Hi all - wondering whether anyone had any ideas/hints? I have a singing pupil who has had lessons for about a year, does spasmodic practice (!) and still has difficulty getting the pitch on some notes. We've been looking through the songs for Grade 2 (AB), at 13 she was keen to look at those rather than the Grade 1. I was planning to hold exams at my house next Autumn, for all pupils, and was planning to include this girl with my candidates. Mother now is pushing for her to do an exam soon ie. next term, mainly because (I feel) she - the mother - feels exams are the most important part about learning. I've tried politely to explain that she hasn't been larning that long, she has only just realised that she does in fact need to practise and she isn't confident enough. Do I stick to my guns and not enter her or enter her just to keep mum happy? not sure what the pupil wants - she hardly ever communicates...OUt of 26 pupils - this is the only one that's exam obsessed.
Thanks for you combined pearls of wisdom

This is a difficult one - I've had exam-obsessed parents in the past.

You are the teacher, they should respect that, and should listen carefully to your explanations about why you think the summer term would be better - more experience, more chance of a higher mark, etc, etc.

Most parents will go along with this, the occasional one will start to mutter about changing to a 'better' teacher.

If this happens, still stick by your plans, don't let them push you around.

Good luck.

Well I think you should stick to your guns. It's your reputation as a teacher, both with the Board and with everyone Mrs Mother tells should daughter fare badly, at stake here. If you feel she is not ready, why not enter her for the Prep test to keep Mum happy? I've entered girls of that age for it before where they have not been ready for grades because of intonation. It's just possible that the girl may find this a positive experience, and gain some enthusiasm for practice to take a "proper" exam.
The trouble is, if she is underconfident, her intonation will be worse, because she will lose some of her support through nerves, and as you know, unless someone has a bad ear, most tuning problems come frpm lack of support and energy.
If Mum REALLY insists, my ploy would be (though I've yet to use it) - well, I would advise against an exam just yet as I don't feel she is ready, but if you want her to take it, I will prepare her for it as well as possible, but you must enter her yourself.

I hate that situation, bit it does occur and that's exactly what I do

Thanks for ideas - like the one about parent entering her child! It's a fine line though, on the one hand exams can help with enthusiasm as pupils feel they are really 'getting somewhere', but on the other hand a negative experience can damage their confidence and future enthusiasm. ho hum...

Neither a teacher or a parent, me, but this sounds like a good approach - especially when you say that the exams you schedule are held at your house - is this done as a Special Visit?
If so, and if mum does elect to go this route for her daughter, then do point out to the mum that the exam will be at a centre and not in the familiar location of your house (unless, of course, your house is the local centre) and also that the exam could be at any time on any day in the exam period, etc - basically, point out all the 'administrative' inconvenience associated with it...it might be enough to put her off until you feel it's the right time!

Does she realise the psychological blow to her child if she fails. Stick to your guns. I've had pupils fail always by going to pieces themselves on the day rather than sloppy prep. Is the mother this pushy over everything? If so I really pity the child. Enter her when you feel she is ready. You could leave her off the list as an "administrative error"

Mother is rather pushy - i've taught both her daughters and taken them through the local private school entrance exam as she wanted to pay for private tuition. She is certainly the parent I speak to most often - she calls me very regularly! When her younger daughter got 119 in Grade 1 piano - she felt she had 'scraped through!' Not my defintion - took a bit of explaining that that was a very good pass, especailly for a first exam (she was 9). This will be the first time I am able to hold exams at my house, as I've never had enough candidates before - other pupils are happy they can take an exams/exams in a place they know on a piano they know.
I am going to explain to mother that if daughter does the exam next term, I will also charge her for my accompanying costs and childminding whilst I am accompanying. Two costs she wouldn't have if she waits till the autumn.

This is probably a question to which there is an obvious answer, but please forgive me as I know very little about singing! If this girl's pitch isn't good, what are the chances of this improving significantly in a term or two? It may be that this is easily fixed by a good teacher - I really don't know - but what I'm asking is what is the likelihood of the situation not improving enough by the time you envisage entering her for an exam, and is it possible that it won't improve at all?

Pitch can be improved - this particular pupil has improved a lot since strating lessons. The main way to improve pitch is breathing/support, which also leads to increased confidence - which in turn helps any intonation issues. She is definitely not a hopeless case, but neither is she going to be a opera/pop star! Have more confidence going back to mother now (who I always seem to be justifying myself to - must stop that!) and explaining she is not ready yet.
Thanks

Yes the best way is just to be honest! I've been asked a few times about exams from a pupil who does no practise. What can I say apart from "That depends on you".

