All About Choosing Piano Schools And Teachers

[Imami]

Dreamaurora:

waiyean:

[quote=\"Dreamaurora\"]
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.

Yes, that's definitely possible. Renting a studio one hour everyday is as good as having a piano. What I was trying to say is that parental support is very important for the child. It is a commitment, both in terms of time and money. Half-heartedness and adopting a wait and see attitude is not going to help the child much. Like what you mentioned in the previous post, how to expect child to be passionate about music when the parent is not?

:salute: :salute: :salute:

Yeah, parent's commitment is important. And it seems a lot of parents expect that it's the teacher's responsibilty to keep the child motivated. In fact responsibility actually goes both ways. The teacher should be able to communicate to the kids on the same level and create engaging lessons that expose the kids to piano comfortably. Parents should be interested in the lessons and assist in practice as often as possible. They should also provide the best resources money can buy. That's why I do not understand why some teachers and music schools do not allow parents to observe lessons. From my experience, students whose parents sit in lessons and assist practicing at home progress astronomically faster than students whose parents do not.

That being said, I did not have my parent's support at all when I started learning piano. In fact my parents actively discouraged me, saying things like 'you are simply untalented' or 'learning piano is a waste of time'. I only had a 3rd hand $1600 Young Chang piano to practice up to my grade 8, and there were times I simply had to self teach myself because no money for lessons. But I soldiered on until the completion of my full time study in NAFA. So yes, it is also possible without parent support to make it, but unlike others, I loved piano very very much even before learning piano. I would go to piano recitals by myself, buy CDs and scores (even though I did not know how to read them). So pretty much I decided I was going to make music my profession when I started learning piano.[/quote]

[Imami]

PhoBIA:

Young children needs lots of movitavion or rather carrots dangling in front of them.

Parents play a very important role to create a conducive and encouraging environment.

Apologies but this are I really need help - how to motivate the child?

I have a feeling that I would need to really push my kid to learn piano. But the last thing I want is to force piano on him. It should be about what he likes. My role should be to provide what is needed (find a good teacher, buy a good piano, get the needed material) and to be a cheer leader.

I seem horribly unimaginative in this aspect - to motivate. But on the other hand, I could already imagine what could possibly happen - I drag my kid to his piano lessons with him brawling at the door, every attempt to get his little fingers on the piano is a hair tearing episode. :stupid: :stupid:

I kind of agree that it is not the teacher's sole responsibility to motivate the kid. Parents play a huge part too. Which is why, I still haven't kicked start anything. I need to be sure how to do it to steer my kid ahead.

[XiaoXin]

Dreamaurora, totally agree with you.


I do not know how to play Piano but I still sit in the class when my son is playing and I practice with him at home too. My 4 years old son is correcting my mistakes whenever I play the wrong notes. :imsorry:

[Dreamaurora]

Imami:

PhoBIA:

Young children needs lots of movitavion or rather carrots dangling in front of them.

Parents play a very important role to create a conducive and encouraging environment.

Apologies but this are I really need help - how to motivate the child?

I have a feeling that I would need to really push my kid to learn piano. But the last thing I want is to force piano on him. It should be about what he likes. My role should be to provide what is needed (find a good teacher, buy a good piano, get the needed material) and to be a cheer leader.

I seem horribly unimaginative in this aspect - to motivate. But on the other hand, I could already imagine what could possibly happen - I drag my kid to his piano lessons with him brawling at the door, every attempt to get his little fingers on the piano is a hair tearing episode. :stupid: :stupid:

I kind of agree that it is not the teacher's sole responsibility to motivate the kid. Parents play a huge part too. Which is why, I still haven't kicked start anything. I need to be sure how to do it to steer my kid ahead.

Plenty of parents have shared here what they are doing with their kids. And I think you already more or less have an idea what to do. If you want to take it a step further, you may want to show the same love of music or piano that you expect your son to have. It is quite common nowadays to see parents learning piano simultaneously with their kids.

But sometimes, it is best not to try too hard and let nature take its course.

[Imami]

bhchng:

Dreamaurora, totally agree with you.


I do not know how to play Piano but I still sit in the class when my son is playing and I practice with him at home too. My 4 years old son is correcting my mistakes whenever I play the wrong notes. :imsorry:

Hi bbchng, how did you get your son started? Mine is also 4 this year.

