Yamaha Special Junior Advanced Course - Discussion
-
Morning and afternoon slots?!!! This is worse than I thought :shock:
-
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. -
Hi radiantmum,
Sorry to hear the bad news. But look on the brighter side, I think your son will enjoy it more than the JMC or JXC ( or YMC? don't know what they call it now).
There are actually not many teachers who can teach JSAC, as it has the composition component. It is actually not common to get the same teacher for both indiv and group lessons. Who is the group teacher, by the way (just curious).
After JSAC (i.e. grade 6), if they are not selected for SSAC, I believe that you can still select a course for grade 5 and above.
The live performance you saw was probably the Junior Original Concert. These are the really really good ones....
If you know anyone who wants 2nd hand books, please help to direct them to my website. The Yamaha books are quite expensive...Still have to \"fund\" 1 more year of JSAC.
...................................................
Look here for 2nd hand music books!
http://www.musicbookstrade.blogspot.com/ -
Alamak bought the group class books liao yesterday! Told the admin that I do not want to make a separate trip just to buy the books before the class as well. Perhaps individual class books? What’s your kid’s specialization : piano or electone or both? Any special reason/consideration (can share?) for choosing one over the other?
-
radiantmum:
Alamak bought the group class books liao yesterday! Told the admin that I do not want to make a separate trip just to buy the books before the class as well. Perhaps individual class books? What's your kid's specialization : piano or electone or both? Any special reason/consideration (can share?) for choosing one over the other?
Hi radiantmum,
My kid specialises in Electone. My main concern then was for him to enjoy music, not to end up being a classical pianist. He enjoys Electone much more, as it can generate all the different sounds and rhythm. Furthermore, since he is in yamaha, he might as well learn Electone which is not available elsewhere (I think).
Since then, he has started taking piano lessons. His technique is not very good and so we decided to start him on piano to correct his fingering before it becomes too late. Apparently, his 1st Electone teacher should have focused on it but did not ( cos he does not need strength to play the electone keys). I have since changed him to another Electone teacher who is also trying to correct his fingering. But he does not take any piano exams as I do not want to stress him further.
In fact, only 3 or 4 in his group class take Electone, the rest all take piano. Even for those taking Electone, they also learn Piano outside. After all, ABRSM is the more recognised certificate, not Yamaha.
You have to decide soon as they expect you to tell them during the 1st lesson. So is your group class at 10.30 Sat cos I heard that a new class is starting at that time.
Wondering whether they still use the same books - is the JSAC book 1 that you bought green in colour?
...................................................
Look here for 2nd hand music books!
http://www.musicbookstrade.blogspot.com/ -
Thanks acforfamily for your sharing.
My kid decided Electone without 2nd thoughts
I am now wondering whether to let him take up Piano concurrently, which I personally worry if it's an \"overkill\". Honestly it doesn't matter (to me) whether my kid is additionally ABRSM certified but 'cos I do not know music to decide at all, I need to know that he does have the flexibility to attain it (relatively easy too) when he wishes to do so later. I was planning to perhaps let him do piano/ABRSM later after the 4 year JSAC course & PS (was told and hence) expecting him to jump grades to 5 or higher ... too naive? Now doing homework shopping around for advice :oops:
& yes yes his group class will be 10.30 sat. My kid is the sentimental kind - already tells me that he'll miss his current teacher and that he likes his current teacher very much.
& yes, his JSAC Book 1 is STILL green! Just checked - 10th edition. Just realised from the price label that it's $36.69! Okay - I am going to take your books next round (if still same edition of course
). -
Hi, can anybody tell me is the Yamaha’s exam recognise internationally? Or we still have to take the ABRSM exams?
-
radiantmum:
Yes the JSAC books are not cheap. There are other books too. The ones not used in the general courses are the expensive ones.
& yes, his JSAC Book 1 is STILL green! Just checked - 10th edition. Just realised from the price label that it's $36.69! Okay - I am going to take your books next round (if still same edition of course ). -
DoDo:
Hi, can anybody tell me is the Yamaha's exam recognise internationally? Or we still have to take the ABRSM exams?
Hello DoDo, you are asking from parents whom have put their kids in Yamaha classes, so I suppose you will probably get some biased views here :lol:
Yamaha is certainly established and recognised but a more generic appeal (at least for Sporeans) is ABRSM. I did a quick check at our MOE's website for Music Elective Programmes and the requirement stated is only ABRSM. So if you are preparing your kid for pianist career or even to admit for MEP - ABRSM looks like a MUST. Honestly my personal view is Yamaha exams can only be taken by Yamaha course students whereas ABRSM can be taken by students from all music schools so of course ABRSM will be more recognised as the net cast is wider
Let's see if there are music teachers in this forum here that would be able to throw in their advice and view here as well. -
Hello acforfamily, for those students learning electone - they will all need to buy electone at home? What happen to those learning both electone and piano? Can the electone be used to practise for piano exams as well? What model did you have? I am thinking of getting used electone … any idea where I can get them?
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login