Too late to start learning piano at 7yrs old?
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Kagillus:
Hi, Jus to share. My boy started his gp piano at Yamaha at 5yr. Due to 'peer pressure' (i think) cos girls sing better, he refused to return to the class on 2nd lesson. Wasted my 300 bucks though I can get refund, too lazy to do so. I never want to pressurize him so let him go indv lesson as he still learnt fr his music book but refused to attend class. I couldnt teach. Yamaha only took in6 yr old kids. I enrolled him to a private moe registered music sch at clementi n he really enjoyed indv lessons with this teacher. Now with 1.5 yrs lessons, he performed recently solo at mini performance organized by music school. I think interest n teacher are v impt. Also u hv to assess if kids like to be in a gp. If all not in place, forcing them to pick up our interest is pointless. I want him to enjoy music. Not much focus on fingering etc cos tt will bore him. I am still hesitating if he should take exam next yr. I hv a colleague who took exams during her young days n hate music later due to exam stress. Thot will wait for teacher to advise.
Its good to enjoy music. But I think you should also balance it with taking exams early. In sg, especially with psle, tuition, remedial classes etc... you wont have too much of a luxury. The later you take exams the more you find you dont have time to devote effort to it. I hated music because it was extra work when i was young but looking back now, i achieved a fair fit. Finished my grade 8. And its good to realise your son's discomfort with group classes. I think its important to feel comfortable when learning so he is not distracted and can focus. Kinda of like your way u handle your kid but I would still suggest taking exams asap at a comfortable pace maybe?
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ccwj:
Exams are useful yardsticks, but there are other forms of assessments that can be stimulating as well and provide varieties in learning. Performances and goal pieces can be good milestones that push students as well. Every student is different and what makes a student tick may not work on other students. And if it's possible try to inject varieties in the learning e.g. duet, chamber works, improvisations, jazz, etc.Kagillus:
Hi, Jus to share. My boy started his gp piano at Yamaha at 5yr. Due to 'peer pressure' (i think) cos girls sing better, he refused to return to the class on 2nd lesson. Wasted my 300 bucks though I can get refund, too lazy to do so. I never want to pressurize him so let him go indv lesson as he still learnt fr his music book but refused to attend class. I couldnt teach. Yamaha only took in6 yr old kids. I enrolled him to a private moe registered music sch at clementi n he really enjoyed indv lessons with this teacher. Now with 1.5 yrs lessons, he performed recently solo at mini performance organized by music school. I think interest n teacher are v impt. Also u hv to assess if kids like to be in a gp. If all not in place, forcing them to pick up our interest is pointless. I want him to enjoy music. Not much focus on fingering etc cos tt will bore him. I am still hesitating if he should take exam next yr. I hv a colleague who took exams during her young days n hate music later due to exam stress. Thot will wait for teacher to advise.
Its good to enjoy music. But I think you should also balance it with taking exams early. In sg, especially with psle, tuition, remedial classes etc... you wont have too much of a luxury. The later you take exams the more you find you dont have time to devote effort to it. I hated music because it was extra work when i was young but looking back now, i achieved a fair fit. Finished my grade 8. And its good to realise your son's discomfort with group classes. I think its important to feel comfortable when learning so he is not distracted and can focus. Kinda of like your way u handle your kid but I would still suggest taking exams asap at a comfortable pace maybe? -
Kagillus:
Hi, Jus to share. My boy started his gp piano at Yamaha at 5yr. Due to 'peer pressure' (i think) cos girls sing better, he refused to return to the class on 2nd lesson. Wasted my 300 bucks though I can get refund, too lazy to do so. I never want to pressurize him so let him go indv lesson as he still learnt fr his music book but refused to attend class. I couldnt teach. Yamaha only took in6 yr old kids. I enrolled him to a private moe registered music sch at clementi n he really enjoyed indv lessons with this teacher. Now with 1.5 yrs lessons, he performed recently solo at mini performance organized by music school. I think interest n teacher are v impt. Also u hv to assess if kids like to be in a gp. If all not in place, forcing them to pick up our interest is pointless. I want him to enjoy music. Not much focus on fingering etc cos tt will bore him. I am still hesitating if he should take exam next yr. I hv a colleague who took exams during her young days n hate music later due to exam stress. Thot will wait for teacher to advise.
