I've been teaching piano since 2011 and it's only today that I realise there are such issues going around (never had the time to sit at home and search up about private teachers)
I teach at a local music school as well as in private and I must say that it is really the teacher him/herself. Dedicated teachers will always be dedicated no matter what kind of set up it is.
Fun fact : Teachers who teach in school generally only earn a commission rate of between 40-50% of student's monthly fees and are not paid for studio school holidays.
Not saying that school teachers are less dedicated as a result.
I've met really good teachers (my colleagues) in music schools as well as extremely horrible ones.
E.g. Back when 1 of my students was preparing for her grade1 exams, she did a make-up with another teacher from the school (I didn't have any slots for makeup) which she previously missed with me. As it is a music school, we have our own student handbook where every week teachers will write in there to keep track of the student's progress as well as a reminder to our students. It is also sometimes a mean of communication with parents to keep them informed about what is going on. I usually jot down every detail of my lessons, including the attitude of the student etc. However, to my horror, what I saw in my student's book was "well prepared" and nothing else. To some, it might be acceptable, but not to me. Hence, it's really the teacher at the end of the day. What Im trying to convey with this example is that not all teachers in music schools are dedicate, patient and they definitely are not angels. Similarly, not all private teachers are bad.
Also, would like to point out that there are down sides to enrolling in a music school. A few of the examples are:
- Less flexibility
- Most music schools in Singapore hire part-time teachers and they are generally on a 1.5year contract. Imagine your kid or yourself having to adjust to a new teaching style every 1.5years. (I did my grade6 theory years ago with a music school in Toa Payoh - near kiddy palace, and my teacher was a nice lady. However, her contract was ending and when I found out and had to submit my termination notice, it was too late. Meaning I would have to attend lessons with another teacher, which was a great nightmare. They replaced her with a male foreigner and he couldnt communicate with me in English, He was trying to use sign language to explain the use of chromatic notes to me. Thank God I only had 1 lesson with him. This is on top of the fact that my dad didn't want a male teacher for safety reasons)
- Private lessons = you can watch how the teacher actually teach! In music studios, behind close door, you never know if the teacher is really teaching properly instead of texting away
The list would go on and on and on....
Yes, I am totally disgusted about what these 'private teachers' are doing but I would like to speak for the rest of the private teachers around. Not all private teachers are out to scam you. Some of us really do have a passion for music and want more people to experience the art of the piano.
Well, I shall end my reply with some tips for parents out there on how can you judge if the teacher is dedicated:
-Request to sit in for at least the first lesson, and even every now and then. (and notice their first reaction when you ask)
Dedicated teachers will not mind. In fact, I usually would invite parents to sit in for the trial lesson especially for beginners. This is because it gives the child a sense of security. On top of that, the parents might be able to help bring the interaction to a higher level as they know the kids better. And I do this also so that the parents can guide the child back at home.
-Ask for weekly updates about your kid, not only about what was covered but also his/her attitude for the lesson. (Dedicated teachers WILL be more than willing to keep parents up to date)
-Good teachers will usually take the initiative to keep communication going. with the parents too!
-On the first lesson, teachers with good musical sense and technical skills will be able to pick up your child's strengths and weaknesses. If he/she does not tell you at the end of the first lesson, ask them and take note of how they answer your question.
Above is just a general guide. They might not be accurate 100% the time but is what I've noticed in my 13 years of learning and 4 years of teaching.
You guys can feel free to PM me if you have any questions and I'll answer them in my free time when I can. (I can't guarantee a quick reply)
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