I also had a girl who appeared not to be able to pitch notes very well, but actually, once I got her to sing up a bit, she was fine. It was the hesitation in her voice that was making the tone waver

Parent sticking her nose in here! Sometimes parents behave like this out of lack of understanding. They get mixed messages from teenage children, learn about friends others at school progressing more quickly and jump to conclusions about there child being held back.

Firstly I would explain calmly to the girl why you want her to either wait or take a lower grade. Secondly I'd speak to Mum a year of lessons and progressing to Grade 2 is probably fair progress.

Can you Record the girl and give her the recording or give Mum an opportunity to hear it? Is there any other goal that can be worked towards, a solo at a concert perhaps? You may find it easier to move the exam if there is another focus.

As a parent there have been times when my child has wanted to do the next exam and I've supported it (she's always been ready though) but now she has more performance opportunities it's not as big an issue.

I think you really have to make your own decision about when the girl is ready to take an exam, and be quite firm with Mum (while explaining your reasons pleasantly). If you bow to the pressure this time, what is to stop them piling it on a few months later? You could then find yourself on the exam treadmill with this girl. If you start as you mean to go on and Mum doesn't like it, she can find another teacher, but you may be storing up trouble for yourself if you let her push you around now. Good luck..

Sue

I'm always trying to think of new ways to resist exam minded parents without ending up being defensive about my teaching. It might help to have very strong alternative teaching material and resources with which you can justify your exam strategy, and you can demonstrate how your programme of study fits in with the exam system. Emphasise the fact that exam is assessment/testing and not a teaching or learning process.

It takes a lot of confidence to resist (something I have to work on) but I think it helps if you can keep your ground and just quietly state that this is the way you teach and this is how learning to play the piano works etc etc. As someone else said I think parents can be very unsure about the whole thing and just need reassurance that everything is going well without an immediate exam looming.

Someone at the EPTA conference said put a clause about exams in your T&Cs and you can always refer a parent to it. If only it was that easy!

Good luck too

I have written a note to the mother explaining that, whilst her daughter is working well, she is not an exam-ready standard yet but with 'sustanined and regular practice' (hint hint!) she may be ready in a few terms time. I also pointed out that exams are just one part of instrumental lessons, the overall learning and teaching experience is far more important - although it does mean that she doesn't have a certificate to show to share her daughter's obvious success with anyone....Hopefully this will be taken in the right way.
Thanks to nonmusimum - it's always good to hear the parents point of view.

With piano, if a parent is non-musical but asks about exams very early on, it's helpful to actually play them some repertoire from the grade 1 syllabus.

It gives them an idea of the standard, and illustrates that it is not a beginner's exam.

As a student i can understand where the parent is coming from. It probably isn't quite your situation but a similar thing has happened to me.

When i was working on my grade 8 i changed teachers to a specialist in september and my old teacher had given m the impression that i was doing it at christmas. After changing teacher i realised nothing had been said about entering me and spoke to the head of brass about it and he explained that he though i shouldhave atleast two terms with the new teacher before doing the grade, and there was no rush.

My parents spoke to him and managed to convinve him that i could do it and i'd like to be put in. I wanted to do it because my goal was to get a diploma by 16 and as i was already 16 time was running out! I did get put in for the exam and came out with a mark of 296/320 which is High Honours on Guildhall exam board.

I think this shows that pupils will work harder under pressure and it is worth pushing some if you think they might be able to do it. I did then get a diploma in the july before more birthday in september. So i was happy. It was also the highest brass exam result the county had ever seen (not that i like to blow my own trumpet - excuse the pun).

Just so you can see a pupils side of the story.

That's great Rory. As a teacher I have pupils who as highly motivated as you. I'll admit I did the same when I failed Grade 6 Piano I learnt 3 new pieces and passed with 115 in just one term because I wanted to.

The issue here though is where the parent wants to push, and the student is a frightened rabbit. People like you thrive under those conditions, but some don't. There are pushy parents who ends up terrifying their kids, and there are others that by giving them that extra kick up the backside make them achieve great things.

The problem as a teacher is when we get the former type not the latter!

Mine is veering towards the frightened rabbit... Have had pupils in the past who thrived, took exam and did well - I really don't feel this is one of them.
Difficult balancing act - still remember being a pupil myself (!!!)

I thought that was the case. Stick to your guns ore there will be one screwed up kid who will hate music rather than one who actually is happy and enjoys it.