Needed advice for Nafa Junior Music
- Thread starter kiasuma
- Start date
Enterprise-NX08
New member
NAFA
Hi,
Got to know that teachers there are mostly from China Music Uni. So, in terms or teaching, they are more oriented to the numeric style than notes. Furthermore, some lessons are conducted in chinese.
It will be wise if you could make a trip down and find out more from them and also see if u can view partial of their lessons.
U can try sending her to LaSalle or NUS conservatory of music. Quite a good place to learn there.
Eva
Hi,
Got to know that teachers there are mostly from China Music Uni. So, in terms or teaching, they are more oriented to the numeric style than notes. Furthermore, some lessons are conducted in chinese.
It will be wise if you could make a trip down and find out more from them and also see if u can view partial of their lessons.
U can try sending her to LaSalle or NUS conservatory of music. Quite a good place to learn there.
Eva
GuitarNoob
New member
Should check out lasalle as well, my sis graduated from there last year, they have an option for a degree too, I think. The open house is this coming weekend, can go check it out
Hi Enterprise - really! Din know that they uses teacher from China. That will be a problem....my daughter Chinese is quite bad 
Hi Soft - My daughter is coming to 7yr old this May. She started her piano lesson last Jan & is currently taking individual private lesson, the teacher is preparing her to go for grade 2 this Oct. I find that private lesson is very slow, NAFA Elementary course said to complete grade 5 within two & a half yr & grade 6 & 8 in another two & a half yr. So all in all, if the child can make it, will be able to complete grade 8 before they complete their primary education. I am not that ambitious for my girl to complete grade 8 by Pri sch, but just thought since she has the interest & is doing quite good now, why not give her a chance to see if she can do it. But the course fee is quite high, $252 per month, one hr practicle & one hr theory per week. I'm paying $120 for her current private lesson, 45min per week. But after some calculation, it's actually not too bad to let her go for the NAFA course (if she gets in after the audition), cause she may be able to complete the course in half the time then doing it privite. But I would like to seek advice about the course & the teacher 1st before I commit. TIA
Hi GuitarNoob - Think my girl has a long way before she can go to lasalle :lol: Nevertheless, thank you so much for your suggestion.
Hi Soft - My daughter is coming to 7yr old this May. She started her piano lesson last Jan & is currently taking individual private lesson, the teacher is preparing her to go for grade 2 this Oct. I find that private lesson is very slow, NAFA Elementary course said to complete grade 5 within two & a half yr & grade 6 & 8 in another two & a half yr. So all in all, if the child can make it, will be able to complete grade 8 before they complete their primary education. I am not that ambitious for my girl to complete grade 8 by Pri sch, but just thought since she has the interest & is doing quite good now, why not give her a chance to see if she can do it. But the course fee is quite high, $252 per month, one hr practicle & one hr theory per week. I'm paying $120 for her current private lesson, 45min per week. But after some calculation, it's actually not too bad to let her go for the NAFA course (if she gets in after the audition), cause she may be able to complete the course in half the time then doing it privite. But I would like to seek advice about the course & the teacher 1st before I commit. TIA
Hi GuitarNoob - Think my girl has a long way before she can go to lasalle :lol: Nevertheless, thank you so much for your suggestion.
teraslasch
New member
wah, u really kia su ma leh... btw, pushing ur child in classical music might make her a robo pianist but she might lose interest in music very quickly ..
Hi teraslasch - thank you for your advice. That is also my main concern, I do not wish to kill her interest. So you think to complete grade 1-8 in 5yrs is too much for a child? Sorry for my ignorant, that's the reason why I hope to seek some advice from music people (cause I'm not one 
) . I LOVE music but was never given a chance to learn, so i thought if my girl has the interest & willing to put in effort, why not provide her with the shortest path. But I could be wrong??? Hope someone here can advice. 
Thanks!
