Music teacher - who is right?

Sounds like teacher has dropped the ball and is trying to cover up by blaming the child. Not good. Also a bit concerned that scales were never practiced in lesson even apart from exams - there's a reason they're included and it's not just to spite students and parents! Even if they did expect child to prepare scales and aural at home, they should have made sure you and DC knew that at an early stage and checked in that things were going okay.

I think salvage what you can, make it clear to DC that it's teacher's fault the technical bits aren't ready (or claim it's your own fault if you want to be diplomatic) and just to give it their best shot. Can you book an extra lesson for playing through? Or book a different accompanist and a session to rehearse with them? I wouldn't delay, maybe cancel the exam and skip that grade. I think coming back to an exam they've already prepared for once would feel like a backwards step even if they weren't really ready the first time.

That said teacher must be doing something right to get your DC to that level at that age. What's their relationship like normally? Was doing exams teacher's idea or yours? Might they have had a bad time recently for personal reasons or anything? It's hard to see circs where I wouldn't be looking around for a new teacher though I'm afraid.

I did piano to Grade 8 as did dh and he is now a music teacher. I have taight graded speech and drama exams and both my children have had instrumental lessons.

I would absolutely expect all exam work to be covered in class. Scales were always played at the start of the lesson and corrections given wioth regards to fingering, eveness of tone, hand position and in the later grades accents.

Similar with aural and sight reading.

I did have cause to complain about dd's first piano teacher with regards to this and he agreed to delay her exam at his own cost as he had failed to prepare her properly.

I would be embarrassed to be a teacher putting a child in for an exam in this situation.

Hope you can find a better one. And be prepared to let exam grades take a back seat for a while, a new teacher may want to work differently for a bit on some things especially if scales have been neglected by the current teacher.

I would find another teacher.
You are paying them to teach. If they are preparing for an exam, then they need to be taught exactly what they need to know to pass that exam. This is what the teacher is for. Teaching.

How are you supposed to know what scales they need to know? Many parents have never learnt an instrument, so have no clue what their children are doing. I personally was at boarding school, so there was no backup. I learned what I was told to learn, and practiced of my own accord. The grade level is irrelevant.

Seriously, sack the teacher.

Because it may be boring for the child to keep the exam pieces.... He can take it next week to move on, enjoy lots of new pieces, then he can aim to be fully prepared for the next exam. Just a suggestion...

It’s actually fairly easy to re-schedule exams, you (or the teacher) just ring up the exam board. We’ve had to do it twice. I don’t see any point ever putting a child through an exam they’re likely to fail.

It's not piano, right? Actually he might just do fine next week, provided he can go through all the scales now. I know it's not ideal and he could have achieved a higher mark if he takes it later than now,, but I don't think it'll be a total nightmare. I would definitely consider postponing till next term if it was piano though.

From my own experience as a child and my dc's scales have always been used as a warm up and regularly tested. Moreover, comments and instruction were always written down in a notebook until I was into my teens. (Dc 9 written down for both instruments).

It struck a chord that your dc is upset, coming out with 'I'm stupid', this is very similar to what I would have felt and said as a child in such circumstances. To allow him to do the exam under prepared will not allow him to perform to the best of their ability, giving them a false idea of how good they are. I would definitely withdraw. I wouldn't stick with a teacher with the attitude and approach you have outlined, especially for a child under 12.

Aurals: www.e-musicmaestro.com/auraltests (It is common like Neleus said for teachers to avoid them in lessons.)

Teachers fault. Gr5 mid primary is very advanced anyway, they are doing very well - withdraw from exam and book for Summer or Winter. Plenty of time. but they do need to be on top of scales and playing with accompaniment. All my children have always done scales and pieces with teacher, plus prompted to play with piano accompaniment. I've started doing my Dd 's pieces with her now, with me playing piano, and she won't do exam until at least Summer. Also - have you done aural? Good to be on top of that too.

