NAFA School of Young Talents - Discussion

[kathyh]

mostly go private one to one

[Dawan]

Glad I read all these, never will I even think of sending my boy for NAFA audition again… Thanks.

[gweesgs]

I thank all of you for the wonderful advise. This is beyond my expectation with all the answers that u have shared.


I was about to enroll my 5yr old boy to NAFA in Nov in take. At the same time withdraw him from Yamaha class. Not because Yamaha is bad, it is because of my boy's ability. The teacher was shocked during the 1st lesson that he can hear the notes keys and say it rightly. He was tested with the eyes closed and was the first to identify correctly in the group. Teacher gave a strong positive comment for his young age and ability. That's makes me even more eager to excel his ability somewhere.

Last week, he has a performance in class. I was totally shocked in my life that he was able to play beautifully and forcefully and full concentration. This was because I was posted overseas and only back over the weekend. Just imagine all kind of worry I had as I was not with him most of the time.

In the performance class, when he started playing, with all the children shouting loudly - WOWWWW!!! Teacher even gave him positive comments. Hee - he was the only one that everyone cheers him up!

After the performance, I asked him how often he practice. He would say \"Only this morning!!\"

1 yr in Yamaha lesson now, he still enjoys the lessons. Not much of pushing needed to ask him to play the panio. He will just play when likes it.

If I had not read all these, I would have enrolled him in NAFA. But not now anymore, as I worry the stress level will kill his interest. Additionally, I am not with him most of the time. Not to mention, Primary School is another stress level for children. Children should enjoy what they are learning beside school hours.

Once age I thank all of u.. It is a great chants of kiasu's exchange sharing I read...

Cheers Everyone!

:thankyou:

[waiyean]

Hi gweesgs,


What you read from this forum regarding NAFA is probably 20% truth and 80% myths. Last year, I went through this period of questioning whether NAFA is the right place for my daughter. Had I believed every post made here, I would not have enrolled my daughter into NAFA.

Everyone’s experience in NAFA will be different. Some excel in that environment, some detest it, others crack under the pressure. That is because different child have differing learning style and capabilities. More often than not, people with negative experience will write about it more on such forums. Furthermore, a lot of these comments are dated many years ago, and may not be valid anymore.

My personal experience with the school is a very positive one. I do not see the kind of scolding and negative remarks from teachers as claimed by some. Yes, a certain amount of discipline is required, and students are expected to work hard and take the lessons seriously. I feel that is a fair expectation from the school of students who are training to perform and win competitions. During master-classes, the children are mostly joking around, playing with each other and chatting happily before and after the performances. The principal praises the students when they do well and give pointers to them on how to improve.

The principal and teachers are extremely dedicated, and do not hesitate to give extra lessons when preparing for competitions and performances. My daughter enjoys lessons in NAFA, and i have seen her improved a lot over the year. Given your son’s ability, I would suggest you consider going for the auditions, then speak to the principal and teachers during the orientation day, before deciding whether to enrol into the school.

[gweesgs]

Thanks BlueBelt… Good suggestion. Will call up and check. Cheers!

[crm]

Hi parents


I have been intro-ed a nafa teacher to teach my son piano. however, I found that the teacher only teaches exam pieces in addition to some other pieces (rather boring) to train the technique, but very limited.

I was told by the teacher the students in the prestigious nafa young talent school were taught exam pieces only too and do not play other songs from other sources. I was quite shocked and would like to know whether it is a norm?

I myself was playing chinese instrument Dizi in school CCA. At my time, I was exposed to various kinds of pieces. Of coz at my time grading exam was not as popular as now but I really doubt playing exam pieces only could build a good foundation ? would like to seek your advice …

[Dreamaurora]

crm:

Hi parents


I have been intro-ed a nafa teacher to teach my son piano. however, I found that the teacher only teaches exam pieces in addition to some other pieces (rather boring) to train the technique, but very limited.

I was told by the teacher the students in the prestigious nafa young talent school were taught exam pieces only too and do not play other songs from other sources. I was quite shocked and would like to know whether it is a norm?

I myself was playing chinese instrument Dizi in school CCA. At my time, I was exposed to various kinds of pieces. Of coz at my time grading exam was not as popular as now but I really doubt playing exam pieces only could build a good foundation ? would like to seek your advice ...

Hi crm,

it is true that in NAFA most teachers only go through exam pieces and technical exercises. This practice is borned out of necessity as the students need to go through internal assessment every half a year. Failure to pass the internal assessment means the kid will be out of the program. Aural is taught in separate class and sight-reading is up to the 1-1 teacher to go through. So a typical Young Talent student often has strong technique, aural skill, and can play the exam pieces very well at distinction level. But conversely
he/she has limited repertoire and often weak sight-reading skills.

Students who flourish under NAFA's Young Talents often have at least one parent who is a music teacher or proficient with the instrument. The parent can then create a proper musical environment and assist the child in learning stuff the program does not go through such as non-exam pieces.

My stand as a teacher is that the various exam syllabus can provide a good framework to plan a student's progression. A good teacher will be flexible enough to incorporate the syllabus into lessons but not slave to it. I find it tragic that some teachers only assign current exam pieces even if the exam is not being prepared. Granted that the students may like some of the exam pieces, but this do not do justice to the breadth of repertoire available for piano.

[pirate]

Enrolment to SYT is 1-8 November. Details on SYT website.


http://www.nafa.edu.sg/CoursesAndDepartments/SchoolOfYoungTalents/AboutUs.html

[OCK]

Hi


I have just signed up my boy in the NAFA violin preparatory class. The teacher recommend us to buy a handmade violin which cost about $400+. Does anyone here has a 2nd hand one to sell?

[unflappable_chicken]

hello parents!


i'm unflappable_chicken and I shared my experience learning piano at NAFA on the forum (http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum ... =12&t=1250) some 6 years ago. I didn't check the portal for a couple of years cause I got kinda busy in upper sec and jc. When I logged in to the portal just now, I saw that I had many messages from parents, and these messages came as recent as dec 2013! I tried to reply to these messages one-by-one but I couldn't because there were simply too many...i'm sorry :faint:

there were a few common topics that were raised in the pms to me so i thought i would just do my reply here which may be helpful to other parents who are considering to enroll their kid into NAFA's courses.

firstly, looking back at my post that was written some 6 years ago (when I was only twelve/thirteen :yikes: and all the short forms/internet language that I used ), I think there is a need to emphasise that the post was only the personal reflection of a kid who has spent some time (1.5 years~2 years) at NAFA, which means that it may be very subjective! Furthermore, although what I said was true for me, it may no longer be true for other batches of kids at NAFA! Afterall I attended NAFA in the early 21st century...at least 10 years ago!! I'm pretty sure that most of the teachers have left the school, and the methodologies would also have changed!

Hence, when you read those 'nafa horror stories', be mindful of the possibility of it occurring but don't be overly disturbed or let it deter you from applying to the school!

okay I've also received numerous messages asking for the contacts of my piano teacher. After completing my diploma in 2009, I didn't really keep in touch with my teachers :oops: but I've heard that one of them actually migrated to the states...

all the best to parents and kids in the journey of learning music!
for me, it was not all smooth-sailing but it has moulded me into who I am today and prepped me for the many more arduous challenges ahead in life :))