For today’s KPI, we have invited local drummer Ridwan Johari to have an interview with him about “Buying The Right Gear For Your Drumming”. Ridwan will be talking about what are the gear that he uses for his drums and where he goes to purchase them.
Hello! Coming to you LIVE once again from King George’s Music Academy! Today we are bringing to you a series we call- The Knowledge Pearls Initiative (KPI).
The KPI would be bite-size knowledge content centered around music, music creation as well as music playing.
For today’s KPI, KGMA has conducted an interview with Local Drummer Ridwan Johari about “Buying The Right Gear For Your Drumming”. Stay tuned for the video!
Assessment this year is definitely much more versatile due to the pandemic outbreak all around the world.
Examination boards, such as Trinity College London, have gone on to arrange recorded clips of your graded drum pieces. We understand that many of you are considering to postpone taking your examinations due to such an arrangement but do not worry, there are actually more ways than one in your solutions.
We would assess 5 different methods with 5 different qualities, and with that lets begin!
(Video Quality, Audio Quality, Cost, Ease of Use, Feasibility)
1) Do it yourself with mobile phone / tablet camera
Video Quality:
Audio Quality:
Cost:
Ease of Use:
Feasibility:
With Smartphones, due to the advancement in camera technologies in recent years, video quality is rather fantastic but if you are using a smartphone of an older model, video quality might not be comparable to the newer models.
For audio quality, it has been ranked as such, largely due to the fact that although it can capture the audio sufficiently, it does not capture the intricacies of your playing clearly.
In this day and age, almost everyone has or knows a family member/friend who has a smartphone imbued with camera functions which explains why it has a 5-stars rating in terms of cost as you do not need to buy a new set for yourself.
In terms of ease of use, due to the large amount of time we are exposed to our smartphones, (I am making the assumption that you would have explored the functions of your smartphones) it would be relatively easier to record or learn to record using your smartphone.
Feasibility, in this case, is measured with the range of uses this mode of recording can be used for. E.g. Smartphone recordings are great for social media videos such as Instagram or Facebook but are not well suited for examination recording or audition submissions due to in-built mics being unable to capture your playing with full clarity.
Overall Rating: 3.2 / 5.0
2) Do it yourself with DSLR camera setup
Video Quality:
Audio Quality:
Cost:
Ease of Use:
Feasibility:
With a DSLR camera, there are many available types of lenses as well as mics available in the market for add-on, (with some lenses costing much higher than the camera body itself!) the video as well as audio quality are more or less assured when using the suitable lenses as well as mics for your recording!
In terms of cost, a good DSLR camera can cost anywhere from between 1000-2000SGD, just about as much as a brand-new smartphone these days and I would advise against it, if you are not ready to make such an investment.
A DSLR camera may come with challenges for users that are not used to handling cameras as it does come with its own functionalities that needs to be learned and familiarized with to produce quality video shots, however online tutorials are readily available on sites such as YouTube.
Feasibility, in this case, is measured with the range of uses this mode of recording can be used for.
DSLR cameras with its range of equipment available can make quality video recordings of you playing the drums but as for the audio recording, if you do not have a dedicated mic setup for your drums, using the DSLR mic itself would slightly decrease the audio quality in terms of clarity.
Overall Rating: 3.2 / 5.0
3) Do it yourself with an Action camera (GoPro) setup
Video Quality:
Audio Quality:
Cost:
Ease of Use:
Feasibility:
Action Cameras (one popular type is also known as GoPro) are good in terms of Video Quality when it's recorded in warm lighting, and fares poorly when recorded in cool and poor lighting.
The in-built microphone for the action cameras are good for outdoor sports (especially extreme sports) but its in-built microphone is definitely not the best option to record audio with. There is however, the option to use an external microphone for the recording but you would have to merge the audio and video post-production. (Graded Drum exams do not allow editing for the videos).
Cost-wise it is definitely much more affordable in comparison to purchasing a mobile phone or even a DSLR camera, but it is still a bit pricey for many.
In terms of ease of usage, the action camera definitely has a much lower learning curve than some of its comparison on this list, allowing it to achieve a 4-stars rating in this aspect.
