How could it be acceptable to teach only 3(!) pieces of music a whole school year?
I am alarmed!
I have just received another student from a prestigious Gold Coast private school!
Only 8 days before her exam, her family seemed urgent asking me to listen to her playing. It unfolded that this entire school year, after going to many "no value for money lessons", she half knew her 3 pieces of her music requirements and much of her theory was yet to be taught to her. As we know, this is just the 'bare' pre-requisite for passing exams let alone with good grades.
I am compelled to write about this, to put some experience-based feedback out, so you can make an informed decision when considering music teachers.
Pros of the "bare minimum 3 pieces just to SCRAPE through" style teaching:
Student scraped through
'Teacher A' justifies their existence for the year
Private school satisfied with the after-school-music-teacher, especially if that teacher is travelling from private school to private school - one would think, he/she is doing the right thing by your child, right?
This can happen anywhere, it does not need to be a private school
Is this 'relaxed' OR plain neglectful? The Cons:
Slim chances to catch up on all the missed knowledge and be successful in higher grade exams (unless student is patient and new teacher is dedicated!)
There is now urgent, outstanding foundation building to do if student wishes to embark on good grades, want to become a musician, teacher or performer, but if decides to stay with the same educator/teaching approach, likely nothing will change
Students and their families with some initially better exam results to show will have a false sense of accomplishment and the long term implications of what they missed out on to know, can remain under the radar and in varying degrees may prevent the student from becoming a confident, advanced musician
When the student finally moves on to 'Teacher B' who operates with a sense of responsibility, he/she will have to teach now all that was not covered - all the important pieces and their wisdoms, technical and musical, that was skimmed over - has to be introduced now as an after thought. Even the most resilient, hard working pupils and teachers will have a testing time to do the "back to front catchup", just because in the past only quarter of the grade's material was covered! An average grade book is designed for a year. With individual considerations in mind a student will learn at least 8-10 of the featured dozen high quality, eclectic pieces of music collated for music appreciation and experience building.
The sad truth:
Only very passionate and resilient learners will keep going - for me, this is the toughest outcome to face, not from a personal point of view, but from the student's point of view. If they stop learning, due to a new belief, that there was something wrong with them and they are not talented enough? How are we to justify that? If all we taught were 3 pieces out of 12?
This incomplete, yet thought-provoking list of 'Pros and Cons' should hopefully activate alarm bells if you have a reason - does your current teacher teach only the bare minimum to your child, just to scrape through their level exam?
HANDY HINTS:
Please, interview your child's teacher-to-be on their teaching philosophy, WHAT, WHY and HOW they teach.
Do not fall for 'first lesson free' advertisers as there is no such thing as learning without building rapport. Easy to get blindfolded by the prospect of a 'free lesson' so you forget asking the kid-, time-, tuition fees- and foremost your child's self-belief - and their future dreams' - preserving questions!!!
Even if a teacher is near or there are music lessons provided in the school where your child goes, please, don't just automatically accept your teacher for convenience's sake as it can really backfire! Ask many questions, before you hire your next music/art etc teacher. (This should apply to mainstream teachers as well - if not more! - but that is a whole other chapter... :-))
Yours in Teaching, Nurturing and Confidence Building
Marchie
Send Marchie a Message
Send Marchie a Message
Marchie Hya Condon
Marchie’s Piano School
