All About Choosing Piano Schools And Teachers
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phankao:
sleepy:
[quote=\"Dreamaurora\"]Hopefully in the next few years MOE will reduce the focus on academics and maybe also increase the relevance of music certs, so more students can see the benefits of going further.
There is music elective programme for those who are interested.
How does the music elective programme \"reduce focus on academics ...and help see benefits of going further\"? Even that, need to have inspiring teachers that promote not just what is in the MEP syllabus. BTW, MEP is rather academic.[/quote]Yes, one of my friend DS went to MEP as she is very good in piano - getting distinctions for all her grades till Grade 8. But the kid regretted going to MEP cos she likes music but hates the dry academic music area. She went through the programme but really hates it. -
SIL is finding a music school (piano) for my niece. Both my kids learn 1-to-1 piano with a piano teacher who came to my place. She is asking me the differences (i.e. pros and cons, if both lessons are 1-to-1)? Anyone with experience with both can assist? My first thoughts are most music schools will have more students and resources to organise the yearly concerts and recitals? Fees wise, I find them music schools typically charging more (largely because good piano teacher do not really go to the students’ home to teach, thus the quality of teachers teaching home-based tend to be lower? Correct me if I am wrong). Anymore detailed analysis from parents with both experience?
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We registered our child with Aureus Academy last Dec trusting that we could find a good teacher. We had told the teacher at the start that we wanted to register our child for Grade 1 in 2016. The teacher said then that she will register for our child for the June exam. However, after the registration has closed, she told us that our child is not ready so its better to go for the one in September. We recently changed to another teacher in the same school as we wanted a Saturday slot. And upon checking with the new teacher about the exam for September, she told us that the registration has already closed and the previous teacher had not registered for our child as she felt that our child is not ready.
1. If the teacher knows our intentions of letting our child take the examination, shouldn’t the teacher start to practice the orals, and sight readings instead of just practicing the exam pieces every lesson? DS could already play 3 pieces from practice book in early March.
2. The school should inform parents what are the registration dates and exam dates so that parents are aware and can make informed decisions. We had trusted the teacher to register and this is what happened.
3. The school had failed to register our child twice for the year and gave excuse saying that our child is not ready.
4. We were told to buy a sight reading book and theory book. But after a few lessons, the teacher said that there is no time for theory and asked me to do it with my child at home. The sight reading book was only used once.
We were utterly disappointed in the way the school runs! -
blingbling:
We registered our child with Aureus Academy last Dec trusting that we could find a good teacher. We had told the teacher at the start that we wanted to register our child for Grade 1 in 2016....\"
Most average lower primary school kids take 6-9 months to complete their 'beginner' syllabus and another 6-9 months to prepare for the exam. The teachers should had expressed their concerns in the beginning.blingbling:
Your kido only started lesson 5 months ago. Unless his lesson is at least an hour long and you are helping him to practice intensively, there isn't really much time to cover anything adequately. It's a common practise for many teachers to focus on the pieces and scales first because they carry the most marks (max 90 marks for pieces, max 21 marks for the scales. you need 100/150 to pass). The theory exam is registered separately from the practical exam. Thus when time is short, it gets push aside.1. If the teacher knows our intentions of letting our child take the examination, shouldn't the teacher start to practice the orals, and sight readings instead of just practicing the exam pieces every lesson? DS could already play 3 pieces from practice book in early March.
Are the 3 pieces from the Grade 1 exam book? -
Our child was with another music school for 2 years plus prior to Aureus. He is a fast learner and can master a song within a short time frame. Every lesson the teacher will give New pieces to play for fun. From Dec till April, he had learned 10 new songs on top of the 3 exam pieces.
What we are upset is the school didn’t bother to inform us anything until the registration has closed.
Yes, the 3 pieces are from grade 1 exam piece and we practiced with him intensively for an hour Everyday. -
You can register for exam with abrsm directly.
Even though music teacher is from a music school, we register on our own.
Not sure about trinity exam though. No experience. -
blingbling:
No big deal since your child is a fast learner then ! Register him for grade 3 at least. Don't waste time with grade 1 lah ... So in the end no time wasted at all. Since he is so fast , ascertain what grade he can handle, & register for that.Our child was with another music school for 2 years plus prior to Aureus. He is a fast learner and can master a song within a short time frame. Every lesson the teacher will give New pieces to play for fun. From Dec till April, he had learned 10 new songs on top of the 3 exam pieces.
What we are upset is the school didn't bother to inform us anything until the registration has closed.
Yes, the 3 pieces are from grade 1 exam piece and we practiced with him intensively for an hour Everyday. -
blingbling:
We registered our child with Aureus Academy last Dec trusting that we could find a good teacher. We had told the teacher at the start that we wanted to register our child for Grade 1 in 2016. The teacher said then that she will register for our child for the June exam. However, after the registration has closed, she told us that our child is not ready so its better to go for the one in September. We recently changed to another teacher in the same school as we wanted a Saturday slot. And upon checking with the new teacher about the exam for September, she told us that the registration has already closed and the previous teacher had not registered for our child as she felt that our child is not ready.
