hello i am lallasvensson

[kulahola]

Remember me ??
I am the traditional piano teacher.

ONe question:

I would like to give Brahms Intermezzo nr 2 op 118 to one of my totally unmusical students but i am afraid it is too early. After how many years of playing would you give that to a normally talented student ??

[comme_le_vent]

What is the point of teaching someone who is totally unmusical?

[kulahola]

well, i like her sister very much (she is really talented) and i have to be diplomatic...
and she is very skilled technically (difficult not to be with my teaching though) so I still have some hope that she can become a good pianist... maybe if i give her really romatic and slow pieces such as this intermezzo.... what do you think ?? the pb is that she is not careful when she learns a piece, she does not see what is written in articulation, dynamic and so on so it will take for ages for her to learn the piece. but maybe it s worth trying ?

[Hmoll]

If she is up to playing this piece technically, it can provide  opportunities for you to teach a lot of elements of musicianship - long line, inner voices and which to bring out, phrasing, shaping of melody, etc.

Welcome back.

[comme_le_vent]

ok my welcome was less than warm , sorry  

the best way to see if someone is musical and has any raw talent - is imitation..

play a tune - and ask them to hum it - do some basic ear test etc

clap a rhythm to her, and ask her to repeat.

if she fails at these - she is truely unmusical and there is no point continuing.

if she does well, or at least acceptably , she is worth sticking with a bit more.

but do remember that some people just dont care as much about piano as you... be empathetic.