To dreamaurora,

Yes, I am aware of many things and I knew the way is really tough. As a performer, I am quite confident on my skills and understanding, but the repertoire is something i need to work more on, so does the theory. there is no surprise to me that FTCL cannot enter YST. When I was 12 years old, my mother had considered to send me to Middle school attached to Central Conservatory of China and we lived in Beijing for more than one month. but I was not determined enough and I quit. But at least, I knew the standard. I knew it is a long journey for me.
After reading books on Suzuki, Carl Orff, Kodaly and Dalcroze on my way to teach my son music, I felt that Suzuki might be the way I would be following. all the other three are great, however, Suzuki might be more suitable for me as the teaching philosophy. the methods of the three famous Europeans are good in general and for classes and groups, however, in the sense of instruments, I think Suzuki’s method could be more effective. and to teach very young children beginners, the most important thing is to know how to nurture the children with their parents. and how to make the beautiful tonality. it is not only the music training, it is also a kind of character training. how to make music reflect your spirit. the aim of the education is to make noble human beings.
I know I am much far behind and I am not young. DMA might be very far for me. (a person with DMA and also a music therapist is my idol, as neuroscience/pyschology is also my interest). But at least, I had known where I should heading to. No matter what is my final achievement, I should try.

oh…i want to be a Suzuki teacher first.i am finding a way out as no Suzuki association is in Singapore. I am planning to go for full time music education.

I am giving up my 10 years Life science research training! it is painful. but I think that is not a waste as I learnt the ways of self-teaching and experimentation.

good saying dreamaurora, I also hope i can get a DMA. however, i did not get a bachelor yet.:( I read books on music education and find some books are so good and the author is DMA, certified Suzuki teacher and music therapist. My Idol.

leongstella:

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!

if you posted it everywhere, people will thought it is just an advertisement and no one really believes you.

Dear Dreamaurora, the type of accompaniment and improvisation I meant is just very simple, for example, just to accompany yourself when you are singing or accompany your friend when she/he is singing. would you give this type of training or any hints if your students ask you? would you teach kinds of chords progression and patterns of accompaniments to suit the mode and form of the song?

Thank you so much on your previous answers. that are enlightening.

hi, Dreamaurora, would you like to share how you train you students in sight-reading, accompaniment and improvisation?

It is good to study the piece thoroughly. Children are different. But over-emphasis or only work on the exam pieces are just not my opinion. To be honest, I felt I am the one who did not practice good amount of piano works. I only practiced for one month for exam is because of my pregnancy and some other logistic problem. But I felt that 3 months are good enough if the students have time to practice. It might depends on the situation of the students as " children are drown in school works and tuition". they may need longer so that the stress level would go down. what I do not agree is that some teachers just let the students continuing practicing the same pieces again and again for one year. Young children would lost the interest. . But I also think understanding and practice more pieces will make people get to know more on music. Studying through other similar pieces might enhance the understanding of exam pieces. I think the exam pieces are just guidelines. Only when the foundations are strong, the student can understand well and express correctly. It is bad to hear someone only prepared one week for a concert. But for general public, what is the purpose of learning the piano? what is the purpose of taking exam? Maybe everyone has different answers.

I really wonder why people need so much time in preparing exams. I am sorry that I am not teaching any student now. But when i was young in China, my friends and I only practiced the exam pieces for 3 months. I think that should be enough if the students have been up to that level. I only practice one month for my grade 8:( (when i was pregnant)… before that, I was registering anyway (the fee was so dear) and i decided not to find any teacher…I think I was too confident. It was lucky that my friends told me on the audition part and then I checked the syllabus again and bought a few books. Otherwise, I would definitely fail that part (no ideas on what was going on). I really wander what i was doing during the audition ( too many guesses from intuition), but luckily, I passed with merit. I regretted that i did not practice a bit longer. I was too nervous at the beginning when i found the piano sounded so differently from my own. but 3 months should be much more than enough.

Dreamaurora:

watercooler:

Dear Dreamaurora, could you deliberate what is the main difference of Albert Tiu and Hecht's students?

Broadly speaking, Albert tiu focuses on beautiful singing line whereas Thomas Hecht sounds more orchestral. Thomas approach is also more textbook and suited for large scale works whereas Albert tiu excel in shorter romantic works.

Great! Thank you. I never think that way. I will pay more attention to this difference when I have time to go for their students concert next time:)

I also agree that boys and girls are very different. I believe my mother’s method could not be applied to my son. It won’t work well.