School Of The Arts, Singapore

[corneyAmber]

From people I know whose kids are in SOTA, they are all pleased with their choices. Though they specialise either in Art, Music, Theatre or Dance, they have a choice of moving back to mainstream studies. However, they do about 16 subjects in order to achieve the ability to keep their mainstream choice open.

[kiasi_student]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and I am a primary 6 student myself. Well... I didn't really study hard for PSLE)): OK well, I want to go to SOTA soo much. I thought 200 can go in already! But turns out, 230?? And BTW, do they look at your PSLE marks or ...?? Bcos I'm planning to go for the audition in March next year Okay but also, give me your feed backs on Temasek Secondary Normal Acad & Pasir Ris Secondary Normal Acad? Thankyou all!~

[Lock]

May I know what are the options available once the kids graduate from SOTA? Do they go on to local Uni and what are the chances like compared to ‘A’ level students? Heard IB is more popular overseas, so does it means after SOTA can only go overseas for further education?

[art_n_i]

Lock:

May I know what are the options available once the kids graduate from SOTA? Do they go on to local Uni and what are the chances like compared to 'A' level students? Heard IB is more popular overseas, so does it means after SOTA can only go overseas for further education?

In the SOTA's chart, the path for the students is local uni or overseas uni.
Like the fully academic track, a handful of highly talented students can win themselves scholarships to study overseas.

In fact, the SOTA students actually have a wider choice than the IP student. They do the full pure science as well in their 4th-6th year granting them the ability to apply to Medicine if they do well. They also do economics and the arts subjects so as long as their academic results are good, they actually get a chance to go to the mainstream's choice of university courses.

For the majority they can further their training widely in any of the university of choice for the discipline they are keen in and
for those who want to pursue passionately in their talented areas, they can apply locally to:

For music:
NUS - The Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
NAFA

For Visual Fine Arts(Bachelor & Masters degree):
NUS - School of Design and Environment
LaSalle Asia School of Arts
NAFA
Cavalry Italian Design School, Singapore
Raffles Design Institute

[Lock]

art_n_i:

Lock:

May I know what are the options available once the kids graduate from SOTA? Do they go on to local Uni and what are the chances like compared to 'A' level students? Heard IB is more popular overseas, so does it means after SOTA can only go overseas for further education?

In the SOTA's chart, the path for the students is local uni or overseas uni.
Like the fully academic track, a handful of highly talented students can win themselves scholarships to study overseas.

In fact, the SOTA students actually have a wider choice than the IP student. They do the full pure science as well in their 4th-6th year granting them the ability to apply to Medicine if they do well. They also do economics and the arts subjects so as long as their academic results are good, they actually get a chance to go to the mainstream's choice of university courses.

For the majority they can further their training widely in any of the university of choice for the discipline they are keen in and
for those who want to pursue passionately in their talented areas, they can apply locally to:

For music:
NUS - The Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
NAFA

For Visual Fine Arts(Bachelor & Masters degree):
NUS - School of Design and Environment
LaSalle Asia School of Arts
NAFA
Cavalry Italian Design School, Singapore
Raffles Design Institute

Thanks. That's more assuringly. At least can still choose other field and not get stuck to just pursue art all the rest of their life.

[Faun]

ksi:

From people I know whose kids are in SOTA, they are all pleased with their choices. Though they specialise either in Art, Music, Theatre or Dance, they have a choice of moving back to mainstream studies. However, they do about 16 subjects in order to achieve the ability to keep their mainstream choice open.

As far as I know the MOE does not help the SOTA kids to move back into mainstream like it does for Singapore Sports School students. All Sports School kids make the S1 option for their choice mainstream schools after PSLE and they can return to that mainstream school when wish too. I was told by the SOTA admin, their kids have to go appeal for mainstream school to take them if they should decide not the stay there. I think this is because the SOTA academic curriculum is not under the MOE jurisdiction.

Yes, it's true, the kids who go to sPecialized Independent Schools are
mostly very happy to be there. It's a very conscious choice. Some of them had to fight hard to convince their parents to agree with their choice.

What are the 16 subjects that you mentioned? I'm really surprise about this. The problem with SOTa is that they're not very forthcoming with info
during the symposium. If you don't know what detail to ask, they will not
give you the detail.

We are interested in SOTA but we have many questions with regards what they do in their music curriculum. It'd be most helpful if someone can let us know eg:

What kind of music exam do they take?
Are there music competitions
WhAt performance platform do they have for the students.
How are the kids challenged musically other then taking music exam
How many instruments must they do?
aRe they kids allowed to be attached to an external orchestra while in SOTA?

[sautille]

This is what I understand from friend's kid who is doing a musical instrument in SOTA...

Faun:

We are interested in SOTA but we have many questions with regards what they do in their music curriculum. It'd be most helpful if someone can let us know eg:

What kind of music exam do they take?
Friend's kid just took LTCL recital diploma exam.

Are there music competitions
They can take part in various competitions. I know of SOTA students who were prize winners of Dynamicworkz's Young Violinist Competition and National Violin and Piano Competition.

WhAt performance platform do they have for the students.
For string players, a recent showcase (December 2010) was Highly Strung in Esplanade Theatre Studio with T'ang Quartet.

How are the kids challenged musically other then taking music exam
Understand some selected few went to Tanglewood - a very prestigious music festival in the US. They spent 6 weeks there to participate in workshops and performances.

How many instruments must they do?
aRe they kids allowed to be attached to an external orchestra while in SOTA?
Understand that some are in SNYO.

[Faun]

hi sautille,


Thanks so much for taking the trouble to help get info.

[dasalo]

Faun:

What kind of music exam do they take?
Are there music competitions
WhAt performance platform do they have for the students.
How are the kids challenged musically other then taking music exam
How many instruments must they do?
aRe they kids allowed to be attached to an external orchestra while in SOTA?

They just do their internal exams. Any external exams eg. ABRSM/TRINITY etc are all optional and self funded.

Music Competitions eg. Overseas, NAC etc...are optional too and funding depending on SOTA's discretion.

Performance platform in the form of evening concerts, masterclasses with reknown artiste, overseas universities, external organisation collaboration with SOTA or faculty's teacher concert etc...

Overseas summer camps, music festivals etc....are all part of music faculty activities. Students must apply to SOTA for such trips. Fundings are shared by student and SOTA from what I know to date.

SOTA students are encouraged to join an orchestra eg. SNYO etc otherwise they have their SOTA ensemble group.

My daughter is a music student there.

[L-Ng]

I am interested to register my daughter for SOTA TA. I hope she can get into the Visual Arts school, but I am not sure what the environment is like there. Mainly I am not sure what kind of students they have there as my girl is the type who is easily influence by friends so I am afraid she will mix with the wrong company. Anyone has any advice?