Teacher Dreamaurora - Piano Q&A
-
chamonix:
Are you still overseas? Should have quite a number of music festivals and such that they can participate? A kinder start than a totally competitive one.
Mine are no preschoolers now:)waiyean:
Haha, now... we are talking about competitions. Guess we will stick to exams and stay away from competitions for the time being
-
:shock:
chamonix:
Sigh, I don't think they were looking at grade 5 only. My son was taking Suzuki violin. His teacher told me in Japan, some kids are already on book 10 or 11 at 6 years old.
Of course teachers will say that lar. I afterall also recommended to the parents for the 6 year olds to take grade 5 last year even though they were a bit apprehensive initially. What I was saying is one push the child just for the purpose of getting acknowledgements from the other parents, don't do it. As evidenced by that thread last year where I revealed that info and also the NAFA Young Talents course, many parents here are still quite wary of accelerating their kids, whether for music or for other activities.Dreamaurora:
[quote=\"chamonix\"]
I must sound strange. I have 2 music teachers telling me my son could go very far if I pushed him. Two different instruments. My take - no hurry. One ended telling my son he should practise like a competitive swimmer or basketball player almost every lesson when he was 6. He started on instruments at 5.
Like Phankoa said, too much work for a non-music background mom like me. If he's really talented, he would still progress without taking exams at an early age.[/quote]This is what I actually dread, teachers pushing the kids because they are just trying to reach the 'status quo'. A Korean teacher once said to me a child has to be able to play 'Pathetique' or 'Moonlight' sonatas (I'm talking about the entire sonatas, not just the famous movements) by the time he/she is 12 years old :shock:
It's very tempting of course for teachers, including me, to push students who have any hint of potential. The better the students play or perform or score for exams, the better a teacher's reputation is. But it is important also to acknowledge that afterall, we teachers teach students not for our glory, but to impart the same passion we had for music to our students. -
phankao:
Are you still overseas? Should have quite a number of music festivals and such that they can participate? A kinder start than a totally competitive one.[/quote]Coming back soon. Yes, he did have opportunities to perform when he was still with the local music school. Got his first solo opportunity on stage when he joined the school :).
Mine are no preschoolers now:)chamonix:
[quote=\"waiyean\"]
Haha, now... we are talking about competitions. Guess we will stick to exams and stay away from competitions for the time being -
Dreamaurora:
Yes, my DD was involved in a number of recitals, and she is also attending monthly master classes when she has to perform 2 pieces each time and then get suggestions on how to do it better. But then, she's still a baby... I will try not to push her too much
Hmm, performances? Recitals? related studies such as improvisation or jazz? Although my students do not take every single exam, but I keep them occupied and focused by letting them play regularly in small group settings and also student concerts. The ambitious ones I let them prepare longer performances or program; this is in fact more difficult than taking exams. This way they can progress without feeling 'exam burnout'.
To be honest, this obssession with taking exams exist primarily in Asia countries such as Singapore and Hongkong. In Europe the music education is far more robust. There are still exams to take, but only at the important points. There was a much more stronger emphasis on technical development and acquiring performance experience. -
Dreamaurora:
This is what I actually dread, teachers pushing the kids because they are just trying to reach the 'status quo'. A Korean teacher once said to me a child has to be able to play 'Pathetique' or 'Moonlight' sonatas (I'm talking about the entire sonatas, not just the famous movements) by the time he/she is 12 years old :shock::shock:
Sigh, I don't think they were looking at grade 5 only. My son was taking Suzuki violin. His teacher told me in Japan, some kids are already on book 10 or 11 at 6 years old.chamonix:
[quote=\"Dreamaurora\"]
Of course teachers will say that lar. I afterall also recommended to the parents for the 6 year olds to take grade 5 last year even though they were a bit apprehensive initially. What I was saying is one push the child just for the purpose of getting acknowledgements from the other parents, don't do it. As evidenced by that thread last year where I revealed that info and also the NAFA Young Talents course, many parents here are still quite wary of accelerating their kids, whether for music or for other activities.
Like Phankoa said, too much work for a non-music background mom like me. If he's really talented, he would still progress without taking exams at an early age.
It's very tempting of course for teachers, including me, to push students who have any hint of potential. The better the students play or perform or score for exams, the better a teacher's reputation is. But it is important also to acknowledge that afterall, we teachers teach students not for our glory, but to impart the same passion we had for music to our students.[/quote]
*gulp* you gonna think I must be a crazy mom, but I swear i am not. My son requested to learn Pathetique and Moonlight Sonata himself. He did MS Mvmt 1, teacher told him he can do Mvmt 2 on his own. Unfortunately, we don't have enough time for Mvmt 3. -
chamonix:
Moonlight 1st and 2nd movt are quite okay, the 3rd movt is the reason why it is in DipABRSM list; it is much much more difficult than the preceding 2 movements. Need well developed technique and suitably sized hand to even think of pulling that movement off at a decent speed. I've lost count of how many students butchered Moonlight's 3rd movt.
