NAFA School of Young Talents - Discussion

[corneyAmber]

Totall agree with chief kiasu. I have seen many dropout from NAFA and also a lot of them who completed gr 8 has never touch the piano again.


I am not saying that NAFA is not good but it is the culture. It depends if the child and parent can take the stress and handle it properly without losing the interest.

[Picolo]

Sorry, to side-track a bit, I like to seek the opinions of the folks here on this. My son has been learning to play piano for 2 years and recently got a distinction in ABRSM Gr 1. He is the kind who only plays the piano about 2 - 3 times a week and about half hr each time. Typically, it seems like most of the other kids the piano teacher has also spend about 2 years before going for the Gr 1 exams (except for those rare very diligent ones).


However, I know of 2 parents with other piano teachers who commented that their kids are only learning piano for about 1 - 1.5 years and they are already attempting Gr 2 - 3 exams pieces. To these parents, Gr 1 and 2 are too easy and kids should progress faster.

I know of another parent whom daughter has been in Yahama for many years (about 4 yr?) and only did Gr 1 this year. According to her, Yahama believes that every grade is impt and they do not encourage skipping graded exams.

So, my question is, which way is better? I used to think 1 year for 1 grade as a general guide and it takes some time to have a good foundation (my son took a little longer due to the need to correct his fingerings - too flat) but now, I am told that kids need not spend more than 2 years to achieve Grade 3.

I am deciding what kind of methods is best for my 4 yo as I plan to start him on piano later this year. Very confused.

[corneyAmber]

Hi Picolo,


Dun be too confused. All these are very common. It depends on individual. I have students who can play gr 4 exam pieces at the age of 5. But i also have students who learnt of 3 yrs but yet to take exams.

What determine these is the child’s attitude, parental support, amount of practise and lastly talent.

[AppleTree]

Hi, my son has attended Yamaha, Cristofori and NAFA at different stages of his learning :oops: (kiasuparent) and my thoughts are as these....


Yamaha, emphasis alot on building the child's aural and listening skills. They emphasis alot on solfege singing to let the child get creative music influence. Hence a child is only allow to take graded examinations after 4-5years of training and their examination is not ABRSM.

Cristofori is a \"general\" school, in the sense that they do not emphasis too much on anything. They will allow kids to skip grade and most of the time, the kid will get a general pass/pass with merit.

NAFA emphasis alot on technics and expects all kids to get distinction, at the expense of the kid losing his passion and interest in piano. But the kid can expect to complete Grade8 in 4 years.

... For me, I based my decision on the final goal. Why do I let him learn piano? Every parents/child has different reasons. For me, of course, firstly is to let him develop an addition skill. But \"kiasuly\", hopefully this skill will help him get into a good school. And from what I read, a child needs good Grade8 to get into DSA or MEP. Meaning likely distinctions for all Grades.

So if your child has started piano early and has enough years to get Grade8 by Primary 6, I would think getting good grades is important.

Above are my 2cents worth. Hope its helps

[en107rn.01056yahoo.01056com.01056sg]

[quote]Yamaha, emphasis alot on building the child's aural and listening skills. They emphasis alot on solfege singing to let the child get creative music influence. Hence a child is only allow to take graded examinations after 4-5years of training and their examination is not ABRSM. [/quote]
It depends on the type of courses in Yamaha. DS joins April this year and will be taking ABRSM grade 1 next year. End of this year, will be Yamaha internal exam. Piano school for children works on everything. Solfege singing, listening skills, aural, repertoire, notes reading etc.
[quote]For me, I based my decision on the final goal. Why do I let him learn piano? Every parents/child has different reasons. For me, of course, firstly is to let him develop an addition skill. But \"kiasuly\", hopefully this skill will help him get into a good school. And from what I read, a child needs good Grade8 to get into DSA or MEP. Meaning likely distinctions for all Grades. [/quote]Looking at schools that offered MEP, a minimum of grade 3 is needed. But based on the MEP thread, does seem difficult as the number of seats available is limited.

[dennisl]

Hi Appletree, Is there any way you use to motivate you child to practice 2 to 3 hrs of piano everyday ? That sounds a big commitment of time for you and your son. I have problem in asking my daughter to even practice one hr per day…

[metz]

For those who are interested in the Nafa Gifted Young Pianists course, kindly note the following dates -


Audition date : 22nd November

Registration: 2nd to 13th November

Although the program is designed for 6 - 8 years old, they do encourage kids above 5 years old to try for the audition. For this program, (as I have been told by Nafa), the child is expected to take ABRSM exam grade 1 in P1, grade 3 in P2 and grade 5 in P3. So, if you find your child musical and loves playing piano, you might want to consider the Nafa program for him/her. But do bear in mind, discipline and hard work (from both parent and child) come as a requirement for this program.

[metz]

Hi Picolo,


I totally agree with Pianojazzy. There's no hard and fast rules on the progress.

If the child is naturally talented in music, the progress can be as fast as a bullet train. My kids' piano teacher has such a musically gifted student. He did grade 1 exam last year, grade 3 exam this year and is preparing to take grade 5 exam next year. He's a P1 student. Though the mother was advised to enroll the child in Nafa, she refused. She cited that the course would be too demanding on her child and may kill the interest instead. (But looks like he's progressing much faster than what Nafa program offers.)

On the whole, my piano teacher does not support grade skipping unless the kid shows extreme giftedness. She has encountered students who skipped grades but the skill in playing is totally lacking.

One thing to note is that some students might have skipped the exams but not the piano grades. Meaning the child may cover all the skills and practices for the various grades but may not necessary take all the grade exams. For instance, I have been advised by a friend to let my kids learn without taking exams. If necessary, I should just send them for grade 5 exam when they are ready. And there are others who did grade 1 exam, covered grade 2 but skipped exam and took grade 3 exam on the third year etc (pianojazzy mentioned this sometime ago) .
[quote]However, I know of 2 parents with other piano teachers who commented that their kids are only learning piano for about 1 - 1.5 years and they are already attempting Gr 2 - 3 exams pieces. To these parents, Gr 1 and 2 are too easy and kids should progress faster. [/quote]A few possibilities...

- the kids are musical and hardworking
- very hands-on parents with good music background
- erm, according to my kids' piano teacher, there are some students that do only exam pieces.
[quote]I know of another parent whom daughter has been in Yahama for many years (about 4 yr?) and only did Gr 1 this year. According to her, Yahama believes that every grade is impt and they do not encourage skipping graded exams. [/quote]Let me guess, her daughter did the Yamaha Junior Course? This course touches more on music appreciation and electrone and lasts for 4 years. Perhaps that's why she did grade 1 exam only after so many years.

[metz]

Picolo:

. My son has been learning to play piano for 2 years and recently got a distinction in ABRSM Gr 1.

Congratulations! :celebrate:

[clarabella]

Just to add on to the SYT discussion. The expectation is that the internal/external exams must be passed with flying colours. Otherwise your child can bid farewell to his place in the course.

Also, for piano, if your child has already been taught to ‘tap’, it will aid in the audition.

From what I have observed, many kids who have been well trained in techniques can still get in even if they are not endowed with mind-boggling talent. But many of them will struggle mightily to cope with the expectations. Those who have true talent will find it easier, naturally.

Lastly, there are kids who can reach Grade 3 by the end of K2, if they get in the program by the time they are in K1.