School Of The Arts, Singapore

[carmen21]

dramamama70:

Carmen21 - pls let us know all about your experience in June Also, may I ask, what grade is your daughter in and which ballet school is she with currently? TIA!

I will defintely share my experience after the open house on 30 Apr and audition in June. My DD is currently a Grade 5 student under CSTD in Crestar. My DD may not be a pro dancer, award winner or participate in many performances but she have a strong passion and positive attitude towards her dream so hopefully will help in the audiition.

[TREX8]

carmen21:

dramamama70:

Carmen21 - pls let us know all about your experience in June Also, may I ask, what grade is your daughter in and which ballet school is she with currently? TIA!

I will defintely share my experience after the open house on 30 Apr and audition in June. My DD is currently a Grade 5 student under CSTD in Crestar. My DD may not be a pro dancer, award winner or participate in many performances but she have a strong passion and positive attitude towards her dream so hopefully will help in the audiition.

Tell your DD 加油！My personal opinion is that SOTA does not just look at paper qualification (as in what grade is your child's for piano or ballet). That's why there is no minimum requirement for level of achievement in their application criteria.

During the break-out session for theatre arts, the speaker mentioned that alot depends on the audition. So alot depends on your DD's performance on that day, what does she have to show (rather than what the paper qualification says that she has attained), the interview and writing exercise.

My DD went for the Theatre Arts audition in March and she had a fun time. Since your DD is passionate about ballet, she will enjoy the audition as it will be the meeting of like-minded people and she would take away some valuable tips from the teachers during the session.

[ppnqq]

Thank you TREX8 for the info.


Btw, is this the only website for SOTA?

http://www.sota.edu.sg/TheSOTAEducationExperience/EducationalPerspective/tabid/76/Default.aspx

I remember previously before I stumble upon the above website, I ever stumbled on a website which is black for it's background with photos of SOTA's students drawing arts and display of some of the art pieces but now I could no longer find it. Been searching for the past few days already. Anyone knows about this website?

TIA.

[sandunes]

ppnqq:

Needs clarification - for students at SOTA, do they have to take all forms of art (visual arts, theatre, dance, music etc) or they only take what they are good at?

They only specialise in one discipline. However, they do have opportunities to try out other art forms too under other periods. I forgot what is that \"subject/period\" called. At times, the school will open up slots for students who are interested in other medium as beginners depends on the school's needs (eg art students to learn beginning violin, violin students can learn viola/ bass) . Students sign up for them on their own accord.
[quote]Another question : If a child is talented in art, eg, good in drawing comic but no background, no special art/sch attended, only drawing at own free will at own free time, but is always being selected by the teachers to draw for the class notice board etc. Any chance for them to get in?[/quote]Of course! Just make sure your child prepares his/her portfolio according to the Talent Camp requirement (see SOTA online). Be confident, friendly and be yourself during the TA. All the Best!

[Faun]

ppnqq:

How about Arts? What will they be doing and learning under Arts?


Mind sharing what are the 16 subjects pls? TIA.

16 subjects :!: How so and why so?

Do the students follow the IB middle school program syllabus and use the IB textbooks or do they follow the lower sec curriculum of the MOE?

I heard sOTA starts the kids on IB straight away but in ACSI, also Sports School, they follow the MOE curriculum for year1 and 2 and start iB style only in year 3 And 4 they call pre- IB years. They go full swing IB in year 4 and 5.

Would appreciate if any SOTA parents can clarify this.

[LitterDeva]

hi im new here. i was just wondering, how easy is it to get through SOTA auditions? what do they ask you to do during the audition?

[momma]

Hi Bentan


In every cohort, in every school, you have a mix of students who are strong as well as weak in certain subjects. Even in top schools, you do have students who are struggling.

It is prejudice of you to say SOTA students are weak in math.
Many have A* in math and science and there are a good number of students who went in with scores of 26_ plus and even 27_. My son has a score of 252. Many of his friends has scores of 24_.

Your students are probably weak and that’s why you have them as students…otherwise why need tuition.

The expectations of a SOTA student is high, their curriculum is rigorous. And they don get "talked down", they really don.

They are such a happy lot, eager to learn and to take up challenges academically as well as in their artform. A very motivated lot.

[momma]

pinkapple:

btw, what're the school hours at SOTA?


do the students need to go back on Sats?

Long hours!
Generally, most days finish 4.30pm with some days almost 6pm.
No curriculum on Sat.

Lots of hard work....but they are enjoying the learning process

[momma]

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?

Hi i assume your child is auditioning for music.
My child is in Yr 1 - music

Exams -internal assessment and they are assessed both in theory, music history, performance (solo), performance (chamber), practical and interestingly confidence. (My child lost marks cos when he did his scales tho he got them all correct, he did not display certainty when playing his scales.)

No competitions, yet, not sure if he'll be good enough for competition.

At this point, my child performed in school's lunch time concert, where student peers attend. Parents and visitors can go too. They have lunch time concerts every Wed.

Every child will do 1 instrument, the one they auditioned for. Some do 2 instruments, with the 2nd instrument going really 'slowly'. Not every student does 2.

External orchestra - Know of few violinists who are with the Youth Orchestra. So that means they can.

Hope that helps

[jtoh]

I know of a Sec 1 girl from SOTA last year who left SOTA for mainstream. I wonder why.