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Education

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Original poster

anyone a Piano or music teacher ?

92 replies

Beetroot · 16/02/2006 17:36

OP posts:

Yorkiegirl · 16/02/2006 17:37

Message withdrawn

Original poster

Beetroot · 16/02/2006 17:44

a question really..

ds3 is 8 nearly 9.

chorister, so musicial
took grade 2 a year ago.
his teacher refuses to let him atrat grade 3, not ready apparently. has been on same piece (Minuet in G by Bach) since september. Giving him grade 1 sight reading, which he does with ease. He sightreads ds2 grade 2 books and ds1 grade 5 books. He loves the piano, but I feel being held back by teacher. Ds3 went in with grade 5 piece that he had practised over christmas, and was really excitged about playing it to teacher. teacher tossed it aside and said it was rubbish.

what do i do? school is specialst music school so you woudl think they would be able to get me agood teacher. they have said that I have to fwait until easter. do i let it ride? do Igo speakto teaher? do I pull him and find home teacher until easter? ideas please.

OP posts:

Yorkiegirl · 16/02/2006 17:47

Message withdrawn

fastasleep · 16/02/2006 17:48

Not a music teacher but was a pupil! I was driven mad by exam stuff and nothing but exam stuff... could you find him some sheet music appropriate for his abilities and let him play with that?

You know, just while you're making you're mind up about the teacher!

I remember my teacher and my parents falling out, because I knew my exam pieces perfectly and he didn't want to enter me into the exam (can't remember why now) but TBH it made the relationship with my teacher very strained from then on... I'd either swap completely, or enquire about it very er... sweetly!

Original poster

Beetroot · 16/02/2006 17:51

fastasleep he is not doing exampeices, his teacher wont let him..he chooses to do ds1 and 2 peices as he is so bored of the stuff he is given. he would love to do his grade 3

OP posts:

bobbybobbobbingalong · 16/02/2006 17:51

Long time to be on one piece IMO.

I would suggest that he takes a copy of Grade 2-3 Upgrade by Pamela Wegwood into his lesson and asks his teacher if he can play something from it.

Minuet in G by Bach may have to be abandoned for the greater good I think.

Oh, and don't think that because it's a specialist music school the teacher is any good. I worked at one whilst still at college with no experience, and have just been rejected for one with 10 years experience, numerous exam passes by pupils and a smaller place with less of a talent pool to choose from.

Original poster

Beetroot · 16/02/2006 17:51

yorkie, good idea about asking someone else to be there and they did offer me a change but it was as bad as the one he had so i turned it down

OP posts:

fastasleep · 16/02/2006 17:53

Oh that's even worse!! Poor DS! Ditch the teacher!

Even though he'd love to be able to do his exam stuff (poor mite) I always found having a blues/jazz book for when I got a bit overwhelmed or bored was great so that I still got practice when I felt like having a lazy day, but didn't have to stick with same old same old

Original poster

Beetroot · 16/02/2006 17:53

the whole house shouts in unison SHUT UP when he plays the bach peice.

that book sounds good bbbbb, but i actually think he should just start grade 3, think it is ludicrous

OP posts:

Marina · 16/02/2006 17:53

Even we have cases where teachers really do not click with or extend their students for various reasons. A swap is always arranged with no hard feelings unless it is clear the student has been taking the mickey and that's obviously not the case with your ds beety.
Good luck in getting a solution.

fastasleep · 16/02/2006 17:55

AAARGH I remember minuet in G... nooo... I obviously had a teacher like your DS's!

Original poster

Beetroot · 16/02/2006 17:57

he dips in and out of 'what else can i play' grade 2 pieces staiway to heaven and stuff like that.

OP posts:

Original poster

Beetroot · 16/02/2006 17:58

so i should go to miserable mr skanky and say 'give me child a break, he is only 8 and is bored to tears by you and your teaching'.

OP posts:

Yorkiegirl · 16/02/2006 17:59

Message withdrawn

Original poster

Beetroot · 16/02/2006 17:59

pefect will do on MOnday, and if my PMT is as bad as it is today then he will get a right earful!

OP posts:

Yorkiegirl · 16/02/2006 18:06

Message withdrawn

bobbybobbobbingalong · 16/02/2006 19:06

The cunning thing about the Grade 2-3 book is that most of the pieces are actually grade 3. But because it's got Grade 2 written on it I thought the teacher might go for it more. How much repertoire has he played since doing grade 2?

roisin · 16/02/2006 19:08

I would try putting some pressure on the teacher Beety, and see what happens. When I was 12 I passed my grade 5 piano, but my teacher kept refusing to put me in for grade 5 theory for about 18 months and without that I couldn't do my grade 6 piano exam, and so lost momentum and interest in playing.

In the end it emerged that my piano teacher had a student of a similar playing standard, but academically not as bright [brag, brag] and she kept failing her theory exam. It wasn't until my (independent) piano teacher happened to meet my school music teacher, who told her not to be so stupid, that I was entered for (and passed) the theory exam. But by then I had lost the love I had for the piano (and my teacher!) and transferred my efforts to the oboe instead. I wish my parents had been a bit more pro-active and not "let is ride" at the time.

Also, some teachers set great store by the marks of their pupils; and refuse to enter pupils unless they expect them to get at least a merit, preferably a distinction.

Sorry this is so long, but what I mean to say is there may be other issues behind her attitude, and a little bit of parental pressure might help to get over this hurdle.

Original poster

Beetroot · 16/02/2006 22:25

bbbbb, with his last teacher he jsut played all osrtos of stuff that he chose (after his grade 2) now since sept he has done 2 pieces (one being minuete in f'ing g) and then at home he does all sorts of stuff from his brothers books

i might have alook at that book.

I have been ranting in my head this evening

OP posts:

fob · 16/02/2006 23:04

beetroot - I'm a secondary school music teacher....

fob · 16/02/2006 23:08

just read the whole thread....no point in pulling him into private lessons. just put a bit of pressure on the music dept to meet your obviously very taleneted sons needs! good luck!

Original poster

Beetroot · 16/02/2006 23:09

thanks fob, i think i will go have a chat with the teacaher

OP posts:

bobbybobbobbingalong · 16/02/2006 23:58

2 pieces since September not acceptable - the teacher must be sick of them too.

Original poster

Beetroot · 17/02/2006 09:00

bbb, yes it is mad isn't it. and ds is a good musician. he practices 4 times a week at school and then at home at the weekends.

OP posts:

intergalacticwalrus · 17/02/2006 09:08

I'm a music teacher, (cello) and I find it so frustrating when pupils play the same thing over and over again. I am sure as someone else said the teacher must be sick of the same thing over and over again. Has the teacher said why he thinks ds is not ready for grade 3? I think you should definitely take him to task over this, as even if your son doesn't do Grade 3, he should at least be able to extend his repertoire and be challenged.

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