Teacher Dreamaurora - Piano Q&A

[metz]

phankao:

Re your violin tr being lenient, I think he at least knows which is appropriate teaching style for which age group. My son may be just 3.5yo, but he did already have lesson with 1 teacher in a famous studio. Very nice teacher but the lesson was totally boring. My dear son with a non-brandname teacher is enjoying his lessons and so far effective. So I believe what we experience lah. Same with piano. The teacher again, not brand-name, but the style just *clicked* from the 1st trial lesson. The relief teacher we tried really just didn't *click* with my son. Totally devoid of humour too despite her \"smiles\". So once again, there are many types of \"nice\" teachers, and nice teachers can be effective.

Are strict teachers \"nice\"? Well, they can be too! Just not strict until they keep scolding and getting frustrated I hope! That'd not be so good and would only be suitable for older kids. My elder boy was and still is with a rather uptight teacher, but very effective. Also my boy being at that time already 10 - very \"kuai\" in his studio, so the teacher could still \"tahan\" him. *HAHA*. But that teacher was a perfectionist, and probably effective as a result. I never recommend this teacher to teacher those young ones. It'd be a horror. The teacher himself also wouldn't accept.

Btw, would you take your child's current teacher's advice to change teacher for your kids? Not long ago, my children's teacher recommended me to send my children to another teacher who can do more for them. I am still very hesitant about it.

[phankao]

chamonix:

Btw, would you take your child's current teacher's advice to change teacher for your kids? Not long ago, my children's teacher recommended me to send my children to another teacher who can do more for them. I am still very hesitant about it.

If you understand the reason for it, then it should be ok. Eg. the teacher thinks your child would benefit more from another teacher? Like for my no.3, he already has his next teacher lined up for him, but only after completing his dip. haha.

[metz]

phankao:

chamonix:

Btw, would you take your child's current teacher's advice to change teacher for your kids? Not long ago, my children's teacher recommended me to send my children to another teacher who can do more for them. I am still very hesitant about it.

If you understand the reason for it, then it should be ok. Eg. the teacher thinks your child would benefit more from another teacher? Like for my no.3, he already has his next teacher lined up for him, but only after completing his dip. haha.

Going for degree? Wow, congratulations! (not to you lah, to your son)

[phankao]

chamonix:

phankao:

[quote=\"chamonix\"]
Btw, would you take your child's current teacher's advice to change teacher for your kids? Not long ago, my children's teacher recommended me to send my children to another teacher who can do more for them. I am still very hesitant about it.

If you understand the reason for it, then it should be ok. Eg. the teacher thinks your child would benefit more from another teacher? Like for my no.3, he already has his next teacher lined up for him, but only after completing his dip. haha.

Going for degree? Wow, congratulations! (not to you lah, to your son)[/quote]No, No. Just continued private lessons lah. He's only in Sec 1 now.

[Dreamaurora]

Being nice and strict is a balancing act that is hard to master as a teacher. Too much of either one will not be healthy for the students. Anyway, I say to my students that even though I expect high standards from my students, I make it clear to them that I value progress, not results. Of course for those with potential I expect a lot more progress lar.

[sacredmusicals]

Dreamaurora:

Being nice and strict is a balancing act that is hard to master as a teacher. Too much of either one will not be healthy for the students. Anyway, I say to my students that even though I expect high standards from my students, I make it clear to them that I value progress, not results. Of course for those with potential I expect a lot more progress lar.

Now that we are on this subject, there is something i always wanted to ask you. I truly appreciate your advices on teaching and I have to say I benefited from them. However i am still puzzled at some things you have done. From your postings you seem to be one who values motivation and love of music in your students, yet on one hand it seems like you are concerned with results also. I am referring of course to your first postings in which you asked about people opinion on 6 year olds getting grade 5 distinctions, which later was revealed to be your students. I also recall that you said that you would have no qualms about parading your students achievements. As you can see, this makes my opinion of you kind of a paradox. So if you don't mind, would you clarify your current stand and philosophy in teaching? And oh yeah, sorry to trouble you, you have not posted the answer to my last question

[kathyh]

I think under this topic we should keep on the track of explaining / discussing the technical questions. Regarding the attitude or the motivation, i think it is diverse among children. Some children do not need motivation at all, they love to play piano and music from their bottom of heart, probably was cultivated by parents. Some are not so need some discipline. Scolding might work for some children but also might not work at all for others. I believe the person who understands the kids most is their parent. And it is really not necessary to ask about which teaching way is suitable from teachers.

