Do you have a child that is at Diploma Level for any instrument?

I am just really curious. I am a teacher from Canada of over 20 years, and during my years in Canada, I have had almost ALL of my students complete their diploma unless there were sudden unpexpected factors like family problems, or financial problems... etc.


However, since moving to HK.... rebuilt a wonderful studio and network of students and parents.... I am really really frustrated with one thing. Only a VERY small percentage of my piano students can FINISH or will try to finish /aim at diploma level. Especially the ones who are in international schools, they are the ones with more time to be able to focus on extra-curricular activities. But I find that int'l school students of HK are not as "durable" (compared to local students).... int'l school students tend to give up when faced with challenges, or choose the easy way out...


Perhaps it's not necessarily the school, maybe it is the result of the parenting style ? Allow their children to quit, give up, don't force.....


I really miss those students..... It takes a lot of determination, committment, time management, support from family, and the attitude of NOT giving up in order to complete it, surely there are these students are there in HK still ?


Perhaps there is just too much distracting factors in a child's life.... too busy ?

Hey this is Hong Kong! Welcome to a very unique place of Hong Kong.

Plus we are in the 21st century!


Children of today are surrounded with comfort and luxury. Any difficult hurdles, then they will give in easily. Our parent generation are far more durable facing every challenge and will endure to over come it. But children of today are far more spoilt (especially those going to international schools) therefore, tend to treat music, sports and extra-curricular activities as "entertainment".


When you give them a difficult time and a task which require hours of practice and committment, then they lose interest very quickly and many quit......that is reality.


I teach local and international school children extra-curricular martial arts and I spend alot of time teaching them discipline/manners and to perservere in the class. I totally agree they are not as durable!

I think it's interesting that you are comparing your Canadian students with the International School students b/c I think that there is also the same comparison between local school versus international school students. I was told by a Kumon center that my daughter wasn't allowed to take part in the Chinese class because they felt that westerners didn't have the discipline, as the Chinese students (even from International schools). Yet, my daughter has been playing piano for 1 1/2 years and is at the end of grade 2 piano. hmmmm.

namaste, good to hear your daughter is at Grade 2. However, Grade 2 isn't the "breaking" point.... it's Grade 4-5 piano... and also depends what age your child is at .... and of course there are always "exceptions" maybe your child is one.


I know it's not easy to fit in "piano" into ANY Child's schedule/dailyroutine who's residingin HK... it's just not the same mentality, culture, and the parents are way too busy here. Transportation is another big problem I think. We spend a lot of time transporting in HK... whether it's MTR, private car, bus or minibuse or taxis....


Unlike in Canada, my students gladly came to my studio for 2-3 lessons a week, one time for piano, one for theory, and one for aural training. But here, 1 hour is MAX... and as a super teacher, I have to fit everything into that 1 hour because the student has no other time in the week.


I have alot of UK based students who come back 4 times a year for holidays and during each time, they will have piano lessons with me to catch up.... these students are independent, mature, and has lots of time to practice during their studies in UK. However, the ones who really cannot take any hardship, or challenges, or discipline are the ones who are attending international schools in HK.

Parents of these students are also that way.... they tend to be quite reluctant in disciplining the child to practice on his/her own, and learn to "work" hard!


Just voicining my own observation and opinion.

Hi Kate,

My daughter has just turned 9 and is by no means any exception. She is required to practice daily and isn't allowed to watch TV, play computer or visit with friends until she has done her piano. It's also the persistence and discipline of the parents that make a difference. If both parents are working, this is quite difficult. I have to disagree about the busyess in HK because here average wage earning families can employ help, leaving parents free of cooking, cleaning and shopping that parents need to do in Canada and the US. Here, transport comes every 4 minutes - in the States, every 30 minutes or you have to drive long distances. Kids here are also very overscheduled and over-extended, touching a bit into several after school activities and immersing themselves in none. Perhaps you'd be interesting in learning that at Rennaissance school in Ma On Shan, 60% of students play more than one instrument and music is so important to the development of the children, that children are taken out of classes during school time, to attend private lessons at school. The school also offers music scholarships to secondary students. This is an international school, but has a unique acceptance/admissions process for the ESF schools.

Hi Kate, I guess the only way to find out why the children are quitting is to speak to the parents. If it is because it's too difficult, I would then talk to them about how we don't give up when things are just difficult, and then ask the parents if they have found this behaviour to be across other activities (swimming, ballet...) and then list the advantages of working through difficult periods. Some may say they are bored... then I would suggest learning other genre such as jazz/pop/improvisation...

My point is, students come to piano lessons for different purposes. Some use it as an introduction to music and then go on to other instruments... not everyone wants to do the diploma or be a concert pianist. As music educators, we can only find out where their interests and goals are and foster them. Our goals for them may not always match their goals, and it's important to recognise this.

namaste- thanks for your reply. I have heard many good things about Renaissance. I have many students from int'l schools, not ALL are like what I talked about, but many are. They learn MANY things, and yes, like SoundsFun have suggested, I have talked to those parents with children who likes the "easy way out".... they do quit many and touch new activities.... but piano is the longest they stick to.


Not only Renaissance has this wonderful dedication to music development and education, my students at Australian also have this benefit...... but as the student reach highschool years... many of them leave HK to UK or USA for school, so I lose students at about age 15-16 because most of them send their kids off to overseas for school.... OR when they get to this age, there are SO many distractions, it's hard to get them to commit to practicing routinely 1-2 hours a day.


Not only the practicing is the problem, I find many of them exhausted by the time they come to piano lesson, because prior to piano lesson, they had dance, tennis, swimming, drama, english, math, putonghua...etc. etc. and then after piano , still have this and that...etc. During the piano lesson, at diploma level, they don't have the "focus" and "mood" to perform those pieces that requires alot of inner peace and calm and take a breath to take in the depth of these pieces that are masterpieces....etc.


Thanks SoundsFun and namaste for your replies. You're right SoundsFun, not every student comes to piano lesson aiming to finish. You're SO right. That's my problem, I hope EVERY student finishes to Diploma... especially when you see their talent, and potential....

Katetam and SoundsFun,


My daughter is 5 year old and she just started learning piano. We have not considered taking any exams yet. Based on your experience,

when is the right time for the child to start taking exams? I know kids here tend to take exams at really young age.

adachan, it's hard to say WHEN is a good time for a student to take exam. Some students can take the grade 1 exam in 1-2 years time from first piano lesson, some decides not to , wait until Grade 3 to attempt first try.


I tend to ask students to try Grade 1 exam, it gives them confidence, and it's a milestone for the child.


If you ask me, the AVERAGE age for first exam should be around 6-7 years old. Remember, I have seen 5 year olds take Grade 3 exam, I have seen 12 years old take Grade 1 exam, and my best record, I had a student who finished Diploma in 3 years from no piano experience to graduating with distinction in piano performance in 3 years.


Just remember- the piano exam should NOT be stressful. It should not mean before the exam, 1 month prior, the child needs to chain herself to the piano, and have zillions of extra piano lessons in order to pass. that's WRONG.


My students prepare for their exams like any other day ... it's just taking the 30 minutes to GO to the exam on the designated day. No stress, no fuss, and great marks!

mamateng, I will PM you.

Katetam,


Very interesting! I will PM you.