Yamaha Junior Music Course (JMC) - Discussion

[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.

[jane84]

I dont think Yamaha way is that good. I have noticed friends whose children graduated from the programme all with bad technique. I play the piano too. No curved fingers, wrist dropping down etc…

[pinkapple]

what Jane said is true to a certain extent.


My son is in Yamaha JMC. since it is a group lesson, teacher does not emphasis on curved fingers, wrist, etc. She does point out now and then to the students/ parents but she not not enforce it.

think Yamaha JMC is more music appreciation rather than piano techniques. You can supposed to move on to proper/formal piano training after JMC.

Yes, Yamaha JMC is slower paced and more easy going.
that’s the reason why I put my son there actually.
He was with seimpi school of music when he was younger. Their program is great really. but my son refused to play on the keyboard cos we didn’t practise at home and he can’t play well so in the end he refused to play.
Hence I decided to try a slower pace class.
so far the effect is good. He is now able to play and does enjoy playing on the keyboard. So I’m fine with slow.

solfege singing trains hearing and gives meaning (and sound) to sight reading so I think it suits us fine too.

[micollh]

pinkapple:

what Jane said is true to a certain extent.


My son is in Yamaha JMC. since it is a group lesson, teacher does not emphasis on curved fingers, wrist, etc. She does point out now and then to the students/ parents but she not not enforce it.

think Yamaha JMC is more music appreciation rather than piano techniques. You can supposed to move on to proper/formal piano training after JMC.

Yes, Yamaha JMC is slower paced and more easy going.
that's the reason why I put my son there actually.
He was with seimpi school of music when he was younger. Their program is great really. but my son refused to play on the keyboard cos we didn't practise at home and he can't play well so in the end he refused to play.
Hence I decided to try a slower pace class.
so far the effect is good. He is now able to play and does enjoy playing on the keyboard. So I'm fine with slow.

solfege singing trains hearing and gives meaning (and sound) to sight reading so I think it suits us fine too.

I want something for my DD to enjoy and have interest to continue, i think start yamaha JMC is great in that sense.. after the 4 years or so, then should i still continue with yamaha if seriously want to continue in grading and all? how abt cristefori after that? any experience to share? thanks all