Articles for Parents
How can I help my child be ready for their AMEB piano exam?
Attend the lessonYou will get an idea of which pieces the teacher is wanting your child to put the most effort into, which scales they are struggling with, and more.At home, you can quote the teacher: “Didn’t Mr. Smith say...[more]
Do students need to practise Sight Reading before their piano exam?
Here is what AMEB examiners said about three different Grade Three piano students who had been using Sight Reading Secrets Book Three in the year leading up to their examination: Dec 2008, Grade Three Piano For Leisure: Sight...[more]
When will my child finish these AMEB piano exam pieces?
My six-year-old friend proudly announced that after Christmas she was going to progress to Grade One (and by Grade One I mean her year level at school, not the AMEB piano exam.) Knowing she is an avid reader, I replied, “you...[more]
When should my child do a piano exam?
The answer to this question is not “every November.” Many people assume that piano exams are designed to be achieved at a yearly pace. This is not true. Many teachers would like to answer this question “not before your teacher...[more]
How to Become a Great Sight Reader
I was expecting blues scales, riffs and streams of consciousness, but this workshop on piano improvisation was a surprising place to hear an endorsement of the need to read. When improviser, pianist and educator Tony Gould spoke...[more]
What pieces should my child play for their exam?
Your child’s piano teacher may very well lie awake at night pondering which piece to introduce next. For this reason, your music library will be expanding – and this is a great thing for students. Beyond the books published by...[more]
How do you learn to read music?
Think about how your child learned to read English. First, they learned to speak English by hearing you speak then copying you a few words at a time. You drew their name in the sand on the beach and with textas on...[more]
Does it matter that I'm not musical?
When couples marry, they are often horrified at the Christmas traditions of their in-laws. “But you don’t have any Christmas stockings!” “You’ve only got roast turkey, you should have roast chicken as well!” “We can’t open the...[more]
What if my child doesn’t feel like practicing?
What would you do if your child didn’t feel like going to school? Or eating their vegetables? Brushing their teeth? Parents insist that their children do certain things because of the long-term benefits. Even if our children...[more]
How do I find a good music teacher?
A good teacher enjoys music and seeks to pass on this enjoyment to their students. They take interest in their pupils, trying to find the best methods to suit the individual. Their aim is to give their students a quality music...[more]
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