jce:

It is common for teachers to increase fees yearly. Some play for \"fun\" ie no pressure on exams, so if that's the case, the teacher will be teaching higher grade pieces but yet charging beginners' fees. Some teachers/music schools are charging per hour fees, so for example if you choose to have 45 min lesson, you pay $x and if it's 60 min, you pay $y, regardless of grade.

jce Thanks for the clarification. Now I feel better that I am not 'spoiling the market' cause I have offered to increase the teacher's fee as she has not done so for several years. Although it is my idea for not letting my kids chase after that piece of paper every year but I can see that my kids have progressed hence I feel their teacher deserves an increment.

Do piano teachers increase the fee only when the child has passed a grade? In my case I do not want my child to take exams every year but the teacher does teach her the stuff for a particular grade even if she is not taking exam that year. Is it common for the teacher to ask for an increase in fee?

Hi jce


Thanks for the pointer. May I ask if it is possible for a 20+ yr old piano to look almost new inside? Dealer said it had been ‘cleaned’ and ‘reconditioned’. Does ‘reconditioned’ involve changing parts? Would that mean I am just buying the shell which is say Yamaha and the parts have been changed to other less popular brand?

maltbibi

I am not familiar with China brands although I have heard that their quality is getting better. You might want to test them.

Any parents out there have bought 2nd hand pianos which are more than 20 yrs old? I need some feedback if it had given you problems thereafter. I am considering buying a used piano for my kids but with a small budget I can only look at those more than 20 yrs old. Would appreciate some feedback.

jce:

MMM, for convenience sake (and for the sake of your ears and your family's and your neighbours' :)) I'd suggest taking flute, oboe or clarinet. These are small and easy to carry, and not so heavy if the band goes marching. I took up flute when I was in school and carried on learning all the way till my uni days where I got my Masters in Music (and I'm not recommending flute because I teach flute, haha!)

jce

I was not familiar with the various instruments available in concert band so I checked out youtube and realised that flute seems to be the only wind instrument that makes the child look graceful unlike other wind instruments. I thought I would try to influence my child to go for flute however she said she could not see at 'fingers at work' and prefer the be able to see her fingers. Is this true?

tankee:

My DS will turn 7 this year and he is still grinning his teeth when he sleeps.


the other, one of his baby tooth dropped off when he was grinning in his sleep. luckily he woke up without shallowing it.

Perhaps can ask where plardo bought the night guard. But just wondering if there's any risk of the child swallowing it.

jsmum


I understand what you are going thru. I started this thread in 2008 and have since used some of the tips given by fellow forumers here including sashimi’s tip about talking to them when they are asleep. Not sure if it’s due to that but it seems to have worked as my child who has just turned 7 does not grind her teeth so often. I have not heard her grinding her teeth for at least a few months now. It used to be almost a few times a week. The reason could also be that she is now older and able to express herself better hence able to communicate better…so less ‘mung jang’. Just my own theory! Or it could be like what some said, they stop when they approach 8.

csb


I think it depends on the school. Like my kids’ school which inculcates perseverance, will discourage the kids from dropping out of any CCA in the middle of the year. They would like to see the kids finishing the whole year. However as parents we should know better why our kids want to drop out. If the reason is not valid then we should tell our kids to ‘finish the race’ however if it is other very valid reasons then you can speak to the teacher in charge and I am sure the teacher should allow him to drop out midway.

MMM:

Hi,


Definitely not a master but my P3 also joins the band CCA. She joined while she is in P2. In their case, it's not what they want but rather they are allocated by the instructor to take on certain instrument. I don't know what is the basis of that.

She is learning the trumpet. She has moved from one to another within the trumpet family.... gosh my memory is failing and I can't remember the name.

She does bring her trumpet home and I personally thought that was loud. My niece (Sec 3) is in the school band and also playing trumpet and she enjoys it.

Yes... after she joined, I am now thinking in the line of DSA in the future as a backup plan especially if she makes it to school band in the future.

But heard from her enrichment class teacher who has a student who joined some sec school via DSA based on her school band experience. Band is time consuming, there are alot of performance and also now that she is in sec school, she would like to move to other CCAs but she can't as she was selected for DSA due to her band experience. In our case, my P3 seems to be enjoying herself and is looking forward to performing in Istana and overseas so we just let her be for now.

MMM

Thanks for your tips. Did your child complain of pain (mouth or jaw) during the initial months?

Hi


Let me try once more.