Violin

Me confused.

His SG teacher was preparing him for a Grade 2 ABRSM exam. Had we had stayed in SG, he would have taken that exam in March this year.

Over here, his SH teacher was determined to correct his basics. This went on for a good 6 months. I was just about thinking it was going nowhere when she announced that he is now stable enough for them to start on the SH conservatory of music of graded syllables. But, we soon found out that those books were out of stock. Syllables were being changed and they will not be restocking them.

So between March and May, she taught him almost all the pieces in the ABRSM Grade 2 book instead and urged me to buy the Grade 3 books for him. Told me the pieces in Grade 2 were too easy and that we should progress him to Grade 3 instead. I finally bought those books on Saturday.

Chatted with his SG teacher on the phone. Told her the boy will be back in SG for 2 months and asked if he could take the Grade 2 exams in August. Was told it was too late to register. Registrations closed in March.

Felt a bit shaken... so did some research. Quickly found out registrations for ABRSM exams in SH begins June 13th. Relief.

On Sunday, armed with newly purchased Grade 3 ABRSM books - and oh! the SH book with new syllables was hot out of the oven too so I grabbed that too - we went for his lesson.

I showed her the books and told her that out of the 3 pieces of music that he needs to prepare, he has learnt 2 of them before. Those were in his Suzuki Book 1 and Book 2. My 'strategy' was for him to start learning the '3rd piece' first and then we can work backwards if we have time. Also explained to her that he needs to learn and memorize all the scales & arpeggios as those need to be played from memory. She took a look at the materials and then told me that he may not be ready for it.

........ ?!?.........

She had done some research. She had a student who had taken the ABRSM exam and failed. ( this student had taken lessons from somebody else outside and had gone for the exam without her knowledge) Same student had done very well in the SH conservatory of music exams. Then she asked it there was a 'sight-reading' section? I said yes and she told me what I knew, that the music score is given on the spot. Repeatedly told me it is not something that can be prepared. Arh, so that was what she was worried about. He still cannot read his scores. Ok, I agree he cannot read his scores but told her I can help him there. Also told her that there is an 'aural' section. Could tell she did not really understand me. >>> Tell me, what's the Chinese equivalent for the word "aural"???

Actually, I'm not too worried about the 'sight-reading'. I remember I could never get it right either in any of the piano exams I've taken. Plus I've received a merit even failing this section. Ok, never mind if she can't prepare him for the 'aural' section. I am not a trained music teacher... but I should be able to guide him here and give him plenty of practice.

So I asked, what about the SH exams now that we have the book? Which grade can he take? And then I found out from her that these exams also happen in October. It only happens once a year! Grade 2 may be too challenging for him to prepare in such a short time. Grade 1 should be ok.

By this time, the bored boy was already muttering... I want to take Grade 1, I don't want to take Grade 3. I want to take Grade 1, I don't want to take Grade 3, I want to take Grade 1, I don't want to take Grade 3. I want to take Grade 1.............

Then she looks at me.

Me confused.

She shrugs. (15 minutes of the 45 minute lesson have now gone by) Tells me she does not know the ABRSM syllables well enough, asks me to ask his teacher in SG about the music pieces and decided to teach him a scale of the Grade 3 book instead.

Lesson over.

Later, I told the big one. He suggests, "Do both?"

Me grumbles at his stupid suggestion. "He's here for the next 6 weeks, then he goes back to SG for 2 months, then he comes back to SH in September. 10 weeks (6 weeks + Sept)  is not enough time for him to prepare for the SH exams. 2 months in SG is not enough time to prepare for ABRSM. SG teacher cannot prepare him for SH exams.

He says, "Ok, then you see how lar."

!!?!???!?

But now I do see light. Me not confused anymore. There's only one choice really.