) . I LOVE music but was never given a chance to learn, so i thought if my girl has the interest & willing to put in effort, why not provide her with the shortest path. But I could be wrong??? Hope someone here can advice. Thanks!DoubleBlade
New member
Hi Kiasuma ,
I think starting at the age of 7 is pretty much fine as compared to starting at the age of 4 or 5 because I really have a strong hatred towards parents who force their kid into learning piano at such a young age. I rather the kid enjoy his/her childhood first before coaxing him/her into taking piano lessons.
But since you mentioned that you want your child to complete grade 8 before graduating from primary school , I think it's possible through the NAFA junior course but to complete grade 8 in 5 years is something I see which requires a lot of hardwork and effort not to mention music stress and pressure from the music teachers there as well....
Besides when your daughter goes to secondary school , she'll evantually become a teen and develop teen like habits such as going out with her peers after school , BGR , not to mention sec 2 streaming , O level , N level and stuff like that. I feel that these thing can make a pianist sway away from his/her practising sessions because these take up more attention than piano playing.
All these thoughts of mine are solely based on my observations and opinions so please do not take it what I've just said to heart , I might be wrong at the end of the day....
Haha...at least your daughter is still young and is in primary school , I'm like struggling to find time to practice on my piano through my hectic poly schedule.... :?
I think starting at the age of 7 is pretty much fine as compared to starting at the age of 4 or 5 because I really have a strong hatred towards parents who force their kid into learning piano at such a young age. I rather the kid enjoy his/her childhood first before coaxing him/her into taking piano lessons.
But since you mentioned that you want your child to complete grade 8 before graduating from primary school , I think it's possible through the NAFA junior course but to complete grade 8 in 5 years is something I see which requires a lot of hardwork and effort not to mention music stress and pressure from the music teachers there as well....
Besides when your daughter goes to secondary school , she'll evantually become a teen and develop teen like habits such as going out with her peers after school , BGR , not to mention sec 2 streaming , O level , N level and stuff like that. I feel that these thing can make a pianist sway away from his/her practising sessions because these take up more attention than piano playing.
All these thoughts of mine are solely based on my observations and opinions so please do not take it what I've just said to heart , I might be wrong at the end of the day....
Haha...at least your daughter is still young and is in primary school , I'm like struggling to find time to practice on my piano through my hectic poly schedule.... :?
Get her to love music and not forcing her directly into it..I never thought that music will be in me but as time goes by i learn to appreciate music..Get her to watch videos as in like MTV like telling her that she might be that very person one fine day or maybe the ferst in Singapore..That will keep her motivated and is her decision after that...Music videos are always more interesting then juz plain music..I watch music videos to get me motivated to be that person...I think she's still young to go to music lessons..i agree with DoubleBLade as 7 is the right age..Fer the moment till she reach that age, feed her with music videos and interestin piano intrumentals..Then if she is interested...send her to classes..I think there are other music skewls that has an english teacher or an english speaking teacher..Try findin that out thru the Soft Weblinks...that might help you out!!.. Every mother wants best fer the Children and i understand that....
Cheers!!
Cheers!!
kiasuma, you are definitely doing the right thing by providing your child with the best option. learning music is one of the best thing that happened to me. my dad would bring me to music lesson every sunday. the bus ride was long but there were always so much exciting stuff happening. we would go check out fishes in the bukit timah drain, go to eat at different places ...
when a child is young, the most important thing is the care from the parents. as long as the child feel loved, they will be happy and usually excel in the things they do.
let her develop at her pace. coz there are other commitments such as family, schoolwork or friends that she need to spend time on.
* deedeeboi, the child is 7 years old and doing her piano grade 2, i dont think she should watch mtv to learn music.
when a child is young, the most important thing is the care from the parents. as long as the child feel loved, they will be happy and usually excel in the things they do.
let her develop at her pace. coz there are other commitments such as family, schoolwork or friends that she need to spend time on.
* deedeeboi, the child is 7 years old and doing her piano grade 2, i dont think she should watch mtv to learn music.
kiasuma, let her complete the course in primary school stage is ok. As she will have a lot of other commitments in Secondary school and JC/Poly/University...
