Sunday, February 19, 2012

No Swimming Lesson?

As we both sat-in during Renee's lesson today(I had to go out with Rachel before papa arrived so she's left alone for quite awhile again, ^_^"), the teacher requested to speak to us without the pressence of Renee when it ended.

Her teacher expressed deep concern for Renee's recent slow-ed progress and wanted to discuss with us on how we could work together to help her.  He reminded us that it'd be a great waste of her talent should we let go and she slack on her own.  Like all the other teachers, he said that most children are like that and we have to try our best to pull her back on track, for at least, the next 2 years.  He's also mindful that either of us is musically trained but he cited that it'd be soon even if not now, that we will not be able to catch up with what she's learning(something of our concern too 'cos e pieces and techniques r getting tougher already!) but he said, a hold on her would still do her good.  He's also suggested that  we do what some other parents had been doing - put up a video camera on tripod during each lesson, so that she could watch back before/during practices(whether she'd really bother to tune to it later is another matter).  Again, he reminded us that the learning at Nafa itself is fast-paced, let alone the 'goal' she's currently working towards and once she slacks, she's going to lose out, no matter how talented the child is and if we allow that to happen to Renee, it would be a big waste.  Oh man, so stressful...

We are extremely grateful of his concern for Renee and honestly, deep down, I would really love to be able to guide her with her practices like I did in the past, but the care of Rachel and time forbids me to do so.  I'm going to have to try my best...

On the other hand, Renee's school seems to be giving her alot of drawing and colouring work(she said they like her work...) which I feel is not elevant to her academic learning at all.  Her teacher had said "do your homework first, the rest later", but are these extra drawings work necessary to her learning?  I don't see it... and given her comment, I suppose she(in fact many people do too) feels that academic achievements are much more important, we agree, but her current commitment to her music learning is not of the usual leisure form and whether she gets the ultimate result or not, we have to let her try, as 'the goal' is afterall, something of a very rare opportunity... Many had suggested that I speak to the school about it but I do not want to seem 'proud' or anything, so I'll just monitor the situation from now, before deciding whether we should speak to the school about it...

Meantime, with such load(including violin practices and theory homework), I've told Renee that until she's able to manage her own schedule, her swimming lessons will have to wait, :(.

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