Teacher Dreamaurora - Piano Q&A

[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.

[waiyean]

Anyone has advice on what is earliest age that a child should go for ABRSM grade 1 theory exams? My daughter has been asked by her teacher to take the exams this year, but I am concerned she is too young for it. She probably can pass, but should she hold off a while to score better grades?


Also, at what grade of her practical should she take her grade 1 theory?

[jce]

There is no "right age" as such to take exam. For practical it is whether the child is ready to take on the drilling (basically repeating the exam pieces till they are perfected, as oppose to "casual" pieces where teachers can close one eye to). There’s also the aural part where the child has to be able to understand questions and communicate answers. Of course children can be taught to provide the give answers, again through drilling.


As for theory, the child needs to be able to read and understand questions. Again a child can be helped by teachers to spot specific, important words to help with understanding the questions.

Generally, practical exams take place earlier than theory. Depending on how early the child starts learning, most will take their first practical by K2 or P1. Theory, some will take G1 at P1 and then skip exam for a few years, take G5.

[waiyean]

Hi JCE, I agree with you that there is no right age to take exams. It depends alot on the child and how much preparation has been given.


I am just curious to know how early parents send their kids / piano teachers recommend their students for theory exams. Is it crucial to do Grade 1 theory exam? Any downside to having a child prepare for practical exams, say grade 3, but not having done their theory exam?

What are the advantages of having a child do the theory exam earlier, versus doing it later and scoring better grades? How do you know whether a child is ready? Other than being able to read and understand the questions, I figured the child also need to understand basic time management to answer all the questions in the exam. Also she needs to have enough attention span to sit quietly and answer the questions within the time allowed. For a young child, this may be more difficult compared to taking the practical exams, which is usually completed within 10-15 minutes.

Any views?