But hope that you don't push her too much just to complete grade 8 within 5 years... Learning music is fun, except for preparing the exam, it is stress & boring...
But hope that you don't push her too much just to complete grade 8 within 5 years... Learning music is fun, except for preparing the exam, it is stress & boring...
Hi sofyan - hahaha...agree totally with you, people who don't love music = grumpy people.
Hi DoubleBlade - *High Five* That's why I started her only at age 6. Couldn't bear to see her tiny finger pressing the heavy piano keyboard at age 4, and also she is able to receive instruction better at age 6 than 4. You are very right on the 'teen', they tend to swift away from practice due to other commitments. As her pressure in pri sch is lesser, if she can complete her grade 8 by then, it will be one less commitment/pressure when she is a teen, so she can have more time for herself. I'm certainly not a mama that would want to slash off her enjoyment of being a teen, that would be very cruel. I can understand how difficult it is trying to find time for your practise beside your tide schedule (hopefully my girl has self discipline like you in the future). You too JIA YOU!! JIA YOU!!
Hi deedeeboi - Thank you for your understanding! My girl loves MTV, but I am selective to the music video she watches, may be when she is much much older, she would be able to make her own choice.
hey soft - The love your dad showered definitely left an impression for your childhoood. I hope my girl will remember what we have been enjoying doing together now when I grow old.... Exactly my sentiment, the POWER OF LOVE!!!
Hi mingguan - so far she seem to have great interest in practising....but like you said, preparing for exam may be a different thing altogether... I try hard to refrain myself from pushing her too much (sometimes parent can be overwhelmed), but do give her alot of encouragement when she faces bottleneck. I see she improves greater when lots of encouragement given. I even learn how to play a short piece in two solid nite....very siong, my 35yr old fingers all stiff & muscle cramp after that! But it was really fun & am so proud of it! LOL
Really appreciate all the advices from you all!! It helps alot!! Thank you so much!! Music makes this world more beautifull & people like you make it possible!! Hopefully music can add colour to my girl's life too.
Hi DoubleBlade - *High Five* That's why I started her only at age 6. Couldn't bear to see her tiny finger pressing the heavy piano keyboard at age 4, and also she is able to receive instruction better at age 6 than 4. You are very right on the 'teen', they tend to swift away from practice due to other commitments. As her pressure in pri sch is lesser, if she can complete her grade 8 by then, it will be one less commitment/pressure when she is a teen, so she can have more time for herself. I'm certainly not a mama that would want to slash off her enjoyment of being a teen, that would be very cruel. I can understand how difficult it is trying to find time for your practise beside your tide schedule (hopefully my girl has self discipline like you in the future). You too JIA YOU!! JIA YOU!!
Hi deedeeboi - Thank you for your understanding! My girl loves MTV, but I am selective to the music video she watches, may be when she is much much older, she would be able to make her own choice.
hey soft - The love your dad showered definitely left an impression for your childhoood. I hope my girl will remember what we have been enjoying doing together now when I grow old.... Exactly my sentiment, the POWER OF LOVE!!!
Hi mingguan - so far she seem to have great interest in practising....but like you said, preparing for exam may be a different thing altogether... I try hard to refrain myself from pushing her too much (sometimes parent can be overwhelmed), but do give her alot of encouragement when she faces bottleneck. I see she improves greater when lots of encouragement given. I even learn how to play a short piece in two solid nite....very siong, my 35yr old fingers all stiff & muscle cramp after that! But it was really fun & am so proud of it! LOL
Really appreciate all the advices from you all!! It helps alot!! Thank you so much!! Music makes this world more beautifull & people like you make it possible!! Hopefully music can add colour to my girl's life too.
rottenramone
Active member
..
reading this thread makes living life worthwhile
reading this thread makes living life worthwhile
You know... in the end, I do believe there is a point where you still must coax/push a child. Children will never know what is good for them (esp in the long run) because they are young. I think there must be a little bit of pushing esp when it comes to music. Every child wants to have fun and every (almost) child will take the eaiser way out, sitting down and practicing piano isn't under those catergories.
