Yamaha Special Junior Advanced Course - Discussion

[ooptimizer]

How much are you asking for the ELS-01?

[bubble_tae]

ooptimizer:

How much are you asking for the ELS-01?

The price now is S$12,800.
[ http://www.yamaha.com.sg/Electone_ELS-01.html ]

When i bought it they recommend that i get an additional floppy disc player, cos it will bring out the full potential of the Stagea since all electone sheet music comes with a disc. I have that on my ELS-01

I would like to sell it at S$9,388.00
WITH Yamaha Headset & Floppy disc player

[radiantmum]

Attended 1st JSAC group class today.


Very interesting first lesson with the class speed I find much much faster than JXC’s. They had solfege singing, minuet, mystery/horror sound "experimentation", sight reading, ensemble & "Mary had a little lamb" improvisation - - all within 1.5 hour. I am amazed that the kids have no problem understanding and absorbing them as well !

[acforfamily]

Hi radiantmum,

Glad to hear the positive comments about the class.

My son is feverishly preparing for his electone exam again in March. One of the things that take up most of his time is the arrangement piece. (I realised a short while back that only electone students need to do this from grade 8 onwards, the piano students don’t have to).

Basically, they have to pick a piece of music they like and prepare their own arrangement, try out the different sounds, tempo, chords etc, write it out before the exam. Finally, need to play the piece during the exam.

Definitely not easy, so do take note for next year. My son really struggled the first time cos his previous teacher did not prepare in advance.

[radiantmum]

acforfamily:

Hi radiantmum,

Glad to hear the positive comments about the class.

My son is feverishly preparing for his electone exam again in March. One of the things that take up most of his time is the arrangement piece. (I realised a short while back that only electone students need to do this from grade 8 onwards, the piano students don't have to).

Basically, they have to pick a piece of music they like and prepare their own arrangement, try out the different sounds, tempo, chords etc, write it out before the exam. Finally, need to play the piece during the exam.

Definitely not easy, so do take note for next year. My son really struggled the first time cos his previous teacher did not prepare in advance.

Hi acforfamily, when do they start taking exams & how often? Out of curiousity, how do we as parents know whether the teachers have prepared \"properly\"?

& most importantly, GOOD LUCK to your DS !

[acforfamily]

radiantmum:

Hi acforfamily, when do they start taking exams & how often? Out of curiousity, how do we as parents know whether the teachers have prepared \"properly\"?

& most importantly, GOOD LUCK to your DS !

Hi sorry for the late reply, was a bit busy and missed your msg.
They take exams once a year, electone exams have different dates from the piano ones, and is usually Mar or June. Since your ds started in jan, I guess his first exam must be next March.

Up to now, I am never sure whether my son is prepared. Sometimes the teacher will come back with a note saying that he needs to focus on something, and then I will make sure he practices it. Don't know how else?

There is a sort of past year exam book that the teacher will make them buy closer to the exam. This will give you an idea of what is being tested for their grade and you can use it to test your ds too. However, I struggle with it cos I am not trained in music, so just do what I can. Of course, there will be cries of 'mummy! It's is not like that ! :oops:

[radiantmum]

acforfamily:

However, I struggle with it cos I am not trained in music, so just do what I can. Of course, there will be cries of 'mummy! It's is not like that ! :oops:

Hahaha! I am at the stage of trying to overcome my frustration in being helpless ... didn't even realise that he had been practising wrongly (if you know what I meant :oops: ). A lot of practice pieces from his 1-1 electone class, he's frustrated initially having to co-ordinate both hands with pedal plus key switching @pedal and watching out for his articulation (while doing sight reading) at the same time. I am in awe - my imagination runs wild of an octopus performing :shock: Teacher's expectation is 1-2 hours of practice per day (gulps) and I didn't even dare to ask for his group teacher's expectation. I guess it's not only the kid needs adjustment, the parents need some MOC too (Boy, I am now wondering how a kid copes if doing both electone and piano at the same time!) Good news is he continues to be interested and happy going for classes. - especially on the improvision practices and the group ensemble part.

[acforfamily]

radiantmum:

I am in awe - my imagination runs wild of an octopus performing :shock: Teacher's expectation is 1-2 hours of practice per day (gulps) and I didn't even dare to ask for his group teacher's expectation.

I have heard of this teacher who has very high expectations of his students, so be warned ! My son's classmate is way ahead of the rest in her pieces, because it is what this teacher expects.

.............................................................
Look here for 2nd hand music books!
http://www.musicbookstrade.blogspot.com/

[June]

We were being call up for the audition in early march, however not sure whether to go for it as it easily take up 2 x of my ds schedule. Moreover he is doing inidividual piano lessons. When i asked the piano tr (apparently teaching in yamaha) she told me that the JSAC exams are yamaha certified whereas the piano are graded by ABRSM…hmm i just feel that 2 x a week is too much esp now my ds in primary school.

[acforfamily]

June:

JSAC exams are yamaha certified whereas the piano are graded by ABRSM...

In JSAC, you can choose to major in Electone or Piano. There will be an exam every year which is the Yamaha graded exams (grades 9,8,7,6). For those who do piano, however, to finish the JSAC course (4 yrs), you will have to pass the ABRSM piano grade 5 as well.