All About Choosing Piano Schools And Teachers

[waiyean]

Imami:

Hello folks who teaches piano lessons/ plays the piano, why is this kind of kind so cheap - http://www.singaporemotherhood.com/forumboard/messages/449183/7648508.html?1350298068


If I sign my kid up at cristofori's little Mozart classes and pay one shot for the full course (2 levels x 4 terms), I would get this piano as part of the deal. Any comments folks?

Is this good enough or will a key board serves as well?

I don't think that is good enough even for grade 1. It doesn't have enough keys, not to mention the sound quality.

[waiyean]

karenmok:

waiyean:

Go for individual lessons, doesn't matter whether private or in a music school. You can arrange for a trial class to see if the teacher clicks with your daughter. Quality of teachers in schools can vary a bit, but most should be able to teach your daughter to play some songs and go through the exams if needed.

Thanks. Any feedback on which school is more economic/flexible in terms of lost classes if the child is unwell or travelling? Also is it possible to switch from one school to another without losing out on the previous education?

It's best to check with the schools on their lesson exchange policies. It is probably subject to teacher's availability. My DD is learning from a school, but I don't recall any time she needs to change lessons.

Switching schools should be ok, even within the school, teachers don't stay long too. It is not a big deal.

[PhoBIA]

Imami:

Hello folks who teaches piano lessons/ plays the piano, why is this kind of kind so cheap - http://www.singaporemotherhood.com/forumboard/messages/449183/7648508.html?1350298068


If I sign my kid up at cristofori's little Mozart classes and pay one shot for the full course (2 levels x 4 terms), I would get this piano as part of the deal. Any comments folks?

Is this good enough or will a key board serves as well?

It is a digital piano. No no if you are serious in helping your child develop finger muscles.

Before you decide on little Mozart, do compare Yamaha course before you decide. The course contents should take priority in the comparison rather than the freebies..etc.

[Dreamaurora]

Imami:

Hello folks who teaches piano lessons/ plays the piano, why is this kind of kind so cheap - http://www.singaporemotherhood.com/forumboard/messages/449183/7648508.html?1350298068


If I sign my kid up at cristofori's little Mozart classes and pay one shot for the full course (2 levels x 4 terms), I would get this piano as part of the deal. Any comments folks?

Is this good enough or will a key board serves as well?

I tried this particular \"piano\" before in one of my friends' house because her daughter is in Little Mozart.

This is definitely not a piano.

It is just a keyboard in a fancy furniture like packaging. The keys are not weighted at all and well, it sounds like an electronic keyboard. If the purpose is just for Little Mozart or JMC, it is probably sufficient. But if planning to go further to the graded exams, at the bare minimum will need to get a properly weighted digital piano or a 2nd hand acoustic.

[Dreamaurora]

karenmok:

[quote=\"waiyean] Go for individual lessons, doesn't matter whether private or in a music school. You can arrange for a trial class to see if the teacher clicks with your daughter. Quality of teachers in schools can vary a bit, but most should be able to teach your daughter to play some songs and go through the exams if needed.

Thanks. Any feedback on which school is more economic/flexible in terms of lost classes if the child is unwell or travelling? Also is it possible to switch from one school to another without losing out on the previous education?[/quote][/quote]

Bear in mind that music schools are not schools in the traditional sense. You are just basically getting the same individual lessons that private teachers provide in a more centralised location. Personally, I am a believer that a child should have the same teacher from beginner to at least the completion of grade 8. So IMO the best solution is to go for a good private one right from the very beginning (or study with the owners of the music schools); this may be costly and require more commitment but of course you pay for the quality. But of many parents choose the lesser options because they are afraid the children may get disinterested or financial concerns. Then they will search for better teachers after they find the initial teachers lacking.

[Dreamaurora]

thmejlfm:

Hi!


Looking for one piano teacher to teach my daughters, age: 11, grade: 4, and age: 8, grade 2. Prefer a female teacher and willing to come to student's place (Kallang area).

Previous teacher because of personal reason, has to stop teaching my daughters.

Need some contacts from parent here.

Thank you :?: :?: :thankyou:

Edited. Sorry, supposed to be typed in a PM instead.

[fatbeary]

Imami:

Woah... Thanks folk. Didn't expect my post to generate so many response. I was still thinking that I was so silly to post that, sure Kenna some snide remarks.


I seriously hope my child would pick up music, doesn't matter which instrument so long as he enjoy and it suits him. I read up the whole 90+ pages in this thread and a few others and decided I would buy a brand new yamaha for him to start off. Yes, a bit insane but it shows how serious I am about it.

