Child wants to quit piano

[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.

[jedamum]

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,
yes, for parents who don't have deep pockets, a keyboard is better than nothing. i just want a chance for ds2 to learn piano. i missed the chance for ds1 and 'fought' to give ds2 a chance (yes, to this day, there are still people who think that boys should not play piano :roll: ). the dad is now slowly bought over and also trying to pick up a bit of simple 'playing-by-ear', all thanks to by ds2's enthusiasm in playing and a keyboard we loan from a relative. he is still reluctant to invest in a piano (he said playing piano is for fun, not to become a pianist, so why need to buy piano. :skeptical: ) unless ds2 stayed on course for another 2 years.

btw, is a 88key keyboard any difference from one that has lesser keys. the one we had at our place supposed to have 'weighted keys'. does that help?

TQ.

[jce]

weighted keys do make a slight difference but keyboards just do not respond like acoustic pianos to variants of touch and weight. That’s why there is an emphasis on getting a piano rather than a keyboard if one is to embark on the journey of learning

[jedamum]

jce:

weighted keys do make a slight difference but keyboards just do not respond like acoustic pianos to variants of touch and weight. That's why there is an emphasis on getting a piano rather than a keyboard if one is to embark on the journey of learning

thanks jce.

[Dreamaurora]

jce:

weighted keys do make a slight difference but keyboards just do not respond like acoustic pianos to variants of touch and weight. That's why there is an emphasis on getting a piano rather than a keyboard if one is to embark on the journey of learning

I second what jce said. That being said, I feel if parents are not sure they are willing to invest money on quality lessons and pianos, they can send the kids to appreciation classes first like Yamaha's JMC to see the kids' interest level. For this purpose, a 88 key weighted keyboard should be sufficient. But the moment the child switch to individual lessons and express interest in taking exams, a bare minimum of an exam model piano like U1 is required. If budget is really tight, at least a second hand Clavinova can be procured. But then if budget is really tight, you can't afford good teachers anyway and so kind of defeat the purpose.

[Dreamaurora]

jedamum:

peanut_butter:

[quote=\"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,
yes, for parents who don't have deep pockets, a keyboard is better than nothing. i just want a chance for ds2 to learn piano. i missed the chance for ds1 and 'fought' to give ds2 a chance (yes, to this day, there are still people who think that boys should not play piano :roll: ). the dad is now slowly bought over and also trying to pick up a bit of simple 'playing-by-ear', all thanks to by ds2's enthusiasm in playing and a keyboard we loan from a relative. he is still reluctant to invest in a piano (he said playing piano is for fun, not to become a pianist, so why need to buy piano. :skeptical: ) unless ds2 stayed on course for another 2 years.

btw, is a 88key keyboard any difference from one that has lesser keys. the one we had at our place supposed to have 'weighted keys'. does that help?

TQ.[/quote]My parents are one of those who think boys should not play piano because high chance will turn into gays. Can't fault them though, there are quite a sizable number of male piano teachers who are homosexuals. :evil:

You can explain to your husband that there are practical benefits to learn piano other than having a hobby. Playing piano is a social skill that will definitely come in handy when your DS grows older and start networking. And also if you can invest all the way to Diplomas, it looks good in resume and can provide an alternative source of income.

[jedamum]

Dreamaurora:

jce:

weighted keys do make a slight difference but keyboards just do not respond like acoustic pianos to variants of touch and weight. That's why there is an emphasis on getting a piano rather than a keyboard if one is to embark on the journey of learning

I second what jce said. That being said, I feel if parents are not sure they are willing to invest money on quality lessons and pianos, they can send the kids to appreciation classes first like Yamaha's JMC to see the kids' interest level. For this purpose, a 88 key weighted keyboard should be sufficient. But the moment the child switch to individual lessons and express interest in taking exams, a bare minimum of an exam model piano like U1 is required. If budget is really tight, at least a second hand Clavinova can be procured. But then if budget is really tight, you can't afford good teachers anyway and so kind of defeat the purpose.

Dreamaurora,
thanks for the note.
i count and count..our keyboard doesn't have 88keys! :yikes:
ds2's preschool has piano lessons incorporated in their music curriculum (they using 'paper' keyboard for learning); so that pretty much makes up the 'group learning part' . it was when we found out he can retain what was taught in class and showed interest despite not having a keyboard at home (previously that keyboard was at the relative's house) that i tried to push for lessons (ya...the dad used to worry that learning piano will make his boys sissy :roll: ; ds2 is such a rough boy that the dad is somewhat assured that it is 'safe' to pick up piano :faint:). we are now doing cristofori individual lessons (budget) for starters.
if he can sustain until next birthday (end of next year!), i will definitely bug dh to get a secondhand piano in prep for grade 1 (i overheard cristofori people said advisable to take exams only when starts P1 cos need to follow instructions and interact with examiner??).
thanks!

[jedamum]

Dreamaurora:

My parents are one of those who think boys should not play piano because high chance will turn into gays. Can't fault them though, there are quite a sizable number of male piano teachers who are homosexuals. :evil:

You can explain to your husband that there are practical benefits to learn piano other than having a hobby. Playing piano is a social skill that will definitely come in handy when your DS grows older and start networking. And also if you can invest all the way to Diplomas, it looks good in resume and can provide an alternative source of income.

even at this IT-age, still have people (like my dh) with such thinking :spank: .
i have taken the first step. now up to ds2 to convince his dad. will help try to push for more 'benefits' every now and then :evil:

[Dreamaurora]

jedamum:

Dreamaurora:

My parents are one of those who think boys should not play piano because high chance will turn into gays. Can't fault them though, there are quite a sizable number of male piano teachers who are homosexuals. :evil:

You can explain to your husband that there are practical benefits to learn piano other than having a hobby. Playing piano is a social skill that will definitely come in handy when your DS grows older and start networking. And also if you can invest all the way to Diplomas, it looks good in resume and can provide an alternative source of income.

even at this IT-age, still have people (like my dh) with such thinking :spank: .
i have taken the first step. now up to ds2 to convince his dad. will help try to push for more 'benefits' every now and then :evil:

:boogie: Well at least you can quote me as an example, a happily married straight male piano teacher I am the typical definition of an alpha male: like beautiful women, fast cars, action movies with plenty of guns and explosions, latest gadgets, computer games. Even many people are surprised that when I told them I am a fully qualified piano teacher. :evil:

[jedamum]

Dreamaurora:

:boogie: Well at least you can quote me as an example, a happily married straight male piano teacher I am the typical definition of an alpha male: like beautiful women, fast cars, action movies with plenty of guns and explosions, latest gadgets, computer games. Even many people are surprised that when I told them I am a fully qualified piano teacher. :evil:

hahaha....
but in the first place, male piano teacher...not as many....
and ya..ds2 is an alpha 'boy'. so much so that i worry he'll accidentally break his fingers and end his music-learning! :yikes:
sorry OT already.