Yamaha Special Junior Advanced Course - Discussion

[radiantmum]

Hi lwzh, DS has numerous books including i think the standard ones like Electone Improvisation, Sight Playing etc. He started JSAC this year and took his grade 9 in Sept. Looks like we may have chance to meet in the recording studio then Which year is your kiddo in?

[lwzh]

radiantmum:

Hi lwzh, DS has numerous books including i think the standard ones like Electone Improvisation, Sight Playing etc. He started JSAC this year and took his grade 9 in Sept. Looks like we may have chance to meet in the recording studio then Which year is your kiddo in?

In Yamaha, we use which book to find out which grade/year the kids are in (my son now JSAC Book4, one book half year). My son started JSAC in 2009 July, so he takes exam every March. I guess your son is half year later, 2010 Jan., then he takes exam every Sept. Your son must be great. This is the first time for my son to take recording (Jan.9 after 4pm). My son's teacher is Ms. Liang, how about your son?

[fawnfawn]

lwzh:

My son's teacher is Ms. Liang, how about your son?

Is it Ms. Sarah Liang?

[lwzh]

fawnfawn:

lwzh:

My son's teacher is Ms. Liang, how about your son?

Is it Ms. Sarah Liang?

yes, and his Electone teacher is Ms. wong. how about yours?

[fawnfawn]

lwzh:

fawnfawn:

[quote=\"lwzh\"]
My son's teacher is Ms. Liang, how about your son?

Is it Ms. Sarah Liang?

yes, and his Electone teacher is Ms. wong. how about yours?[/quote]WOW! Ms Liang taught me in 1996-1997 when I was in JSAC 1 and 2.

[lwzh]

fawnfawn:

lwzh:

[quote=\"fawnfawn\"]
Is it Ms. Sarah Liang?

yes, and his Electone teacher is Ms. wong. how about yours?

WOW! Ms Liang taught me in 1996-1997 when I was in JSAC 1 and 2.[/quote]It's amazing, so you finished your JSAC study in Yamaha? did you continue to SSAC? How about your JSAC life 14 years ago? Now your job is music related?

[fawnfawn]

lwzh:

fawnfawn:

[quote=\"lwzh\"]
yes, and his Electone teacher is Ms. wong. how about yours?

WOW! Ms Liang taught me in 1996-1997 when I was in JSAC 1 and 2.

It's amazing, so you finished your JSAC study in Yamaha? did you continue to SSAC? How about your JSAC life 14 years ago? Now your job is music related?[/quote] Yes I finished JSAC and SSAC. I enjoyed my JSAC 'life' very much even though I was one of the more playful kids in class who clowned around a lot and made the other kids laugh. I wasn't a very consciencious kid; practised for my group lessons at the last minute and tried to find ways (such as going to the toilet) to avoid having to play on my own when i wasn't well prepared for lessons Despite that, i enjoyed music and didn't ever seriously want to quit (in fact my parents would use reverse psychology to motivate me by saying things like 'do you want to practise? if you don't want to learn anymore i will call yamaha to take you out' and that would get me practising) All that being said, fortunately, I was able to 'chiong' during exam period (eg. 6 hours a day) to make up for not practising earlier (though that shouldn't be the way!) and they mostly turned out quite alright=) So yup. That was my jsac life. I was a typical playful kid then, not the 'model student' or anything (I did regret not putting in more effort when i was younger though). lol

As for my job, I'm still studying at the moment but I teach a kid piano during the weekends.

[lwzh]

As a parent, I am sometimes confused whether I should push him more. I want to know the roadmap for all SSAC students. Did they continue their music study after they graduated from Yamaha, and how could they continue their music life (composition and improvisation) if they want. It seems Yamaha hasn’t provide this roadmap for them. Or same as you, continue your normal life, chosing music as a hobby. Or become a Yamaha music teacher. I guess you are a girl. Most boys don’t want to be a young kid’s teacher.[quote][/quote]

[fawnfawn]

lwzh:

As a parent, I am sometimes confused whether I should push him more. I want to know the roadmap for all SSAC students. Did they continue their music study after they graduated from Yamaha, and how could they continue their music life (composition and improvisation) if they want. It seems Yamaha hasn't provide this roadmap for them. Or same as you, continue your normal life, chosing music as a hobby. Or become a Yamaha music teacher. I guess you are a girl. Most boys don't want to be a young kid's teacher.[quote]

[/quote]
For students who are interested in composition, there's another course that follows after SSAC (1 hour a week group lesson).

For my class of 7 students, 5 continued with the composition course, and all of us continued taking individual lessons for at least another couple of years(most continued with their SSAC individual lesson teachers at yamaha, and one of them went on to learn with a nationally renowned teacher).

For me, I went back to one of my former JSAC teachers who had left yamaha. I continued learning the piano for another 4.5 years after SSAC ended and took 2 piano diplomas during that period. I stopped taking piano lessons only when i entered university. Other than my major, I'm also pursing a minor in music at my university currently (It's easy for former jsac/ssac students!).

As for my other classmates:

1) one of them got a scholarship after O levels(this isn't a typo!) to study music at degree level at the conservatory in NUS. The student just graduated and is going on to study masters in music overseas.

2)Another got a scholarship to study music and another subject at a renowned university overseas.

3)Yet another one completed the LRSM diploma just 2-3 years after graduating from SSAC.

4) The other playful student in the class (my yamaha best friend lol) is majoring in music at NIE.

5 -6) im no longer in contact with them=x

So regarding your question, yes! there is a pathway for ssac students after graduation. The journey of learning music doesn't just end abruptly after ssac.

I'm not really sure about 'guys not wanting to teach little children' but yea I'm female and I really enjoy teaching kids, even the playful mischievous ones=)

[radiantmum]

WOW! Impressive cohort! The teachers must be proud of you all. Thanks for the interesting sharing! It must be great to have best friend/friends whom has/have grown & share the same interest with you - do treasure.


lwzh, you sure think far ahead <salute>. As a parent, I guess the best we can do is to give them the resources, open up their options and specifically for music, let their hearts takes them to where they want to be.

Mine completed his recording liao. Can only have 1 try. So pressurizing! Have to take my hats off these kids - I think my knees will give way when I was their age.