NAFA School of Young Talents - Discussion
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I think it’s also about striking a delicate balance between piano practice and academic studies. Primary school workload can be quite heavy. There’s afterall only 24 hours a day. If a child needs to practise piano for 2 to 3 hours a day just to keep up with Nafa, then this will definitely eats into his or her study & rest times. Really depends what’s the priority you’ve in mind for your child.
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pirate:
:goodpost:My understanding of SYT's philosophy of concentrating on technique is to ensure that gifted children have a solid technical grounding so that they will not be handicapped by \"bad habits\" that will become impossible to correct as they grow older.
The official name of NAFA SYT's piano course is Gifted Young Pianists' Course. Parents ignore the word \"Gifted\" at their child's peril because the school certainly takes the word pretty seriously.
SYT = School of Young Talents = NAFA
IMHO if we find that our children, in order to keep up, only has time to practise exam pieces and does not have time to explore other music, we should reconsider whether SYT is suitable for them. It is our responsibility to know whether our children are not keeping up simply because they are not practising as much as they should or whether it is because they are not \"gifted\". The latter may be difficult to accept, but to push them beyond their abilities so that they lose all interest in music is to let them down. -
phankao:
Agree, agree. My dd enjoyed her band tremendously. She loved working with her band members and also gave her a chance to teach the Juniors. I made her stop her piano lesson in Jan. She had then learnt all her Grade 8 pieces for exam this year and also preparing for Grade 8 theory. Then there was SYF competition and then PSLE. It was so stressful, I decided we have to regroup her life.
Why piano then? Why not an orchestral instrument. More chances to do ensembles and other group playing or in band or orchestra. The kids might be more motivated, find it more fun than just learning - so lonely leh.wittlewabbit:
Hi Cat,
Honestly i am tempted at trying NAFA, but i kept asking myself what happened to all my years of piano learning. I apply the same question to my son. I was trained in piano and a lot of my other gfs as well, some even to diploma, but in the end, the certs went to waste. The only good out of it i saw was that when kids perform , it gives them confidence and when I improvised in the past, I love music for what it was, to be able to express myself. Thus, i think ultimately letting him learn music is to let him have a balance in life and to hone up his other skills. I am a quite scared of the pressure after hearing about NAFA, but i believe there's always good in tough training too, just that we are not up for it. hehe.
Asked her if she wants to take a break and continue music education later. There was silence. We knew it was a hard decision for us but an EVEN HARDER one for her. Given more time, she would just complete the grade 8, yes. But what on earth is the hurry, we asked ourselve. She's good and if she really wants, she can and will find time later on her life to continue her music. Wouldn't that be better then she felt so DONE TO. She loves music, music history and classical stuff. She talks a lot about the classical music we listen in 92.4FM in the car on the way to school in the morning. She reads about composers lives and likes to interpret the mood in music, how the different instruments work together, etc. We could see that it's all the exams that is the killjoy. So we let her do her own exploration and play whatever she likes now.
Well, her teacher think I was mad to make her drop. I had to cause she is too young to reconcile her dilemma. Teacher said better to finish her grade 8 before Sec Sch because of blah blah blah, the usually reason. I told her it's okay if she wants to do grade 8 when she is 65 years old as long as she does it because deep in her heart she wants it.
Anyway, there are many many who has no big grades to show but having a great time playing the piano. and there are those just sitting on their certs, like your said. -
pirate:
What is giftedness? Is it the natural ability of a child to excel without putting in too much effort? Or is it the potential to excel given a willingness to put in lots of hard work? It's kind of difficult for parents to be a fair judge of whether a child is \"gifted\" enough to be enrolled in NAFA.
The official name of NAFA SYT's piano course is Gifted Young Pianists' Course. Parents ignore the word \"Gifted\" at their child's peril because the school certainly takes the word pretty seriously.
IMHO if we find that our children, in order to keep up, only has time to practise exam pieces and does not have time to explore other music, we should reconsider whether SYT is suitable for them.
Then, there's the question of whether NAFA is the best place for a \"gifted\" child. From the many postings in this forum, it doesn't seem like NAFA is a conducive place to fully develop a child musically, ie. majority of time spent drilling on exam pieces, having to attend \"supplementary\" music courses in other schools, etc.
As a parent who is considering whether to put my DD in NAFA, I do have many doubts on whether NAFA is the right place for her. Hence I do appreciate the many discussions here on the issue. -
waiyean:
For me, I do not use the word 'gifted' or 'talented' lightly.'Gifted' I feel means the ability of a pianist to transcend his/her expression beyond the ordinary. At certain point, all students will probably be able to achieve similar level of technique and repertoire proficiency. The 'gifted' ones will be able to use their inborn ability to express and comprehend the music at a level different from others. It's quite hard to explain as this is about how certain people interpret the music e.g. the rubato, the length of the fermatas, the tone quality and shadings of the phrases etc.
