All About Choosing Piano Schools And Teachers
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peanut_butter:
Thanks peanut_butter, have actually PMed soursop this morning.soursop:
Where do you teach in the south? Kindly pm me.
Hi Soursop, if you click at the \"profile\" icon below the message, you can see the user's location. -
I am amazed by the audacity of this dreamaurora in asserting his supposed ‘expertise’. If anyone bothers to read up on him and his previous posts, it will be clear that he is still very new to the teaching industry. And his qualification is not even impressive as compared to the established teachers here. No masters and no competition or major performance creds. And yet here he is giving advice as if he is a guru in piano teaching. It is obvious that he is trying to promote himself at the expense of other more experienced teachers. his teaching ideals are at best lofty and unrealistic. Like how he insist music schools must certify their teachers with moe and parents to audition the teacher thoroughly. Real world is not as rosy as that, many music schools are finding it hard to even find teachers and sometime have to employ fresh teachers with lesser qualifications to maintain the students. And how to organise so many extra activities outside lessons, many teachers’ schedules are so busy already. Young teachers nowadays need to learn their place and have some respects for their seniors.
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Okay, I am going to post point by point opinion on this rather nasty post.
[quote] it will be clear that he is still very new to the teaching industry. And his qualification is not even impressive as compared to the established teachers here. No masters and no competition or major performance creds. And yet here he is giving advice as if he is a guru in piano teaching [/quote]I state my qualifications and experiences clearly in my website. It is true I do not have a Masters and neither have I won a major competition. But as I stated before, I started piano very late at 17 years old and I have limited fund to study music. What I lack in paper qualification and duration of experience I make up in my desire to continually improve myself and my teaching methods. And also willingness to try new and bold concepts. I also come up with new materials like my scales and repertoire books to further provide more tools for teachers and students. And I am always more than happy to share my thoughts and opinions with others. Why should I not do this just because I am not 'experienced' enough? Who defines being 'experienced' in piano teaching?
[quote] it is obvious that he is trying to promote himself at the expense of other more experienced teachers. [/quote]Now that is quite a serious claim. But this is an open market and I am not trying to mislead people on my ability and qualifications. It is unfortunate that a student gained is often a student lost on another teacher. But parents and students have the right to choose and if I am a better choice for the student, then why would I reject the chance to teach a student just because I worry that another teacher will be deprived of one more student.
[quote] his teaching ideals are at best lofty and unrealistic. Like how he insist music schools must certify their teachers with moe and parents to audition the teacher thoroughly. Real world is not as rosy as that, many music schools are finding it hard to even find teachers and sometime have to employ fresh teachers with lesser qualifications to maintain the students.[/quote]
Are you saying that music schools should be allowed to compromise on their teaching quality just to maintain their bottomline? Take a look at some other threads in this forum and you can see the complains parents have on ever declining quality of music teachers in some music schools. Music schools that do not screen their teachers carefully and only concerned to 'maintain' their students deserve to wind up.
[quote]And how to organise so many extra activities outside lessons, many teachers' schedules are so busy already. [/quote]You are saying that it is as if only I do these extra activities. Many established teachers in Singapore also go the extra mile to organise activities for their students. If a teacher is so busy that he/she has no time to organise activities, then one should question his/her motivation to teach. Is it to earn money solely or to impart lifelong appreciation of music? Hard truth but I stand by this point.
[quote] Young teachers nowadays need to learn their place and have some respects for their seniors. [/quote]I do not understand why you made this point. Are you saying that I should be less proactive just because I need to 'respect my seniors'? -
Hi, can anyone recommend a good piano teacher in west to teach my 5 yrs old son? I still haven’t buy a piano for him, only has a keyboard at home. So prefer to go to the teacher house to learn, thanks!
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Dreamaurora can "promote" himself as much as he wants (not that I’m saying he is) and as long as he is honest and not misleading parents about it, it’s fine. At the end of the day, parents have a free choice to choose.
