Yamaha Special Junior Advanced Course - Discussion

[precious3]

Hi radiantmum,


Congratulations to your child!!

JSAC 1st year has been...... Interesting

I think my son has picked up quite a bit from the 10 months he's been in the class (he and a few others joined an existing class that started 3 mths earlier). The course is quite demanding.... the songs are not easy to play and therefore requires quite a bit of practice, which of course my son doesn't do!! However he enjoys the lessons which I guess is a good thing. He's just started on his composition piece so that's quite exciting for all of us

No, JSAC doesn't require the children to take the ABRSM. Only the Yamaha exams are compulsory. That's why I'm in a fix as to whether to do ABRSM as well. Oh well....

I hear that Year 2 is going get tougher... :!: But you don't have to worry about that yet.... enjoy Year 1 first :lol:

[hquek]

hi parents,


My DS1 is in JMC, currently he’s on the last book. I understand there is an assessment done toward the end - figure it’s the FSS mentioned in the earlier postings.

My dilemma is that while DS1 can play the pieces in book 3, he still has problems identifying the sounds (ie do mi so; do fa la; etc) when teacher plays, and has problems with reading notes on paper (he’s playing based on memory). He’s also not keen to continue with music classes though he’ll dutifully practise when I ask him to. The reason he cited for not liking music is that he hates to practise.

Query: for parents with kids that had progressed past JMC, how do you gauge if to continue to the higher levels? Play well? Able to identify the notes sung?

I’m fretting if I should just let him give up music. Or perservere on.

Thanks!

[radiantmum]

precious3:

Hi radiantmum,


Congratulations to your child!!

JSAC 1st year has been...... Interesting

I think my son has picked up quite a bit from the 10 months he's been in the class (he and a few others joined an existing class that started 3 mths earlier). The course is quite demanding.... the songs are not easy to play and therefore requires quite a bit of practice, which of course my son doesn't do!! However he enjoys the lessons which I guess is a good thing. He's just started on his composition piece so that's quite exciting for all of us

No, JSAC doesn't require the children to take the ABRSM. Only the Yamaha exams are compulsory. That's why I'm in a fix as to whether to do ABRSM as well. Oh well....

I hear that Year 2 is going get tougher... :!: But you don't have to worry about that yet.... enjoy Year 1 first :lol:

My take is no harm and with JSAC's foundation, should be no sweat handling it, right? :lol: What is the teacher's advice?

[radiantmum]

hquek:

hi parents,


My DS1 is in JMC, currently he's on the last book. I understand there is an assessment done toward the end - figure it's the FSS mentioned in the earlier postings.

My dilemma is that while DS1 can play the pieces in book 3, he still has problems identifying the sounds (ie do mi so; do fa la; etc) when teacher plays, and has problems with reading notes on paper (he's playing based on memory). He's also not keen to continue with music classes though he'll dutifully practise when I ask him to. The reason he cited for not liking music is that he hates to practise.

Query: for parents with kids that had progressed past JMC, how do you gauge if to continue to the higher levels? Play well? Able to identify the notes sung?

I'm fretting if I should just let him give up music. Or perservere on.

Thanks!

It differs from kid to kid and it's a difficult question for others to comment leh. I would possibly evaluate ... has there been a change in his music interest? What causes the change? Do you feel that he's giving \"excuses\" to avoid practices or he simply does not like music? If it's clear cut no interest and not a motivation issue, then I guess for me the choice is clear. So far most parents' dilemma I noticed is whether to go for 1-1 or group class.

[acforfamily]

radiantmum:

My kid is successful in the JSAC audition - just got the notification post today. But was informed that classes will only start tentatively november after next batch of auditions. I wonder how long this will be delayed if they don't get the minimal number of students to form the class.

Hi radiantmum,
Just saw another group of anxious parents with kids auditioning for JSAC today. So maybe another class will start soon.

.............................................................
Look here for 2nd hand music books!
http://www.musicbookstrade.blogspot.com/

[radiantmum]

Great and thanks acforfamily. Hasn’t got any orientation/class details notification yet but hope they are able to form a class soon 'cos my kid is eagerly looking forward to his "composing" class.

[radiantmum]

Letter received ! Next class will start in Jan 2010. Orientation date also firm - but it’s on a weekday. Honestly I was irritated that it falls on a weekday and at an odd lunch hour - - not only requiring you to take leave but also makes it difficult to decide whether it should be morn or afternoon half :x


Now I am worried what time the weekday evening schedule will start typically. Anything <7 or even 7.30pm is practically impossible for working parents. Acforfamily, can you help advise?

[acforfamily]

radiantmum:

Letter received ! Next class will start in Jan 2010. Orientation date also firm - but it's on a weekday. Honestly I was irritated that it falls on a weekday and at an odd lunch hour - - not only requiring you to take leave but also makes it difficult to decide whether it should be morn or afternoon half :x


Now I am worried what time the weekday evening schedule will start typically. Anything <7 or even 7.30pm is practically impossible for working parents. Acforfamily, can you help advise?

Understand your frustration. I went through that as well. Personally, the parents that I spoke to didn't really like the way they handled this as well. A bit high handed, I think.
Can only speak from what I went through, not sure if it is the same now.

During the orientation, they will show which time slots are available for which location. We were given ballots to see who has right to choose the time slots first. Unfortunately, a lot of the slots are in the morning and afternoon. I started in the afternoon slot but managed to persuade the teacher to change it to an evening slot.

[radiantmum]

Morning and afternoon slots?!!! This is worse than I thought :shock:

[radiantmum]

Hey acforfamily, went to the JSAC Orientation today.


Good news is group class schedule is finally firm and starting on Jan 2. Alas, I can finally block my calendar and in time before I make another timing commitment for my boy’s new swimming class mid Dec.

Bad news is, as expected I never have any balloting luck - I did not secure any evening slot (there were only 2 slots 7pm & 8pm respectively anyway). The admin lady must be thinking I am a trouble maker when I tell her bluntly that I am not able to select from the available/leftover slots at all unless it’s evening slots and must be >7.30 pm too (as weekdays) and was questioning her thereafter the rationale of if we do not have the luxury of selecting the same group class teacher (which is preferred) due to timing issue, why is it still a must for me to travel down to Plaza Singapura if there are other qualified JSAC teachers other branches nearer my place?! Geez … is FTWP without grandparents’ logistics support a rare commodity in Singapore? Felt like an alien.

The parents were shown a video clip of how a JSAC student was able to improvise & compose instantaneously with a mortiff provided by the LIVE audience and the entire music piece can last for I believe 5 mins - I am IMPRESSED! This is what I want my boy to learn music for - not just to know how to play.

Interestingly, it’s not automatic through course from JSAC to SSAC. Wonder what happens if kids don’t make it - I suppose private lessons then.

In any case, my boy is very enthusiastic about his new composing music journey and I hope all works out well for him … and ehm… his parents too.