daisyt:I'm in a chicken & egg situation. Some people have also told me that I need to get a proper piano to sustain interest. I bought one of those $300 Casio keyboards at home, and my daughter practices on that.Teacher and teaching style are very important. It can either kills the interest or builds up the interest. I experienced this for my dd. This teacher A, who has taught her for about 3 years, killed her interest totally. After changing, the current teacher B brings up her interest back.
Intitially I did not noticed it because I always thought, as long as she goes for exam, pass her exam, thats it. Slowly, I realised, she practised just for the sake of the exam, not the passion or interest. After a few close obervation on the teacher's teaching, I stop her lessons with this teacher A. I gave my girl (12yo) 2 months cooling down period to think it over, if she still wanted to continue. The reason of loosing her interest was teacher A's teaching and attitute, and the low grade piano we having. After 2 months, her answer to us was YES, she wanted to continue. We upgraded our piano and hunt for a teacher. I am so lucky to find a very good teacher, who is very passionate on teaching piano. Before accepting my girl, she asked for a trial/interview with my girl. I find this is good because I can also judge the teacher during the trial. In the end, she accepted my girl and we also accepted her. Compare her with teacher A, the way she teaches, is totally so different. For eg. teacher A teaches for the sake of teaching. When my girl did not practise, she would just keep quiet and go through the motion. Teacher B, once, she sent my girl back because my girl did not practise enough. She said \"My job is to teach, not to practise with her.\" (BTW, she did not charge me for that lesson she sent my girl back).
p/s : please do not ask me or PM me to recommend this teacher B because she is fully booked.
The main reason of course is that the cash outlay is not so high, so even if she gives up piano it is not so serious. Also, it doesn't take so much space in my 4rm flat.