All About Violin Classes and Teachers
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meowal:
Not supposed to have any fighting in suzuki method, leh. Very child-centered and child-led method.My dd started with Mandeville at 2.5yrs old, she is 6 now. She is using Suzuki method, on book 3. Probably could have gone faster but this mommy is very lazy to nag for practice.
She started off with group class till 4, before switching to 1 on 1.
For Mandeville, they have very good teachers & very so so teachers. Of course, the good ones are usually fully booked.
It is a huge commitment to start an instrument, for the adults. This is especually true for Suzuki method, and young age. Lots of tears & fights to be expected.
If your dd is 6 now, then she must've started quite some time ago, b4 Mandeville changed their age policies. My info is from last year. And when I queried on the discrepancies with what they emailed me about and their website info - they said website not updated YET.
I even emailed Sylvia Khoo directly to discuss. But she say she' very busy as she's also a schoolteacher and won't have time to do more classes or even 1-to-1 lessons until at least 10yrs later when she retires from service.
I felt I had no patience for large group classes ... imagining how much time is wasted with 8 students in a 45min lesson. Part of the time probably taken up with adjusting and tuning instruments. Oh well. -
The theory is to be child-led, if we really practise that 100%, it will really lead to nowhere. How often do you see a child that would put down toys and go practise… even a very talented child that I know, needs to be pushed and nagged.
Having said that, I don’t push too much (maybe not enough?). As long as she practise, I’m happy.
DD started with Sylvia Khoo but we switched after 1 term. She is a good teacher but I do not agree with her style. Hehehe… I have no ambitious for dd to fly in this area, it is just a means to teach discipline for me. Sylvia’s demand is very high and sometimes comments made are inappropriate for young children. But have to say, she does produce very good students. -
meowal:
The theory is to be child-led, if we really practise that 100%, it will really lead to nowhere. How often do you see a child that would put down toys and go practise.. even a very talented child that I know, needs to be pushed and nagged.
Having said that, I don't push too much (maybe not enough?). As long as she practise, I'm happy. .
Our suzuki violin journey not been long. Only 3mths. Our suzuki piano journey has been 7mths. Practising was always part of a game that I devised in the beginning. So I never did say \"practise\". It was always \"why don't we set up and play these trains at the piano\", or \"now we shall do target shooting at the violin score stand. I think it was later that the little one realised we were not just playing but \"practising\" but it didn't quite matter to him by then what it's referred to? I don't think I've asked him to put down his toys for practising bc there is not much need to. He brings his toys to practices often still. He has also come to realise that it's just what he does 1st thing in the morning after his breakfast/bath/milky before going to school.
My elder ones started at much later ages(7 and 8yrs old) on their respective instruments, so they did understand that practising was expected with lessons. There are days that they've skipped now that they are much older and occupied with schoolwork. I do remind them once in a while, but no big issues. They usually know they should practise or embarass themselves in school/orchestra/lesson. My biggest issue is the quality of practices. But yeah, their greatest challenge is fitting it all with everything else in their day. They leave the house at 6.45am, so fitting in practices before going to school is not possible. *hah*. Neighbours would complain too!!!
It does take more effort and creativity to work with a little one. All the little things to make practice fun or even *funny!*. I've gone \"how about we do fruit salad\" or \"have a car race, Lamborghini, Ferraris\" for Twinkle variation practices today? He's doing Song of the Wind now and I challenge him to hop his left hand fingers with agility. It's all quite silly. It's certainly easier with a 7yo than a 3yo! -
I did try out various methods in the begging when she was much younger. It gets more difficult as she grows. Also have to admit mommy is not very patient.
with 3 monkeys in the house, sometimes we have to squeeze time out to do it and once the moment is gone, got to move on to the next task. I'm a little pressurized by this also bcos her teacher has high expectation and organises recital every other mth. Those recitals motivates her to practise but drives me up the wall. hahah..
Ds did piano but not suzuki. After he entered P1, it came to a standstill. Part of the reason is bcos I want to be there during the practise, it not, it is really a waste of time. He just hammers on the piano for 30 mins and claims to be done!
The 'joy' of parenting! -
meowal:
Hah. I have 4 at home. The 3yo is our youngest. He's a copycat, that's why he's doing piano and violin. He also wants to do another instrument, but I think we'll wait until he's around 6 or 7yo. He should be able to pick that up quite quickly if so inclined by then.I did try out various methods in the begging when she was much younger. It gets more difficult as she grows. Also have to admit mommy is not very patient.
with 3 monkeys in the house, sometimes we have to squeeze time out to do it and once the moment is gone, got to move on to the next task. I'm a little pressurized by this also bcos her teacher has high expectation and organises recital every other mth. Those recitals motivates her to practise but drives me up the wall. hahah..
Ds did piano but not suzuki. After he entered P1, it came to a standstill. Part of the reason is bcos I want to be there during the practise, it not, it is really a waste of time. He just hammers on the piano for 30 mins and claims to be done!
The 'joy' of parenting! -
My 3rd one (4 yrs old) starting piano this wed. shudder Arranged to take time off work every wed to go for class. Bend over backwards to avoid any classes on weekend.
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phankao:
I'm impressed! 3YO boy can do both piano and violin! I'm a FTWM and it's hard enough getting my 7YO to practise as we have a small window period after dinner to squeeze in homework and practice (plus dinner and bath)... my real problem now is how to even squeeze the time out for lessons for my 3.5YO (esp if we can't get someone to teach at home)...
Hah. I have 4 at home. The 3yo is our youngest. He's a copycat, that's why he's doing piano and violin. He also wants to do another instrument, but I think we'll wait until he's around 6 or 7yo. He should be able to pick that up quite quickly if so inclined by then.
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What about the weekends?
I feel that going to a school is more condusive. Then there is also performing opportunities, not available for home tuition.
Someone once told me good teachers don't travel to people's house. I thought quite true too. -
For me, I avoid weekend classes at all cost because that is the only time we can bond as a family. Plus, most schools are packed on weekends. Going to United Square on a weekend is a logistic nightmare and I can feel my temperature raising once I get into the car park. That’s why rearrange my work to bring them for classes on weekdays.
I’m not sure about violin teachers but ds’ piano teacher comes to my house and she organises quarterly recital. I think it depends on individual, how committed they are. -
Hello everyone, I thought I would like to add a note here for everyone.
I know of this piano/cello/violin teacher around Tanjong Katong area. He graduated from Guildhall School of Music & Drama, specializing in violin performance. From what I understand, it is the leading conservatoire in UK.
He has about 17 years of teaching experience. Very flexible and dynamic.
His ability is also quite amazing; has helped highly functioning autistic child to learn more about music (patient man), to guiding students to be exam-ready (for their Music Elective Program/O Lvls/A levels/SOTA/etc)
Teaching style is unconventional - combines about an hour of lesson with music documentaries, operas & composer movies. This is so that the child can develop his own interest (hopefully, also passion) for music.
I have attached a link to a news article about him, featured in the Business Times here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9PnZcq ... dit?pli=1#
PM me if you wish to have his contact!
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