.

Great! You seem to be a flexible teacher. Will keep your name in mind, in case we need to look for a teacher(again).


And congrats on your Grade 8 students' spectacular results. Just saw it at your website. Your own ex-teachers would be very proud of you!

Dreamaurora:

kbme80:

My opinion:
1)Most of the students should get a high pass, merit or distinction.
2)Willing to progress at the student's comfortable pace and level
3)Able to adapt to the student's learning style
4)Give equal emphasis to teaching techniques and teaching songs

Why do you think that a teacher is only good if his/her students can get grade 8 distinction?
My niece's piano teacher have students who get distinctions in grade 5 and grade 8. So we thought she is a \"good\" piano teacher. My niece can play other instrument which only need to read the treble clef. The piano teacher taught her a few grade 2 and grade 3 songs. After 5 months with her, teacher said can prepare for Grade 4 exam in 9 months.
My niece was terrified. She cannot read the bass clef well. She has problem reading the 2 clefs simultaneously. Not to talk about the sight reading skill for piano, which at that stage is non-existent for piano. She has to look at the score, look at the keys to find the keys to press. By doing this the rhythm is totally out, sure fail if go for exam.
You see this teacher did not even bother to teach my niece the proper basics like sight-reading, playing with the correct techniques from beginner to grade 3. Why the hurry to push a kid so fast until the kid is so stress? To cut a long story short, even after talking to the teacher, my sister has no choice but to transfer my niece to another teacher.
So yes the previous teacher has some distinction students at various levels but to my sister and my niece, that teacher is not a good teacher at all.

We do not care for the so called skilled or brand name teachers. We will never pay through our nose for these types of teachers. For us, learning to play well and good match between student and teacher is of utmost important.

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From my interaction with various parents over the years, most do place value on the exam results and performance abilities of the teacher and his/her students. I have students transferring from other teachers because they or their parents want them to play better, and likewise I also have students transferring out from my studio to brand name teachers.

What I think qualify as good teachers are actually the same as you. I place very high value on chemistry and adaptability of the teacher. I think eventually any teacher will stumble on a few very good students are naturally disciplined and they might have acquire those few odd distinctions. But personally I think a good teacher will be consistent in her result regardless of what kind of students she has. Personally, I don't care so much for exams also, I am more performance oriented, similar to Julie Tan mentioned above. But a good teacher who prepares for exams should be consistent in producing those merits and distinctions, say around 75% merits and distinctions for an exam intake. Obviously some students may be more difficult and stubborn, so I never say 100%. But as long the teacher can play and plan properly the exam preparation should be easy to get the merit and distinction.

Dreamaurora:

metz2:

[quote=\"Dreamaurora\"]

Anyway, charges can really vary widely. But with higher charges, come also higher expectation, and if charging big bucks must be consistent to deliver quality lessons all the time.

Regardless of the fees charged, I would expect a responsible music teacher to be consistent in delivering quality lessons (to his/her best ability) all the time.

If a teacher is unable to do so, I wouldn't advise any parent to engage him/her even if he/she charges peanuts.

I am curious about what most parents here think about what is the minimum quality expected for a basic piano teacher. Able to prepare student to grade 8 distinction level?

Will parents mind if the teachers charge cheaper but the children do not play as well or get good results in exams as those more expensive skilled teachers (assuming equal motivation level)?[/quote]My opinion:
1)Most of the students should get a high pass, merit or distinction.
2)Willing to progress at the student's comfortable pace and level
3)Able to adapt to the student's learning style
4)Give equal emphasis to teaching techniques and teaching songs

Why do you think that a teacher is only good if his/her students can get grade 8 distinction?
My niece's piano teacher have students who get distinctions in grade 5 and grade 8. So we thought she is a \"good\" piano teacher. My niece can play other instrument which only need to read the treble clef. The piano teacher taught her a few grade 2 and grade 3 songs. After 5 months with her, teacher said can prepare for Grade 4 exam in 9 months.
My niece was terrified. She cannot read the bass clef well. She has problem reading the 2 clefs simultaneously. Not to talk about the sight reading skill for piano, which at that stage is non-existent for piano. She has to look at the score, look at the keys to find the keys to press. By doing this the rhythm is totally out, sure fail if go for exam.
You see this teacher did not even bother to teach my niece the proper basics like sight-reading, playing with the correct techniques from beginner to grade 3. Why the hurry to push a kid so fast until the kid is so stress? To cut a long story short, even after talking to the teacher, my sister has no choice but to transfer my niece to another teacher.
So yes the previous teacher has some distinction students at various levels but to my sister and my niece, that teacher is not a good teacher at all.

We do not care for the so called skilled or brand name teachers. We will never pay through our nose for these types of teachers. For us, learning to play well and good match between student and teacher is of utmost important.

mummychua:

Can some one advise how do i choose a piano teacher for my 5yr old dd? what is it i should look out for in a piano teacher?

Depends on the teaching style and the child's learning style. Some teachers teach many songs and spend less time on technics. Some allocate a substantial amount of time on technics but teach less songs.
Some teachers assign many songs (like 5-6) to learn at once. Some 1-3 songs at any one time and assign a new song only when an old song is played reasonably well.