What to do about DD2s school music teacher- advice please.

[Downnotout]

DD2 has been having singing/ piano lessons at school for 3 years. She is 9. In singing she is working for grade 3. Piano she has been working to grade 1 for ages. She has passed all her exams at distinction so far. Is placed 1st or 2nd in music festivals.

She also sings in the junior section of a very well known choral society, and has been a soloist for them- she won their special award this year.

Her music teacher was not entering her in local music festivals last year as the age group was under 12 and she said there was no point as DD was too young but her choral teacher suggested she enter a couple and she came 2nd in both ( beating others from school 2 years above.)

I think her school teacher has taken offence at this, but there was none intended and I did check with her beforehand. I have found out today that she has entered some girls again for festivals and not DD. As for piano, she has been plodding away at grade 1 pieces for two years, we have been through two different sets of grade one books and theory books and still she has not put her in for her exam. DD has been ready for sometime.

Last year the teacher suggested DD would be a candidate for music scholarships by year 6 and told me she should be able to get to grade 5 singing and grade 3 piano easily by then. She also plays another instrument.

DD is frightened of her teacher. She says she shouts if she gets things wrong. I have heard of other children giving up because she can be really nasty to them. I think she is sapping DDs confidence.

I don't think DD is a prodigy or anything but she loves her music. When she's alone at home she learns things off you tube like Time to say Goodbye, flower duet, Ave Maria but says that is her "secret voice" and that she's afraid to sing that way in front of her teacher. She is also doing exams through Trinity Guildhall as her teacher says the Royal College of music ones are ridiculous for young children. Her choral teacher disagrees and says they are better.

I'm not musical so I don't know. But she hasn't been entered for any exams this term and is learning a piece from Glee?.. In singing and having perfected her grade one pieces is starting a different piece in piano again. Does this sound right?

Speaking as a music teacher I am shocked at the attitude of your DD's piano teacher. Don't send her back - it is completely unacceptable to speak to any pupil like that.

Most of my pupils are ready to attempt grade 1 after around 18 months to 2 years of playing, some sooner if they are particularly keen. I expect your DD has stagnated because (a) she's scared and (b) she's not actually being taught properly.

Find a new teacher.

Woah! that sounds appalling.

And to answe zzen you are absoltely correct. Your voice does not work properly when you are frightened. itis fight or flight syndrome, your vocal folds contract as it is a physiological response to fear (their function is to contract during vomiting, childbirth, swallowing or going to the toilet) wheras they need to be RETRACTED for singing. A good way of achieving this both physiologically and psychologically is to laugh silently.

Have yet to read the whole thread, but 2 things came to mind immediately that may help you in the short term.

1. Did you know that using the website, you can enter your own child for music exams? It doesn't have to be the teacher!

2. If you think she is doing well at the recorder, why not try her on some exam music for recorder? Again you could enter her yourself & the recorder is an excellent starter instrument (upto Grade 5) to then switch to Clarinet or Oboe!

Teachers can become very concerned about their reputation when it comes to entering pupils for exams. So if you are willing to do it yourself instead this may take away some of the burden?

The thing with sax, clarinter, oboe or indeed brass instruments there is a certain element of the shape of your aperture which affects how good you can be so again it would be a case of trying them in the future not just thinking sax is the way to go.

Piano is fab for learning to read both clefs, I started with treble clef and never could get to grips with anything else but then again I'm not that musical

Teacher sounds awful awful awful. Ask around for some recommendations and I'd be letting the other parents know why too!

If you would like her to do something fun while you are looking for a new teacher DD has absolutely loved Razzamajazz Recorder books (1-3). Come with CD's to play along to & piano part if you play/want to perform.

In my experience as a musician there are 2 schools of music teacher. The kind gentle coaxing method & the disciplinarian. I have worked with both & they both achieve results with kids of different characters. The trick is finding the right one for your child. Good luck!