Rethink how much you make your kids practice

Reading up on posts today I came across this article in the Wall Street Journal:

Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior

Ethnicity or nationality aside, the real key to success in children is the demand for excellence from their parents, and how much practice they have at the things they need to be good at. My favorite quote from this article was this:

All the same, even when Western parents think they’re being strict, they usually don’t come close to being Chinese mothers. For example, my Western friends who consider themselves strict make their children practice their instruments 30 minutes every day. An hour at most. For a Chinese mother, the first hour is the easy part. It’s hours two and three that get tough.

Now we’re talking.

Practice at the very least should be treated as homework. You do it every day, just like your other homework assignments. To be good at anything, you need to do it more. If you want to win first place in the competitions, you need to have practiced more than your competitors, and doing your practice intelligently. Your competitors are practicing this much – three or four hours per day minimum. No, really.

Another good quote from the article worth pointing out:

What Chinese parents understand is that nothing is fun until you’re good at it. To get good at anything you have to work, and children on their own never want to work, which is why it is crucial to override their preferences. This often requires fortitude on the part of the parents because the child will resist; things are always hardest at the beginning, which is where Western parents tend to give up. But if done properly, the Chinese strategy produces a virtuous circle. Tenacious practice, practice, practice is crucial for excellence; rote repetition is underrated in America. Once a child starts to excel at something—whether it’s math, piano, pitching or ballet—he or she gets praise, admiration and satisfaction. This builds confidence and makes the once not-fun activity fun. This in turn makes it easier for the parent to get the child to work even more.

Don’t be afraid to make your kids practice, and don’t give up when they resist. This is the key to their long-term success and happiness, and while it might not seem like it at first, the results will come if you are determined and persistent.

Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet – Evgeny Kissin

This is my favorite pianist.  Last time I saw him play, it was 20 years ago in Boston.

Selecting a Student Piano

Found this page which has useful tips on how to purchase a piano. Especially helpful advice when selecting a new instrument for your student:

How to Buy a Piano – wikiHow

Avoid electronic keyboards. These are not the same feel or tone as a real piano. The keys are usually unweighted, the instruments don’t have pedals, and they sound terrible. What you need is a real upright or grand piano. These can be rented or purchased. Renting is not a bad idea for beginners if you are not sure. For my competition students, it is best to have a real grand piano available to practice on daily.

You also will need to identify a good piano tuner. You should have a piano tuner come and service your piano at least once a year, and preferably twice per year.

Fall 2010 Studio Announcements

As of August, 2010, tuition rates are as follows:

  • 30 min. – $38/hr
  • 45 min. – $55/hr
  • 60 min. – $73/hr (required for competition and certification exam students)

Currently my studio has one opening,  please contact me to get on my waiting list as openings do come up from time to time.

2010 US Open Winners!

Congratulations to Eugene Chou 2nd place winner and Leon Chou 4th place winner in this year’s US Open piano competition!

2010 Spring Recital

Happy New Year!! Our annul studio recital is coming soon!!

Date: Saturday, March 27, 2010

Time: 1:00-2:30 and 2:30-4:00 (There will be two sections this year, so no need to sit there for 3 long hours. I will send out a detailed schedule to let your family know which section you will be in.)

Location: East Bay Formosan United Methodist Church 1755 Sunnyvale Ave Walnut Creek, CA

US Open Piano Competition 2009 Winners

I would like to say congratulations to my students Eugene and Leon Chou for their wonderful competition results (US open) and all their hard work!

Eugene Chou: Treasury of Classical-Advanced–4th place
Leon Chou Showcase Piano Solo–4th place.

They will play award concert this coming Saturday, for more detail please check http://www.usomc.org/events/award_concerts.html

Students Perform with SF Boy’s Chorus at Obama Inauguration

Congratulations to my student Eugene Chou who got to sing in today’s inauguration ceremony with the San Francisco Boy’s Chorus!

Spring Recital 2009

Date: 3/22/2009 Sunday

Time: 3:00 PM-5:00 PM

Location:

East Bay Formosan United Methodist Church
1755 Sunnyvale Ave
Walnut Creek, CA 94597.

For United Sates open music competition students* Please check the website at www.usomc.org for current announcements.

2/28 Memorial Concert for Taiwan

I will be playing in a 2/28 Incident Memorial Concert at East Bay Formosan United Methodist Church in Walnut Creek. The performance will be on Sunday, February 22th, at 2 PM. I will be playing Brahms, Scherzo Opus 4. There will also be several friends performing from San Francisco Symphony.

Location: East Bay Formosan United Methodist Church 1755 Sunnyvale Ave
Walnut Creek, CA

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