chamonix:

phankao:

How old is your son? I haven't really been all that \"involved\" in recent years in their music development. But would probably need to start this journey again in the near future with the youngest.

He is in P1 this year.

With your musical background, it would be a breeze

phankao:

How old is your son? I haven't really been all that \"involved\" in recent years in their music development. But would probably need to start this journey again in the near future with the youngest.

chamonix:

The majority would need a great deal of parental commitment and involvement. But for my son, I hope I’m seeing some changes in him. It was the first time yesterday that I saw him reflect on his teacher’s scolding (directly after lesson) and practise on his own. Hopefully, this is one small step towards more self discipline in learning.

jce:

A great professional musician doesn't necessarily equal to a great teacher, nor does it mean that a great music teacher doesn't make a great performer. Some manage to get a good balance of both but some really don't.

chamonix:

Haha, honestly, I'm quite clueless what constitutes a professional musician. Your definition sounds quite right. But between a music teacher with diploma qualifications and one performing for a living, there must be some differences, right? Even though both work with music for a living.


Perhaps it's not a requirement. But I do know of a SSO member (maybe ex), who does both violin and piano. Let me check with the violin teacher again. It would be good info for parents with musically inclined kids.

phankao:

chamonix:

Eh, different from what the violin teacher told me. He said the professional violinsts/instrumetnalists are required to know piano too. Perhaps, need to clarify with him what he meant by \"professional musicians\". The professionals that you know, what do they do besides teaching?

My son's tr is with SSO and conducts schools. As in, they only play music or work with music for a living, lah. That's going professional, right? Like professional footballers ... they make money simply playing football, right?

sleepy:

phankao:

So far, the older 2 did not make use of their CCAs for DSA. FYI.

Me too, don't intend to apply DSA via band CCA. I heard cannot quit band in sec school if enter via band CCA.

However, if she doesn't show up for group practice, only goes for individual instrument practice, I'm not sure how long she will be allowed to stay in her CCA. Most likely kanna kicked out

sleepy:

Hubby's friend has a diploma in music. He said compulsory to know at least 2 instruments. Wonder why degree only needs one :?

chamonix:

Eh, different from what the violin teacher told me. He said the professional violinsts/instrumetnalists are required to know piano too. Perhaps, need to clarify with him what he meant by \"professional musicians\". The professionals that you know, what do they do besides teaching?

phankao:

So far, the older 2 did not make use of their CCAs for DSA. FYI.

phankao:

Many professional violinists or other instrumentalists do not know how to play the piano either.

sleepy:

My dd would need to commit 5 hours from 2nd year onwards. 2 hours practice on individual instrument. 3 hours combined group practice. I believe there should be additional practices near performance date too.

I was thinking more along the line of learning a musical instrument since it's FREE :rahrah:

jce:

From what I know, that's not necessary, however I'm not sure about the system here. I assume you're talking about O/GCE level/MEP music right? In my opinion, it's always useful to have piano (whether as a primary or secondary instrument) cos one can understand so much more as an instrumentalist/vocalist as you have to work with a pianist.


In uni, the instrumentalist were required to take up basic piano skills during the 1st yr. Subsequently they need not do so. And for entry requirements into uni or conservatory, it wasn't necessary. Some conservatories or unis may defer.

chamonix:

I doubt it's at the O/GCE level/MEP. Rather, he mentioned that piano is crucial as a second instrument if one intends to go the professional route with another instrument as the first instrument. Perhaps, I'll just run by his piano teacher on this.

chamonix:

sleepy:

This year only required 2 hours individual instrument so I let her try out for a year. However, I'm still undecisive whether I want her to commit so much time in one CCA. Wouldn't this be at the expense of studies? To get DSA require respectable PSLE score too

Actually, the students will have to apply for DSA before taking PSLE. Once accepted via DSA, one just needs to score above 200 for PSLE. (if I'm not mistaken on this.)

Poonie:

I was not familiar with the various instruments available in concert band so I checked out youtube and realised that flute seems to be the only wind instrument that makes the child look graceful unlike other wind instruments. I thought I would try to influence my child to go for flute however she said she could not see at 'fingers at work' and prefer the be able to see her fingers. Is this true?

MMM:

Yes, I heard about the chinese orchestra too. We know of someone whose son happened to be in the same school as my kids. He did chinese orchestra and used DSA for that though his results were so so..

.

jce:

From what I know, that's not necessary, however I'm not sure about the system here. I assume you're talking about O/GCE level/MEP music right? In my opinion, it's always useful to have piano (whether as a primary or secondary instrument) cos one can understand so much more as an instrumentalist/vocalist as you have to work with a pianist. In uni, the instrumentalist were required to take up basic piano skills during the 1st yr. Subsequently they need not do so. And for entry requirements into uni or conservatory, it wasn't necessary. Some conservatories or unis may defer.

jce:

Sleepy,

For Masters level I chose to do half academic (thesis) half performance. At this level, performance is on one instrument (which for me was the piano). At Bachelor level, in the final year, performance is also based on one instrument. However during the first two years I chose to continue pursuing my 2nd instrument (flute) as well as my 3rd (voice). One doesn't necessarily need to have so many to enter into the conservatoire/ uni (let alone pursue them further), the main focus of entry would be the instrument you intend to pursue.