However, a line must be drawn lah.
I'm glad my parents made me learn piano. I hated it. Never understood why should I learn and practice that thing. Never understood why they said I could fall back on it as a job if times are hard. Never understood till now. Althought I don't play piano, the theory I learned has help me play the guitar and know it well.
So yeah. There must be some pressure and discipline otherwise how would you train up a child?
However, a line must be drawn lah.
I'm glad my parents made me learn piano. I hated it. Never understood why should I learn and practice that thing. Never understood why they said I could fall back on it as a job if times are hard. Never understood till now. Althought I don't play piano, the theory I learned has help me play the guitar and know it well.
So yeah. There must be some pressure and discipline otherwise how would you train up a child?
KIASUMA, share with you my own stofy...
I remember last time when I learnt electone.
My mother always ask me to spend more time (ie. another 6 months or more) to learn more songs before taking exam & proceed to next grade. She said it is good for me to build a good & strong foundation.
However, I didn't listen to her.
Because at that time I a bit kiasu and try to proceed to higher grade as fast as I can.
I have easily passed (ya, pass only without flying colours) thru all the student grades (Grade 13 to 6) without any problem.
But when I come to Grade 5, I stuck there for years & can't get thru.
Then I realised that i don't have good basic foundation.
I have even taking 6 times exams over 3 years, but all failed.
Then I give up. Not because I intent to give up, but I need to start earning money to support family since I have already complete my Poly studies.
So...
I hope that you don't expedite her learing just to achieving higher grades.
P/S: I start learning Electone at 12 years old. which consider very late liao. Also, there is a lot of commitment during Seconday & Poly study....
I remember last time when I learnt electone.
My mother always ask me to spend more time (ie. another 6 months or more) to learn more songs before taking exam & proceed to next grade. She said it is good for me to build a good & strong foundation.
However, I didn't listen to her.
Because at that time I a bit kiasu and try to proceed to higher grade as fast as I can.
I have easily passed (ya, pass only without flying colours) thru all the student grades (Grade 13 to 6) without any problem.
But when I come to Grade 5, I stuck there for years & can't get thru.
Then I realised that i don't have good basic foundation.
I have even taking 6 times exams over 3 years, but all failed.
Then I give up. Not because I intent to give up, but I need to start earning money to support family since I have already complete my Poly studies.
So...
I hope that you don't expedite her learing just to achieving higher grades.
P/S: I start learning Electone at 12 years old. which consider very late liao. Also, there is a lot of commitment during Seconday & Poly study....
Cheez
Moderator
Doubleblade, "strong hatred towards parents"... strong words! I believe the key is encouragement. Age is not the matter since piano can be started young. Otherwise you'll have stong hatred towards my parents (since I started at 4) and me (I started my older son at 4+)! I agree with you - it is important is not to force them - otherwise it will destroy their love for the instrument. In the end, we parents need to ask ourselves why we want our children to take up an instrument. I'm prepared to stop if he can't take it (with the understanding that children go through rebellious stages - and so we don't give in quickly without encouragement first). Anyway, up to now, I'm teaching him SLOWLY (he only knows C and D, fingers 1 and 2, left and right hand, 4,2 and 1 counts - he started for a few months). I don't go more than 15 minutes each practice. He is interested, does not get bored, and wants to keep trying.
Kiasuma, completing grades 1-8 in 5 years is quite stressful - easy for prodigies but not so easy for us mortals. I strongly discourage that unless your child has a flair and is able to take it. Otherwise, she will be learning for the sake of taking exams. That's the surest way to kill interest - exam focussed. I have many friends who passed grade 8 - but very few continue to play today. You'll want to cultivate something for life, not short-term.
