It’s more than a month into 2017, but I still want to look back and recollect the moments I had with my little kids piano students in 2016.
Sometimes during my kids piano classes, I do find some free time for the kids to perform some simple songs and also record for them to watch.
It is one way to train them to play a song from the start to the end well, without breaking up in the middle, and also prepare them mentally to focus on the song, no matter if there’s a camera (or anyone watching) or not.
I tried this out a few years ago, but did more short recordings in 2016. So when I looked back at the recordings I did, wow, those were amazing to watch. Some are really cute too!
I have taught some of the kids for a couple of years. Some from age of 4, and they are now in Primary 3, 9 years old! 5 years! I look at them now, and looked back when they just started. The growth is amazing.
It is really amazing to be their piano teacher since the start of their music journey. And that is why I want to do more of these short videos for these kids.
I send these videos to their parents too, so they can see how their kids have grown over time, not just in size, but in skills too! 😀
I plan to do more videos this year and I’ll share it here again at the start of next year!
Yay! The annual student concert this year was a success! This is our second student concert, with the first one back in 2014.
Say It With Music 2016 is back with bigger concert hall, more variety of performances, and most importantly, more students!
Every year, I will organize at least one concert for my students, and probably rope in a few of my fellow music teachers to join in as well.
This concert is to provide a stage for students to perform, because ultimately, learning music is not just about taking more and more exams. We want our students to learn and appreciate music, and be confident performers too!
So here are some of the highlights of Say It With Music 2016!
The concert starts at 10.30am, but we booked the studio from 10am onwards so that students can come in to practice and feel the piano.
Yeap, we have violin performers too! Everyone came early to warm up their fingers and instruments!
And then we kick off the concert right at 10.30am!
Yeap! Playing duet with kids of the piano too!
And then we have our first violin duet! He’s playing with teacher Marcus from Violin Music School.
And then we have our youngest piano student performance! She’s just 5! Isn’t she cute?!
Other than just piano and violin, we also have cello performance! Isn’t that great that music students can come together to learn from each other’s performance?
The cello might look big and hard to handle, but not for this little boy here! He manages his performance well, and even played duet with his teacher, Jayden from Music Mood!
To add more variety, we have vocal performances too!
And violin duet, teacher Marcus and his another student!
There are many more student performers but you can watch them more in the highlights video reel below 🙂
We had short breaks in between, and other than student performances too, I also get some of my friends to perform along as well.
And that was the time when all the students can take a break and enjoy performances from their teachers!
Yes, that was a duet by my friend Maria, and I. She’s an awesome singer, having performed in various corporate events, Dinner and Dances, and community programs too.
And the song we sing is really unique. There’s no words! Watch the video reel below to watch it!
And then, we have the finale!
A grand performance by the 3 teachers who organized the concert, for all the students, parents and friends who made Say It With Music 2016 a huge success!
A combination of Piano, Violin and Cello, performing ‘A Thousand Years’ by Christina Perri. We want to end the concert with a message that music is for everyone, and everyone can come together to play music!
Once again, we want to thank everyone who made this concert a huge success!
Thanks EveryOne!
We will see you again for Say It With Music 2017!
Video Highlights!
Enjoy!
Btw, if you want to learn more about teacher Jayden and his classes, you can find out more about his Music Mood music lessons!
And for more information about my piano lessons, simply head over to Valerie Piano Studio will do. 🙂
Every now and then, I do receive feedback from my kids’ parents, and here’s another happy feedback I had for one of my students.
Here’s the story:
This girl came to me being unmotivated I started by teaching her her favorite song. Even though I had to transcribe the song from what I hear from YouTube into notes, I’m glad it’s worth the hard work.
From not wanting to perform at the student recital which I’ll be organizing next week, to now, she’s considering to perform!
In a short span of 2 months, she became so motivated, I’m super super proud of her!
It builds in character especially the little ones, and some, if not all of these, lies on the responsibility of the teacher to impart into them.
I am thankful that I learn piano as a child and still learning till today, having first hand experience of different teachers and the way they teach, I receive their impartation and continue to pass it on to the little kids I teach.
If you’re keen to find out more about kids music lessons, you can request for a teacher with The Happy Pianist for experienced and qualified piano teachers 🙂
Of course as usual, these little gifts are for you!
I can say it’s a privilege to teach these kids, and see them grow up along the way. This is what I love about my passion as a piano teacher. You teach the child, the child grow up with you too.
Attended a 2-day conference : Hallmark of Distinction!
Many interesting pieces in the new piano syllabus and of course, lots to digest too. Overall, it was an worthwhile experience.
Had a great time attending it with fellow piano teachers, Teacher Alicia and Teacher Joshua. It’s a joy to meet and know fellow teachers who are committed in educating the future generation.
Being a private teacher can be lonely, but it doesn’t have to! As a teacher at The Happy Pianist, I get to meet up and share teaching ideas with other teachers. This helps us to sharpen our teaching methods to help more piano students learn better.
If you’re a piano teacher, sign up as a teacher at The Happy Pianist to get piano assignments plus meet more teachers!
A little background of this girl, she was about to give up piano so her mum brought her to me, hoping I can revive the flame, waved my magic wand yesterday and Tadah!
I’m thankful for wisdom and this opportunity, I hope she will go a long way 😀
This is also one of the reasons that keep me going after teaching piano for almost 8 years (3 years full time!)
The start of the 4th year is here. Time really flies doesn’t it? (I blogged about my first year in piano teaching not long ago here)
Looking back at the past 4 years of teaching full time together with the years I taught part time when I was student, I’ve come across many students, both adults and kids, how different each individual is!
I admit there are mistakes that I made as an educator, it was those mistakes that made me to be a better teacher. It forces me to think about my teaching method, to read up on how I can be a better teacher and apply what I read to my lessons.
Being a student myself preparing for my upcoming performance exam, it constantly reminds me of what it is like being on the receiving end.
I observe the way I was taught by my own teacher and be inspired by her, and some times I seek interpretation opinions from her when I teach higher grades students. I’m glad to call her my mentor and teacher.
Someone encouraged me this week by letting me know how special my job is working with little kids. They may not remember all that I teach them but they will remember me as a teacher who believed in them and this is what they will bring along as they journey through life.
I’m thankful for this opportunity, for parents and students to believe in me, for my teacher’s and loved ones’ support and encouragement. It is them who shaped me into who I am today.
What the future holds I do not know, but for sure I know that it will be all be worthwhile.
Kids display the truest emotions, when they are happy they laugh and smile; when they are sad they sulk and cry. I’m happy that I’m on the right track! 😆 so super duper touched by each and everyone of them 💕💕and now I’m off for a short break!
But before that, thanks so much for the gifts for Teacher’s Day! These are kind of unexpected, but I guess that’s what lovely about being a teacher 🙂
