All About Choosing Piano Schools And Teachers

[Dreamaurora]

chamonix:

So, which is the most recognized music diploma, locally and overseas? Is Nafa music diploma on par with abrsm, trinity etc? Or is it more recognized than abrsm diploma locally?

I think in general, any certifications that you have to obtain by going through a full time study would hold more weight over something you can study in your spare time.

Let's take for example a comparison of the performance requirement of LRSM Performance to NAFA's Wales BA in Music. By the time a student completes a BA in NAFA (4 years of full time study), he/she would have acquired and performed approximately 3 and half hours of solo repertoire (have to be memorized!!!!) , and this is excluding the chamber works such as duets and accompaniment. While someone who has completed a LRSM in Performance (including a prerequisite DipABRSM) would at bare minimum acquired around 1 hour 20 minutes of solo repertoire. And we are still not touching about the theory, history, analysis, pedagogy, etc. I hope this explains things better.

[metz]

Is LRSM equivalent to degree? I thought it’s a (advanced) diploma, no? Wouldn’t a diploma’s requirements be different from that of a degree course?


As for Nafa’s Wales BA in music, I am also interested to know how much it is valued as to other local/overseas music degree courses, such as YST. In YST, the degree course is a 4 years, full time programme.

[jce]

LRSM is not a degree. It is purely a performance diploma. A degree from university/colleges covers a much wider scope, from history of music to analysis to composition to harmony etc. And of course, the performing side.


A degree from a more established uni is of course more valued than a "newbie". The well-knowned ones by right, have a higher standard, that’s why requirements are higher, auditions more grueling.

Lecturers there are also of higher calibre and well known in their field.

[Dreamaurora]

chamonix:

Is LRSM equivalent to degree? I thought it's a (advanced) diploma, no? Wouldn't a diploma's requirements be different from that of a degree course?


As for Nafa's Wales BA in music, I am also interested to know how much it is valued as to other local/overseas music degree courses, such as YST. In YST, the degree course is a 4 years, full time programme.

I made the comparison to LRSM in Performance because according to the syllabus the standard of playing expected for the exam is similar to that of final year recital in a BA or BMus course in UK, which is what Wales BA is.

Now YST's BMus is a much more performance intensive compare to the Wales BA, which is more like a generalist degree. It is also tied with Peabody, so when it comes to postgraduate study, the students have more options. Which one is more valuable? Hard to say. Does it matter when it comes to teaching? Hardly. I have to say despite whatever training I received in NAFA to prepare me for the professional music field, it is never enough. I still had to learn by trial and error what teaching methods are effective in actual lesson environment. I had my share of success and failure as well with students. In the end, nothing teach you as well as real life experience.

[metz]

Hi jce,


Thanks for the clarification. After reading through the entry requirements of SYT, Abrsm and Nafa, I think I have a clearer picture of the differences between the 3 bodies.

[sacredmusicals]

To dreamaurora, I am just curious. If you said you entered NAFA at 22, that means it is 5 years after you started learning piano. After minus 2 years ns, so that leaves you with 3 years of piano study before NAFA. How did you manage to get your grade 8 within such a short time?

Oh by the way, your piano trios are nice. You should compose more of that stuff, can sell to mediacorps.

[dasalo]

sacredmusicals:

To dreamaurora, I am just curious. If you said you entered NAFA at 22, that means it is 5 years after you started learning piano. After minus 2 years ns, so that leaves you with 3 years of piano study before NAFA. How did you manage to get your grade 8 within such a short time?

Oh by the way, your piano trios are nice. You should compose more of that stuff, can sell to mediacorps.

He may not be a Singaporean, so no NS?

[sleepy]

chamonix:

As for Nafa's Wales BA in music, I am also interested to know how much it is valued as to other local/overseas music degree courses, such as YST. In YST, the degree course is a 4 years, full time programme.

YST is definitely the 'ultimate' music degree in Singapore context. Close to impossible to gain admission. Only a handful of graduates each year for each instrument. Piano has more graduates than other instruments though.

If not admitted to YST, the next viable option is to go overseas for a more recognisable music degree. But super expensive!

[Dreamaurora]

sacredmusicals:

To dreamaurora, I am just curious. If you said you entered NAFA at 22, that means it is 5 years after you started learning piano. After minus 2 years ns, so that leaves you with 3 years of piano study before NAFA. How did you manage to get your grade 8 within such a short time?

Oh by the way, your piano trios are nice. You should compose more of that stuff, can sell to mediacorps.

I am actually a 1st gen PR, so I did not serve NS. I started learning piano for fun when I was studying Multimedia in Polytechnic when I was 17. I paid for lessons in a music school that shall remain nameless, because the teachers were mediocre so I ended up self-teaching myself most of the time. By the time I was 18 I passed my grade 5 ABRSM and by 19 I passed my grade 7 ABRSM and grade 5 theory. I then attempted to take ATCL by myself (Yeah I know, I was mad and naive) within one year after passing my grade 7 and expectedly failed miserably.

I then sort of slowed down for 2 years after I graduated from Polytechnic because I needed to work full time to earn a living. But then I decided that I wanted to make music my life and applied for NAFA. I did not have grade 8 then because of my foolish ATCL adventure but I explained my situation to NAFA and they let me audition. After a 2nd audition (they asked me to reaudition because they were not sure the first time). They accepted me but I had to pay the full course fee because I was not good enough to get any grant. It was then in my first year NAFA that I finally took and passed my grade 8 ABRSM.

I hope this explains everything. I am really grateful to NAFA for taking a chance in me. A lot of people already wrote me off even before I started NAFA. Not easy being adult beginner in piano and then trying to become a full time musician. And thank you for your compliments about the trios.

[Dreamaurora]

sleepy:

chamonix:

As for Nafa's Wales BA in music, I am also interested to know how much it is valued as to other local/overseas music degree courses, such as YST. In YST, the degree course is a 4 years, full time programme.

YST is definitely the 'ultimate' music degree in Singapore context. Close to impossible to gain admission. Only a handful of graduates each year for each instrument. Piano has more graduates than other instruments though.

If not admitted to YST, the next viable option is to go overseas for a more recognisable music degree. But super expensive!

To add to this, admission into YST not only depends on how well you play, but on your potential to become a performer. My ex teacher had a student who passed FTCL and tried to apply for YST, but got rejected.