Usually, we can complete grades 1-8 in 10 years. If her interest catches up and she decides to opt for the music elective program in secondary school, she only needs to get Grade 8 before her O levels. Most of the students get their Grade 8 by then - and so it's no rush. One section of the music elective program gives marks according to the student's practical and theory grades - the higher the grade, the more marks she gets for her O levels.
I'm not too familiar with the NAFA course - doesn't exist in my time. I would spend money on whether the teacher is good enough to develop her skills and interest - not so much as to how fast she can complete her exams. Talk to other parents and students there and see how the feel. Private lessons are fine - I did that. My son is going through that; my second son who is already showing great interest and surprising musical sense at age 1.5 is probably going to go through that.
If she just started last year, going for Grade 2 this year is OK. The beginning part is slower especially for children who has never touched piano keys before (that's why I'm letting my son feel the keys first and be familiarised with it - exams will only start many years later). It is also very common to skip grades from in the early stages - she can probably go to Grade 4 the next year. We don't recommend skipping grade 5 - it is a halfway point. Skipping after that is also OK.
Kiasuma, completing grades 1-8 in 5 years is quite stressful - easy for prodigies but not so easy for us mortals. I strongly discourage that unless your child has a flair and is able to take it. Otherwise, she will be learning for the sake of taking exams. That's the surest way to kill interest - exam focussed. I have many friends who passed grade 8 - but very few continue to play today. You'll want to cultivate something for life, not short-term.
Usually, we can complete grades 1-8 in 10 years. If her interest catches up and she decides to opt for the music elective program in secondary school, she only needs to get Grade 8 before her O levels. Most of the students get their Grade 8 by then - and so it's no rush. One section of the music elective program gives marks according to the student's practical and theory grades - the higher the grade, the more marks she gets for her O levels.
I'm not too familiar with the NAFA course - doesn't exist in my time. I would spend money on whether the teacher is good enough to develop her skills and interest - not so much as to how fast she can complete her exams. Talk to other parents and students there and see how the feel. Private lessons are fine - I did that. My son is going through that; my second son who is already showing great interest and surprising musical sense at age 1.5 is probably going to go through that.
If she just started last year, going for Grade 2 this year is OK. The beginning part is slower especially for children who has never touched piano keys before (that's why I'm letting my son feel the keys first and be familiarised with it - exams will only start many years later). It is also very common to skip grades from in the early stages - she can probably go to Grade 4 the next year. We don't recommend skipping grade 5 - it is a halfway point. Skipping after that is also OK.
Hi ShredCow - You said it man! It is hard to be a parent now compared to my parent's time. I sit beside my girl each time she practices. I stayed up late to read thru the piano theory book, learn to play simple pieces. *sigh* Hope she will come to know the effort I put in for her just like you appreciate your parents. Discipline is one thing I insisted to instil in her. If she can develope this habit, it will definitely be a benefit to her in future.