I am just too scare to move, for fear that I kill his interest with my own hands.

[sleepy]

Imami:

bhchng:

Dreamaurora, totally agree with you.


I do not know how to play Piano but I still sit in the class when my son is playing and I practice with him at home too. My 4 years old son is correcting my mistakes whenever I play the wrong notes. :imsorry:

Hi bbchng, how did you get your son started? Mine is also 4 this year.

I am just too scare to move, for fear that I kill his interest with my own hands.

You might want to start off with group lessons (more fun) to test interests?
That's what we did when my dd2 was 5 years old.

Thereafter, you can assess whether he wishes to continue piano or even explore a different instrument

[Imami]

sleepy:

Imami:

[quote=\"bhchng\"]Dreamaurora, totally agree with you.


I do not know how to play Piano but I still sit in the class when my son is playing and I practice with him at home too. My 4 years old son is correcting my mistakes whenever I play the wrong notes. :imsorry:

Hi bbchng, how did you get your son started? Mine is also 4 this year.

I am just too scare to move, for fear that I kill his interest with my own hands.

You might want to start off with group lessons (more fun) to test interests?
That's what we did when my dd2 was 5 years old.

Thereafter, you can assess whether he wishes to continue piano or even explore a different instrument[/quote]Yes, I have explored that too - group lessons. But the few schools I have checked with are all more keen to enroll my kid on the one to one basis.

I just went checking medley music at safra toa payoh with him. The lady who attended to us took us for a tour around the facility. It looks better than cristofori (could be because this is a new facility). my kid only peeped into the first piano room. His eyes only lit up again when We were shown the drum room. Like i have said, he's seems more of a drum person.

[jedamum]

Another option for parents who planned in advance for future piano lessons is to try to source for preschools that conduct music lessons. My boy got his exposure to keyboard weekly in k1 for his school music lesson and eight months thereafter, we borrowed a keyboard and started him one to one . He was three months before his five year old birthday. We bought a second hand piano only ten months after his first lesson, before he started grade one prep, when he finished his primer lessons.

[sleepy]

Imami:

Yes, I have explored that too - group lessons. But the few schools I have checked with are all more keen to enroll my kid on the one to one basis.

Haha, I had similar encounter! I checked around quite a number of music schools in my area. Apparantly 5 years old is considered rather late to begin group lessons. Eventually I signed dd2 up at Seimpi, the only center in my area that's still accepting 5 years old kids for group lessons

Imami:

His eyes only lit up again when We were shown the drum room. Like i have said, he's seems more of a drum person.

Why not start him on drum then?
Not every child takes on to piano.

My dd1 is a string person. Piano is a big no-no to her.
Doesn't matter to me which instrument, as long as she enjoys it

[XiaoXin]

Imami:

Hi bhchng, how did you get your son started? Mine is also 4 this year.

I am just too scare to move, for fear that I kill his interest with my own hands.

Imami, my son started his Baby Music Course at about 18 months. Progressively to Group Piano Course at 3 years old. He started his Individual Piano Course about 2-3 months back.

I have been with him throughout all the Music Courses. He is not alone. I am learning together with him. So, he doesn't feel scare and lonely as well. Experience Music Teacher is important as they know how to deal with young children. It is important to be with your child on the Individual Piano Course. Else, how are you going to practice with your child at home? Unless, your child is a Music Genius at birth.

Next, you will need to ask yourself. Is it you who wants the child to learn Music or the child who is interested to learn Music? I also get to know that some children are interested in other Music instruments like Violin or Flute than Piano. Have you tried other options?

Every child is different. I understand that my elder son is interested in Music so we continue the path. Not sure about my younger son who is 2 years old now. But we will still go via the same motion identify his interests. Just sharing our experiences. For your reference only.

Nothing is too late. I have also just started learning Music! :rahrah:

FYI. I have also helped my son to remember the musical notes by printing the flash card from this website. I cut them out individually and help him to remember.

http://makingmusicfun.net/htm/f_printit_lesson_resources/flash-cards-tc.htm

My son always asking me to help him. So, I tried my best to find materials for him.