The action camera has gotten such a low rating for feasibility due to its in-built microphone that cannot compare to its counterparts on this list for drumming examination recordings, especially if it is unable to capture the audio of the drum recording clearly!
Overall Rating: 2.4 / 5.0
4) Do it yourself with a Professional-Grade Video Camera setup
Video Quality:
Audio Quality:
Cost:
Ease of Use:
Feasibility:
A professional-grade video camera setup is actually one of the best recording setups available in the market. Its audio and video quality would be one of the best in this list (recordings done in television stations and news channels use cameras of this grade).
Cost-wise, this would also be the highest costing option amongst the rest here as a good professional-grade video camera would easily cost between 6000-20,000 SGD.
2 stars were given to the ease of use as there are also YouTube videos out there that teach the use of professional grade video cameras as well hence it might not be as hard if you were to be doing it alone.
In terms of feasibility, professional grade video cameras are definitely not easy to use and definitely might put a dent on the budget of many however the video and audio quality when produced from such cameras would be the best there is.
Overall Rating: 3.2 / 5.0
5) Do the recording with King George's Music Academy (KGMA)
Video Quality:
Audio Quality:
Cost:
Ease of Use:
Feasibility:
Video Quality has been rated as such due to the fact that although the video cameras used are not to the best quality as compared to some of the best in this list, the lighting as well as cameras are more than sufficient for the recording of the examination pieces.
Audio Quality is rated highly as well, as the facilities used for the recording (namely the drum kit) is mic-ed up and tuned up to the best possible quality to achieve the utmost clarity when recording for the examination.
Cost-wise is rated just below mobile phones, (taking into account mobile phones being free as almost everyone already has one) but do note it is not low cost, just much more affordable as compared to the rest on the list.
Ease of use is rated at maximum stars as all you have got to do is perform the recording you would want to perform! All that is left to do after, is letting the staff work their magic.
Feasibility is ranked with drummers who would rather learn to do this themselves in mind. However, time may be limited for the examinees preparing for the exams and would still have to learn recording on top of their school/work commitments. With that, this would be much optimal choice!
Overall Rating: 4.4 / 5.0
Thank you for coming to our KPI this week!
Do share this article to all your friends and family, especially if they are taking the drum examinations this year!
Thank you for supporting us thus far, but the Knowledge Pearls Initiative will be having a name change soon. Look forward to it!
In the meantime, do drop us a like, share and comment on any “what if” or “how to” knowledge pearls you would like us to take a crack at !
by Zeilver on October 10th
Hello Zeilver here, coming back to you LIVE once again from King George’s Music Academy!
Today we are bringing to you the twelfth episode of a series we call- The Knowledge Pearls Initiative (KPI).
The KPI would be bite-size knowledge content centered around music, music creation as well as music playing.
Wish to improve your music knowledge? Wishing to learn more about questions that aren’t explored as much as it should be? You have come to the right place.
Do remember to like our Facebook Page to get weekly updates and specials that you would love !
THIS WEEK’S
KNOWLEDGE PEARL
Music. All of us definitely have had some sort of preference to/for certain genres and artists at certain points in our life.
I’m sure listening to Music has definitely boosted your present mood at the time or made you feel a certain way, but have you ever wondered what kinds of effects that Music can have for you both physically and mentally?
Well… that’s what we are going to cover today on our KPI!
Ever find certain tasks mundane, boring and just a plain chore? It could be that data entry task that you were given today at work, or even going through your email and deleting old ones?
Well, music definitely can help!
Research has demonstrated music that is played while the listener is focused on another task, has helped to improve productivity for adults!
However, not all music is good for everyone. There are cases where students are unable to concentrate at all when listening to music while some are able to be super productive with music!
A good tip would be to play instrumental tracks instead of music with complex lyrics and heavier composition to boost your productivity!
(Fun fact: upbeat music help to boost a person’s processing speeds)
This point is a rather contested point as well!
It’s a long-standing argument that students have with their teachers that music helps with their studying.
It is a divided opinion as some students do swear by music, saying it helps to boost their ability to study while some claim that music is not only not helping but it serves as a factor of distraction.