Hey mingguan - That's really nice of you to share your story with me, thank you. Wow! I din know there are so many grades to do in electone. Appreciate your advice on not to expedite her learning just to get the grades fast. I too believe that it is important to have a good foundation. My girl is quite a fast learner (on things that is of her interest, chinese is not one of them), as you have mentioned, there are so many other commitment in sec, poly & there after, that is why I tot if she can do so sooner, she will have more time for herself later on. But seem like 5yr to do grade 1 to 8 is very tideous. I think beside preparing her, I have to also prepare myself for the pressure.....cause think I will feel the pressure more than she does
Hey mingguan - That's really nice of you to share your story with me, thank you. Wow! I din know there are so many grades to do in electone. Appreciate your advice on not to expedite her learning just to get the grades fast. I too believe that it is important to have a good foundation. My girl is quite a fast learner (on things that is of her interest, chinese is not one of them), as you have mentioned, there are so many other commitment in sec, poly & there after, that is why I tot if she can do so sooner, she will have more time for herself later on. But seem like 5yr to do grade 1 to 8 is very tideous. I think beside preparing her, I have to also prepare myself for the pressure.....cause think I will feel the pressure more than she does
teraslasch
New member
Haha, let me tell you my story .. I'm currently 15 going 16 and about, 8-9 years ago, my parents got me into playing piano. First was yamaha then went on to private teachers. I was lazy and i normally don't practice or do my work until the last minute, so i was always fearful of lessons lol.. then i had this big fierce female teacher who taught me from i think grade 3-5?.. It was a few years.. i really hated my piano lessons so much that i wanted to stop playing piano.. i told myself i would never use the piano in the future. Soon after that, i was enjoying my free time, without being fearful of my scary teacher LOL... then after awhile my mom ask me go learn pop piano, then i say ok lor.. for fun.. When i started pop piano, i was like, wow, you mean music is actually made up from chords?.. Things started to get more interesting, ( I realised ABRSM syallabus and usually teachers teaching classical don't really teach u other things besides the exam pieces and theory which is needed to be done -- they dont mix practical with theory), learning more about chords and stuff. I started dabbling in digital music at around 13, at that time i think i just stopped my classical lessons, a few months later i took pop. So at around 14, i learnt more about chords and i figured out how to compose, so i usually composed on the computer, using a sequencer called cakewalk. Omg, i couldnt believe music was so damn fun, + composing songs on the computer was absolutely thrilling, moreover i was obsessed with game soundtrack music. Last year, i took my grade 6 theory to improve my classical, and now i appreciate it more than last time. Now i aspire to be a gamesoundtrack composer in the future haha, as well as an audio engineer. Kinda surprising, come to think of it, 2 years ago, i actually hated my piano, now i love it ..
Yea and one more thing, i don't believe in grades, after grade 6 theory, i don't wanna take ABRSM syllabus liao, now i learning piano and theory stuff from a teacher preparing me to go berklee next year
.. So it doesn't matter if your child doesn't have high grades, if she has the interest, its all good. Example, although i have many friends which are higher in grade, they don't know anything bout composing and such stuff, they only know such thing as practical and theory exams, and how to play fast ..
.. I'm currently 15 going 16 and about, 8-9 years ago, my parents got me into playing piano. First was yamaha then went on to private teachers. I was lazy and i normally don't practice or do my work until the last minute, so i was always fearful of lessons lol.. then i had this big fierce female teacher who taught me from i think grade 3-5?.. It was a few years.. i really hated my piano lessons so much that i wanted to stop playing piano.. i told myself i would never use the piano in the future. Soon after that, i was enjoying my free time, without being fearful of my scary teacher LOL... then after awhile my mom ask me go learn pop piano, then i say ok lor.. for fun.. When i started pop piano, i was like, wow, you mean music is actually made up from chords?.. Things started to get more interesting, ( I realised ABRSM syallabus and usually teachers teaching classical don't really teach u other things besides the exam pieces and theory which is needed to be done -- they dont mix practical with theory), learning more about chords and stuff. I started dabbling in digital music at around 13, at that time i think i just stopped my classical lessons, a few months later i took pop. So at around 14, i learnt more about chords and i figured out how to compose, so i usually composed on the computer, using a sequencer called cakewalk. Omg, i couldnt believe music was so damn fun, + composing songs on the computer was absolutely thrilling, moreover i was obsessed with game soundtrack music. Last year, i took my grade 6 theory to improve my classical, and now i appreciate it more than last time. Now i aspire to be a gamesoundtrack composer in the future haha, as well as an audio engineer. Kinda surprising, come to think of it, 2 years ago, i actually hated my piano, now i love it ..Yea and one more thing, i don't believe in grades, after grade 6 theory, i don't wanna take ABRSM syllabus liao, now i learning piano and theory stuff from a teacher preparing me to go berklee next year
.. So it doesn't matter if your child doesn't have high grades, if she has the interest, its all good. Example, although i have many friends which are higher in grade, they don't know anything bout composing and such stuff, they only know such thing as practical and theory exams, and how to play fast ..