is a merit at grade 1 good?

[Labro]

Bit confused, ds age 10 took grade 1 cornet In July after learning for 1 term and got a merit, bur when telling me this his teacher was VERY scathing about his general attitude, lack of practise and reckons there are some issues with his tonguing technique that need addressing otherwise it will 'seriously impede his progress' ! Back when I did grades (am grade 8 cornet myself) grade 1 & 2 were considered ridiculously easy so is that still so or is he doing well and I've got a clash of personalities on my hands?! (Hesitate to teach him myself as been playing over 30 yrs and can't remember how I was 'taught' to tongue!)

You can tell how easy it is by looking at the music! It is easy but you would expect this after such a short time. If he is not keen, try and find an instrument he may be interested in or a teacher who is not quite so judgemental. Distinction is the highest grade a you should have the examiner's notes on the exam. If he is learning via school, is there a beginners' band he could join run by the local authority's music service? If you play the cornet yourself, you must have some idea of how his technique is improving, or otherwise.

I'm about to look for a new teacher for dd for cello and the one thing I really want from a teacher is one who will be very keen on technique. Dd got merit for grade 2, but I'm sure some things need correcting.

I think at 10 you could ask your son how he feels about his lessons and if they inpire him to practice.

If he got grade 1 merit after 1 term something must be going right. It took dd 2 years to get a fail at grade 1.

I don't think you can tell from the teacher's attitude without talking to other parents.
It may be that this teacher is negative to all children, or at any rate their parents and is generally not easy to work with. Or gets on brilliantly with some, and dreadfully with others. I remember using a driving instructor that my dsis thought was brilliant, and I found really difficult.

Or it may be that he feels your ds is musical and could do well, which is why he's frustrated that he isn't helping himself. I know when teaching tennis, you used to get some children that didn't want to do things in a way that was slightly harder to begin with and you knew that they were storing up problems for later. Often they were the ones who were naturally good, so could get away with it at that stage. Those were the ones who you got frustrated with because you could see that they were capable of much more. They were also the ones who often gave up as soon as they reached the point they needed to change to get to the next level because they couldn't cope with not being able to do it naturally first time.

I think the early grades in brass are very easy though. Dh says they didn't have grades 1 and 2 when he learnt as they were so easy. Dd2 did her grade 1 trumpet and got a high distinction, including full marks on pieces. She was sounding fine, but we were slightly surprised think she hypnotised the examiner

Sounds pretty good even for age 10.
Does he practise during the school week at home? it may well be that he doesn't practise. Or perhaps he just has a teacher who is too fussy over it all although that might be better than one who isn't.

The entry date for July exams (AB) was 3rd May, so if you dc had been learning for 1 term, then the teacher would have made the entry based on only 3 lessons.
Trinity have similar entry dates.
When did he start learning?

Hadn't finished - sorry!!!

After such a short time learning, I doubt that all the techniques could have been covered enough to be brilliant anyway. Did he already read music?, if so, that would help.

Re tonguing, So long as he knows what he should be doing, it will come in the end. He needs to practise specific exercises to help this, not just exam pieces.

Does he practise?
Does he enjoy it?

Maybe the teacher was having a bad day? Was stressed? What does dc say the teacher is like during lessons?

Thanks. He started at the start of the Easter term, plays piano so can read music.
His teacher is the school music teacher as the brass teacher moved on. This music teacher is also a brass teacher so no issues there. The main issue has been with practising, dramatic improvement when teacher introduced the exam pieces as he was told he won't be able to do the exam otherwise.
Will see how this term goes. Couple of kids have moved on or given up so her lesson burden is less.