Piano Playing - 5 years old girl~

My student, Zi En played "London Bridge is Falling Down" & "Mary Had A Little Lamb" easy version~

She likes to attend the piano lessons and feels very excited for each lesson. She likes to play the piano very much especially playing her favourite songs! She always be self discipline to practice on the piano daily rather than waiting for her parents to remind her. 

Another special skills of Zi En without teacher's reminder: 

1. She has the great awareness on the loud & soft symbol of a song, 

2. She will count the rhythm, especially last note of a song (ending part).

She will express it out & handle with self-confidence automatically! OMG!! Thumbs up to this 5 years old little girl!! (actually she just 4+, not even 5 yet!)

A lovely cute girl~ ^.^

 Counting 1-2-3-4~

 happy girl!

Violin Students - Adult

Ash and Shan (brother and sister), both working adult, have attended violin lessons under my guidance. From a new beginner, without knowing anything about the violin, now their violin playing skills has raised up to Grade 1 within 1.5 months time!

Of course, they have attended music lessons during primary school. Music notes reading are not a barrier for them and they handle it with ease. However, they still need to revise back the theory of music they've learn previously in order to recall back all the memories!

Also, they are planning to go for practical exam in the near future. Hooray to them~~ ^.^

Updates:
Ash just completed Grade 2 ABRSM exam, he has passed with Distinction in Violin performance. Congratulations! Keep up the good work!

Violin "Happy Birthday" - Played By Beginner during 1st Lesson

One of my students played "Happy Birthday" song. My teaching method - special design for the beginners to play the very popular song during their 1st lesson! Yes, is 1st lesson only!! Mainly in tune, interesting!!

I believe if she practice everyday, the result will be far more better than this video! ^^

Keep it up my dear students!

Fiddle Time Starter for Young Violin Beginners

Recently, I'm teaching A String for my young students ranging from 6-8 years old. This book actually very suitable for them especially for those who have no idea on reading / naming the music notes! A very simple violin fingering chart drawing with colourful design which is successfully attracting the young students with easy understanding with my unique teaching method! 

Also, "Au Clair De La Lune" (By the light of the moon ) is a famous French folk song which can be found in Babies music recordings! Therefore, a moon was printed in this page! How detailed the author of this book would be! ^.^

My young students feel very comfortable in playing their violin with this little book. They handle it very well without difficulties~ Great to see their violin playing skills improving!! 

Source: Kathy and David Blackwell@Sample Page - The "A String" part from this book~  

Diploma in Music Performance

Dear all students who like to proceed to Diploma in Music, can call Ms Yap's for further information. 

Today received a call from a working adult lady (30) staying in Cheras, who wish to learn Piano Diploma from Ms Yap. Unfortunately, both ladies stay too far away from each other. Ms Yap unable to teach her! 

Thank you very much for your call and viewing Ms Yap's blog! Have a pleasure piano lessons with your future piano teacher and all the best to your Diploma in Piano Performance exam!!

Just to share some other information regarding diploma in piano performance where my students currently facing:

1. Time - you need to practice a lot in order to prepare for your diploma. It is no longer like Grade 8 previously. (no matter you are a student or working adult or married with babies/children, ensure you manage your time accordingly)

2. Scales - you still need to play some scales to brush up your fingering method, but not only limited to the repertoire. (Scales not teach/play during lesson, but you practice it yourself especially for those who stop after grade 8 for a long period.) 

3. Czerny 740 - This should be played during Grade 7-8, however, diploma students might need to play this as well. I bet during your grade 7-8, you haven't finish playing this book yet! **Except for those who have finish, you still need to replay/revise it!

4. Sonatas - Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert is a MUST to explore! Can't avoid this for sure! 

5. Analysis - you might need to do some analysis on the music score you play! not just purely play the notes and rhythm. But If you have forget the theory, oops...

6. Still have a lot to say! to be continued....

Canon in D~ Happy Birthday! Oh! Suzanna Songs!

I teach all kinds of songs! I don't just stick to usual violin lesson book only but always photocopy/buy a book with very popular songs and many famous folk songs too! 

