Mandeville Music School - Discussion
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princesskaris:
Just called up the school to enquire for baby music class.. i find the person who talked to me sounded a little 'arrogant'.. When I asked her what's the minimum age that a child can pick up suzuki volin, she replied ' 3 1/2'. But I remembered seeing 2 1/2 on the website and asked her back 'I thought it's 2 1/2, according to the website?' She replied 'I said 3 1/2. You see wrongly'. She rebutted with an attitude. Sometimes these receptionists turn people off even though the school may be good. Sigh.
Actually their age quite ambigiouos. They actually do differentiate between the genders too. They prefer boys to start at 4+. -
It their age is ambigious, I would prefer them explaining to me instead of claiming that I saw wrongly ( and I don’t think I saw wrongly cos I went back to check the website) and replying so rudely.
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princesskaris:
It their age is ambigious, I would prefer them explaining to me instead of claiming that I saw wrongly ( and I don't think I saw wrongly cos I went back to check the website) and replying so rudely.
Haha - reminds me that I emailed them last year about it when my little one just turned 2yo. Up til now, they haven't updated their website, huh?
Their reply:
\"There has been an increase in the age group for the suzuki class to 3.5 yrs old (we will update on our website). Previously, our teachers did take in students from 2+, but they found that children of that age are still too young to grasp the technicalities of the violin. \".
By the way, if you want one particular teacher Ms Khoo to teach the suzuki group class, you'd have to go for a Paid Consultation with the Teacher first. I think that much is stated on the website. -
My DS was previously from Mandeville. He was in their pre-schooler music exploration program before he proceeded to the Suzuki Violin class. As far as I know, the front counter people hardly entertain phone call enquiries and emails, especially during weekends, you probably have to walk-in personally if you want an immediate answer from them.
They say they will put your request (asking for available time slot with particular teacher) on wait list but most of the time they will not come back to you.
With regards to the appropriate age to start learning the violin, it actually depends on the child’s fingers and attention span. My current teacher actually accepted a 2.5 year old boy because he said the child’s fingers are strong enough to press the strings of the violin.
Teachers wise, so far all the teachers we encountered seems highly qualified and well trained. No complaints about that. But like some of the parents here mentioned, sometimes it’s not the qualifications of the teachers that matters, it’s whether they have the patience and flair to work with young children or not. A teacher might be highly trained and qualified, but if she/he has no patience with children, it will just scare the child off or kill their interest because of her/his impatience and high expectation of the children.
Ms Sylvia Khoo I guess is the most highly sought-after Suzukin violin class teacher in Mandeville as she produces young super star violinists. I remembered a teacher said that Ms Khoo actually interview the parents of each child and also assess the potential of the child before she selects them for her Suzuki class. She only takes in children who’s parents are very committed to live up to her expectations! It’s a case of teacher choose student, not parents choose teacher! She only teaches very limited Suzuki violin classes and her own schedule of 1-to-1 lessons is super packed. -
sweetpea44:
So where is your son now? Since you say he's *previously* from Mandeville?My DS was previously from Mandeville. He was in their pre-schooler music exploration program before he proceeded to the Suzuki Violin class. As far as I know, the front counter people hardly entertain phone call enquiries and emails, especially during weekends, you probably have to walk-in personally if you want an immediate answer from them.
They say they will put your request (asking for available time slot with particular teacher) on wait list but most of the time they will not come back to you.
With regards to the appropriate age to start learning the violin, it actually depends on the child's fingers and attention span. My current teacher actually accepted a 2.5 year old boy because he said the child's fingers are strong enough to press the strings of the violin.
Teachers wise, so far all the teachers we encountered seems highly qualified and well trained. No complaints about that. But like some of the parents here mentioned, sometimes it's not the qualifications of the teachers that matters, it's whether they have the patience and flair to work with young children or not. A teacher might be highly trained and qualified, but if she/he has no patience with children, it will just scare the child off or kill their interest because of her/his impatience and high expectation of the children.
Ms Sylvia Khoo I guess is the most highly sought-after Suzukin violin class teacher in Mandeville as she produces young super star violinists. I remembered a teacher said that Ms Khoo actually interview the parents of each child and also assess the potential of the child before she selects them for her Suzuki class. She only takes in children who's parents are very committed to live up to her expectations! It's a case of teacher choose student, not parents choose teacher! She only teaches very limited Suzuki violin classes and her own schedule of 1-to-1 lessons is super packed. -
phankao:
He's now with a private teacher.
So where is your son now? Since you say he's *previously* from Mandeville? -
Hi hi
Is yr child gg to the private tutor’s pl? Can pm me the contact? Thanks -
Just MHO on school versus private tutor.
Private tutor no doubt will be much cheaper than school, saving on rental, administration staff, utilities, etc, and furthermore there is no lack of very good private teachers around.
Having said that, my boy is in Mendeville's 1 to 1 violin class after contemplating various options.
First of all, in a school environment, you will see many kids whether it is 1 on 1 or group class, it will put him in the right mood of learning-- See? Other kids are doing the same thing!
Secondly, even though it is 1 to 1 class, there are ensemble weeks where all the kids from approximately the same level would play together. This gives the kids an exposure to play violin together with others, which is nice because ultimately, violin is mainly played together with others in a group, whether in chamber music or orchestra.
Thirdly, small ricitals, and major concerts organized by the school is also vital for kids to learn confidence and overcome stage fright, after all, music is performance art.
The above exposure is not easy to be arranged by private tutors unless he/she is extremely resourceful. Having a variety does make the learning journey not as boring, and there is always this new song and little goal of recitals/performance in a month's time to motivate the kid for a little more practice.
At a tender age, learning needs to be fun, repetitions, exams and grinding will just kill their interest in the instruments.
I will consider switching him to private tutor when he is older, provided he is still into violin then
At that stage, he will probably be more self motivated, and probably more used to exams and grinding... -
Has anyone heard of this violin store called Play that is located within Mandeville?
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Jolene Fernadez:
I have very good experience with them. Their teachers are very qualified and also very experience too. They have just opened a branch at Parkway Parade 11th floor
Can you inform the website, if any, of that violin school?
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