Teacher Dreamaurora - Piano Q&A

[Angelight]

Yes, the JMC course focus more on listening and singing rather than the techniques of playing and sight reading. That's why I'm considering taking her out of the program and get private coaching...

waiyean:

Personally, I feel that it's better to let your DD to work through the sight reading without writing the notes out. Otherwise the child may develop a reliance on that, and may not improve fast enough. Just my opinion though perhaps the teachers here can comment more.

Is it true that Yamaha focus more on listening, and less on sight reading for their junior programs?

[Angelight]

Hi Dream, I'll try out your advice for my DD. Thks!


I wish I could take my time to learn piano, but I really started late, much later than you...hence this urgency to catch up with lost time!

I don't know how far I can go in my piano-learning journey as I'm aware the higher grade you go, the more challenging it is. But I'm enjoying the journey so far. From being able to play by ear only, to now able to play my fave pieces like Fur Elise, Bach's Minuet in G and Pachelbel's Canon is one of the most satisfying returns in this music learning journey. But I'm going to work harder on sight reading and playing the scales with both hands together.

Btw, you mentioned in one of your posts that you require your students to take only Grade 5 & 8 practical exams. What about theory?

Dreamaurora:

You should probably ask your DD to write down the alphabets herself first. Then help her correct if she is wrong. After she can more or less read accurately, then you should erase the alphabets after you check her alphabets before letting her practice the piece.

Take your time with learning piano. Scales hand together is only observed in grade 2 onwards, which according to ABRSM will take 2 and half years for most people to reach. You will get it eventually; just make sure you can play them comfortably from memory each hand separately first. From my experience of teaching adult beginners, they can usually progress very very fast to playing grade 3 pieces from beginner stage. But this is usually at the cost of building up enough repertoire and neglecting other components such as sight reading. Grade 4 onwards, the requirements gets quite challenging and complex and this is the point where a lot of adults (and children too) find progress increasingly slower (no more two or three weeks to learn finish one song) and unwilling to commit the ever increasing practice time.

[Dreamaurora]

Angelight:

Hi Dream, I'll try out your advice for my DD. Thks!


I wish I could take my time to learn piano, but I really started late, much later than you...hence this urgency to catch up with lost time!

I don't know how far I can go in my piano-learning journey as I'm aware the higher grade you go, the more challenging it is. But I'm enjoying the journey so far. From being able to play by ear only, to now able to play my fave pieces like Fur Elise, Bach's Minuet in G and Pachelbel's Canon is one of the most satisfying returns in this music learning journey. But I'm going to work harder on sight reading and playing the scales with both hands together.

Btw, you mentioned in one of your posts that you require your students to take only Grade 5 & 8 practical exams. What about theory?

Dreamaurora:

You should probably ask your DD to write down the alphabets herself first. Then help her correct if she is wrong. After she can more or less read accurately, then you should erase the alphabets after you check her alphabets before letting her practice the piece.

Take your time with learning piano. Scales hand together is only observed in grade 2 onwards, which according to ABRSM will take 2 and half years for most people to reach. You will get it eventually; just make sure you can play them comfortably from memory each hand separately first. From my experience of teaching adult beginners, they can usually progress very very fast to playing grade 3 pieces from beginner stage. But this is usually at the cost of building up enough repertoire and neglecting other components such as sight reading. Grade 4 onwards, the requirements gets quite challenging and complex and this is the point where a lot of adults (and children too) find progress increasingly slower (no more two or three weeks to learn finish one song) and unwilling to commit the ever increasing practice time.

Hi Angelight,

actually the later you start, the more you have to ensure that you cover all your bases. It is tempting I know to just want to play the pieces we love, but we must be realistic also and make sure all the foundations are there. If not later you will find it very frustrating. I've been down the same road as you and I forced myself to progress extremely fast, only to be told that my technique and musical understanding were poor when I entered NAFA. So it's ok, take your time, there are many good intermediate pieces you can enjoy along the way.

For theory, I only require my students to take grade 5 and at least a grade 6 afterwards. A minimum of grade 6 I believe is the bare minimum required to be able to analyse and interpret advanced level pieces decently. For lower level theory, I normally teach only the necessary theory to allow my students to read comfortably. Then afterwards when they pass their practical exam, I will begin a theory course to take grade 5. This is because grade 5 encompass whatever has been taught in grade 1-4, so I find it more convenient to go through everything one shot. Do note other teachers may have different opinions and beliefs than me, so don't take my word as the authority on this.

[waiyean]

Angelight:

.

Btw, you mentioned in one of your posts that you require your students to take only Grade 5 & 8 practical exams. What about theory?

My girl's teacher only require her to do theory grade 1 and 5. Grade 1 is to start off the theory given her young age, and grade 5 in order to take higher grades (6-8) for practical.

[Angelight]

Appreciate all your sharing, Dream. I'm really glad I found a place here to discuss about piano learning with like-minded individuals, so it makes my learning process not so lonely.

[Angelight]

Hi Waiyean, what level is your girl now? What are the books she used when she was learning Grade 1? There are so many varieties of theory and practical books that I don’t know which are the must-haves and which are the good-to-have?

[metz]

phankao:

waiyean:

[quote=\"phankao\"]
The flat fees - not the teacher. haha.

Any particular reason for not wanting the flat fees?

Hmmm... usually fees range from S$80-S$100+/hour. The really pro ones charge around S$150-S$180/hr.[/quote]Can understand the reason behind it. Parents may be unsure of their children's interests in music initially. I would balk at the idea of paying for such high quality teachers in the beginning too. But now, I am comfortable with it. Mainly because my kids are ready to commit themselves.

[waiyean]

Angelight:

Hi Waiyean, what level is your girl now? What are the books she used when she was learning Grade 1? There are so many varieties of theory and practical books that I don't know which are the must-haves and which are the good-to-have?

Hi, my girl is preparing for grade 3 practical next year. In an earlier post on this thread, I was also asking if she is too young to be taking her theory. Have decided to also let her do that next March instead of this Nov.

Regarding books to use, my girl didn't really focus on any books for grade 1. she played all the books for dozen a day, Hanon exercises, the Suzuki piano books, 42 famous classics, Pauline Hall Playtime books, plus a few others. Her school also publishes some books, which are mostly exam pieces from previous years. She also played all the pieces for the grade, in fact only choose her exam pieces 3 weeks before her exam.

It didn't occur to me what books are good to have and must haves. I just try to buy them all. Typical kiasu parent right?

[metz]

waiyean:

Angelight:

Hi Waiyean, what level is your girl now? What are the books she used when she was learning Grade 1? There are so many varieties of theory and practical books that I don't know which are the must-haves and which are the good-to-have?

Hi, my girl is preparing for grade 3 practical next year. In an earlier post on this thread, I was also asking if she is too young to be taking her theory. Have decided to also let her do that next March instead of this Nov.

Regarding books to use, my girl didn't really focus on any books for grade 1. she played all the books for dozen a day, Hanon exercises, the Suzuki piano books, 42 famous classics, Pauline Hall Playtime books, plus a few others. Her school also publishes some books, which are mostly exam pieces from previous years. She also played all the pieces for the grade, in fact only choose her exam pieces 3 weeks before her exam.

It didn't occur to me what books are good to have and must haves. I just try to buy them all. Typical kiasu parent right?

*gulp* That's a lot for just grade 1! :udawoman:

[waiyean]

chamonix:

*gulp* That's a lot just for grade 1!

Yes I reckon so, but she didn't play all those to \"prepare\" for the exams. She was already doing them before her teacher registered her for the exams. Rather than to let her practise the same few pieces over and over again, I figured she's happier playing a larger variety.