Selecting A Piano Teacher

Music is a gift, and finding a suitable piano teacher towith the performance component on completion of a
aid the discovery and appreciation of this magical gift isfull-time undergraduate course at music conservatoire
no easy task. Whether the piano student is a beginneror other higher education establishment", i.e. Bachelor of
or already doing advanced studies, having aMusic Degree in Piano Performance. The FRSM
responsible, qualified piano teacher is very important. AtPerformance and FTCL Performance are diplomas in
the beginner level, a piano student's musical andwhich the "standard of performance is equivalent to
technical foundations are imprinted. At the intermediatethe performance component on completion of a
level, a piano student's musical and technicalfull-time postgraduate course at a conservatoire or
foundations are further developed and strengthened.other higher education establishment", i.e. Master of
At the advanced level, a piano student is guidedMusic Degree in Piano Performance.
towards developing into an independent musician andHowever, the diplomas and degrees are only
thinker/interpreter. Therefore, at all stages of aapproximate equivalencies because in a degree
developing piano student, having a good piano teacherprogram, unlike in a diploma, the student has multiple
is of utmost importance. Some basic factors thatrecitals and performances, devotes entire years of
constitute a good piano teacher are qualifications,education not just to practicing and memorizing a
personality, and teaching experience. These threevariety of music, but also taking a variety of supporting
basic factors will be explored below, in this article.courses in history, theory, accompaniment, pedagogy,
Common Qualifications of Piano Teachers inet cetera. A Bachelor, Masters, Doctorate in Music is
Singaporeequivalent in depth of study to a Bachelor, Masters,
First, I would like to address the issue of the differentDoctorate in, for example, Chemistry.
array of common musical qualifications for pianoBesides these common qualifications that a piano
teachers in Singapore, which is usually taken intoteacher in Singapore may have, there are also the
consideration when choosing a piano teacher. Inpure musical geniuses and amazing masters out there,
Singapore, there are two main external musicalwith plenty of international performing and teaching
examinations boards, where piano teachers mayexperience, defying categorizations!
obtain their diploma qualifications beyond Grade 8:Personality and Teaching Experience
Associated Board of the Royal Schools of MusicIn selecting a piano teacher, other important factors to
(ABRSM) and Trinity Guildhall (Trinity). In the ABRSMconsider are personality and teaching experience.
syllabus, the three levels of diploma study commonlyPatience is an important characteristic for those in the
taken by piano teachers, in order of ascendingteaching profession, including piano teachers. It is good
qualification, are:to have a dedicated piano teacher who is strict in
1. DipABRSM Performancemusical expectations and requirements, but warm in
2. LRSM Performancepersonality, so that the student will progress musically,
3. FRSM Performanceand yet is able to communicate with, and feels
Similarly, in the Trinity syllabus, the three levels ofcomfortable expressing his/her own ideas/opinions to
diploma study commonly taken by piano teachers, inthe teacher. Hitting of the student as a vent by a
order of ascending qualification, are:frustrated piano teacher is absolutely unacceptable!
1. ATCL Performance, or ATCL RecitalHowever, it is important for the student's parents to
2. LTCL Recitalwork hand-in-hand with the piano teacher to cultivate
3. FTCL Performancediscipline and attentiveness in a child. Discipline and
Besides the performance category for each syllabus,attentiveness are characteristics important for
there is also the teaching category, whereby theprogress in any subject of learning, including piano. A
candidate focuses mainly on piano pedagogy. Thepiano teacher should function as a friend, as well as a
expected standard of piano playing for each level ofmentor, working on a long-term goal of developing the
qualification is naturally higher in the performancepiano student ultimately into an independent musician
category, as compared to the teaching category. Inand thinker.
general, as a piano teacher, one must thoroughlyNeedless to say, teaching experience for a piano
understand the music or the material being taught first,teacher is also important. However, the quality of
before exploring the techniques of teaching. Therefore,teaching is as important or in some ways more
some piano teachers choose to obtain additionalimportant than the amount of teaching experience a
teaching diplomas of the same level after obtaining theteacher has.
performance diplomas.In Conclusion
Aside from these ABRSM and Trinity diplomas, pianoTo conclude this article, having found a qualified and
teachers may instead have degrees such as Bachelorgood piano teacher, dedicated to developing the
of Music, and Master of Music, and Doctor of Music. Astudent's musical abilities, it is best to trust the piano
frequent question asked is: How do these degreesteacher, and stick to one piano teacher for some time
compare to the diplomas?as oppose to adopting the "teacher-hopping"
According to the examination boards, the DipABRSMphilosophy, which seems to be a trendy phenomenon
Performance, ATCL Performance and ATCL Recitalin the Singapore tuition world, whereby a tuition student
diplomas are approximately equivalent in standard tohas different teachers every few months. By
the "performance component of the first year in aentrusting the student's piano education to one piano
full-time undergraduate course at a conservatoire orteacher for some time, there will be a sense of
other higher education establishment." The LRSMcontinuity and purpose in the piano student's journey
Performance and LTCL Recital are diplomas in whichtowards achieving a long-term musical goal and dream.
the "standard of performance is at a level comparable