As for the point about teachers organising concerts for their students, I think that boils down to, yes, time, which I believe one can always make if only an effort is made, and also whether one can come up with the number of students to form a substantial concert, so to speak. Though I guess one can hold concerts in various capacities - mini ones where students play for each other and their parents, or big ones to fill CCs or recital hall at the Esplanade! -
jce:
Speaking of the benefits of performances of students, there is an ongoing thread at Pianoworld forum that discuss about this. I encourages parents and teachers to read it. http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1800487/now%20that%20I%20survived%20the%20recita.html#Post1800487Dreamaurora can \"promote\" himself as much as he wants (not that I'm saying he is) and as long as he is honest and not misleading parents about it, it's fine. At the end of the day, parents have a free choice to choose.
As for the point about teachers organising concerts for their students, I think that boils down to, yes, time, which I believe one can always make if only an effort is made, and also whether one can come up with the number of students to form a substantial concert, so to speak. Though I guess one can hold concerts in various capacities - mini ones where students play for each other and their parents, or big ones to fill CCs or recital hall at the Esplanade!
There is in fact a clear relation between the number of performances a student have and his/her ability to perform well for exam/public performance. There is a reason why NAFA's SYT insist on regular performances from their students.
Hmm, jce, one of my friends actually organised a joint concert with other teachers so have enough music to fill up the program. I think it is a good idea considering that hall rental is not cheap and often cannot book just one hour. The last time I had a student concert, I also combine with my wife's students so got enough material to perform. -
Agree on the point regarding performing. It is a very good way to make the students think on the spot, practice communicating to listeners and of course, their confidence.
Combining is an option, but I guess holding mini in-house ones are just as useful for starters. -
jce:
Yes, need to hold mini in-house ones first before the actual concerts. I have mine once a month in my studio and it really does wonder on the students' overall confidence level and communication skill. They also get a chance to know each other. But on the flip side I think this actually scares off some potential students when I tell them concerts are compulsory (the mini group sessions are not compulsory, but encouraged to attend) :sad:. But I think it's still reasonable lar, NAFA YST's I think insist attendance every week even if the kid is not playing.Agree on the point regarding performing. It is a very good way to make the students think on the spot, practice communicating to listeners and of course, their confidence.
Combining is an option, but I guess holding mini in-house ones are just as useful for starters. -
Dreamaurora:
Yes, need to hold mini in-house ones first before the actual concerts. I have mine once a month in my studio and it really does wonder on the students' overall confidence level and communication skill. They also get a chance to know each other. But on the flip side I think this actually scares off some potential students when I tell them concerts are compulsory (the mini group sessions are not compulsory, but encouraged to attend) :sad:.
No wonder you can still recruit serious students despite your low fee. I do notice the significant difference in my 'performing' and non-performing' students' progress too.
I am curious: When you make it mandatory for concert participations, do you have many students? -
peanut_butter:
Hmm, basically I explain to parents all my expectations on the trial lesson first like for example the performance requirement, piano to be purchased, exam expectations etc. I think most parents or students that cannot commit to this automatically don't bother coming back again. I doubt my low fees affect the types of students that come, but at least I think it makes it more attractive for students to be willing to travel to my place since I do not travel. But because of this, my student population grow a lot slower, but at least I can say that all my students currently are of very good quality and I really enjoy teaching them.Dreamaurora:
Yes, need to hold mini in-house ones first before the actual concerts. I have mine once a month in my studio and it really does wonder on the students' overall confidence level and communication skill. They also get a chance to know each other. But on the flip side I think this actually scares off some potential students when I tell them concerts are compulsory (the mini group sessions are not compulsory, but encouraged to attend) :sad:.
No wonder you can still recruit serious students despite your low fee. I do notice the significant difference in my 'performing' and non-performing' students' progress too.
I am curious: When you make it mandatory for concert participations, do you have many students?
For my group sessions not all the students can make it, but I do make it clear that the twice a year concerts are compulsory and I collect an extra lesson worth of fee in advance (to pay the hall rental) to ensure their commitment to the concerts. So for my concerts normally all my students are present sans one or two who really cannot come because of exams or something else.
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