[Dreamaurora]

sacredmusicals:

Dreamaurora:

Being nice and strict is a balancing act that is hard to master as a teacher. Too much of either one will not be healthy for the students. Anyway, I say to my students that even though I expect high standards from my students, I make it clear to them that I value progress, not results. Of course for those with potential I expect a lot more progress lar.

Now that we are on this subject, there is something i always wanted to ask you. I truly appreciate your advices on teaching and I have to say I benefited from them. However i am still puzzled at some things you have done. From your postings you seem to be one who values motivation and love of music in your students, yet on one hand it seems like you are concerned with results also. I am referring of course to your first postings in which you asked about people opinion on 6 year olds getting grade 5 distinctions, which later was revealed to be your students. I also recall that you said that you would have no qualms about parading your students achievements. As you can see, this makes my opinion of you kind of a paradox. So if you don't mind, would you clarify your current stand and philosophy in teaching? And oh yeah, sorry to trouble you, you have not posted the answer to my last question

You ask the most difficult questions. Fair enough, I will try my best to answer it.

I admit that last year when I first started posting in this forum that perhaps I did not present myself in the proper light. Speaking about the 6 year olds, I actually received quite a few negative feedbacks regarding that, so I kinda wish that you had not brought that up again. When I started learning piano, I admit I was kind of result obssessed. I decided pretty much the moment I started learning piano at 17 that I was going to go into it full time. So I pushed myself to jump grades to make up for lost time and also to prove to my parents I had 'talent'. Of course when I went to NAFA I had a rude shock but I still managed to pull through.

When I enter the teaching field 4 years ago (I started with 3 private students when I was in 3rd year NAFA), unfortunately I also had the same mindset when I started learning piano. I figured that if I could accomplish some wild goals I will get noticed, after all that was what Singapore parents wanted right (teachers who can produce results)?

But then around last year roughly after the 6 year olds thing I started to think, is this what I want to be known for? I got where I am now thanks to patient teachers who acknowledged my weaknesses and worked carefully with me. Yes, I had brief lessons with a well-known teacher who declared that I should not go music full time and I would not survive NAFA; I respect his honesty and I hope I would not become a teacher like him. I know it's very tempting to be known as a teacher whose students win competitions, skip grades and get distinctions, got diplomas at very young age, etc.

What I want to be known for is that I am a teacher who can instill passion in music and realise the best potential of his students. I know many people here may think I am very choosy about my students, but actually quite opposite. I don't do NAFA style of screening only the best students into my studio. All I ask from them is that they love music and believe in themselves. Most of my students did not have a good start, a few even had poor results or failures in exams from their previous teachers. Seeing them improve and enjoying lessons give me joy, and I could see reflection of myself in them. Studying piano is not only about acquire another skill, but it is also a journey of self discovery. I not only wish my students to do well according to their capabilities, but I hope they become better persons too. And I hope I can further impart this spirit into the new generation of teachers too.

Hope that answers your question. Apologize about the late reply for your question about motivating kids. I typed it halfway and then totally forgotten about it. :stupid: Will post it soon.

[Dreamaurora]

kathyh:

I think under this topic we should keep on the track of explaining / discussing the technical questions. Regarding the attitude or the motivation, i think it is diverse among children. Some children do not need motivation at all, they love to play piano and music from their bottom of heart, probably was cultivated by parents. Some are not so need some discipline. Scolding might work for some children but also might not work at all for others. I believe the person who understands the kids most is their parent. And it is really not necessary to ask about which teaching way is suitable from teachers.

Actually I feel that the teacher does a play huge part in motivating the students, and while a lot of parents do understand their kids best, there is also a large number of parents who THINK they know their kids best but actually do not. It is a sticky issue and the statistics do not lie. The number of students who persevere to grade 8 is few and many students give up halfway because they lose interest, yes even those kids who may be initially very motivated to play. And we often hear about parents engaging brilliant teachers but totally unsuitable or cannot click with their kids. So, I understand that teachers will want to know more about various ways to motivate kids for the obvious reason to retain students in their studios. In teaching field, soft skills are as equally important as technical skills.

[kathyh]

I dunt think so. For piano, student only sees his teacher once in a week. Lesson time is only 60 mins. Most of the time after the lesson parents play a vital role to supervise or even coach. You mentioned sOme dunt play at all after grade 8. I think partly becoz the parents think they achieve "their" goal so they stopped encouraging. And to accOmpany the child thru out this journey, maybe parents can coach or direct at the beginner stage say bf grade 5, after that I think mostly depend on child’s self motivation, unless parents know piano themselves.