Yamaha Junior Music Course (JMC) - Discussion

[smum]

Umm… what does aural means? Sorry as music is totally alien to me.


My son start Yamaha at K1 (5 years old). Maybe he does not has the "music" talent. The Yamaha teacher has this exercise where she will play a few notes and the students need to play the same notes. My son normally just guess the notes. Any way to improve this? I think the Yamaha grade exam is testing on this.

[corneyAmber]

Aural is listening, just that what your son is doing in yamaha, listen to what the teacher plays and sing the solfege etc

[acforfamily]

After learning YJC, if the child wants to move on to progress to Electone, is there any option other than joining the group classes in Yamaha?

[Miracle Child]

Hi,


I am totally music/piano illiterate, so I need some help and advice. :?: My son has been attending Yamaha Junior Course since 4 yrs old (he is now 6 yrs old). He enjoys the lessons very much but I think the pace and progress is bit slow. Thought of switching him to individual piano lessons but I have some doubts which hopefully, someone can advise:-

1. Currently, Yamaha teaches aural, oral, reading and playing skills. Will all these skills be taught as well in individual piano lessons as well?

2. Are all the above skills tested for all the piano grades?

3. How are the grade exams conducted? i.e.
(a) If my son takes individual lessons, where does he go for the piano grade exams?
(b) How do we know what pieces will be tested? Are there pre-determined piano pieces that he is to play for each grade?

4. What are the benchmarks that you will use to assess whether a particular piano teacher is good?

5. Any recommendations for
(a) school-based piano courses,
(b) home-based piano teachers?

Thanks.

[corneyAmber]

Hi,


Going to individual will definately be in a faster pace. As for the skills taught in yamaha, it depends on the teacher.

Yamaha focus on aural skills more, hence it will be good to focus on sight reading now.

Normally the teacher will register for the exam, in some cases, the teacher will get the parents to register instead - not so much reponsibilities.

You get to choose the month and location - east, west, central etc. But no guarentees.

There will be 3 pieces to prepare. Then there is scales, sight reading and aural.
Each piece is 30mks each, Scales and sight reading 21 mks each and aural 18. Total 150. 100 to pass.

More info can be found in my blog or http://www.abrsm.org

[Miracle Child]

Hi pianojazzy,


Thanks for your advice. Will check out the website. When you mentioned "3 pieces to prepare" - are these pieces pre-defined by the exam board or there is a list that we can choose from, etc.? Thanks.

[corneyAmber]

There are 18 pieces to choose from. 6 per list. Choose one from each list. 3 from each list is published in ABRSM selected piano exam pieces. Others are alternative pieces which will have to buy the book individually. Normally the teacher will help to choose. Most teachers will be familiar with the syllabus.

[daisyt]

Hi, just to share my own experience ...


My girl also started with Yamaha JMC when she was about 4 or 5 yo. Went through with them for about 6 months and realised the speed of teaching was slow. Hence we stopped JMC and signed up Christoferi one to one as Yamaha minimum age for one to one was 6yo. After 1 year with Christoferi, I pulled her out and engaged a private teacher to teach from home. She is now grade 6, 13 yo and I am changing teacher again. This time round, she has to travel to the teacher's house.

Beside changing teacher, I am also upgrading her to an upright grand piano and hence selling away the current set (beginner model).

Its long term learning and an expensive investment.

[Elaine74]

Hi pianojazzy,

My daughter is coming to 5 this year and I will like to enrol her in Piano lessons but the problem is that she has very high myophia...abt 1000 deg each eye since she was born.

My concern is should I start her as I am afraid note reading (the notes being pretty small), will cause her eyesight to worsen.

Thanks.

[corneyAmber]

Hi Elaine,


I have a student like that as well. However her degrees shot up when she reach puberty as her body matures too fast and her eyes can’t cope. At that time she was already gr 6. We stop going for exams and do it slowly. She is able to cope.

However for your girl, you might wan to start her slowly. The reading is not a lot. Do give it a try and see how it goes. I don’t think it will worsen it as in the beginning it is not difficult. Not like higher grades where the pieces get longer.

Cheers