Music does help boost memory, but in several conditions such as:
Music type
Listener’s enjoyment on that particular music
Is the listener musically trained?
Songs that the listener finds joyful will elicit a positive response in the brain which in turn boosts memory, but this only applies to musically untrained listeners.
For the musically inclined listeners, neutral music would benefit them better as this type of music does not push the brain to analyze the music, which in turn proves harmful to memory forming.
If you are the kind that gets distracted to music easily, I suggest listening to neutral music if you absolutely want to have some music while studying/working!
Music is such a wondrous thing! Research has shown that music is helpful in pain management.
One such research of music therapy for pain management playing the choice music for patients that are undergoing Radiofrequency Lesioning (RFL), and it is actually one of the more common (and painful) procedures performed at this particular outpatient clinic at Malcolm Randall VAMC.
The findings of the research shows do support the use of music therapy as a form of pain management with 87% of the music therapy participants reporting that the music was helpful!
Many of them even asked “where is the music?” when it was not present in future sessions!
You can read more about this study here!
Sleep problems affect many of us in the world, and I have personally been affected with insomnia before.
Insomnia is a serious problem for many people of varying age groups.
Despite the many ways to tackle insomnia, the use of soft, relaxing music (e.g. classical music) is a harmless and cost-effective method to tackle sleep disorders.
Based on a research done on older community-dwelling adults in Taiwan who had their sleep quality measured after listening to their choice of sedative music tapes at bedtime for 3 weeks, results had shown much better sleep quality!
You can read more about this study here!
There is actually a good reason why many of us find exercising easier while listening to music, as studies have shown that fast paced music motivates people to work out harder.
Everyone has their own preferred set step frequency be it for when they are running or walking and research has shown that fast paced music could motivate people to pick up the pace!
Runners show higher motivation and endurance while listening to music hence the ideal exercise music should be between 120 to 140 beats per minute (BPM)
Why does this happen?
As mentioned in an earlier point, music may cause distraction and in this case it provides you a distraction to your exertion.
When you are distracted by the music, you would also be less likely to notice your increased sweating, respiration as well as soreness in your muscles.
This point has long been proposed that music does in fact help people cope with stress.
One of such methods of Treatment can be known as Music Therapy and it is not backed without research, fortunately.
Studies done in 2013 about participants doing a psychosocial stress test while listening to relaxing music, ambient sounds (rippling water) or nothing and took a stress test.
Results have demonstrated that music has helped to aid in the relief of the human stress response in the presence of a mental or emotional tension.
You can read more about the study here.
Do you listen to sad songs when you are feeling down and end up getting happier after a while?
Or perhaps you listen to upbeat songs to hype yourself up after having experienced a mellow day?
This is a point that has many science-backed results on the benefits of music and how it plays a key role in boosting the mood of an individual.
“Did you know?” fact
There was a study done that made participants actively play joyful music to brighten their mood for a set period of time during the experiment and participants have reported significant improvement to their moods and generally feeling happier.
Music is so much more than just to be taken as an entertainment source!
Thank you for coming to our KPI this week!
Do share this content to all your friends and family if they wish to share fun facts about music with them!!
Thank you for supporting us thus far, but the Knowledge Pearls Initiative will be having a name change soon. Look forward to it!
In the meantime, do drop us a like, share and comment on any “what if” or “how to” knowledge pearls you would like us to take a crack at !
by Zeilver on October 10th
Hello Zeilver here, coming back to you LIVE once again from King George’s Music Academy!
Today we are bringing to you the eleventh episode of a series we call- The Knowledge Pearls Initiative (KPI).
The KPI would be bite-size knowledge content centered around music, music creation as well as music playing.
Wish to improve your music knowledge? Wishing to learn more about questions that aren’t explored as much as it should be? You have come to the right place.
Do remember to like our Facebook Page to get weekly updates and specials that you would love !
THIS WEEK’S
KNOWLEDGE PEARL
I know I know, the need to address this might seem redundant to some but there is a need to deepen the understanding on this point.
Finding the best teacher suited for yourself is very important. Why so?