What is giftedness? Is it the natural ability of a child to excel without putting in too much effort? Or is it the potential to excel given a willingness to put in lots of hard work? It's kind of difficult for parents to be a fair judge of whether a child is \"gifted\" enough to be enrolled in NAFA.pirate:
The official name of NAFA SYT's piano course is Gifted Young Pianists' Course. Parents ignore the word \"Gifted\" at their child's peril because the school certainly takes the word pretty seriously.
IMHO if we find that our children, in order to keep up, only has time to practise exam pieces and does not have time to explore other music, we should reconsider whether SYT is suitable for them.
Then, there's the question of whether NAFA is the best place for a \"gifted\" child. From the many postings in this forum, it doesn't seem like NAFA is a conducive place to fully develop a child musically, ie. majority of time spent drilling on exam pieces, having to attend \"supplementary\" music courses in other schools, etc.
As a parent who is considering whether to put my DD in NAFA, I do have many doubts on whether NAFA is the right place for her. Hence I do appreciate the many discussions here on the issue.
Bear in mind NAFA is afterall a for-profit education provider. And to maintain its prestige, it has stringent admission and assessment procedures to ensure only those who conform to their philosophies to remain in the course. So yes, NAFA probably does not give a hoot if your kids develop the love and appreciation for music as a result of their music study. All it cares is if your kids are good enough and disciplined enough to make it all the way to secure that grade 8 distinction at the end of the course before P6.
I am not saying it is a horrible place to send 'gifted' kids to study there. NAFA does have a very good system in place to train students to be confident and proficient performers. Constant masterclasses, concerts, separate aural theory lessons, internal exams are good and valid tools to develop students further. But what parents need to be aware is that if they decide to send the kids to NAFA, the onus is on them to keep their kids interested and passionate in music. -
kathyh:
[/quote]Do your students still have lessons with you when they join NAFA?
You meant you once sat in the nafa lesson with your student? In fact, video recording for the lesson is encouraged there.
Yes, they had lessons with me when they were still in NAFA. One of the parents recorded almost every lesson, I got to watch them. I got to know the teacher's style/methods, what's taught & what's not being taught. -
osim:
If she's already preparing for Gr 8, then yes, it's a pity to drop. Should just continue with the lessons and prepare for the exam when in Sec 1 - either the March or August exams.. It'd be less stressful than doing in PSLE year.
Agree, agree. My dd enjoyed her band tremendously. She loved working with her band members and also gave her a chance to teach the Juniors. I made her stop her piano lesson in Jan. She had then learnt all her Grade 8 pieces for exam this year and also preparing for Grade 8 theory. Then there was SYF competition and then PSLE. It was so stressful, I decided we have to regroup her life.. -
May I know what is the reason that they still engage u to teach ?
Aren't there any conflict btw ur teaching way and nafa's?
As another forumer mentioned, his way is what body involvement while NAFA is using what PRC way
How do you manage it if there is a way that was taught by NAFA but is not ur cup of tea?broadshouldersgal:
Yes, they had lessons with me when they were still in NAFA. One of the parents recorded almost every lesson, I got to watch them. I got to know the teacher's style/methods, what's taught & what's not being taught.[/quote]kathyh:
Do your students still have lessons with you when they join NAFA?
You meant you once sat in the nafa lesson with your student? In fact, video recording for the lesson is encouraged there. -
phankao:
If she's already preparing for Gr 8, then yes, it's a pity to drop. Should just continue with the lessons and prepare for the exam when in Sec 1 - either the March or August exams.. It'd be less stressful than doing in PSLE year.osim:
Agree, agree. My dd enjoyed her band tremendously. She loved working with her band members and also gave her a chance to teach the Juniors. I made her stop her piano lesson in Jan. She had then learnt all her Grade 8 pieces for exam this year and also preparing for Grade 8 theory. Then there was SYF competition and then PSLE. It was so stressful, I decided we have to regroup her life..
Just wondering is it manageable to go for grade 8 exam in psle year?
Say in Feb/Mar, a few months before psle -
sleepy:
If she's already preparing for Gr 8, then yes, it's a pity to drop. Should just continue with the lessons and prepare for the exam when in Sec 1 - either the March or August exams.. It'd be less stressful than doing in PSLE year.phankao:
[quote=\"osim\"]
Agree, agree. My dd enjoyed her band tremendously. She loved working with her band members and also gave her a chance to teach the Juniors. I made her stop her piano lesson in Jan. She had then learnt all her Grade 8 pieces for exam this year and also preparing for Grade 8 theory. Then there was SYF competition and then PSLE. It was so stressful, I decided we have to regroup her life..
Just wondering is it manageable to go for grade 8 exam in psle year?
Say in Feb/Mar, a few months before psle[/quote]Or course - if you are prepared.
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