Thursday, November 26, 2009
Singapore borne 1970s parents are really getting horrible. Horrible, horrible, horrible.
Not only the kids are disrespectful and self-centred, they seriously can't make it to compete globally. They are not global citizens at all.
Why do I have such prejudice? First, it's not prejudice, it's based on long term observation.
My students have the habit of cancelling lessons.
To date, in 2008, 13 lessons are missed. Till end of 2009, 11 lessons in total will be missed. So to summarise, in 2 years of 24 months lesson, 6 months are gone. If, IF, we calculate the 4 weeks holiday (13th month), then also 4 months gone, which is 1 full term.
1 bloody exam song on average takes 2 months to learn, another month to get it up to performance. So can't you do your maths and calculate how much precious lessons are lost? Sighz, I suggested make up lessons and pre-warned and tried to educate you that one month worth of lesson lost could spell 2 months delay. So in total 4-6 months of lesson lost, how do you expect me to cramp your two kids for exam next year? Grade 3 and Grade 1.
We're talking grade 3 here, not grade 1. The grade 1 is rather straight-forward and yes the younger one is capable of passing. Ok, PASSING, we're not looking at Merit or Distinction. But grade 3 to have exams in July means 2 exam pieces must be done by March registration and let's see, hmmmm,
We only began the 1st 2 lines of Menuet in G (Bach）separate hands. =) and then you're going away for holidays for 3 weeks. I'm quite sure that boxing day which is lesson day may get cancelled also. mean this year 2009, 3 months of lesson lost.
Put the lost of income aside, you are well aware that your children are not managing time well enough to practice daily. Over emphasis on academic yet still want distinction for piano? Wiseful thinking is my straight forward opinion. No pain no gain.
And the children are not tolerant and understanding of hardwork and pain.
These once in a blue moon music intelligence ZERO parents just don't know how to listen and trust the professional teacher. If you think you're so capable of producing a kid to learn 3 exam pieces in 6 months, do it yourself.
I bet a million dollars your kid will learn to hate music than to appreciate it cause she can only play scales and learn exam pieces and nothing else.
Ask yourself and learn to humble yourself to put yourself in your children's shoes, do you want to learn music because of exam and just learn exam pieces to pass exam? If your answer is yes, I rather you pay others to enforce such cruelty.
Music is suppose to be enriching and appreciated, not for the sake of just passing exams. If you don't understand it, it reflects many poor decision making in your own life because you're too narrowminded and lack perspective thinking.
I rather have a child, not so bright, hardworking, willing to learn, put in effort and have the parent who bothers to understand their own children and allow them to learn at the pace they can cope.
Sorry to spoil your dreams that your children are not gifted. I have taught and seen the gifted, yours are truly not born gifted.
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