Would two weekly piano lessons be worthwhile before her first grade?

[ConfusedHappy]

DD is currently doing piano, so 30min a week. Progress is slow and steady, so after 1.5 years, she will initial grade. DD is very shy and I feel if she gets at least one grading under her belt, she will feel more confident in herself/her abilities.

We can afford a bit extra this month/term so just thinking whether to do another 30min session a week till grading, so will be 2 a week. Would that be worthwhile? Or do children generally just do 30min a week?

How much practice is she doing at home?

How much is she practising daily?

Only about 20min a day, so not loads

We have always increased our lessons before a grade exam (not piano). It does help.

Is she practicing well during those 20 minutes? Sounds like enough time for initial but depends what she is doing. Ask the teacher for some practice advice and follow it!!

Just because progress is slow now doesn’t mean it will always be so. My students tend to progress slowly to start because I want to make sure they have a secure foundation. This pays off later.

Piano is often 'slow' progress at the start. If you have the money, a couple of extra lessons will always help. Perhaps doing a ' mock exam' so she knows what to expect. Progress is often not linear either. I hope she enjoys the experience and she goes into it feeling confident and well prepared. And that she doesn't launch straight into the next exam pieces but maybe plays some easier quick to learn pieces and then continues to learn plenty of enjoyable music. I take mine to a cafe for a cake after an exam as a reward for effort instead of the result, it also makes it a more fun experience.

How old is she, and how much does she actually enjoy playing the piano?

Unless shes really struggling I wouldn't do 2 lessons a week - and if she is struggling i'd cancel the exam. Initial grade is really supposed to be an introduction to exams, a chance to understand how the process works etc and a precursor to Grade 1.

The pieces are short - 20 mins a day is likely to be enough. Does she feel confident in her pieces? Ask her teacher what she needs to focus on but i definitely woudln't pay for additional lessons at this stage.

I think piano is slow going for a lot of kids at the start especially if they’re quite little when they first begin. If you look at the initial and grade 1 pieces there is quite a lot for them to learn and to manage both hands independently. I think there is then the fact that you move from pretty quick progress on easier pieces to pieces that require perfection. I don’t think you need extra lessons but a few double lessons or mocks might be helpful.

Hi, thanks everyone. we are trying the double lessons for now and shes feeling much more confident/enthusiastic.

Increase if you want, temporarily, but your best efforts should be in being interested in listening to her practise.
This should be so every week not just before exams.

Show attention to her playing in the morning and in the evening.

A year and a half to initial isn't particularly slow for a first instrument.There's a huge amount they have to get together - recognizing notes, associating notes to piano keys, working out which finger to use, doing all that with both hands together in different rhythms, accidentals, doing all that while conveying the spirit of the piece.

A few extra lessons in the run up to an exam is a nice bonus if teacher can fit it in and if it helps her feel more confident. It's not vital - mine only had 20 mins a week.

Good luck!