Then one day, We passed by millennia and we stopped to admire a kawai piano in the piano shop. Haiyo.... Thunder strike wor... Son said didn't like piano! I guessed he said it in jest but it dawned on me that he could have other interest. If I could match personality to musical instrument, I would think he's a drum person.

So well, my purse remained zipped since then. I approached one piano teacher here to coach my child. I told him my situation - no piano. The first thing he said was must hv piano. So no goal lor...

Most piano teachers would say that without a piano, the child won't be able to learn/attend piano classes. It is preferred that the child has a piano at home to practise on, but I have a lot of students under me who don't have a piano at home. Without a piano, it will slow down the process of learning but they can always learn more on theory to understand the concepts first.

Maybe you can let your child take up a few piano classes to see if he likes piano or music in general!

[waiyean]

fatbeary:

Most piano teachers would say that without a piano, the child won't be able to learn/attend piano classes. It is preferred that the child has a piano at home to practise on, but I have a lot of students under me who don't have a piano at home. Without a piano, it will slow down the process of learning but they can always learn more on theory to understand the concepts first.

Maybe you can let your child take up a few piano classes to see if he likes piano or music in general!

Don't wait too long to get a proper piano. Have seen some parents hold off on the purchase to \"wait and see\" if there's interest. The child can't play at home and naturally progress slowly, and soon lose interest due to lack of motivation. It is a self fulfilling prophesy... The lack of interest in the child is due to the parent's lack of support and confidence. Face it... Most child will only enjoy doing something that they are good at.

[Dreamaurora]

fatbeary:

Imami:

Woah... Thanks folk. Didn't expect my post to generate so many response. I was still thinking that I was so silly to post that, sure Kenna some snide remarks.


I seriously hope my child would pick up music, doesn't matter which instrument so long as he enjoy and it suits him. I read up the whole 90+ pages in this thread and a few others and decided I would buy a brand new yamaha for him to start off. Yes, a bit insane but it shows how serious I am about it.

Then one day, We passed by millennia and we stopped to admire a kawai piano in the piano shop. Haiyo.... Thunder strike wor... Son said didn't like piano! I guessed he said it in jest but it dawned on me that he could have other interest. If I could match personality to musical instrument, I would think he's a drum person.

So well, my purse remained zipped since then. I approached one piano teacher here to coach my child. I told him my situation - no piano. The first thing he said was must hv piano. So no goal lor...

Most piano teachers would say that without a piano, the child won't be able to learn/attend piano classes. It is preferred that the child has a piano at home to practise on, but I have a lot of students under me who don't have a piano at home. Without a piano, it will slow down the process of learning but they can always learn more on theory to understand the concepts first.

Maybe you can let your child take up a few piano classes to see if he likes piano or music in general!

There is a good reason why a lot of teachers insist on having a proper instrument before starting individual piano lessons. Without a piano, the child will not be able to experiment and create sounds, making the learning experience a passive one. And like what you said, of course the progress will be very slow. So I urge parents to look at it from another angle, with a proper teacher and instrument, your child will actually learn and go through the 'grades' faster. Sure, significantly more money may be spent initially, but in the long run you might actually save more money.

I know that many parents want to scrimp money because they are afraid their kids will get disinterested. If the parents expect their kids to be serious and passionate about piano, they themselves must be passionate about it. So not giving proper lessons and instruments seem contradictory and counter productive. So yes, for my studio, I will not start lessons proper until an instrument is procured.

[Dreamaurora]

waiyean:

fatbeary:

Most piano teachers would say that without a piano, the child won't be able to learn/attend piano classes. It is preferred that the child has a piano at home to practise on, but I have a lot of students under me who don't have a piano at home. Without a piano, it will slow down the process of learning but they can always learn more on theory to understand the concepts first.

Maybe you can let your child take up a few piano classes to see if he likes piano or music in general!

Don't wait too long to get a proper piano. Have seen some parents hold off on the purchase to \"wait and see\" if there's interest. The child can't play at home and naturally progress slowly, and soon lose interest due to lack of motivation. It is a self fulfilling prophesy... The lack of interest in the child is due to the parent's lack of support and confidence. Face it... Most child will only enjoy doing something that they are good at.

Yeah, no piano may lose motivation. But anyway, it is indeed possible to start piano lessons without piano first. Some music schools offer piano studio rental at quite cheap rate. This is what I did last time when I started learning piano also. I did not have piano last time when I started lesson, so I just rented a studio for one hour everyday at Cristofori last time until I eventually got my own cheap 2nd hand piano.