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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

Son losing motivation. Do we need a new teacher?

32 replies

Mumof2andaZoo · 06/03/2015 08:10

My son has been with his piano teacher since he was 5 (11 now). He passed grade 1 piano with a distinction 2 years ago. He also does singing with the same teacher and has got distinctions at grades 2 and 3 in the meantime. After grade 1 DS worked through several grade 2 piano pieces, but because of timing, we all decided to skip the exam and move towards grade 3. The teacher got in touch with me in January to say he was concerned at the lack of practice and progress. He wanted DS to sit the exam this spring session but he wasn't ready. DS has a practice book, so what he needs to concentrate on is written down for him.

DS is still not really practising. His school teachers always tell me how talented he is so it's really frustrating. Another mother at school has given me the number of another teacher and a few people have told me that this teacher is really good and gets them through the grades really quickly. A few people have commented that after this amount of time he should be much higher than grade 3.

I'm not musical at all, so was just wondering what others with more experience thought. Would a new teacher help? DS says he doesn't want to change teachers or stop lessons and as he's like an only child (sister is in her twenties) and it's the only activity he does I don't want him to stop.

Any advice would be appreciated.

OP posts:
taxi4ballet · 06/03/2015 09:49

I agree with others - maybe ask your ds why he doesn't like practicing. I suspect he might say he's bored, which could be something to do with only practicing the exam pieces and he's lost motivation and is stuck in a bit of a rut.

Perhaps you could see if he would like to have a trial lesson with the other teacher to see how he gets on? They might be just the person to re-kindle his enthusiasm.

Original poster
Mumof2andaZoo · 06/03/2015 09:47

Thanks for the replies.

He does play violin at school and is doing grade 2 in the summer. He did play with the local training orchestra but decided to give that up a while ago.

I don't get to see the teacher any more because of getting home later from work, but I think I may need to go and see him to discuss where we go from here.

DS won't give me a proper answer when I ask him about his reluctance to practise, and not ever having learnt an instrument myself I do find it difficult to understand how he feels. He does play the piano almost every day, but I'm not sure if he's practising what he's been set or just playing what he enjoys playing. I think it's probably the latter. The teacher told me ages ago that once a week I should read through his practice notes for the week and sit with him while he does his practice, which I did start doing, but have to admit it tailed off after a few weeks (housework, cooking tea etc.).

OP posts:
RaspberryLemonPavlova · 06/03/2015 09:19

I would agree it is not necessarily the teacher, unless you feel that a different approach would motivate him.

I would never use a teacher 'to get them through the grades 'quickly'. However, form my own experience I would probably expect a higher standard (not necessarily having done the grades) after six years of lessons assuming some effective practice.

This might sound odd, but are you sure piano is the right instrument for him? Have you considered an orchestra instrument instead/as well?

Piano is very solitary, playing an ensemble instrument and getting involved in an ensemble can be much more motivating.

Mistigri · 06/03/2015 09:11
  • Obviously that should read "5-6 years" (grr to autocorrect!)
Mistigri · 06/03/2015 09:09

Changing teachers will make no difference if he doesn't practice!

You and his teacher need to talk to your son about what he wants to get out of his lessons, what he enjoys, what he wants to do more of. It sounds to me as if an exam focus is completely irrelevant in this situation - a student who is not ready for grade 3 after 5-6 heart plainly isn't going to be a serious concert pianist. But he may well have other musical aptitudes that he and the teacher could explore.

My 13 year old daughter plays piano too - she'll never have the technical standard required to make a serious classical musician (started too late and doesn't practice enough) but she has other abilities like composing, arranging and improvising where she is streets ahead of most (she thinks nothing of putting on her headphones, listening to a piece of music and working out a piano arrangement by ear, without a score). Maybe your son would enjoy improvising, or playing different music styles, or learning some keyboard or recording skills?

Fleurdelise · 06/03/2015 08:46

I haven't got much experience (Dd only just taken grade 1 exam yesterday) but I would personally stay away from teachers who take kids through grades really quickly. Unless this is your aim, a bunch of certificates.

Saying that I do think that after 5 years he could have been a higher grade but that is only if the practice is done and the effort put in. The teacher cannot have any input in the practice side of things.

I have been told that getting to grade 1 takes longer, between 1 and a half to two years, even more if the child has started at an young age. After that it is pretty much a grade every year providing the effort and practice is put in.

So not sure if the problem is with the teacher or the lack of practice. You could change the teacher but without the practice the progress will not change.

TooTiredToThinkOfAUsername · 06/03/2015 08:39

This is a bit bullet pointy, sorry. Am responding whilst bf:

*.Getting through the grades quickly is not necessarily a good thing. Just churning through the grades would mean students are not necessarily developing good technique and they certainly wouldn't have the time to explore different repertoire - which to me is very important in enjoying piano, in learning about piano and in developing as a pianist.

  • Having said that the grade system can provide a nice structure and motivation for students.

  • The lack of progress made by your son sounds as if it might be more about his lack of practice than the teacher. I suppose you might be feeling that he WOULD practise if the teacher was any good. I can assure you there so many outstanding teachers out there who still have students who don't practise.

  • From your op it looks as if the teacher raised this issue, which would suggest they ARE good. Also they have been suggesting jumping grade 2 and pushing for grade 3 so they sound just as keen to get your son through the grades as this other teacher.

  • Don't compare grade progress with other students! There is no set speed of progress or age at which a student should be grade X.

  • Can you ask your son why he is not practising? If he's 11 does this change correspond with him starting senior school and all the extra homework, activities and social stuff that goes along with that? Perhaps your son still wants to play but doesn't want to practise?

  • If your son doesn't want to change teacher then I would be very loathe to do that. The student teacher relationship is such an important part of how a student makes progress.

  • I would talk to the teacher yourself about this. Try to find some ideas together to encourage and motivate your son.

  • When you talk to the teacher it may be that there are things you can do to help your son practise at home. Students that have parents who help and support their practice tend to do better than those with parents who are not involved.

I'm sorry if that's all a bit disjointed! In summary I would NOT rush to change teacher. I would work with son and teacher to find out why DS isn't practising and to find ways to change this. Also do not focus on grade progress. It's not the be all... If your son was practising avidly and still not making progress or if he just didn't like his teacher (character clash etc) THEN I would consider changing teachers.