I have an 8 year old boy (preparing grade2 ameb) who rushes everything and never practices 'slowly' unless i'm there to remind him (during the lesson).

So, it has taken 4 weeks to learn F major similiar motion (still with mistakes). Two problems:
1) Less than 15mins practice per week at home (for scales & pieces together)
2) When that does happen, its not done slowly or properly

When i try practice with him during the lesson he rushes through - playing very fast and hence wrong notes, wrong fingering, awkard hand&finger posture. I have to constantly STRESS to him to go slow. And i PLAY WITH HIM slow so he follows my tempo - but even to that he doesn't always follow. *starts pulling hair*

Being stuck on this little F major for 4 weeks is just not acceptable. He learnt all C, G, D major and A, E minor well. I have no idea why he started rushing more and more as he gets older!!! Learning scales has never been a problem until now!!

And parents - I tell them he needs to practice - slowly. Both parents work and their maid knows nething about music and doesn't care either. HOW can i solve this problem??

He wont practice at home and wont slow down.

You're in a soul-destroying situation that I can identify with! I've had two like this in recent years (both 8-year-old boys!) and both fell by the wayside, which is, sadly, the most likely outcome. In one case I agreed with parents that we'd 'allow' him to give up, which is what he wanted , if he passed a pre-Grade One exam, and he was ecstatic when he did. I was ecstatic too. In another case I kept giving ultimatums which were ignored, and ended up being told with a few days to spare before the new term started that he wasn't coming back! Parents who have no interest in their child's music lessons will have even less interest in you, and won't worry about piddly things like short notice for ending lessons. So my advice is to give an ultimatum about regular practice - maybe that you want 15 minutes 5 days a week? - over the course of the next 2 months, or he's out. And stick to your guns!

It's difficult not to feel annoyed isn't it? I know there's only so much you can do to get them to practise, and that I'm doing everything in my power to make it happen, but I have one pupil at the minute who really isn't getting anywhere due to no practise, and it's getting to the stage where I'm not looking forward to her lesson because of it.

I did speak to her mum about it once who freely admitted that she didn't practise, but "as long as she enjoys lessons etc..." The thing is, she won't enjoy them if she's not getting anywhere, which was hard to make mum understand.

She's been with me for well over 6 months now. Another girl from her class at school started 2 months ago, and is now already past the stage where this other girl is still stuck... Also, the girl who doesn't practise thinks it's quite funny, and tells her other friends in school that go to me how she doesn't do anything at home. I think that's what annoys me the most, but I haven't mentioned it to her as I don't want her to know that I know what she says in school, incase I'm responsible for a falling out

If your pupil knows what he should be doing but doesn't do it then it's difficult. It's different if he genuinely doesn't understand something, which is easier to "fix" than simply lack of practise.

I really don't want him to quit though, because he's still young, and he might regret it later on. Lots of my friends have told me they regret falling out when they were young.

I guess i'll call up and stress at least he needs 15mins per day. But even if that does happen, its not going to be an efficient 15 mins.. he'll just play over mistakes and make 'noises' for 15 mins.

Soul destroying.. yep. Sums it up pretty much.

I don't really look forward to his lesson either. Not only does he come knowing less than he did the previous lesson - but he's also very restless. He ignores everything i say, chats to me about everything but music, asks questions like 'why is this book bigger than that book', jumps around and farts too.

Nah, he understands things, just doesn't do them. *sighhhh*

Well maybe you could put her together in a lesson for 2, so there is some kinda of motivation.

It might be worth trying giving him the responsibilty for his practice.
I did this with a (virtualy) non practiser of mine and it has made some difference... not huge and not consistant but it is improving.

I ask her what she thinks is the part that needs working on. Then I ask how she thinks would be a good way to handle it. She usually comes up with good ideas, firstly things that I've told her in lessons about practice but also some creative ideas of her own. She is then happy for me to suggest one or two (no more) things.
I also ask for less to be worked on which usually results in her doing a bit extra.
I don't demand 7 days practice but ask for a minimum of 4 but say that 5 would be better. I also suggest that there should never be 2 non practice days together.
Practice charts can help a little in the short term too.
I have some colour in ones... pictures with 7 sections to colour (in the hope of a full weeks practice).

When any of this gets results, however small I back it up with lots of praise (and stickers) and the occasional reminder of how good it feels to have done well.

True - but you could always tell him that he's welcome to restart if he feels able to give it more commitment at some stage in the future. Not getting anywhere at the minute could actually put him off - if he thinks about it at all. I have a girl at the minute - aged 12 - who gave up at the age of 8, and who's enjoying it now, having restarted about 6 months ago. If you leave the door open you have no reason to feel guilty about him giving up when young. The decision to return is his, and having once been put in the position of lessons having been discontinued because of lack of practice he'll know the next time that he needs to get the finger out.

wow! only 8 and doing grade 2- are you expecting too much of him? unless he's a little Mozart. All my 8 year olds (apart from 1 doing G1 next week), are still pre-grade 1. I'd say its normal to do grade 1 age 9-10, grade 2 age 10-11 etc, of course depending on what age they start. Perhaps he was pushed into exams too soon, without being allowed to make music and enjoy ?? just a thought.

Hmm i have thought about it, but sometimes when a kid stops then that means they've got extra playtime.. and its quite hard for kids to pick piano lessons again over playtime. Well of course there are wonderful exceptions like yours
His mum actually asked him if he wanted to continue and he does. So thats a good start, its like when everyone has one of those days where you just don't feel like doing anything properly - except he'd having it for 4 weeks

Actually, I did have a 10 year old boy that returned, but had the same problem - no proper practice and he was an easily aggrevated one too.. so in the end the parents just didn't let him learn anymore because they think he's wasting money. *sigh*.

Well for the 8yo i think i'll try the parent once more..raghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!






He's been playing for 4 years already, and he did very well in his prelim and g1 exams - he worked much better during those 2 and had plenty of time for fun repertoire. So it seemed quite natural for him to go into g2, my other 8-9 yo's are also doing grade 2, esp. my 9 yo whose the ANGEL - she loves it and practices without being told - often trying to learn things on her own too

So back to the point, the 8yo did very well before, but this is suddenly like a big switch~!!! i'm hoping next week he's well-behaved - blackmailed him a bit (works all the time) - just by saying that "i'll tell mummy!!" - because this kid - is so tough, NOTHING will get to him besides his mum haha..