Yamaha or Cristofori

[happystar]

Hi! Does anyone have any good teacher to recommend at Cristofori Jurong East or Bukit Batok?

[aqualuna]

hi happystar


is your child currently in cristoffori JE?

[mypiggee]

hi,


I am looking into either Cristofori Bedok or Yamaha Tampines
Anybody have sent their children to these two branches?

[yorkie]

Hi hi,


We are quite keen to put our 3 years old boy thru some music appreciation class soon.

Anyone know of any good teacher from the following schools;

- yamaha clementi
- yamaha plaza singapura
- cristofori funan

Many thx in anticipation

[sugarpie2honey]

Perhaps I'm responding to an old thread, but for anyone looking for info on this subject, I can share as I'm now putting my third child thru Yamah Junior Music Course which they can start between the ages of 4-6 yrs old.


Overall Yamaha is an excellent choice for ear training and music appreciation with well rounded instruction including singing, solfege training, training the ear to recognize notes and chords, playing pieces. You spend 6 months on each book. (There are 4 books to cover in the 2 years.) By the end of book 1, your 4 year old is starting to play with two hands simultaneously! Book 2 and onwards is all two hands and starting LH chords. The repretoire pieces are REALLY NICE!

My first child to go to this class really had no interest from the 'get go,' but she was able to pick up a little skill and take the exam at the end of the two years, earning herself a certificate whereby she had to sing a song to the examiner, play three repretoire pieces, sing solfege to a song (memorized beforehand throughout the classes in the two years), and identify the notes to the songs she chose to play on the piano. Anyway, it was really not her interest, so after Yamaha JMC, we tried 6months of individual lessons at home and then let it go because her interest and love was clearly NOT for piano and she was busy with ballet which she enjoyed.

Second to go thru the Yamaha JMC was my son who was reciting the solfege alongside the oldest child back when he was too young to join the class. So when he started, he was ready and eager to learn and learning to play with two hands, remembering chords has always seemed second nature to him. Having finished the 2 year JMC course with Yamaha, we decided to proceed with the Yamaha JXC course for more training of the ear and exposure to the creative side of music --to improvise and even learn to compose a simple piece. He is in the first year of the 2year JXC course and so far, so good. Learning more repretoires and playing ensemble music in the class, all the while keeping interest at a high level. (Because my son seems to have a talent for playing the piano, actually, we are thinking about starting the individual lessons now too, while hanging on to the Yamaha JXC. Was actually wondering about Cristofori which is why I came to this forum?)
...and I must mention that the way of teaching is DIFFERENT being that Yamaha is training the ear and therefore refers to notes as Do-Re-Mi and Cristofori and other ABRSM places will ask the child to name notes by the name of their line or space.... (This was a frustrating thing for my eldest when we TRIED to let her take the individual lessons after completing Yamaha JMC....It was like learning a new language and not being interested to play the piano in the first place, we didn't see the point to carry on. So thinking too by starting my son who is interested in piano with ABRSM method now, while maintaining the Yamaha JXC, maybe we can find the best of both?)

Now, I'm sitting thru the class a third time with my youngest daughter. She is not picking up like the second as her interest and coordination level is not so strong, but for the foundation in music and a little exposure, we'll hang onto the course as long as she can manage to play and keep up.

Yamaha sometimes offers a trial class. Go for that and see if you like the general feel of the class. And for anyone newly looking for a great Yamaha instructor, sign up with Cecilia Fong's class at Leisure Park location or in the Tampines area (Tampines Mall I think), Mrs. Leong is good and well experienced. My children have all had Ms. Fong, but the second child shifted to Mrs. Leong's class to complete the last term of the course because if for whatever reason the class size drops down to four children, their policy is to ask the students to join another class as they believe the more the merrier (but don't worry, only about 9-12 electones in a class room, so class size is limited to begin with). Teaching style of these two teachers, I found somewhat similar and they have a way with children!

Hope this can help someone.

Can anyone recommend an EXCELLENT piano teacher, either to come to my home or a piano centre around Marine Parade area?

[mypiggee]

hi sugarpie2honey,


Thanks for the feedback. I went to both center to "chat" with their "sales" or frontline staffs.

My impressions:
Christofori Bedok
1) Believe the person is a foreigner which I do not mind as she’s not the teacher. Not that I am biased. Its just that even I had to be very attentive else I cant really catch what she’s saying
2) The studio is much smaller but its ok; just that the light is quite dim
3) Small class ; max 6 students
4) Teacher: Grade 8
5) Rates are lower
6) No parent participation
7) 1hr class inclusive of 15mins feedback about the students
Just got a call from them that they are unable to start the class This Sat even though they have enough students. Reason: Unable to match Teacher’s schedule

Yamaha Tampines
1) Studio is qutie spacious and enough lights
2) Max 12 students class
3) Teacher: unknown but will follow through Yr 1 to Yr 4
4) Rates are higher.
5) Parent participation

Both does not have trial class

[babyiceangel]

Hi,

Does anyone went to Cristofori Hougang branch or MYC Hougang??
I looking for a class for my girl age 5.

[sugarpie2honey]

hi, 'my piggee'


You may want to call Leisure Park Yamaha at 6740 9811.
Perhaps you can arrange a trial at another centre and then pick up the actual class at the location of choice. I think Ms. Leong (who used to be at Marine Parade Yamaha when they were with Crestar --Marine Parade branch moved to Leisure Park within the last year) is now at Tampines location.

So trial at Leisure Park, then if decide you like Yamaha way, go for Tampines Yamaha with Mrs. Leong. She is very experienced and great with the kids. Would have loved to stick w her for JXC too, but due to Marine Parade branch closing and shifting to Leisure Park, she chose to concentrate on Tampines where she was already teaching as well and we just couldn't go there cuz Leisure Park is almost at our backdoor!

Hope this helps. Cristofori and Yamaha methods are different. I'd think Yamaha is a good start for the young child when they are more easily trained with hearing, a difficult skill to pick up later.

[tattiana]

Hi everyone. Music plays an important part of our lives especially our little ones. Please take note that there must be a balanced between all the ingredients of learning music. Care must be taken to ensure that the little ones have ample space to develop in other areas of interest. Many parents have made the simple mistake of indulging their child into ‘dead-end’ hobbies only to regret years later. Don’t just dive into the pool where the common fishes are. Do some homework and invest wisely in time and proffessional management for your child. I gave my daughter total motivation and encouragement. We learned by teaching each other with a private tutor from day one. It’s been 3 years since and now at 7yo, she’s preparing for her Grd 4 piano this year. To know well of music, you’ve got to love music.

[crystalbelle08]

Dear all,

Anyone had experience with Little Mozarts?
http://www.cristofori.asia/ver3/en/music-courses/music-for-little-mozarts.html
Isst compulsory to get their \"digital piano\"?
I have a keyboard at home and would prefer not to get their digital piano, but i am worried that once i sign up for the course, i am compelled to buy.