All About Choosing Piano Schools And Teachers

[Icebaby22]

phankao:

Icebaby22:

Hi, I'm looking for dedicated piano teacher for my 3 years old son. His younger twin is already learning piano 1-1 at a music school. He's doing Suzuki piano. I feel that my older twin is capable of starting former piano lessons as he's more attentive and can concentrate better. Pls pm me. Thanks

But you said his younger twin is already doing 1-to-1 piano lessons. Is that not \"Formal piano lessons\" already? What other kind of lessons do you want for your Older Twin?

My 4yo is doing suzuki piano too. He's halfway thru suzuki piano book 2.

My younger boy is doing suzuki piano. But the older twin has yet to start any piano lessons. Would like him to start grade 1 as he is definitely capable of doing it. I'm not musically trained but after going through the forums, realized that some methods are more recognized locally than others, such as ABRSM. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that some are better and others are bad, just that the learning styles of by my boys are different. Would like to expose the older twin with a different teaching style since I've been teaching him using suzuki method after learning with younger twin.

[phankao]

Icebaby22:

phankao:

[quote=\"Icebaby22\"]Hi, I'm looking for dedicated piano teacher for my 3 years old son. His younger twin is already learning piano 1-1 at a music school. He's doing Suzuki piano. I feel that my older twin is capable of starting former piano lessons as he's more attentive and can concentrate better. Pls pm me. Thanks

But you said his younger twin is already doing 1-to-1 piano lessons. Is that not \"Formal piano lessons\" already? What other kind of lessons do you want for your Older Twin?

My 4yo is doing suzuki piano too. He's halfway thru suzuki piano book 2.

My younger boy is doing suzuki piano. But the older twin has yet to start any piano lessons. Would like him to start grade 1 as he is definitely capable of doing it. I'm not musically trained but after going through the forums, realized that some methods are more recognized locally than others, such as ABRSM. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that some are better and others are bad, just that the learning styles of by my boys are different. Would like to expose the older twin with a different teaching style since I've been teaching him using suzuki method after learning with younger twin. [/quote]I don't see why Suzuki as a starting point for learning cannot eventually be integrated with graded exams?

My boy already does sight-reading. I think he has no problem with aural and would just need some training to be familiarised. He has done tones of scales. And his pieces in Suzuki Vol 2 are already at least Grade 2 to 3 standard.

He also does Suzuki violin and has also at the same time performed quite a few of the ABRSM grade 1 pieces already. I think his suzuki violin pieces are more difficult - can peg them at at least grade 2 standard, some around grade 3 standard. The \"graduation\" piece of suzuki violin vol 1 was already an ABRSM Grade 3 exam piece. And that's only vol.1, not even vol.2. Volume 2 pieces are mostly at least grade 3. Some have been ABRSM exam pieces.

My elder boy started with suzuki violin at 8yrs old and eventually did his gr8 exam at 13. If you look thru the suzuki curriculum, you'll find that the pieces actually progress in difficulty rather quickly. And each new piece progressively introduces new techniques.

Most still have to start learning as a \"beginner\" to the instrument, and then progress from there.

[waiyean]

Suzuki Vol 1 is simpler than ABRSM Grade 1, but Vol 2 sort of "caught up". My daughter was playing Vol 2 while taking her grade 2, and still occasionally play some pieces for fun while in grade 3.

[Imami]

Ok, I know this is not the right place to talk about this but I am still posting it here because this is the thread where the piano/music folks I can count on will pop in.


Been wanting to talk about this since Jan. Since Jan till today, I had brought my child to two sso children concert. Never have I thought I would do/have a chance to do this. All thanks to my child, I got the chance to go to a sso concert. On my own (or with some adult friends), I would hv been intimidated. Children concerts seem less scary

I hv to say, I like what I see and hear! Surprisingly, my son too. Because the both of us are so clueless, we Hv some fun finding out things. As I watched the concert and as I was queuing to buy the merchandise (CDs and books), I thought of dream aurora. He ever mentioned about going to orchestra performances and buying the CDs when he was younger.

Attending these performances, listening to the CDs and reading up (eg what's the diff between orchestra and symphony? How are the instruments organized? The different types of instruments etc) are so interesting.

Other than sso concerts, is there any other such performances?

Ok, mods don't scold me. I know I :offtopic:

[phankao]

Imami:

Other than sso concerts, is there any other such performances?

Ok, mods don't scold me. I know I :offtopic:

SSO casual concerts are attendable by those 5yo and above too - 1hour only.
http://www.sso.org.sg/outreach/casual-concerts.html

How about Beautiful Sunday concerts in the Big Esplanade Concert Hall? You can watch all sorts of musical groups - Chinese, Pop, Band, Wind, Singing, etc, etc.

http://www.esplanade.com/whats_on/esplanade_presents/series/beautiful_sunday/index.jsp

The concerts are only 1 hour, free, only once a month though. So if your child fusses, then just leave - no big deal. It's free.

I brought my son since he was like 16mths' old. But do have to be forgiving to some groups lah. They are not professional standard, altho' some are really good. Again, since it's free... so it's great for exposure. I'm afraid I really hate those that play K-pop and J-pop. I totally cannot appreciate, so would avoid those.

Yong Siew toh Conservatory also has free concerts. Check out what's suitable:
http://www.nus.edu.sg/music/02_whatson.html

Concerts only run during term-time.. so it'd be around August to April only. From May-early Aug, there would be no concerts usually.

