I just finished my first year of piano teaching (Both privately and out of a non-conservatory music school) and, having gained some experience in the field I've decided to open my doors a little wider to the conservatory education plan. I was not educated through this program and, thereafter have no degree in it and wouldn't change a thing if i could. Through years of slightly more stereotypical teachers, I've come under the impression that the conservatory is an anal-retentitive organization consisting of ruler weilding nuns.

I'm just curious witch method of teaching/learning the people out there prefer

if you're talking about the conservatory as in the RCM, i think most music students out there do study under its curriculum. the curriculum itself is actually quite flexible (altho i do admit, they rip you off for the exams, especially in the higher grades as well as textbooks.) personally, i don't mind the conservatory (have studied under it all the way to the arct), i think it gives both the student and the teacher a direction to work towards to. however, it depends on your student's i guess, most adults probably wouldn't want to go witha curriculum repertoire, but if you're teaching young children who enjoys playing the piano..then conservatory isn't so bad.=)

The Conservatory I attend wast terrible 20 years ago. I hope, for the students sake, that they enroll humans as teachers instead or robots now.

Neus

Heh, don't diss nuns. Your impression of the conservatory is incorrect. You need to change your views before teaching the conservatory route.

Except for the scales, arpeggios, and other technical and ear training requirements, this route is the same as learning outside of the conservatory. You give the student a piece of classical or popular music, you teach to the same high standard that you always do, and then decide whether or not the student should memorize and perform it.

Think of the conservatory books as cheap anthologies. There's no mystery to it.

Hi Ballad3,
I just discovered the RCM!!
Can you tell me (doesn't list on their site) how long has RCM in US been around?
since the exams are very well structured and very close to the Royal in the UK, i figure they have been around in US for long. Do they structure after the RCM of Toronto ?