Yamaha Junior Music Course (JMC) - Discussion

[pokemon]

minnie2004:

Actually I originally assume we'd continue with JMC all along until our teacher started asking us if we wanted to continue with the JMC or switch to group piano class, and gave us a deadline to decide by last Sunday. She said if the majority picked one of the 2, then she'd teach that course. I think due to this luxury of choice, our class was split in opinions (although some already decided long time ago to drop out) and had to disolve eventually as no majority (at least 5) was formed. When I asked the Yamaha staff, they said the drop-out rate in other classes were not as high as ours, except for some weekday evening classes. So I think if our teacher didn't ask, most of us would just go to the next level by default. I suspect she's either being transparent and list out all the options we have at this stage, or she didn't want to teach this class anymore .

Minnie2004,

last year in oct aft my ds2 completed jmc, i din hesitate and proceed to jmc, then i was caught in a situation when my ds2 was into his 1st term of jxc in nov 2009, we felt the classes going abit slow and my ds2 was bored, so before giving notice to yamaha for termination, i enrolled him for pte piano lesson, luckily he enjoyed it and finally we left yamaha. He has been in pte lesson since November and has thoroughly enjoying his lesson.

Last time according to his yamaha teacher, kids' hearing abilities will reach a plateau at abt age 6 onwards,in JXC most of the kids are gg to 7yr old, dun kn if ear training still so effective. But i agree the JMC years really train my ds listening, he can hear if its out of tune and etc. Even in his pte lesson now, his hearing still very sharp, his teacher also does some ear training with him.

[minnie2004]

Hi pokemon,

I'll just let her try JXC for 6 months since our pte teacher advised us so. If she doesn't like it, we'll then drop it and focus on ABRSM. The important thing is to keep her interested.

BTW, my DS will be starting JMC too in July. But he can already sing all the songs in book 1 and play some of them. Seems he has a stronger interest in music. He does have a nicer voice than DD

[Busymom]

minnie2004:

Busymom:

Hi minnie2004


Like you, my DD is also going to complete her first 2 years of JMC soon. However, her teacher did not ask if we are going to continue with year 3 and 4, I think she assumes we are all going to :).

Actually I originally assume we'd continue with JMC all along until our teacher started asking us if we wanted to continue with the JMC or switch to group piano class, and gave us a deadline to decide by last Sunday. She said if the majority picked one of the 2, then she'd teach that course. I think due to this luxury of choice, our class was split in opinions (although some already decided long time ago to drop out) and had to disolve eventually as no majority (at least 5) was formed. When I asked the Yamaha staff, they said the drop-out rate in other classes were not as high as ours, except for some weekday evening classes. So I think if our teacher didn't ask, most of us would just go to the next level by default. I suspect she's either being transparent and list out all the options we have at this stage, or she didn't want to teach this class anymore .

So the original class is going to dissolve and you will have to join another JXC class instead? Actually, the teacher should have discussed this much earlier, like during the parents' meeting session. In our case, our teacher had started \"brain-washing\" the kids even earlier that they need to be independent at the JXC class, as parents would not be sitting in anymore after a couple of months. Am looking forward to that \"freedom\" :celebrate: , although not for long as DS may soon go for Music Wonderland

[Busymom]

minnie2004:

It's expensive to do both, but we figure there's only a certain window when a child can be trained in music so we might as well spend the $$.

Good choice and I fully agree with you!

Let's hope everything will work out well.

[i3mum]

Hi,


Any mummy/ daddy are attending Yamaha Music Course Book 3 with their child? I need to seek some advice on how to play some songs, anyone can help?

[raynreg]

Maybe you could post your problem here and see if members can help

[i3mum]

Hi raynreg,


Thanks for offering your help. My child now in Book 3, and she is learning to play 2 songs: London Bridge & sunbathing. She knows how to play the original song, but the teacher informs the children to practice at home:

1) London Bridge-- G, C major using Both Hands & F major Right Hand

2)Sunbathing-- F major Right hand & C major RH

I understand that
G major comprises of - SO TI RE, FA# DO RE
F major comprises of FA LA DO, MI TI(flat) DO
C major comprises of DO MI SO , TI FA SO

Does anyone know how to play these 2 songs as instructed by the teacher? Sorry I was really confused and thought I will be able to figure out when I got back home.

raynreg:

Maybe you could post your problem here and see if members can help

[Busymom]

For London Bridge, what is in the book is G major. To transpose it to C major, starts the right hand on so. The left hand chords would be do mi so, do mi so, ti fa so, do mi so. If you listen to the CD, I think after two rounds of G major, the song changes to C major. However, I am surprised that the teacher also asks for F major for this song. Anyway, same thing, starts the right hand on high do, just remember to put in the ti flat.


Different teacher seems to be a bit different on this. My DD’s first teacher would occassionally teach them the variations, following the CD quite closely. Her current teacher, however, does not do that at all. She doesn’t even ask the class to try out. I guess there are pros and cons. Anyway, DD usually does it on her own at home.

For Sunbathing, the score in the book is F major. For C major, starts on middle do. If you are still not sure, you can look at the last page of the book, you would be able to see that there is an exercise for all 3 keys - C major, F major and G major.

Hope this helps.

[i3mum]

Hi Busymom,


Thanks for your help! But I couldnt really figure out how is it like to start with right hand on so? Is it possible to tell me in full?

Sorry about it. I didnt attend the lesson.

Busymom:

For London Bridge, what is in the book is G major. To transpose it to C major, starts the right hand on so. The left hand chords would be do mi so, do mi so, ti fa so, do mi so. If you listen to the CD, I think after two rounds of G major, the song changes to C major. However, I am surprised that the teacher also asks for F major for this song. Anyway, same thing, starts the right hand on high do, just remember to put in the ti flat.

Different teacher seems to be a bit different on this. My DD's first teacher would occassionally teach them the variations, following the CD quite closely. Her current teacher, however, does not do that at all. She doesn't even ask the class to try out. I guess there are pros and cons. Anyway, DD usually does it on her own at home.

For Sunbathing, the score in the book is F major. For C major, starts on middle do. If you are still not sure, you can look at the last page of the book, you would be able to see that there is an exercise for all 3 keys - C major, F major and G major.

Hope this helps.

[Busymom]

i3mum:

Hi Busymom,


Thanks for your help! But I couldnt really figure out how is it like to start with right hand on so? Is it possible to tell me in full?

Sorry about it. I didnt attend the lesson.

Ok, let me try (as I don't have the book in front of me now). In G major, is it re mi re do ti do re? If yes, then in C major, it would be so la so fa mi fa so. You move all the notes down by a perfect fifth.