Child wants to quit piano

[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.

[phankao]

jedamum:

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.

LOL. I remember how I nearly regretted allowing my boys to do their karate black belt grading at the timing they did. The silliness of them doing so only dawned on me at THAT very moment when they were doing the sparring DURING grading! One was having his grade 8 violin exam 2 days after - oops if he had any mishap. Thankfully he came out of it with a knocked-out jaw/teeth(nothing broken, but ache/bruise/cuts) but hands/fingers ok - even though they are not supposed to hit above the neck. And the other was having music competition shortly too - scary since he broke his arm just the year before.

[jedamum]

phankao:

jedamum:

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.

LOL. I remember how I nearly regretted allowing my boys to do their karate black belt grading at the timing they did. The silliness of them doing so only dawned on me at THAT very moment when they were doing the sparring DURING grading! One was having his grade 8 violin exam 2 days after - oops if he had any mishap. Thankfully he came out of it with a knocked-out jaw/teeth(nothing broken, but ache/bruise/cuts) but hands/fingers ok - even though they are not supposed to hit above the neck. And the other was having music competition shortly too - scary since he broke his arm just the year before.

you already took a huge step to get them to do karate and pursuing music!
i am paranoid. and in the past year, that playful ds2 already injured his fingers many many times! but all before we intro piano to his daily life. so now must 'nag' him to take care of his fingers and keep his hand on his lap when he sits around on the floor during lessons (more than one such occasions his fingers got stepped on! :faint:). then he once he wanted to dance like hiphop dancer (doing a one-hand hand stand :faint:) and almost dislocate his arm. :faint:

[phankao]

jedamum:

you already took a huge step to get them to do karate and pursuing music!
i am paranoid. and in the past year, that playful ds2 already injured his fingers many many times! but all before we intro piano to his daily life. so now must 'nag' him to take care of his fingers and keep his hand on his lap when he sits around on the floor during lessons (more than one such occasions his fingers got stepped on! :faint:). then he once he wanted to dance like hiphop dancer (doing a one-hand hand stand :faint:) and almost dislocate his arm. :faint:

Actually I didn't *get* them to do any of that. They requested. I've not asked them to otherwise take special care in not getting injured leh. My kids have all had their fair share of injuries. They are boys - they like running wild! My elder boy is very daring and adventurous. Now he's even doing Wingchun. haha. Injuries - can always heal from. Just that it's super inconvenient if it's just before a music exam! How to do the exam? ;D

[violin_lover]

I disagree with the statement \" a bare minimum of an exam model piano like U1 is required.\". I have a lower end Yamaha piano. As long as it is \"exam model\", it is fine. This is according to my kid piano teacher (a very famous piano educator who has frequent performances, master degree holder from renowned UK university)


Pls note that a U1 piano (made in Japan, not Indonesia) cost around 5 digits.

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]

violin_lover:

I disagree with the statement \" a bare minimum of an exam model piano like U1 is required.\". I have a lower end Yamaha piano. As long as it is \"exam model\", it is fine. This is according to my kid piano teacher (a very famous piano educator who has frequent performances, master degree holder from renowned UK university)


Pls note that a U1 piano (made in Japan, not Indonesia) cost around 5 digits.

I passed my grade 5 with merit using a very beat up 2nd hand Young Chang piano costing 1K+. And recently one of my adult students passed grade 7 using only a Clavinova. But is this the ideal situation? Definitely no. Hence my insistence on my students to acquire a proper piano like U1 if budget allows. Need not necessarily be brand new, a good condition 2nd hand model will suffice. 'Exam model' is a phrase thrown too freely nowadays to sell pianos.

A good analogy of not having a good piano will be like racing an F1 competition with a F2 or F3 car. You will still get to the finish line, but no chance of winning of whatsoever.

And may I know who is this teacher? J. Koh?

[violin_lover]

I disgaree again. Yamaha is particular about the phrase \"exam model\". At Yamaha, not all pianos are \"exam model\". Most of the kids who studied under the piano teacher score distinction and not all of them using piano as expensive as U1. For the teacher, I prefer not to disclose the name as based on the guideline of the forum (i.e. no advertising). Anymore, she has no bandwidth to take in any more student.

Dreamaurora:

violin_lover:

I disagree with the statement \" a bare minimum of an exam model piano like U1 is required.\". I have a lower end Yamaha piano. As long as it is \"exam model\", it is fine. This is according to my kid piano teacher (a very famous piano educator who has frequent performances, master degree holder from renowned UK university)

Pls note that a U1 piano (made in Japan, not Indonesia) cost around 5 digits.

I passed my grade 5 with merit using a very beat up 2nd hand Young Chang piano costing 1K+. And recently one of my adult students passed grade 7 using only a Clavinova. But is this the ideal situation? Hardly no. Hence my insistence on my students to acquire a proper piano like U1 if budget allows. Need not necessarily be brand new, a good condition 2nd hand model will suffice. 'Exam model' is a phrase thrown too freely nowadays to sell pianos.

And may I know who is this teacher? J. Koh?