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Mumsnet Discussions: Extra-curricular activities : Tricky sibling situation with piano grades - how do I manage this? (5 messages)
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Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By muffinmonster on Mon 27-Oct-08 21:08:32
DD is 11 (year 7) and has had piano lessons since age 7. She has never seemed all that keen but equally has never seemed to loathe it, so we've kept it up. She finally sat Grade 1 last July (got a pass), and is now expected to sit Grade 2 next July. She is bright but not all that highly motivated. She also has Kodaly lessons on Saturday mornings (for the last two years). She has just started saxophone lessons at school.

DS is 8 (year 4) and started piano just over a year ago. He too has had Kodaly lessons for the last two years. He is VERY keen on the piano. He has made great progress and loves to play - I never have to tell him to practise. He doodles and explores on the piano as well as practising his pieces. He just got the book of pieces for Grade 1 last week and turned up at his lesson having already chosen his pieces and learned the notes. He's due to do the exam in spring. However, his teacher now feels he might be better off going for Grade 2 in the summer rather than spending months playing the Grade 1 pieces and getting bored with them.

The difficulty is that his sister would probably react rather badly to this. I don't want to hold him back, but I don't want her to throw in the towel because her little brother is overtaking her. Does anyone have any bright ideas on how to handle this?
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By hunkermunker on Mon 27-Oct-08 21:11:06
Talk to her about it? Ask her if she's enjoying piano? You clearly can't hold DS back from doing it - he sounds like he has potential to be very good. Maybe she'll enjoy the saxophone more, or maybe she's got talents in other areas?
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By maggiethecat on Mon 27-Oct-08 21:18:28
I agree, it's probably the right time to really find out if she wants to be doing piano instead of something else.

BTW, where do they do Kodaly lessons, I'd like to get DD2 on to them eventually.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By RubyRioja on Mon 27-Oct-08 21:20:26
Hunker, I think you'll find that is pronounced 'saxamaphone'
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By muffinmonster on Mon 27-Oct-08 21:23:34
maggiethecat, the Kodaly lessons are in Finchley Road, north London. Try www.bbcm.co.uk (where we go) or www.soedu.co.uk. Guildhall also do junior classes including Kodaly training, and there are others. Let me know if you want to know more. Kodaly is FANTASTIC!


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