HELP! My youngest son's teacher has got a new job, and that means she can't teach him any more. As we're trying to economise in any case, it seems daft for me to look for someone else when I think I can do it. He's 9, not yet at Grade I but nearly, and I've passed Grade 8. So I think I'll be good for a year or two.

Am I alright getting him going on Grade I? I'm pretty sure he's ready for it. How do I go about putting him in for it? Do any of you experienced bods have any pithy words of wisdom to share?

Thanks

Edward

How long has he been playing for? How is he on the supporting tests i.e. sight reading, scales, aural?
You can apply to the board for an applicant number which you can then use to enter your son for an exam.
I would recommend finding a teacher in the long run though - you may have passed Grade 8, but what do you know about teaching the piano? You may inadvertently leave holes in his technique or let bad habits slip through - of course you may not, but these are the potential pitfalls to be considered

Not to mention all the difficulties inherent in teaching a member of your own family. However good a teacher you may be, you may find that your son sees you as Dad rather than teacher and it can get awfully tricky...

Edwardo....

GO FOR IT

You already taught your kid the things that matter most in life didn't you? And you know how good music sounds and you know not to do any harm...have a wonderful time on the journey with him.

I successfully teach singing to both my boys singing, however getting the "I'm being your teacher and not your mum" dynamic is a constant battle, one that I win, but one I always have to fight.

Never help him with practice or be tempted to help with practice. When he is practicing do something else.

Expect him to behave like a pupil in a lesson and forget he is your son, similarly remember your role in a lesson is as his teacher and not his parent.

Don't ever tolerate messing about, or attention-seeking behaviour, remember who you are at that moment.

Always have the lesson at a set time and make it a priority.


With the boundaries in place, your child can learn from you. In the USA there is a growing home-schooling movement with children far exceeding the learning outcomes that their state educated peers are achieving so it can work.

If you have to lockdown the TV, PS2 Wii, DS, and other temptations just to get them to focus on your lesson then do so.

Children often far underestimate the abilities of their parents. I sat down yesterday with the TV locked down and assisted the kids with their homework. It was their work, they just didn't think mummy was smart before. Once the work was done, work they were really proud of, it was hi-fives all-round and they sat and watched the programme they wanted to watch (as it had been recorded).

It was one thing for me to say "I was top of my class thoughout Junior School" I actually showed them, and showed them how they could do it. BTW eldest son had just one his Classes Reading Prize and currently is in competition with another lad over who can be top of his class! (His idea not mine.)

'Scuse me for posting here, but I just wanted to say Nothing ventured ....

I started teaching my older son when he was about 7 or 8, because I couldn't find a teacher, but we had the piano and he was keen to start. He did the prep test, more to let me know if I was doing anything wrong, rather than to give him exam confidence, and when I thought we'd covered everything thoroughly for Grade 1 he took that, and passed with 118 (he was 9 by then). Could he have reached a merit with another teacher? Possibly/probably. Did he mind just missing it? Not at all, fortunately At that point I found a teacher for him and was happy to hand him over, because although I knew that I could help him with the next level of scales and pieces, I didn't want to teach them to him, and wasn't confident about teaching the aural and sight-reading skills correctly. I also worried that if I was teaching him we might end up just concentrating on exams.

I also started my younger son off (fond memories of Yankee Doodle), and that worked well, because when I asked the teacher if she could take him on too, she hesitated until she realised that he wasn't a complete beginner, as she didn't like teaching young children from scratch (I think he was about 7).

The only other thing I would add (which has been mentioned by others too) is, don't let every practice become a lesson (unless he prefers it that way! ). Mine preferred me to wear my not-quite-so-involved parent hat when they were practising.