Be careful not to ignore the fundamentals such as good fingering, good posture and technique, sight-reading etc. Quite a few teachers choose to compromise on these as they are afraid lessons would be boring and demoralizing, unfortunately this will have effects down the road when more difficult or higher grade pieces are attempted. Not being able to express and execute technical requirements of a piece properly can be very frustrating as well. This is why a significant amount of students stop at grade 4 or 5. Exam is good to take to provide a milestone; but be absolutely sure your son is well prepared in all the components so the experience is a very positive one. -
George Gershwin first displayed interest in music at the age of 10.
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Dreamaurora:
yernying:
I am a piano teacher.seven years old is slightly late but of cos still not v late.before u start to invest,u must think properly,cos it is long journey,u need a lot of money n energy to invest.answer,this is a good invest.
So what is your opinion on adult starter who pick up piano ahove 16 years old? Hopeless since it's super late?
It's never too late to learn anything. I have an adult student who's learning piano with me at the age of 71. There are many people who pick up new skills at a later age. -
My girl pick up piano at end P4, same time as her P1 bro. Just passed G1 piano this yr March.
Because of her age, the fingers are stiffer and need more practise.
There is never too late, only want to learn or no. -
It all boils down to whether you want to learn or not, & to practise piano diligently.
If you seriously want to learn a skill, nothing can stop you.
Those people who start early, what happen to them ?
Some lose interest in piano halfway, drop out.
Is just that if you start late, then you end late.
But still, you will reach the finishing line, one day.
Does it matter that you end late ? No.
Because at the end of the day, you can still play the piano.
Remember :-
It is not when you start that is important.
Rather, it is how you end the race (in this case, learning how to play piano fr grade 1 to grade 8), that is important.
Have you seen in a race, how people run?
When the pistol is fired into the air, everybody run fast.
Then what happen ?
Halfway through, some people too tired to run.
Some stop to take a rest, then continue running, after the rest.
Yet, there are others, who totally give up, dont run anymore.
Either lost interest in running the race, or lost will power.
Likewise, same thing apply in learning piano.
There are kids who start early, at nursery or k1.
But when reach primary school level, some lost interest, gave up.
Yet, there are others who persisted, slowly but surely, bit by bit, to grade 8.
Some may take a break, rest a while when Psle come.
But after that, they continue, back to the race again, till they pouch the finishing line, ie. eventually, reach grade 8. -
phtthp:
:rahrah: :rahrah: :rahrah:It all boils down to whether you want to learn or not, & to practise piano diligently.
If you seriously want to learn a skill, nothing can stop you.
Those people who start early, what happen to them ?
Some lose interest in piano halfway, drop out.
Is just that if you start late, then you end late.
But still, you will reach the finishing line, one day.
Does it matter that you end late ? No.
Because at the end of the day, you can still play the piano.
Yes, at least now my girl and boy can play piano for dh and me while we are eating dinner :).
No matter what they play, it is music to our ear. -
taz:
Fingers stiffer are not exactly the right words to describe. There is definitely a tendency to have more tension in the hands and arms when picking up piano at older age. I know because I started learning piano when I was 17. Only years later when I pursued music full time that I realised that this is the main culprit that significantly slows down my technical development.My girl pick up piano at end P4, same time as her P1 bro. Just passed G1 piano this yr March.
Because of her age, the fingers are stiffer and need more practise.
There is never too late, only want to learn or no.
It's not that more practice is needed. It's just that the way the technique is taught will be different as compared to children who start earlier. Most notably, there needs to be a much more conscious effort by the teacher to identify causes of tension and specific exercises will need to be assigned to solve these issues first. -
The teacher did not explain that and we are layman to piano and music :oops:
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