1. If the teacher knows our intentions of letting our child take the examination, shouldn't the teacher start to practice the orals, and sight readings instead of just practicing the exam pieces every lesson? DS could already play 3 pieces from practice book in early March.
2. The school should inform parents what are the registration dates and exam dates so that parents are aware and can make informed decisions. We had trusted the teacher to register and this is what happened.
3. The school had failed to register our child twice for the year and gave excuse saying that our child is not ready.
4. We were told to buy a sight reading book and theory book. But after a few lessons, the teacher said that there is no time for theory and asked me to do it with my child at home. The sight reading book was only used once.
We were utterly disappointed in the way the school runs!
You can always stay informed http://sg.abrsm.org/en/exam-booking/exam-dates-and-fees/http://sg.abrsm.org/en/exam-booking/exam-dates-and-fees/ -
blingbling:
Generally sight-reading need to be incorporated regularly in lessons regardless of preparing an exam or not. Specific aural training for exams normally can go through after registering for the exam, though for the higher grade ones may need to go through earlier for those weaker in aural.
1. If the teacher knows our intentions of letting our child take the examination, shouldn't the teacher start to practice the orals, and sight readings instead of just practicing the exam pieces every lesson? DS could already play 3 pieces from practice book in early March.blingbling:
I am not sure how Aureus is ran, but is there a principal/manager who is usually a senior teacher who coordinates exam preparation among teachers? This person should provide all the necessary infos to students and their parents. He/she should also set general guidelines on how to ascertain a student is ready. From the way you describe this, it seems like there is a general lack of communication between the teachers, students, and the school managements. But I will reserve my judgement until we hear Aureus' side.2. The school should inform parents what are the registration dates and exam dates so that parents are aware and can make informed decisions. We had trusted the teacher to register and this is what happened.
3. The school had failed to register our child twice for the year and gave excuse saying that our child is not ready.
Not ready can be a valid excuse for not registering student for an exam, and in fact I myself have advised exams to be delayed because of this reason. But these are not arbitrary decisions, for any of my students who plan to take exams, there are specific goals they need to meet by registration before they are allowed to register. All these expectations and deadlines are conveyed very clearly months before the registration. So, if the students do not meet the pre-registration goals, then the parents can see for themselves the students are not ready.blingbling:
How long is the lesson? If it is only half an hour, I would concur it's very difficult to do a well rounded lesson every single week. But it is still possible to ration theory, sight-reading, and technical training into short lessons. Just that may need to alternate.4. We were told to buy a sight reading book and theory book. But after a few lessons, the teacher said that there is no time for theory and asked me to do it with my child at home. The sight reading book was only used once.
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Dreamaurora:
I thought most music schools run separate theory and aural lessons ? Separate from practical ?
Generally sight-reading need to be incorporated regularly in lessons regardless of preparing an exam or not. Specific aural training for exams normally can go through after registering for the exam, though for the higher grade ones may need to go through earlier for those weaker in aural.blingbling:
1. If the teacher knows our intentions of letting our child take the examination, shouldn't the teacher start to practice the orals, and sight readings instead of just practicing the exam pieces every lesson? DS could already play 3 pieces from practice book in early March.blingbling:
I am not sure how Aureus is ran, but is there a principal/manager who is usually a senior teacher who coordinates exam preparation among teachers? This person should provide all the necessary infos to students and their parents. He/she should also set general guidelines on how to ascertain a student is ready. From the way you describe this, it seems like there is a general lack of communication between the teachers, students, and the school managements. But I will reserve my judgement until we hear Aureus' side.2. The school should inform parents what are the registration dates and exam dates so that parents are aware and can make informed decisions. We had trusted the teacher to register and this is what happened.
3. The school had failed to register our child twice for the year and gave excuse saying that our child is not ready.
Not ready can be a valid excuse for not registering student for an exam, and in fact I myself have advised exams to be delayed because of this reason. But these are not arbitrary decisions, for any of my students who plan to take exams, there are specific goals they need to meet by registration before they are allowed to register. All these expectations and deadlines are conveyed very clearly months before the registration. So, if the students do not meet the pre-registration goals, then the parents can see for themselves the students are not ready.blingbling:
How long is the lesson? If it is only half an hour, I would concur it's very difficult to do a well rounded lesson every single week. But it is still possible to ration theory, sight-reading, and technical training into short lessons. Just that may need to alternate.4. We were told to buy a sight reading book and theory book. But after a few lessons, the teacher said that there is no time for theory and asked me to do it with my child at home. The sight reading book was only used once.
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