Teacher Dreamaurora - Piano Q&A

[metz]

MummyThreeStreams:

Thanks Chamonix! I'll get the AB Guide and pass it to the piano teacher there. See if he/she can teach from it. Any decent teacher should be able to right?

One slight problem that may surface would be the use of terms. In US, crotchet is known as quarter note and so forth. Other than this, should be no problem. Better still, you can read the book together with your son. On one hand, you can refresh your theory and on the other, you can keep track of his progress. Killing two birds with one stone.

This book is like a textbook. Since you intend for him to take the theory exam upon your return, it will be good to pack some theory practice books as what Dreamaurora suggested.

[Angelight]

I’m learning to play Canon in D and realised that there are different versions on the Internet. Anyone knows where I can get the easy (and full) version of Canon in D from any free website?

[Dreamaurora]

Angelight:

I'm learning to play Canon in D and realised that there are different versions on the Internet. Anyone knows where I can get the easy (and full) version of Canon in D from any free website?

You can buy a digital copy of the Schultz's arrangement of the Canon from sheetmusicplus website.

[peanut_butter]

You can go IMSLP website and download the violin part and get the chords here later. I can’t remeber them off hand now. The bass repeats the same chord after every 4 bars.

[peanut_butter]

Any idea how to teach 3 years old without parent sitting in? She comes back from work and discuss with me after the son’s lesson. Currently using Little Mozart but he has problem following through some instructions.

[phankao]

peanut_butter:

Any idea how to teach 3 years old without parent sitting in? She comes back from work and discuss with me after the son's lesson. Currently using Little Mozart but he has problem following through some instructions.

Using Lots of games and analogies?

[phankao]

peanut_butter:

Any idea how to teach 3 years old without parent sitting in? She comes back from work and discuss with me after the son's lesson. Currently using Little Mozart but he has problem following through some instructions.

So you are using this programme?
http://www.alfred.com/Products/Music-for-Little-Mozarts-Music-Discovery-Book-1--00-14579.aspx

Did I read correctly that the child doesn't learn to play songs straight away? And learns with black keys first?

[peanut_butter]

Yes. It can be very challenging to teach very young kids to place the right fingers on the correct sets of black keys and knock out some rhythms.


The kid wouldn’t go near me till his sisters or favorite helper is around. So communication and games are sometimes not possible.

[jce]

Perhaps use music appreciation method to start off with? Play songs, sing, clap etc, hopefully get him interested to come forward, get him comfortable with you before embarking on more "formal" teaching

[phankao]

peanut_butter:

Yes. It can be very challenging to teach very young kids to place the right fingers on the correct sets of black keys and knock out some rhythms.


The kid wouldn't go near me till his sisters or favorite helper is around. So communication and games are sometimes not possible.

No experience being a teacher, but would starting off with actual familiar songs like \"hot cross buns\", \"mary had a little lamb\" (all 3-note pieces) or \"twinkle\" trigger the child's interest better? Start with 3-finger exercise (walking up/down, or hopping up/down those 3 notes), followed by a simple 3-note song? Then followed by 5-finger/note walking/jumping to prepare for twinkle?

Like I said, I'm not a teacher, but that's what my 3yo started off with when he began piano. I know he'd be bored with tuneless pieces. I also saw how my friends' kids who started off with such pieces found it difficult to have their little kids even play/practice.

I know my boy would be bored with endless tuneless pieces , particularly since the 1st violin teacher he had started with all open-string \"tunes\". All unrecognisable tunes - from the book \"a tune a day\". My boy who enjoyed playing around with the violin just dreaded those exercises. As a parent coach, I lasted only 3 lessons with those circumstances. It made a whole lot of difference when I switched him to a suzuki teacher and he started learning straightaway to play Twinkle. It was such a relief to him!

Anyway, like I say, these are my observations for really young kids,. Oh, and silly or fun lyrics help a lot.