We always listen these music in our life! Have fun!! 

                              

Most of the students always got to receive extra sheet music except beginners! Learn to play some famous songs! They are: 

1. Canon in D 卡农 - By Johann Pachelbel 

2. Oh! Suzanna 噢！苏珊娜

3. Happy Birthday! 生日快乐！

The "Happy Birthday" song can be played with D string (shown as above in the sheet music). However, you may switch to play with G string or A string, using the same fingering method shown above, and be able to perform the exact melody of our famous Birthday song！

Some students feel amazing how can a same song can be played with different string, cool & awesome~~

Some students Ms Yap will request them to play by ear too~

菊花台－Jay 小提琴

Recently one adult student, Grade 2, asked me regarding this song 菊花台 by Jay, violin version. He self study on it. The final part he played weird，because the last part, forget to add in G#s and C#, highlighted in red circles.

He doesn't aware that the key signature has changed from 2 sharps to 4 sharps (#). Students, whatever songs you are playing, must read the key signatures!

Is Good to ask your violin teacher questions, don't feel shy or weird to ask! Keep it up all students!

Inquiries-Violin Instrument - Selection of Violin

Thank you for viewing my previous published post Inquiries about Piano / Violin Instrument. It gains the highest traffic; with thousand of views by visitors around the world!

Here this post was published regarding more Inquiries about the scenario of Ms Yap's students and select the right Violin Instrument for them.

Scenario 1:
Farah (24), working adult would like to learn to play the violin. She requested to has a great new violin with budget around RM700++. However, due to out of stock, she took the one with RM900-RM1000++. A pretty nice & good quality string and violin was chosen for her! Good day Farah!!

Very nice side varnish with good sound quality! A Bravo violin!

Scenario 2:
Recently, a newly join student named Surie (23), working adult. She requested to has a great new violin with budget around RM700-800.

Ms Yap chose this pretty Good quality violin for Surie according to her budget, come with oblong case and build in Humidifier & Hygrometer.

Front View of the Violin

Back view of the Violin

Scenario 3:

Shin (18 yrs old) got her violin in a music shop located near Ikea Damansara, Malaysia with RM500 when she was a new beginner. Her violin was creating tons of problem for her. After finished her violin exams, she immediately change a new violin where she requested the good range of violin with budget around RM1500-2000.

Scenario 4:

Same with Trisha, international school student, started with a RM300 beginner violin when she was 8, now already 13 years old. She has changed her violin from 1/2 size, to 3/4 size and finally to 4/4 adult size with budget around RM1500-2000 which able to use up to advance level of playing.

Scenario 5:
Anis (39), working adult in MNC Global Bank. Requested to change her violin from RM200+ to a 1500-2000 range of violin. A high quality strings and violin was chosen for her! Great Anis, keep it up your violin studies with Ms Yap!!

All violin instruments were selected by Ms Yap with Good quality and reasonable price. Students were satisfied with their current instrument! No regrets!

Call Ms Yap for a good and high quality of Violin today!!

July'13 Piano and Violin Exam!!

Currently most students are preparing their piano and violin exam on July 2013! 

Keep it up all girls and boys, adults too!!!

She is doing her Sight Reading now! With a long face! Keep it up Zoey!

Piano Playing - Disney Song Video

Pui Yi is a newly join student (15, a local school Representative of Ping Pong & Badminton Competition). Her teacher had commitment in other states, therefore switch to Ms Yap as her piano teacher right now.

She has played many classical songs, however, she requested to play some Disney songs. Some songs being chose for her:
1. Can You Feel The Love Tonight (The Lion King), 
2. Colours of the Wind (Pocahontas) 
3. Beauty and the Beast Theme 

Many teachers will not teach these songs because they are considered easy compare to the classical songs. Even they do teach, they don't explain the following structure on how a music/song being composed. It is necessary to explain to all students that they learn music theory not only for exam, but know how to apply on practical music! 

