Need Advice: Continuing with Yamaha

[aehchua]

Hi,

I've got a situation, and am just trying to identify my options.

My oldest child is going into Yamaha JXC book 7 and will be taking her Yamaha Grade 9 in a year.

I am actually very satisfied with the Yamaha syllabus. It teaches a lot of things that traditional music instruction doesn't. The things not being emphasized in class I supplement at home (e.g., scales, sight reading).

Also, the classes are group classes. I believe research has shown that group classes help motivate students to continue their music education.

There are other good aspects motivation-wise- a required concert at the end of each semester, etc.

However,

(1) The other kids in my child's class don't practice enough.
(2) The course has a significant ensemble playing component. This is a disaster when coupled with (1).
(3) Also because of (1), a lot of the "extra" stuff Yamaha includes in its materials just never gets covered in class.

I've got a year to decide what to do after JXC, and am looking for others' thoughts.

I'm not so interested in having my child chase exams. I want my child to have a "useful" music education. By "useful" I mean-
(a) The ability to take an arbitrary tune she likes, play it, and fill in an accompaniment.
(b) Some real element of composition.
(c) The ability to perform music with others.
(d) Some ability to improvise.
(e) A basic level of music literacy.
(f) A user-level competence with a music instrument- she doesn't have to be a virtuoso.
(g) An appreciation of different music genres.

I am also open to having my child eventually switch from piano to another instrument.

Basically, if my child has the capabilities of Freddy Mercury (who only did up to ABRSM grade IV but could compose and do good music), I'm fine.

So, what should I do after JXC? My thoughts:

(a) Continue with Yamaha. The problem is with other students who are just not motivated to practice. I am somewhat sympathetic- its harder to find practice time once children are school aged. However, my child is getting screwed by their inability to get their work done.
(b) Engage a private teacher who knows the Yamaha syllabus. The problem here is lack of ensemble opportunities, which we could mitigate by stressing four-hand pieces. We'd also have to find a teacher who gave 6 monthly concerts. My child is also at increased risk, because of the isolation associated with private instruction.
(c) Switch to the ABRSM syllabus. I'm not in favor of this, because much of what I like in the Yamaha syllabus is missing from this. It also carries all the risks associated with (b).
(d) Chart our own course with a music teacher. The problem here is I have no idea what a good syllabus would be like. We'd have all the risks associated with (b) as well.

 

[faekildare]

Does yamaha offers individual courses? If they do, I guess u could just enroll her into individual lessons with yamaha i guess?
U might also consider switching classes for your child? I believe not every class are filled with kids who do not practice enough?
If all else fails.. I guess home lessons are your last choice.

 

[lester_music]

Wow....you really take into consideration the details....hehe

to me however, I feel that music is a comes from our individual natural self.....of course with the right education it will even be better if the person is gifted.....However even with wrong or no education, a gifted person can do what you have listed...

firstly I believe its the exposure you need to get your child into, means listening to as much music, going to concerts, doing concerts....you can perhaps try the school in Novena Square, I think its call Music Prelude.....cause one of my friend's daughter is learning there and have given very good feedback about it...

this friend of mine also very particular about all this, cause he have seen "grade 8" who cannot play and cannot fit into a band or ensemble...so he actually go around searching for a school that give more exposure rather than just teach by following the books....

Hope that helps....

 

[Dreamaurora]

What you are looking for covers a really broad area in music learning. I would suggest if you can afford it to get separate teachers each for the different areas. So a viable solution would be to get a jazz teacher to teach improvisation, get a classical piano teacher to teach good technical foundation and solid classical playing, and a dedicated theory and music appreciation teacher. I don't think a teacher or a school would be able to do all the things you expect as good as specialised teachers. I for myself specialise in classical piano playing and music appreciation. I could improvise decently but I would not kid myself as a good improviser. If my student wish to learn improvisation in depth, I would advise them to consult a jazz teacher instead.

 

[aehchua]

Thanks for the feedback both here and in PM. I'm currently exploring some options.

In reply to some of the posts.

Yamaha does offer individual classes- ABRSM style. One option would be to do private with Yamaha following the Yamaha syllabus. However, the Yamaha syllabus has a significant ensemble component. As of Book 6, there's two pieces requiring three or four players, and one piece that can be played four-hand play. Book 7 has at least three at-least-three player pieces (3 pieces requiring 3 or more players), and one four-hand play piece (in the workbook). There are also some pieces that have a single staff followed by a grand staff- these are definitely not electone pieces. The grand staff is at the bottom, not at the top, and the "left hand" of the grand staff has chords- can't be played by the left foot. Plus Yamaha focuses on age-specific instruction. My child can't even reach the pedals with her feet. As my child hasn't started book 7 yet, I'm not sure what those pieces are supposed to be. Individual under Yamaha is an option I am exploring, but given the "nature" of the Yamaha syllabus, its probably not a "real" one.

Separate teachers isn't really an option. My kids are surprisingly busy In addition to Yamaha, my oldest does ballet, swimming, some CCAs in her school, and wants to do a martial art. Before anyone starts with the whole "you're putting your kids through a pressure cooker" thing, she WANTS to do all these things. <I> would prefer her to stop some of them. The only pressure cooker is she has to maintain her grades

I don't believe my kids are gifted in music. However, I'd like them to learn something more than just instrument technique and abstract theory.