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....

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!

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!!

My Student~Piano Exam-Special Case!

One of my student in overseas, Ejh Tan, 7 years old, the grandson of current President of a Country. He came from a very rich family background. 

Ejh complained his male ex piano teacher stress him a lot before exam to his parents. He also got mad dream of this piano teacher when he was sleeping at night. Cried a lot and wanted to change piano teacher. His mother met me finally! Once again, another case of left final 2-3 months from the exam date they switch to other teachers, that's me!

1st piano class, her mother sat in the piano class with Ejh and discussed a lot about Ejh's issue to me. Then I requested him to play the exam songs and show his performance to me. He was really good in playing, he was enjoying the music. He had a good sense of music, music reading notes is extremely fast. Such a distinction student. 

Final 2-3 months piano training under my guidance
His target was to obtain Distinction in his music exam. I never stress him at all, just requested him to play all the details I taught and encouraged him a lot in a friendly. However, he had a weird personality. Once, when he was unable to play a particular part, he felt tension then cried, tears out from his eyes even though nobody scold him. His mum consoled him to stop crying anymore and must score distinction, they will buy him whatever he requested as a gift etc etc.

I was silent this moment and I understand that is not the previous piano teacher's fault. Is actually the Stress came from his family, such a rich family with great reputation and caused the kid unable to handle pressure..

Well, I don't bother about what kind of family he came from, I teach with my own methods, all the details of songs, scales, aural etc and still, end up he scored a Distinction in the exam!

Form 5 girl~ Violin Exam-Special Case!

Final 3 months!
One of my student, Shin, form 5 this year. Got her call that she wants to switch to me as her violin teacher from a music school located at Kota Damansara to my private music classroom here before her exam,  3 months left only from her exam date!!

Ok, class started then! 1st class I listened to her violin playing on the scales and exam pieces. OMG!! Left 3 months only, she has not studied ALL the music exam requirements in the school. The 3rd song was the most difficult piece to play according to Shin's current status. 

The basic Rhythm counting also not focusing! I can't even practice with her with the piano (required for music exam for me to be her pianist accompaniment). Base on her current status, she would really fail her exam!

This is really challenging task for me as her new violin teacher, haha! I decided to pull her from Fail to Pass category. Pass is better than fail of course. Within these 3 months, all details and requirement being taught in scales, exam songs, sight reading, aural and etc. I told her that "You must follow my guidance, if you don't listen, your exam might fail, you decide it!". I was so strict to her during these 3 months!

Lucky Stars surrounding her:
1. Good Student with Good Attitude 
Luckily she is not that kind of stubborn students who wan to work on their way without strong basics at all, she slowly managed the tasks I assigned!

2. Choir Singing
Luckily she joined Choir singing in her Pin Hwa secondary school in Klang, 滨华独中 previously. Singing do help her in her Aural music exam here!!! 

3. Personal Appearance / Respect the Examiner
Before her exam, I told her, don't wear jeans or slippers to the exam please! So that day she wore this adorable dress + high heel shoes to exam. 
The music examiner (male) seem like her very much from his facial expression & gesture. He helped her to adjust the music stand according to her height, how gentlemen this Mat Salleh examiner! For some other examiners, just wait yourself to do it won't give you a hand at all.

While waiting in the exam venue!

1 Month Later after Exam!

Her result was released! She called me up for 3 times, finally I got to answer her call in the evening when I was so busy. She felt very happy and excited and said over the phone, "Teacher! my violin finally pass already, YEAH!!!!!!!" Hoho! The wonderful moment we had! Congratulations to her!!

All exam category were SUCCESSFULLY being from pull up from Fail to Pass category compare to her 1st class with me 3 months ago. Her aural exam got Full Marks! Examiner commented and praise her excellent presentation in this category!

Evidence here show: Go sing Karaoke or join Choir singing in your school often! ^.^

Now Shin gonna face SPM soon!

Even though SPM exam is around the corner, she still continue her violin class with me, attend every week without absence! Her experiences and journey of learning violin was really great motivation and courage for her to further her violin studies with me!

Once again! 100% passing rates exam@2012!!

The piano and violin exam results 2012 are released recently!! Once again got 100% passing rates for all music students since many years ago, that's AWESOME!! 

All students did well in the exam! No matter what score you got (Pass, Higher Pass, Merit or Distinction), you are the BEST!! well done my students!

All students are entitled a mystery FREE GIFT from Ms Yap as their teacher!! Keep it up your effort and good work!! Hooray~~


Next Batch Exam@2013 Students:
Get Ready, be prepare and run for your life! ^.^

Violin Exam~

Today is my student, Anis, age 37, her most important day. Other students have gone through this exam yesterday. She is gonna play in front of the examiner from ABRSM, UK. Well, I'm her pianist today~ She likes photography and requests to take a photo before exam. That's really a great idea to release tension and stay relax before entering the examination room!!

A little true story behind~

Meeting Her
That's good faith meeting with Anis! A kind, friendly and outgoing lady. She worked as a Vice President in a department; one of the world branded global bank. Before she decided to play violin, she has listed down a checklist of hobbies for herself rather than just work and work in the corporate world. She told me she needed something to light up her life! Finally, she has chosen the violin! And then, we met!

The Positive Attitude + Her Success
No matter how busy she was, she tried to manage her time to practice violin and finished her music theory work. During the lessons, she often laughed happily even she made some minor mistakes while playing. She was quite nervous when we were playing duets especially during her exam period. Always, I calmed her down and encouraged her to present the best performance. From a "KOSONG" beginner, after 1.8 years, she has completed her Grade 2 ABRSM Violin. Congratulations!! ^.^ This really provide a great example that as long as a person willing to learn, don't give up easily, no matter who you are, in what ages, she/he still able to play an instrument and enjoy the music, as long as you practice it!

Furthermore, she played the violin during her company's event/function, her colleagues were so surprised and excited on her great performance! Also, thanks to her very much --> During my orchestra's concert, she always came to support, paid ticket for seats, entered to the hall and watched concerts with classical piano and violin concerto programmes. ^.^