Op, I think with your DC being upset and calling themselves stupid, it honestly sounds like it would be best for their self esteem etc to cancel and rearrange for when they're more confident. My DC studies violin and has had teacher help throughout with all her exam scales as well as preparation for the aural tests. I wonder if the teacher realises she has messed up on this and trying to deflect on you.

How ridiculous, of course it's the teachers fault. Your DS sounds like he's worked hard over the last few weeks and he's only young; the teacher is 100% in the wrong here and should've set up at least a way of him practising at least a few each week

By grade 6 (if you're on ABRSM) he will need all harmonics AND melodics and the number of scales is much greater so at least you're aware of this now

Definitely let him take it next week; he'll most likely be fine. He can learn a few in the run up to the exam this week and hope for the best.

I have a post grade 8 diploma in piano and was supported all the way to grade 8 by my teacher in my scales so would be disappointed like you are in this scenario

Someone I know was very active in lesson and would often address to the teacher what she would like her to cover at the start of a lesson. For instance if she felt scales had to be checked, she would tell the teacher that, even which scales, and the teacher made sure to go through whatever requested during the lesson.

I am not sure if this is a right attitude. I would hesitate to be so involved but because I don't play instruments myself so there is no way I can 'instruct' the teacher what to do... It probably depends on the relationship with the teacher, teacher's personality and teaching style... I just can imagine DS's teachers would be livid if I did that...

I am so sorry for the lack of support from the teacher. I agree it's not fair for a child to take an exam without covering everything. And I do think it's the teacher's responsibility to make sure all is covered.

However, it's not so unusual to hear this kind of situation, sadly. Many teachers seem to focus on pieces only. They may show you what to expect in aural etc very briefly, if you are lucky. I am not sure why. Maybe there is no enough time? Some are simply no so exam oriented...

If you are happy with the teacher in general, but you like to make sure to cover all for an exam, you may consider arranging another teacher for other areas? Obviously too late for this term, but from next time? I would feel uncomfortable with the teacher's attitude though, blaming the child and the parent for the lack of knowledge. She could instruct you what to cover outside of her lessons in advance at least.

Further thoughts, Grade 5 by mid-primary, so no need to rush at all. I really would be inclined to withdraw and do it in a few months with a new teacher.

First of all, Grade 5 by mid-primary is really quite impressive, so you're DC must have been doing lots right over the years, including plenty of practice.

I agree with many of the previous comments, but I would have a serious word with the teacher. Why has the teaching method changed regarding scales and accompaniment?

Should be practising with accompaniment at least many weeks before the exam, all the way through, and should be doing scales in lesson, they are a good warm-up apart from anything else. Saying scales should be learnt independently is a cop-out, teacher should have been listening to scales to assess if they are ready!

Aural skills require regular practice.

If your DC really wants to do the exam, you could try to get a couple of intensive longer lessons in. He might still do well this way, but it's far from ideal and I'd look for a new teacher regardless. But there's nothing worse than a performance/exam if you don't feel prepared.

I think it's reasonable to expect kids to do a lot of the leg work on learning scales themselves but I would absolutely expect a teacher to be checking progress regularly and making expectations very clear.

I would also expect DC to have played pieces through with accompaniment before an exam although I have generally arranged that separately. However DC's teachers always had input into that and sometimes attended the practice.

It sounds like the teacher has been caught out a bit and is trying to pass the buck. Does your DC listen well generally? The only thing I can think of is that the teacher has been reminding your DC to stay on top of these things and it's gone in one ear and out the other.

Then withdraw from the exam. Better to do it another time when you’ve sorted out the issues!

Agree with sarky it is absolutely the teachers responsibility to ensure scales and aural are learned and that pieces have been played with accompianist.

Dd does 3 instruments- all teachers cover the scales. We have a separate aural teacher to make sure it gets worked on properly, and there’s a full lesson length run through with the accompianist before the exam. If not two!

While I agree a g5 pass is is still g5 I wouldn’t enter if you know they are going to fail the scales/aural...it will knock their confidence.

I'd be looking for a new teacher and withdrawing my child from the exam.