said sound nicer. Should I be strict on this?

Many young children lack the patience to perfect a song. With the right teacher, this can come later. Just make sure for now that the basics are right, eg hands not resting on piano, no flat fingers but curved, proper seating posture, etc.

In fact, by changing the rhythm or adding notes, it shows that he can be creative, which is a good thing. If he is in the Yamaha Junior Program, it would be a good thing as part of the program teaches them transposition, harmonising, variation, etc.

busymom,
thanks for your comments. it seems like my boy is only interested in following the rules during the lesson with the teacher. when practicing with me, he'll tend to do have all the bad habits coming out. we just started in July and he is finishing his Primer A book. intend to stay on for now due to affordability. not sure where to go forward to look for suitable teacher as he adores this young 'cute' teacher. [/quote]Primer A book? Is that under Yamaha? I thought it is primary one, two, etc.?

If he likes his teacher, that is at least something to motivate him.

[phankao]

ksi:

I agree that learning piano is a good background to learning any other instruments later. However, learning music for DSA, the chance is pretty remote. Many people I know try to DSA by music but since it is a non-core subject, the chance of being chosen by DSA for music is very slim. For example, I know there was a year, RGS only took in 1 child who was extremely outstanding in her music achievements and other years, none were selected at all. Having said this, it would not be considered directly for DSA but it would help to enhance the overall portfolio of a child in whatever he/she tries to \"DSA\" in. That is a more likely effect.

It can help train their focus. I guess you can see their aptitude for it after awhile too? Did your child ask to learn?

[Double K]

Dear All,

Thanks for you advices…

My son was learing at Christofori abt 1 yr++, 30 mins once a week. but i think the timing was too short… and he was learning at home on the keyboard only coz i havent decide to buy piano yet coz too expensive… and furthermore not sure my son really interested on piano or not…
So any one can advise me that i supposed buy one piano for him and hire a piano tutor teach him at home is better learn at the Piano centre…

Seek all your advise!!

Thanks so mucH

[bzmum22]

Double K:

Dear All,

Thanks for you advices..

My son was learing at Christofori abt 1 yr++, 30 mins once a week. but i think the timing was too short.. and he was learning at home on the keyboard only coz i havent decide to buy piano yet coz too expensive.. and furthermore not sure my son really interested on piano or not..
So any one can advise me that i supposed buy one piano for him and hire a piano tutor teach him at home is better learn at the Piano centre..

Seek all your advise!!

Thanks so mucH

Dun hv to buy piano, a keyboard is ok to use to finish grade 1.
Teacher at piano centre or at home - both ok as long as teacher is patient and can motivate kid.
Impt is to practise what has been taught in piano centre back at home. Everyday 10-15 mins is enough. Even if cannot achieve practising everyday, at least practise for some days of the week. Piano lessons are usually short, betw 30 mins to 45 mins. So it is the practise at home that is crucial. Mummy can always negotiate with teacher to sit in the lesson so as to learn with the kid. Like that, you will be able to know if your kid play correctly or not at home...even if cannot read the notes, can also listen to the sound to tell if the correct note is played or not .

[Dreamaurora]

bzmum22:

Double K:

Dear All,

Thanks for you advices..

My son was learing at Christofori abt 1 yr++, 30 mins once a week. but i think the timing was too short.. and he was learning at home on the keyboard only coz i havent decide to buy piano yet coz too expensive.. and furthermore not sure my son really interested on piano or not..
So any one can advise me that i supposed buy one piano for him and hire a piano tutor teach him at home is better learn at the Piano centre..

Seek all your advise!!

Thanks so mucH

Dun hv to buy piano, a keyboard is ok to use to finish grade 1.
Teacher at piano centre or at home - both ok as long as teacher is patient and can motivate kid.
Impt is to practise what has been taught in piano centre back at home. Everyday 10-15 mins is enough. Even if cannot achieve practising everyday, at least practise for some days of the week. Piano lessons are usually short, betw 30 mins to 45 mins. So it is the practise at home that is crucial. Mummy can always negotiate with teacher to sit in the lesson so as to learn with the kid. Like that, you will be able to know if your kid play correctly or not at home...even if cannot read the notes, can also listen to the sound to tell if the correct note is played or not .

Will have to respectfully disagree with some points in this suggestion.

A keyboard is NOT OK to finish grade 1. A child should have access to a decent piano right from the very first lesson. Playing piano involves more than just hitting the right notes at the right time, need to develop good tone quality and touch sensitivity. That being said, it is possible to pass grade 1 with a keyboard as the examiner will still pass the candidate if the piece is complete, but merit or distinction is very unlikely.

Piano lessons minimum should be 45 minutes, ideally one hour long. Any lessons shorter than this risk omitting important stuff. Piano lessons not only about playing pieces. Need to go through scales, technique, aural, appreciation, and theory also.

10-15 minutes practice a day definitely not enough to progress, need at least 25 minutes per day for grade 1. As the grade progresses, the practice time should increase also. Need to practice even more if want to do well for exams. Most of my students who do well for exams practice in excess of one hour a day.

[peanut_butter]

Double K:

My son was learing at Christofori abt 1 yr++, 30 mins once a week. but i think the timing was too short..

May I throw in a few suggestions:

1. Extend to 1 hour lesson.
2. Enroll for group theory lesson so that the 30 min is used only for practical.
3. Request to sit in. That's not encouraged by your school but there's no harm asking if the room is big enough. That way, you could help him with the practice.
4. See if other schools offer 45 min lesson.

A keyboard is better substitute compared to nothing. It's OK for early beginners. Make sure the size of each key is right. The most important thing is the effort. If your son is progressing, upgrade to a piano soon. Otherwise, certain technics will be compromise and he may need to relearn them.

[peanut_butter]

Dreamaurora:

A keyboard is NOT OK to finish grade 1. A child should have access to a decent piano right from the very first lesson. Playing piano involves more than just hitting the right notes at the right time, need to develop good tone quality and touch sensitivity. That being said, it is possible to pass grade 1 with a keyboard as the examiner will still pass the candidate if the piece is complete, but merit or distinction is very unlikely.

It's possible to score well (at the lower grades at least), practicing on a keyboard. It dependents a lot on the student's ability to pick up, digest and duplicate the feel on the acoustic while s/he has access to the piano at the lesson.

[Dreamaurora]

peanut_butter:

Dreamaurora:

A keyboard is NOT OK to finish grade 1. A child should have access to a decent piano right from the very first lesson. Playing piano involves more than just hitting the right notes at the right time, need to develop good tone quality and touch sensitivity. That being said, it is possible to pass grade 1 with a keyboard as the examiner will still pass the candidate if the piece is complete, but merit or distinction is very unlikely.

It's possible to score well (at the lower grades at least), practicing on a keyboard. It dependents a lot on the student's ability to pick up, digest and duplicate the feel on the acoustic while s/he has access to the piano at the lesson.

Like what you said, it is possible but I would rather students to be as prepared as possible for exam. But there are consequences of not using proper piano. Pieces like for example Grade 1's Camptown Races will sound ok even played on a keyboard, but certain pieces that require more shaping for e.g. Grade 1 B2 (A Story from Long Ago) will certainly need to be avoided as students would not be able to practice the phrasing at home if they don't have the piano. I also find that last time when I taught students without proper piano it is much harder to develop good hand shapes since the keyboards are light and hence they can produce decent sound no matter what shape their hands are.