Teacher Dreamaurora - Piano Q&A

[Dreamaurora]

jce:

Paul Harris does a good job too.

I used to use Paul Harris' books and my students complained that the exercises sound boring or weird (especially the higher grades ones) :rotflmao: I think the nicest sounding ones are Right at Sight series, but they feel like just another compilation of short pieces.

[peanut_butter]

Can i suggest 'ABRSM reader' for ipad? The trial version is free. The bars (key signatures as well) disappears as the metronume clicks. Students have to remembers their key signatures n stick to the pulse. Most of my students have the bad habit of trying to replay to correct their mistakes and receive a nasty shock half way through when the bar they are about to play disappears. :evil:

[Chattyirena]

Thanks Phankao, I'm going to try your suggestion this weekend...my DS' JMC teacher just shared that one of her student's parent was so frustrated that she grabbed a cane and threatened to hit her child's hands... Poor kid was so scared she immediately curled her fingers and has never ever played with flat fingers again since... :scared: ...I hope I won't ever resort to such threats :xedfingers:

[phankao]

Chattyirena:

Thanks Phankao, I'm going to try your suggestion this weekend...my DS' JMC teacher just shared that one of her student's parent was so frustrated that she grabbed a cane and threatened to hit her child's hands... Poor kid was so scared she immediately curled her fingers and has never ever played with flat fingers again since... :scared: ...I hope I won't ever resort to such threats :xedfingers:

If the child's hand/fingers are not developmentally mature enough to stretch, then it's no point harping on it either, just remind on good form.

You might notice that for the young ones to stretch to reach notes due to their smaller hands, and when they need to move their hands to different positions on the keyboard, during the stretch and move, their fingers might straighten out although they may be curved while pressing the notes. So do observe what it is too... personally I wouldn't consider the straightened stretched fingers as \"flat\". One good analogy is to tell the child that when his/her fingers press on the keys, their fingers should form a curved tunnel and not a \"playground slide\".

Oh, and the young player will find it difficult to curve his palm/fingers if his piano bench is a little low. I'm somewhat guilty of not insisting my son sit higher most times, so I also \"close an eye\" as long as he doesn't rest the base of his hand on the wooden end of the keyboard (under the keys). We don't have an adjustable piano bench, so when I am more \"conscientious\", I'd put him on a booster seat (the car one. haha), or on a cushion (Lang Lang sat on TWO!). Their arms should be at the level of the keyboard.

[MummyThreeStreams]

How hard will it be for me (with a Grade 8 theory from more than 20 years ago) to teach my son Grade 1-5 theory in one year? He is 7 and has not had formal theory lessons, but he has passed his Grade 4 practical.


The reason i’m considering this is that we’re going away for a year where it’s hard to find teachers familiar with the ABRSM syllabus. I think DS1 will be ready to take Grade 6 practical when he returns. So he needs to prepare for Grade 5 theory while we’re away. Is it feasible?

[metz]

MummyThreeStreams:

How hard will it be for me (with a Grade 8 theory from more than 20 years ago) to teach my son Grade 1-5 theory in one year? He is 7 and has not had formal theory lessons, but he has passed his Grade 4 practical.


The reason i'm considering this is that we're going away for a year where it's hard to find teachers familiar with the ABRSM syllabus. I think DS1 will be ready to take Grade 6 practical when he returns. So he needs to prepare for Grade 5 theory while we're away. Is it feasible?

Hi MummyThreeStreams,

You should have a much easier time than me. I have just received the book recommended by Dreamaurora and will be embarking on it with both my kids soon. With your expertise and knowledge in music, the only thing you probably need would be discipline.

[MummyThreeStreams]

chamonix,


Aiyah! You are so encouraging! My music theory all given back already…and i’m a terrible teacher!! What books did you get? You will be teaching your kids theory yourself? Do you have music background? We can encourage each other!

[Dreamaurora]

MummyThreeStreams:

How hard will it be for me (with a Grade 8 theory from more than 20 years ago) to teach my son Grade 1-5 theory in one year? He is 7 and has not had formal theory lessons, but he has passed his Grade 4 practical.


The reason i'm considering this is that we're going away for a year where it's hard to find teachers familiar with the ABRSM syllabus. I think DS1 will be ready to take Grade 6 practical when he returns. So he needs to prepare for Grade 5 theory while we're away. Is it feasible?

Should be okay as long your son is reasonably good in his academic study; if you think about it theory is kind of like mathematics. I still recommend getting a theory teacher though when you are abroad. Theory study is universal and I think any decent teacher should be able to tailor his teaching to adapt any theory syllabus.

[jce]

Mummy3streams, I doubt you’d have any problems teaching your son gr 1-5 theory, it’ll all come back to you and it’s logical (if you get the theory books published by ABRSM there’d be guidelines to help you). But for a 7 yr old to comprehend some of the topics, that may be tricky. To complete in a year, will be intensive.

[MummyThreeStreams]

Thanks Dreamaurora and jce for your advice. He’s in P2 and a fast learner. We have about 18 months if he aims for the March 2014 exams. Will bring the books and syllabus over, and if I can’t find a teacher, at least i know I can go for it myself.