Search found 29 matches

by ETP's Mum
27 Apr 2010, 12:49
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Changing piano teacer (again)
Replies: 2
Views: 7002

Changing piano teacer (again)

I would be really grateful for any opinions please. My Son's both play piano and 15 months ago we changed teacher from "brilliant, artistic, inspiational, extremely unreliable to dull, uninspiring, not particularly kid friendly very reliable! We swopped to him with 8yo having passed Grade 4 and...
by ETP's Mum
20 Oct 2009, 12:41
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Congratulations on your piano exam cards
Replies: 2
Views: 6592

Re: Congratulations on your piano exam cards

Hi Barry ETP's Mum here... I make cards for whatever occasion at www.dottiedesigns.co.uk. I have made Thank you to my Piano Teacher cards but never really thought about congrats on passing your piano (or any other instrument) exam. I will make some and put them on the website this week, let me know ...
by ETP's Mum
10 Oct 2009, 15:38
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Duet Music Ideas Please!
Replies: 1
Views: 5399

Duet Music Ideas Please!

Hi I have been looking unsuccessfully on the internet for piano music for my sons to play at a festival. Eldest is 9, passed Grade 4 last Nov, youngest in 6, passed Grade 1 in Feb. All I seem to be able to find is either easy stuff or complicated stuff when they are at massively different stages. Do...
by ETP's Mum
01 May 2009, 23:03
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: 7 Year old that wont practise but still wants lessons!
Replies: 8
Views: 13366

Re: 7 Year old that wont practise but still wants lessons!

Hi In my house we use bribery....I think of it as healthy incentives. It works for my 6 & 9 year old! Not sure what a psychologist would say, but it works for us. For each minute you practice you can have equal minutes on the computer/Wii/trampoline/extra bedtime etc whatever works! I find this ...
by ETP's Mum
18 Apr 2009, 19:35
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Practical Musicianship instead of Theory?
Replies: 1
Views: 5100

Practical Musicianship instead of Theory?

Does anyone have any experience of these exams? I only heard about them today when they were suggested as an more interesting alternative for my son (9) to be able to progress to practical Grade 6 than the regular theory exams. I have looked at the ABRSM website but would appreciate feedback if anyo...
by ETP's Mum
17 Apr 2009, 13:52
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Changing piano teacher
Replies: 28
Views: 27179

Re: Changing piano teacher

P is Phoebe! She's not 2 yet but her brothers have taught her to find all the C's on the piano!! Me - well I failed Trinity Grade 5 in 1981 then didn't play until the boys started, 25 years later! (defiant teenager!) I have been playing some of Euan's Grade 5 pieces (he's much better than I am!!)and...
by ETP's Mum
17 Apr 2009, 12:50
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Changing piano teacher
Replies: 28
Views: 27179

Re: Changing piano teacher

E is Euan! He is 9 and working towards ABRSM Grade 5! He passed Grade 1 in Nov 07, Grade 2 in Feb 08, skipped Grade 3 and passed Grade 4 in Nov 08 when he was 8! New teacher is getting him to play other music to "broaden" which is what I wanted as he had whizzed through so quickly I think ...
by ETP's Mum
17 Apr 2009, 10:51
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Changing piano teacher
Replies: 28
Views: 27179

Re: Changing piano teacher

He's the T in ETP, Tom actually!! Got the mark sheet this morning, makes funny reading! He scraped 2 of his pieces although got 24 for Song of Erin which was his favourite. The examiner gave him 12 for sight reading which was v. kind considering she wrote "It was a shame that none of the notes ...
by ETP's Mum
16 Apr 2009, 22:17
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: Andrew Lloyd Webber not doing a talent show on BBC 1!
Replies: 3
Views: 5021

Re: Andrew Lloyd Webber not doing a talent show on BBC 1!

I think Wogan has retired now after last years fiasco!

I believe that Graham Norton is hosting this year!
by ETP's Mum
16 Apr 2009, 21:54
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Changing piano teacher
Replies: 28
Views: 27179

Re: Changing piano teacher

Just to let you all know that littleun passed his Grade 1 with 110. Don't have the breakdown sheet yet but his short holiday during Gavot when he got lost wasn't as disastrous as it could have been! (Not as fab as Stuart!- well done!) but he is only 6!! I was more chuffed than him as in between teac...
by ETP's Mum
16 Apr 2009, 21:49
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Grade 1 exam March 26th OMG!!!!!!
Replies: 46
Views: 32250

Re: Grade 1 exam March 26th OMG!!!!!!

Well done Stuart! See, everyone said you had passed! :)
by ETP's Mum
11 Apr 2009, 22:22
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: When did you start learning?
Replies: 83
Views: 127647

Re: When did you start learning?

Hi I'm quite new myself, but welcome! What a brilliant gift to yourself and good luck with your new teacher. Istarted playing at 5 years old and passed Trinity Grade 4 at 10. I failed Grade 5 at 11 (!!) and then stopped playing for 30 years! I have this year started playing again and am learning ABR...
by ETP's Mum
31 Mar 2009, 18:16
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: What age to start lessons??
Replies: 8
Views: 11339

Re: What age to start lessons??

Hi I am not a piano teacher but do know that the pressure that you apply to a keyboard is different to a piano so it could be a little confusing. That said I'm sure that the benefits of starting earlier with a keyboard would out weigh waiting a couple of years for a piano to play on. As to what age ...
by ETP's Mum
29 Mar 2009, 23:11
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Grade 1 exam March 26th OMG!!!!!!
Replies: 46
Views: 32250

Re: Grade 1 exam March 26th OMG!!!!!!