I do teach my students this music genre because there are Several Advantages and Benefits of teaching it:
1. Film Music - Something Fresh and New for students 
2. They already know the stories very well (Pui Yi doesn't know no. 1 & 2 movie, so I explained the summary of the stories to her with animated videos, she was excited and happy!)
3. Build up listening skills
4. Build up music analysis skills
5. It develops students' music composition skills - required in Theory learning sessions
6. For those with Grade 5 Theory and above, will know what am I explaining and questioning about:
eg. After listening, where is the Theme of this song? Which part is the Chorus?
eg. Remember what is the ABAC/ABAB/AAAB plan from previous music theory we learned?
eg. New keyword: "Modulation" - What key is this song? C major? and then switch to F major? 
eg. Where is the Climax part of the music?
eg. When you are playing these few bars here, what should you do on the Dynamics?
eg. What chord is this? I, IV, V ? 
eg. What cadence is this? Perfect? Imperfect? 

Pui Yi is playing the extract of the Colours of the Wind (has not reach the maturity level yet)

A Mother Looking for a Piano Teacher - Urgently

Mrs Choi, mother of Pui Yi and Zi Qi were looking at new piano teacher urgently and anxiously after their teacher had migrate to other country. 

She searched through the area and did some survey of a few music schools, looking for the ideal and best piano teacher in town to teach her both daughters. At the end, she found Ms Yap. Discussion about all schedules that match with each other, Ms Yap's schedule almost full and her daughters were busy always, school, tuition, extra co-curriculum activities of badminton, ping pong, prefect team etc. 

Pui Yi (15, school representative of ping pong and badminton)
Zi Qi  (12, Head of Prefect team in school and also school representative of badminton) 

Mrs Choi met Ms Yap at her private classroom and discussed a lot of things regarding her daughters, characters, result, expectation and many things. She doesn't want to attached to a music school that keep changing new teachers. She was worry, anxious, urgently looking someone to teach her daughters. 

Ms Yap understand her feelings very well as a mother and tried to find a schedule to teach her daguthers. Ms Yap also expect a good attendance record if study under her. In conclusion, both girls study music under the guidance of Ms Yap with great satisfaction. Both girls demonstrated good attendance record and great attitudes.

Music Educator ~ Training and Developement

Ms Yap as the Music Instructor, with passions of music, paying out extra money, time and effort to learn and to involve in music education. 

Music, never ends. However, many people thought that after finished their Grade 8 Music Exam then they are the expert in playing an instrument. No way! After completion of Grade 8 studies is exactly just the beginning stage of involving in music.

We are studying as a music students in Conservatoire/University of Music, Overseas or Local~
 We are attending a lot of music seminars for few days consecutively~
We are paying out our effort and time to learn and to teach your children~

Tea Break~
After that we back to our hard work time below...

We are very hardworking educators doing musical analysis, music homework, raise hand and ask questions till problems/issues solved,
We are writing notes, attending master classes for practical experience~We are professionals in music, not limit to teach only but also ton of things to involve eg. performing, orchestra, thesis, analysis etc.~

We have the very best own work station in a Piano / Violin room equip with air-conditioner and fan, whiteboard, audio & so on with comfortable environment. 

Great book shelves to store books, filling up with full music resources with ton of Music Books, Reference, Scores, Theoretical, History, CDs and many more either in English or Chinese version.

Other than music, there are other titles too in the cupboard where we human beings also love to involve in other fun subjects!

Study, revise, analyse, listen etc.

Our achievement and effort are Certified~~

Exam Period soon~ ABRSM~

YES!! March 2013 Theory ABRSM just completed!! Relax~~

For those students who are participating practical exam on July 2013, 3 months left, Gambate!!

Practice more!!

March 2013 ABRSM Theory Exam vs Happy CNY!

Students are busy preparing for the ABRSM theory exam coming soon on March 2013!

Gambate to all students!!

Exam Status Update May 2013: Ms Yap Students - Girls & Boys Scores Merit and Distinction! Congratulations!! 

Simultaneously, wishing you Happy Chinese New Year!!