Yamaha Junior Music Course (JMC) - Discussion

[peanut_butter]

Seems like the case for many of my Yamaha transferred students. They tend to play expressively but the sight-reading part is…


However, a couple of days ago, I had a first lesson with a JXC student. She reads reasonably well (using solfege). The mother says they both used to practice daily in their first year. Hmm… I don’t think my other students do it adequately. I suspect it depends on the level of commitment to practices, even thought JMC is supposed to be "fun".

[vicki]

Went through 2 years of Yamaha JMC and am now taking Classical Piano. So far so good - lets see my ds can sustain how long....


Tot JMC is a good way of introducing piano to ds!! At least it was 'fun' so he wasnt really 'turned off' by music!

[Champion]

My DD1 went thru 2 years of JMC and now she is into the 1st quarter of 2nd year of JXC, i.e. to say she will complete 4 years of Yamaha School at the end of 2011 :D.


I can't comment much as I am not a music inclined person but DD1 enjoys her lesson very much. She has the same Teacher from Year 1 to year 3 and only this year switches to another class as her previous class lack of students so was closed.

Many people comment,\" WOW! 4 years with Yamaha so now Grade what?\" I am stunned every time when pop with this question but I told them she has not go for any formal examination yet so NO GRADING! Some people appreciate your reply but some will say,\" NO GRADING?? Then learn for what? Next time how to have Grade 8 and becomes a Piano teacher??\" Errrrr :? I will reply,\" I don't expect my child to learn piano for a living; she learns piano because she loves music and she enjoys playing on the piano. We will go according to her pace and not our demand on her.\" Haha...usually this answer will put a full stop to the conversation :dancing:

[micollh]

my DD will be joining JMC in October, after she turn 4, now i put in waiting list. So excited lor. cos it's been my dream to learn piano, but only manage to learn few months then stop when in secondary school, as i started late, feel hard to cope with school work and all.


so if want to start, should start young, when there is not much pressure and learning new things is at ease for them. hope parents can share their experience in this thread

[micollh]

anyone of u know the difference between YAMAHA JMC (which i have decided to enrol) and cristeforu school (i jst know this school existed yest when i saw one. i thought cristefori is a piano brand)

[hquek]

DS1 went through 2 years of JMC. Due to lack of students, we couldn’t continue to JXC so i transferred him to CPC (classical piano course). DS2 has just started JMC.


I hear that JMC kids are supposed to be very good at hearing, but DS1 is probably the more ‘thick eared’ (?) type. I don’t see that he’s good at hearing the notes. he’s got good memory and I think he relies on that rather than ear power.

That said, I do think that JMC is a good way to ease kids into learning music. it’s relatively stressfree and things may seem a tad slow for kancheong parents.

[hquek]

micollh:

anyone of u know the difference between YAMAHA JMC (which i have decided to enrol) and cristeforu school (i jst know this school existed yest when i saw one. i thought cristefori is a piano brand)

JMC uses electone and trains kids more on hearing (some sight reading is included). Cristofori I believe is the more 'traditional' route where there is emphasis on sight reading and piano playing. I hear the classes at C are more intense and heavy going - and that JMC on the other hand seems to be slower and more easy going.

[micollh]

hquek:

JMC uses electone and trains kids more on hearing (some sight reading is included). Cristofori I believe is the more 'traditional' route where there is emphasis on sight reading and piano playing. I hear the classes at C are more intense and heavy going - and that JMC on the other hand seems to be slower and more easy going.

Thanks. I ask my col, they said Yamaha is better but cant explain why better. Thanks for the info.

[coast]

peanut_butter:

Seems like the case for many of my Yamaha transferred students. They tend to play expressively but the sight-reading part is.....


However, a couple of days ago, I had a first lesson with a JXC student. She reads reasonably well (using solfege). The mother says they both used to practice daily in their first year. Hmm... I don't think my other students do it adequately. I suspect it depends on the level of commitment to practices, even thought JMC is supposed to be \"fun\".

Yes, during JMC (first 2 years), there's alot more playing than sight reading. Most students can read solfege (slower pace) but they rely on their memory to play well.

My DS just started JXC (3rd and 4th year) and already they have a stronger emphasis on solfege.

[coast]

micollh:

hquek:

JMC uses electone and trains kids more on hearing (some sight reading is included). Cristofori I believe is the more 'traditional' route where there is emphasis on sight reading and piano playing. I hear the classes at C are more intense and heavy going - and that JMC on the other hand seems to be slower and more easy going.

Thanks. I ask my col, they said Yamaha is better but cant explain why better. Thanks for the info.

Apart from playing electone (most kids have no issues playing piano at home and electone in Yamaha) and the \"fun\" part, JMC covers various areas like listening, singing, memory singing (solfege), ... I feel it gives the kids a good musical foundation and not just piano playing.