SNYO has concerts that are not expensive. Their website not always updated, so might be easier to check sistic or gatecrash.
http://www.snyo.org.sg/upcomingPerformances.aspx


Would you consider Botanic Gardens concerts? Or other outdoor concerts, eg. at Turf club, etc, etc?

eg. tomorrow there's a Chinese ensemble performance at Botanic:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=621666021183662&set=a.224804537536481.75185.193894753960793&type=1&theater

[phtthp]

for children who had completed say for example, Yamaha junior basic course, or eg: Christofori basic music course for kindergarten K2 kids -

on average, how long does it take, before they’re ready to sit for Grade 1 exam ?

[Imami]

phankao:

SSO casual concerts are attendable by those 5yo and above too - 1hour only.
http://www.sso.org.sg/outreach/casual-concerts.html

How about Beautiful Sunday concerts in the Big Esplanade Concert Hall? You can watch all sorts of musical groups - Chinese, Pop, Band, Wind, Singing, etc, etc.

http://www.esplanade.com/whats_on/esplanade_presents/series/beautiful_sunday/index.jsp

The concerts are only 1 hour, free, only once a month though. So if your child fusses, then just leave - no big deal. It's free.

I brought my son since he was like 16mths' old. But do have to be forgiving to some groups lah. They are not professional standard, altho' some are really good. Again, since it's free... so it's great for exposure. I'm afraid I really hate those that play K-pop and J-pop. I totally cannot appreciate, so would avoid those.

Yong Siew toh Conservatory also has free concerts. Check out what's suitable:
http://www.nus.edu.sg/music/02_whatson.html

Concerts only run during term-time.. so it'd be around August to April only. From May-early Aug, there would be no concerts usually.

SNYO has concerts that are not expensive. Their website not always updated, so might be easier to check sistic or gatecrash.
http://www.snyo.org.sg/upcomingPerformances.aspx


Would you consider Botanic Gardens concerts? Or other outdoor concerts, eg. at Turf club, etc, etc?

eg. tomorrow there's a Chinese ensemble performance at Botanic:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=621666021183662&set=a.224804537536481.75185.193894753960793&type=1&theater

Wah :thankyou:

Very happy to see your suggestions! For the time being, I am not picky about the where/who/what/how much so long as it is casual enough (my son still cannot internalize the \"keep quiet during performance\" and would blurt out questions) and short enough (one hr is fine, anything longer I think I need help such as biscuits to keep my son focus).

I shall explore those links you hv mentioned! Thanks much!

[Dreamaurora]

Imami:

phankao:

SSO casual concerts are attendable by those 5yo and above too - 1hour only.
http://www.sso.org.sg/outreach/casual-concerts.html

How about Beautiful Sunday concerts in the Big Esplanade Concert Hall? You can watch all sorts of musical groups - Chinese, Pop, Band, Wind, Singing, etc, etc.

http://www.esplanade.com/whats_on/esplanade_presents/series/beautiful_sunday/index.jsp

The concerts are only 1 hour, free, only once a month though. So if your child fusses, then just leave - no big deal. It's free.

I brought my son since he was like 16mths' old. But do have to be forgiving to some groups lah. They are not professional standard, altho' some are really good. Again, since it's free... so it's great for exposure. I'm afraid I really hate those that play K-pop and J-pop. I totally cannot appreciate, so would avoid those.

Yong Siew toh Conservatory also has free concerts. Check out what's suitable:
http://www.nus.edu.sg/music/02_whatson.html

Concerts only run during term-time.. so it'd be around August to April only. From May-early Aug, there would be no concerts usually.

SNYO has concerts that are not expensive. Their website not always updated, so might be easier to check sistic or gatecrash.
http://www.snyo.org.sg/upcomingPerformances.aspx


Would you consider Botanic Gardens concerts? Or other outdoor concerts, eg. at Turf club, etc, etc?

eg. tomorrow there's a Chinese ensemble performance at Botanic:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=621666021183662&set=a.224804537536481.75185.193894753960793&type=1&theater

Wah :thankyou:

Very happy to see your suggestions! For the time being, I am not picky about the where/who/what/how much so long as it is casual enough (my son still cannot internalize the \"keep quiet during performance\" and would blurt out questions) and short enough (one hr is fine, anything longer I think I need help such as biscuits to keep my son focus).

I shall explore those links you hv mentioned! Thanks much!

I think Phankao's suggestion is excellent and should give you good ideas what concerts to attend. It is heartening to see that there are more casual concerts geared towards children nowadays. Unfortunately though, piano concerts are still generally quite stuffy and I see that most of pianists who visit Singapore like to play very traditional programs e.g. 3 COMPLETE sonatas in one concert. I love standard western classical repertoire, but I am equally fond of a lot contemporary repertoire (no, not Boulez or Crumb type). I am thinking when I get more comfortable performing I should organise casual piano concerts in which audience get to ask questions or even participate actively. It's something that is still currently lacking in Singapore.

Anyway speaking of classical music for children, you can let your son listen to Beethoven's Wig series. I am using it to train singing for my students and it's a hit with them (yeah, you can buy the scores for it). Here are some samples.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEQI6AyDxpo][/youtube]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_nGZM3O-5Y][/youtube]

[Dreamaurora]

phtthp:

for children who had completed say for example, Yamaha junior basic course, or eg: Christofori basic music course for kindergarten K2 kids -

on average, how long does it take, before they're ready to sit for Grade 1 exam ?

They should be ready to register and attempt grade 1 immediately which is give or take around 4 months minimum, though I would suggest slightly longer time because the child may need some more time to get accustomed to new teacher and practice routine. So, in reality probably ideally minimum 6 months.

[Imami]

dreamaurora:

Anyway speaking of classical music for children, you can let your son listen to Beethoven's Wig series. I am using it to train singing for my students and it's a hit with them (yeah, you can buy the scores for it).

Thanks, will check this out!