*gulp* you gonna think I must be a crazy mom, but I swear i am not. My son requested to learn Pathetique and Moonlight Sonata himself. He did MS Mvmt 1, teacher told him he can do Mvmt 2 on his own. Unfortunately, we don't have enough time for Mvmt 3. -
Dreamaurora:
Guess that's why the teacher told him there wasn't enough time to start on Mvmt 3. We had only 2 weeks left then. He was pretty disappointed cos he liked Mvmt 3 most.
Moonlight 1st and 2nd movt are quite okay, the 3rd movt is the reason why it is in DipABRSM list; it is much much more difficult than the preceding 2 movements. Need well developed technique and suitably sized hand to even think of pulling that movement off at a decent speed. I've lost count of how many students butchered Moonlight's 3rd movt.chamonix:
*gulp* you gonna think I must be a crazy mom, but I swear i am not. My son requested to learn Pathetique and Moonlight Sonata himself. He did MS Mvmt 1, teacher told him he can do Mvmt 2 on his own. Unfortunately, we don't have enough time for Mvmt 3. -
chamonix:
Guess that's why the teacher told him there wasn't enough time to start on Mvmt 3. We had only 2 weeks left then. He was pretty disappointed cos he liked Mvmt 3 most.[/quote]Well, let him take his time. One of the disturbing trends nowadays is a lot of students are playing very difficult pieces at too early an age and neglecting to learn the standard repertoire. So a student may be able to play Moonlight Sonata or Chopin Etudes but completely hopeless in learning and performing something simpler, say Macdowell's Wild Rose.
Moonlight 1st and 2nd movt are quite okay, the 3rd movt is the reason why it is in DipABRSM list; it is much much more difficult than the preceding 2 movements. Need well developed technique and suitably sized hand to even think of pulling that movement off at a decent speed. I've lost count of how many students butchered Moonlight's 3rd movt.Dreamaurora:
[quote=\"chamonix\"]
*gulp* you gonna think I must be a crazy mom, but I swear i am not. My son requested to learn Pathetique and Moonlight Sonata himself. He did MS Mvmt 1, teacher told him he can do Mvmt 2 on his own. Unfortunately, we don't have enough time for Mvmt 3.
The same criticism can also be levelled to students who are too dependent on ABRSM/Trinity exam systems. I am seeing this in my diploma students who transferred to me after getting their grade 8s. I gave them easier grade 4-6 pieces for them to learn on themselves and they had difficulties picking up the pieces by themselves. It is definitely a deficiency that could be prevented earlier. -
phankao:
Are you still overseas? Should have quite a number of music festivals and such that they can participate? A kinder start than a totally competitive one.[/quote]Btw, I am staying in a small town, not many music festivals for young children to speak of. The norm for kids to start an instrument is around 6 or 7 years old. Usually, the conservatoire doesn't take children younger than that.
Mine are no preschoolers now:)chamonix:
[quote=\"waiyean\"]
Haha, now... we are talking about competitions. Guess we will stick to exams and stay away from competitions for the time being -
Dreamaurora:
Well, let him take his time. One of the disturbing trends nowadays is a lot of students are playing very difficult pieces at too early an age and neglecting to learn the standard repertoire. So a student may be able to play Moonlight Sonata or Chopin Etudes but completely hopeless in learning and performing something simpler, say Macdowell's Wild Rose.
Guess that's why the teacher told him there wasn't enough time to start on Mvmt 3. We had only 2 weeks left then. He was pretty disappointed cos he liked Mvmt 3 most.chamonix:
[quote=\"Dreamaurora\"]
Moonlight 1st and 2nd movt are quite okay, the 3rd movt is the reason why it is in DipABRSM list; it is much much more difficult than the preceding 2 movements. Need well developed technique and suitably sized hand to even think of pulling that movement off at a decent speed. I've lost count of how many students butchered Moonlight's 3rd movt.
The same criticism can also be levelled to students who are too dependent on ABRSM/Trinity exam systems. I am seeing this in my diploma students who transferred to me after getting their grade 8s. I gave them easier grade 4-6 pieces for them to learn on themselves and they had difficulties picking up the pieces by themselves. It is definitely a deficiency that could be prevented earlier.[/quote]
Yes, I agree with you. I would prefer my kids to learn and play all levels of music.
Fortunately for us, this teacher doesn't concentrate on difficult pieces only. Usually, she will also give him easier pieces as well.
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login