Music Elective Programme (MEP)

[watmekiasu]

phankao:

watmekiasu, MEP is a full programme of written papers (history, composition, music analysis, aural, etc). - the performance is just like 20% of it, I think. Of course your child will still need to continue lessons outside. The teachers don't teach you how to play your instrument.

Thanks Phankao. It seems like an interesting programme.It's a good chance to explore the broader aspects of music.

Would you happen to know if the students are given a chance to try out the humanities subjects first before signing up for MEP. In other words, do they have to make the decision in the first term ?

[phankao]

watmekiasu:

phankao:

watmekiasu, MEP is a full programme of written papers (history, composition, music analysis, aural, etc). - the performance is just like 20% of it, I think. Of course your child will still need to continue lessons outside. The teachers don't teach you how to play your instrument.

Thanks Phankao. It seems like an interesting programme.It's a good chance to explore the broader aspects of music.

Would you happen to know if the students are given a chance to try out the humanities subjects first before signing up for MEP. In other words, do they have to make the decision in the first term ?

In Sec 1 & 2, the subjects students have to take are fixed for most (if not all?) schools. So all students would be taking the same subjects, I'd think. So there'd be general science (phys/bio/chem), and history, geog, literature, languages, math. MEP is as it's programme title says - \"elective\", so it's an extra subject. Some schools also have Art Elective or Drama Electives. Some students take a 3rd language as Elective.

So depends on your child's interest.

My son in sec 3 is still doing MEP as an extra subject on top of his triple science subject combination. I'm not sure if other schools have science students taking music as their contrasting humanities subject in place of geog or history or if they still take it as an additional subject and instead use Music if that is one of their best subject grades in calculation of L1R5 for O-level aggregate instead.

I do know definitely that by JC , the students could possibly choose to use Music as one of their core subjects - it can be counted as a humanities. This would benefit science students who would rather not do geog or history or lit or econs as their contrasting subject.

[watmekiasu]

phankao:

In Sec 1 & 2, the subjects students have to take are fixed for most (if not all?) schools. So all students would be taking the same subjects, I'd think. So there'd be general science (phys/bio/chem), and history, geog, literature, languages, math. MEP is as it's programme title says - \"elective\", so it's an extra subject. Some schools also have Art Elective or Drama Electives. Some students take a 3rd language as Elective.

So depends on your child's interest.

My son in sec 3 is still doing MEP as an extra subject on top of his triple science subject combination. I'm not sure if other schools have science students taking music as their contrasting humanities subject in place of geog or history or if they still take it as an additional subject and instead use Music if that is one of their best subject grades in calculation of L1R5 for O-level aggregate instead.

I do know definitely that by JC , the students could possibly choose to use Music as one of their core subjects - it can be counted as a humanities. This would benefit science students who would rather not do geog or history or lit or econs as their contrasting subject.

Thanks phankao. You are very informative and generous in sharing the information.

Obviously I have a lot to learn as I did not grow up here. Your information has been most helpful. I have also just fished around for info from my dd's tutor just now - I did not know that boys learn HE in secondary school. What a wonderful surprise !

[phankao]

watmekiasu:

Obviously I have a lot to learn as I did not grow up here. Your information has been most helpful. I have also just fished around for info from my dd's tutor just now - I did not know that boys learn HE in secondary school. What a wonderful surprise !

My no.3 (boy) enjoys it! He's in sec 1.

[Gems]

phankao, I would like to check with you the following since your son will be taking Music as a humanities subject during \"O\" levels:


1. What is the difference between Music at \"O\" levels and Higher Music at \"O\" levels?

2. Besides using as a humanities subject for JC, is there any other benefits/uses of this Music \"O\" level certificate? How is it as compared to a Grade 8 ABRSM?

Thanks in advance!

[phankao]

Gems:

phankao, I would like to check with you the following since your son will be taking Music as a humanities subject during \"O\" levels:


1. What is the difference between Music at \"O\" levels and Higher Music at \"O\" levels?

2. Besides using as a humanities subject for JC, is there any other benefits/uses of this Music \"O\" level certificate? How is it as compared to a Grade 8 ABRSM?

Thanks in advance!

Er... none of my sons taking music for O levels.

Music & Higher Music syllabus is all on the MOE exam website for you to peruse:

http://www.seab.gov.sg/oLevel/GCEOsyllabus/schoolCandidates/2013_GCE_O.html

The subject is definitely way broader than an ABRSM grade 8 practical exam certificate. You can tell from the syllabus writeup.

HTH!

[Gems]

The syllables seem to be very heavy and tough. Thanks for info, phankao.

[teacher_girl]

pokemon:

If unfortunately my ds did not do well enough in psle to get into those sec schools that offer MEP, can he still opt for MEP in one of those designated school and he wil travel to the sch for MEP cls.


Many tia.

He may apply July to take Music O Levels at a Music centre for sec3 & 4.
It will be the exact same paper as those who did the MEP for 4 years.

Established schools who have been doing Music O levels for external students for years (and has students doing well) are ACSi & MGS.

If your child would like to do music Os, do encourage him to go for him. Other than it being an extra subject, it is a privilege and joy to be able to do music as a subject!
If you already have a grade5 theory, the rest would be be fine, I'm very sure the teachers will teach them well.


Hope this weels!

[Coolkidsrock2]

Can I check if it is mandatory to put the MEP school as a first choice if we are keen to do the MEP? It is indicated in MOE’s website as "encouraged" to put as first choice. I am interpreting this as not mandatory. Please let me know if you come across any materials that indicate that it is mandatory to put as a first choice.


Thank you.

[PlatypusMeowMeow]

Since MEP and O level music papers are the same, do MEP students also get the 2 bonus points for O level music?