Yup, you are right. How i wish all the parents can think like you. There are a lot of parents who just throw their child to me without helping. But even in 1-1 lesson, with such a young age, parental involvement is very very important. But with the full attention from the teacher, parents will not need as much guidence and supervision. However parents involvement is still very much encouraged. There is one school in here, if the child does not practise, the teacher will reprimand the mum.
But you see, not all parents can be like you. I can say that you are just the minority who are more serious about learning music. Most of them just thinks that the teacher should do the job by teaching the children well and motivates them to practise. (Due to this, i am under so much stressed.) So most parents just throw their children to the teachers without monitoring them. Maybe initially yes, they are so on the ball and make them practise everyday, sit with them etc but as times goes by, they stopped (i am not implying that all parents are like that as this is what i observed since i started teaching)
And how many parents will actually read that JMC is just for music appreciation etc. Some expect them to come out can read and play well but it is always not the case so i have parents complaining to me.
Some will say they actually just want to let them try, have fun and learn music so went to yamaha. But when the child gets more serious, they realised that it takes 4 yrs to complete JMC and JXC so it is very long . By the time, the child might be 9 (which just starting grade 1)as she started JMC when she is 5. And most parents in SGP is very kiasu. I have a lot of cases that the parents insist that the child completes grade 8 before o'levels which is not easy as school work nowadays are so heavy. Moreover, music is always after academic. So it is absolutely true that one needs to get their expectation right in the first place. Yes, yamaha has a 1 to 1 for 6 yrs and above. That is definately the normal way.
Based on all these years of teaching and experience, this is what i see and would like to share. That is why, i always say start early, go for music appreciation classes first then start 1 to 1 at about 4 yr old. When the children is young, many will not think of so far but as i have experience dealing with parents and students, that's why i am giving my views here. To some, it might be disturbing but all my posts are based on real stories. Maybe a few years down the road, when some of the mummies come back to my post, they will understand what i mean. But it might be too late by then.
Like i say, i started from music school, have lots of friends teaching in music schools and even have friends opening up music schools that is why i post my views about it. I have more horrible stories about them but just didn't want to post it as it is not very wise to do so. Music line is very small here and we all know what is happening every now and then.
That's why i encourage pte 1 to 1, but i don't mean to come and learn from me as there are many teachers out there. But do get one with relevant qualifications and teaching experience.