Hi Stuart

Sorry to hear you had a horrid time, I'm sure that it will have gone better than you expected. On the optimistic side, even if you made mistakes you only need to get 66% overall to get a pass. Be positive and open a bottle of red! x
by ETP's Mum
29 Mar 2009, 23:04
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Changing piano teacher
Replies: 28
Views: 27179

Re: Changing piano teacher

Hi all! Well Littleun survived the exam....he was very excited, couldn't sit still in the waiting area. When he came out he said he thought it had gone brilliantly.....oh to have the confidence of a six year old! Only later did he mention that he got a bit lost in Gavot (only for about 10 seconds he...
by ETP's Mum
23 Mar 2009, 15:22
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Changing piano teacher
Replies: 28
Views: 27179

Re: Changing piano teacher

Just thought it would be tidy to conclude this thread. We have gone with the new teacher who comes to the house. The boys have had one lesson and it went really well. We got the money back from the old teacher. Hoorah! 6 year old taking his exam this saturday can play all 3 of his pieces really nice...
by ETP's Mum
04 Mar 2009, 00:34
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Changing piano teacher
Replies: 28
Views: 27179

Re: Changing piano teacher

Just an update on the teacher search in case you want to know! We had a chap come to the house tonight, seems very nice although very sensible (if you know what I mean) My smallest Son was not behaving terribly well and kept talking when the teacher was speaking. He played his Grade 1 Gavot to him a...
by ETP's Mum
01 Mar 2009, 23:20
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Grade 1 exam March 26th OMG!!!!!!
Replies: 46
Views: 32250

Re: Grade 1 exam March 26th OMG!!!!!!

PS

Just watched all your pieces on Youtube. they are really good!! In my very unqualified opinion out of your choice A pieces I liked Gavot best!
by ETP's Mum
01 Mar 2009, 21:54
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Grade 1 exam March 26th OMG!!!!!!
Replies: 46
Views: 32250

Re: Grade 1 exam March 26th OMG!!!!!!

Hi Thanks for the vid Stuart, anything that helps is great! I think the main problem is his hand size! Maybe he should have done a different piece but he really liked this one. DaveBrum we use Youtube all the time as I said in the other forum the boys have really not had a teacher with any consisten...
by ETP's Mum
01 Mar 2009, 12:34
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Grade 1 exam March 26th OMG!!!!!!
Replies: 46
Views: 32250

Re: Grade 1 exam March 26th OMG!!!!!!

Hi StuartAu Good luck with your practising! My 6 year old son is taking Grade 1 on March 28th but so far can only play 2 of his pieces. He's finding the chords in African Dance really difficult to master, he can play the notes but not all together! Still there's almost 4 weeks left and he has some U...
by ETP's Mum
28 Feb 2009, 16:00
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Help with reading music...
Replies: 13
Views: 14175

Re: Help with reading music...

Hi Mark I'm new to this forum lark too and not a teacher but I'd like to help a little if I can. I was always taught to "finger" the pieces before I started learning them. ie you sit down at the piano with a pencil slow time and work out in advance which finger is best for each note. That ...
by ETP's Mum
26 Feb 2009, 23:11
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Changing piano teacher
Replies: 28
Views: 27179

Re: Changing piano teacher

The try out went well! The teacher is happy to take the boys on as pupils which is a good start. It was a bit like an audition that she gave them! She had mentioned on the phone that she normally taught slightly older kids so my 6 yr old had been briefed to behave as if he was at least 7. What he ac...
by ETP's Mum
26 Feb 2009, 15:12
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Changing piano teacher
Replies: 28
Views: 27179

Re: Changing piano teacher

The boys are having a try out session with a new teacher tonight. Does anyone have any tips for the laymum (sorry) on spotting whether the teacher is any good or not? It's all far too stressful! We have now (nicely) moved on from the old teacher and got a refund of the prepaid money, so at least tha...
by ETP's Mum
24 Feb 2009, 20:04
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Changing piano teacher
Replies: 28
Views: 27179

Re: Changing piano teacher

Just an update that I have booked a try out with a new teacher. Thanks for all of the advice, I'll let you know how it goes!
by ETP's Mum
24 Feb 2009, 14:46
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Changing piano teacher
Replies: 28
Views: 27179

Re: Changing piano teacher

Thanks Crispin, you are so right. I have been cutting him some slack for some reason (me being soft) but he should have picked the errors up. My 9 yr old played Cattle Call by Grieg at the Festival last week and he played it better than he ever had (some of the audience were crying!!) yet there were...
by ETP's Mum
23 Feb 2009, 21:36
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Changing piano teacher
Replies: 28
Views: 27179

Re: Changing piano teacher

Hi Private tuition is his main line of work which is how it is amazing that he cancels for blocks at a time. He is however working up to doing some concerts in March, so I think a lot of his focus is on that. It's just all so horribly awkward. We also pay 4 weeks in advance which we did last lesson ...
by ETP's Mum
23 Feb 2009, 19:47
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Changing piano teacher
Replies: 28
Views: 27179

Re: Changing piano teacher

Hi Markymark Generally he cancels for sickness but at really short notice. We live 1/2 an hours drive away and last week he cancelled 5 minutes before the lesson was due to start and we were almost there. After Grade 4 exam at end of November the next lesson was January 14th which means that my son ...
by ETP's Mum
23 Feb 2009, 19:02
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Changing piano teacher
Replies: 28
Views: 27179

Re: Changing piano teacher

Thank you Jill the Piano, that makes a lot of sense when you put it into an everyday situation.
by ETP's Mum
23 Feb 2009, 18:12
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Changing piano teacher
Replies: 28
Views: 27179

Changing piano teacher

I'm new to this, hope this is in the right place. I have a reliability problem with the piano teacher that teaches my 2 sons age 9 and age 6 and think that we should move on to a new teacher but they have a big attatchment to him and are gutted at the thought. 9 year old passed ABRSM Grade 4 in Nov ...