Yahama JMC Book 1 – Zaria’s Progress
Zaria loves her Yamaha JMC class. In fact, she’s saying, “I don’t want to go to school any more, I only want to go to music class.”
Everyday, without fail, she’ll play the songs she’s learnt in class without me asking her to, and she has great satisfaction if she could play the whole song right. To her, it’s not like a practice at all. And she likes Daddy calling her “Little Mozart”.
4 months after attending Yamaha JMC class, she’s started playing the 2 most difficult songs for this level, Happy Days, and The Cuckoo Clock, and she’s really happy to be able to do it.
See the grin after she’s completed the song?
She’s now asking me why she has to continue attending class for Book 1 when she can already play all the songs. She is impatient to move on to the next level!
Well, each JMC book takes 6 months to finish, so another 2 more months, and she’ll be moving to Book 2. But I’m wondering, since she wants to move on, if we should pull her out of JMC course and get a private tutor to teach her so that she can progress at her own pace instead of following the 6-month schedule.
Any piano players out there to advice?
if u ask me…it takes a strict discipline approach for one-to one. The teacher will not inject any fun or do circle time or those funny stuff. Usually it will be a 1hour class and 20-30 mins spend on theory..meaning doing paper work. then another 30-45 mins on the piano. start with scales n the teacher will say AGAIN, AGAIN AGAIN, FASTER, FASTER… then, at most time, practicing 1-2 songs. One moves on when can play the song nicely..accepted by teacher. Of course there are those “exceptional” teachers in the market where exceptional talents are being born…check out Ann Perreau
Back to Zaria…will she get bored and make her lost interest?? Maybe u can test it out.
I am a piano teacher that have been teaching for 10 years. Followed your blog since zaria was born up and i am still dating around. Have since gotten married and have a 5 mo baby girl.
Imho, u should continue with JMC and qlso hire a private piano teacher. Reason being, JMC students will be very good in hearing and playing by ear but they are poor in sight reading ie reading notes and playing.
Some of my students who goes to both yamaha and taught by me told me that they are quite bored with yamaha already because the higher the level they goes, the teacher will be rrally strict and they would have to repeat the songs for months.
The group class does not really boost their confidence when they cant play that particular song better than others.
My students will be playing more pop songs or songs they like when i teach them wherelse they would follow the yamaha syllabus when they go for class.. I would say this is a win win situation.
I would say let her progress at her own pace but she is four, so are her fingers strong enough for the piano? If yes, then by all means go ahead! At this level, lessons will only be half an hour because there is no way a four year old will sit at piano lessons for an hour. Go for it! Inspire & encourage her! She could start practising her own favourite songs!
Hi, i passed my grade 8 piano many years ago. Personally, i think it would nice for Zaria to continue with her JMC class as one to one tutor will be very boring with not much fun injected in it. She may have the interest in music and is excited to play new sheet each time she learned her current one but when the one to one classes, i worry she may get bored when it is too routine. I agreed with Littlelamb, individual classes are all about playing the piano and theory. She may be too young now to try the individual classes. This is just my opinion as i was subjected to 15 years of piano classes from my parent and since the day i graduated, i did not touch the piano at all till now
PM-ed you on facebook… you received??
Justin’s never started JMC nor group class, so he can’t tell the difference. But the piano teachers at his center won’t take kids younger than 5 / 6 years old, and all kids must go thru the trial class and see they have the concentration and are their fingers ready for piano. Since she’s just 4, group class might be more fun. I didn’t let Isabelle join JMC as since young, she said she wanted violin and not piano. She doesn’t like anything which her brother has already got into it, and the same for violin, the teachers asked to wait until she’s really ready. I haven’t let her go for the trial too.
y not let her continue wif jmc n at the same time try her out wit 1 to 1. jesse attended a group music class for a year and now she started with 1 to 1 and she enjoys it. altho 1 to 1 her teacher makes her enjoy the class. the most imp is to look for a teacher who knows how to teach young kids.
I would recommend to let Zaria continue. Afterall it’s just another 2 months. The thing about musical instrument is practise so eventhough one already know the song, they will be asked to repeat and repeat and repeat. So eventhough 1-1, Zaria may end up getting more frustrated because she may be asked to repeatedly play the same song again and again until the teacher is satisfied. Frankly it may just kill her interest. Unless you managed to find a piano teacher who is VERY good with kids.
agree with littlelamb. best to let her continue since yamaha is fun. but at the same time, u can source some additional notes so she can learn and play other songs as well so she does not feel bored playing over and over the same book. i had one-to-one teacher and it bores me death. so i get/copy plenty nice songs instead of playing the same songs daily during my one hour practice at home (insisted by my strict mother).
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