zac's mum:

Does your son have any particular instrument in mind? Some boys like drums, it helps them vent their anger/frustration in a legitimate way haha...

Really good advice zac's mum!
Speaking of venting anger/frustration in a legitimate way, maybe instead of music lessons, one could go the martial arts route, judo, etc...

Hi Parents,


I have a Sunday afternoon slot, and thursday evening slot that has just opened up in my teaching studio.
If interested, feel free to PM me.
Did my studies in the US, and am currently coaching at NAFA.
Thank you.

There is quite a big difference between pianist as performer and pianist as teacher though.


I know friends who can trace their lineage to Beethoven;Czerny, fantastic performers who are linked to Rachmaninoff indirectly, and these people have no interest in teaching.
A commitment to the growth of the student and having a strong feeling of mission in music education is something far more essential, in addition to having excellent musical understanding and communication skills of course.

Btw,

ABRSM is offering the chance to take ARSM exam for free!
If i’m not wrong you’ll have to write in with a short essay…
Can check it out on the website

zac's mum:

My main question is, should I even bother sending him for the exam? I don't think the pressure will suit him, and what use is the paper qualification if he's not going to be a piano teacher in future? (Not in his nature...short fuse & more sporty type)....

Any comments? Personally I've been through the exam route yearly during my own childhood, until failed Grade 8 then I stopped trying due to O levels. Looking back now, I can't see the justification for taking the exams? Even if it goes onto my resume, it's no big deal as I'm sure tens of thousands of people in Singapore have the same pieces of paper? Sorry, I don't mean to sound judgemental but just trying to understand the reasons why students want to take the exams.

Hi Zac's mum,
The exam at grade 1 won't really be a high pressure situation :imdrowning: , the examiners are usually really friendly and accommodating of exam day nerves. (Of course, pressure on the kid can come from different places other than the exam itself )

Music exams could be compared to Sports competitions in a way. The point isn't just whether you win or lose (some people may disagree with me), but also it's a way to find your limits and to try to surpass them. :stupid: The justification of these exams are because they are often graded by really experienced musicians who can give really informed comments and advice on what is good/lacking in the musician's playing.

Maybe students who want to take exams, aren't doing it so much out of the paper chase, but perhaps to see if they have what it takes at a certain level.. I am generalizing in a very broad way though. :?

Happy to hear that sleepy!

I think it’s a tricky balance between the vocational aspect of education and the curiosity lifelong learning/enjoyment part.
Learning on her own is a really good sign, and given her grade 8 marks, I would actually think she could definitely transition to diploma level eventually. But that’s only if she finds any value in that path.

At such a young age, I would be more inclined to celebrate the process of music learning than to worry about the grade and how it compares to others… Sure, a pass means that there were significant things missing from the playing… but I also think it’s harmful to measure a kid’s learning with marks so early on.


Do disregard any unpleasant remarks you get about your DD’s pass grade. People who obsess about that and heap that kind of pressure on a 6 year old know nothing about music.

Angelight:

Hi, anyone can advise on taking the ABRSM theory exam, LCM or Trinity? Are the latter two less internationally recognized than the first one? Seriously need some advice here. Pls share your experiences if your kids, students or yourself have taken the theory exams from any of the above three institutions. Thanks.

hi Angelight,

In the local context ABRSM is the most recognized, (Be it schools or among parents) followed closely by trinity.

When you speak of internationally recognized, these certs don't matter as much as the teacher/which institution you study music at, and the quality of the student's playing.

totorosy:

That's probably because I have yet to encounter real great pianists from the UK. Or their names do not actually ring bells. Most winners of prestigious piano competitions are either from Eastern Europe and occasionally from Asia. These are the pianists that frequent the great concert halls. I cannot recall anyone from UK who won the Chopin or Tchaikovsky competitions. I know, for Singapore, it's the connection to the UK plus the language but in terms of qualifications, I think the UK still pales in comparison to the likes of Russia. In terms of teaching/pedagogy, I am not sure if it is because Russians do not bother to translate their material into English? Maybe they have even better material...it's just that we do not know of them. Oh, I happened to pass by a piano studio that claims to teach using Hungarian tradition.

Hi Totorosy,
I do agree with you on the great pianists part. There are some really really fantastic professors of Piano in the UK though.. Christopher Elton to name one. And also there's Peter Donohoe, silver medallist at the Tchaikovsky competition..

Do you mean a piano studio in Singapore? Probably using the Kodaly method? (One of the best methods around in my opinion.)

Applepiedelicious:

A little bit out of topic

Does a Bachelor Degree teacher qualified to teach 2nd and 3rd Diploma level (say DipLRSM or Dip LTCL)??

I think the question is perhaps a bit too general? A paper qualification will tell you little about the actual quality of teaching.
I know of people with bachelors degrees that I would pay to learn from, and also people with doctorate degrees I would not study from.

Are you searching around for qualified teachers to teach diploma?