A music teacher is an important investment on your time as well as money and a good teacher would help you to maximize the joy and the value you get out of lessons!
For all that they have done for us, it is clear that a good teacher does make the learning easier, brightening the experience along the way.
With the internet as advanced as it is now, online searches are just a click away- however in cases like these, word of mouth recommendations are almost definitely always better.
Why?
Online reviews don’t always tell the whole story, be it the good or the bad.
In cases like these, personal recommendations from a student (preferably a friend) would allow you to ask specific questions which would help you to see the bigger picture.
Good tip: Allow yourself to find at least 3-5 teachers/schools before shortlisting your top 2!
By attending these concerts (if the music school/teacher have them), it helps to promote the growth of the music industry in Singapore!
More importantly, it would allow you to learn more about the teacher.
You would be able to see:
The range of students that they teach
How they speak
The culture of the music school
After the concert/performance, review the thoughts and experience about the different teachers and their students.
Keep these impressions in mind when you interview these teachers next time! It would help clarify on any questions or queries you may have.
Trial Classes (How to use them?)
Some teachers/schools offer 1 trial/introductory lesson for the music instructor to see if the student is a good fit and vice versa!
Trial classes will help to give a good idea about the teacher’s energy, teaching ability as well as student interest.
I would recommend to you to treat this process as an interview for your potential teacher.
Good tip: The process of trial classes help to narrow a list down to your top 2 choices, or even help you to choose the “one”!
Asking Questions
This point is actually built onto trial classes.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions!
As important as it is for teachers to select the right students, pairing the students to the right teacher is as equally important.
By doing so, it helps to build rapport early on, ensuring that both parties benefit from it.
Many teachers have their favorite “type” of students (aka their music skill level). Don’t be afraid to ask them that!
Some teachers prefer teaching beginners, starting them off on the path of music while some teachers prefer working with advanced players and teaching high level techniques and tougher pieces.
Having a teacher whose preference is with advanced students teaching a beginner might prove damaging to both parties.
The student might end up with lots of pressure and loss of interest while the teacher might have bad reviews from the bad experience from this particular student.
Finding out more about the music instructors’ teaching level and getting one that enjoys teaching students of that level would yield much better results!
Good tip: Getting a music teacher whose preferred teaching level is at your level and a few levels above that so that you are able to enjoy more time together.
Before undertaking your music journey with a particular teacher, make sure to check if the music teacher instructs in the particular music style that you are interested in.
Many musicians that have picked their style(s) might have issues crossing genres. They are exceptions of course but it ultimately depends on you, the student’s preference in the end.
Beware of the teachers who are usually way below market rate, as what you pay for is usually what you’d get.
Teachers that undercut the market, might not only have lesser experience and credentials, their ethics might be called into question.
Yet, high prices does not guarantee a better teacher. Some music schools charge above the market rate just for their “brand name”.
(I might be chided for revealing one of the industry’s secrets but only the truth for our fans!)
In the case of vibes, you should trust your gut. Even teachers who might have learnt the same instrument from the same school will tackle lessons in different ways.
It is best to meet the teacher before coming to lessons with them, a good way is by making use of the free trial lesson to get a feel of the teacher. \
Some guiding questions to help you out:
Can I talk to the teacher easily, voice my opinions and thoughts without fear?
Does the teacher respond to me in a way that I can relate to?
Does the teacher have qualities that are important to me?
Does the teacher accommodate or understand my learning style?
Does the teacher teach at a pace that is comfortable to me?
Does the teacher seem passionate about teaching?
Is this a teacher that I would admire in music, or life? (Why would you want to take advice from someone you don’t admire?)
I hope that this will ease you into making better choices on how to choose your music teacher that’s for you!
Curious to know how to qualify a music school after knowing what makes a good music teacher?
Find out more with us!
Thank you for coming to our KPI this week!
How important is it to have a music teacher?
by Zeilver on October 04th
Hello Zeilver here, coming back to you LIVE once again from King George’s Music Academy!
Today we are bringing to you the tenth episode of a series we call- The Knowledge Pearls Initiative (KPI).
The KPI would be bite-size knowledge content centered around music, music creation as well as music playing.
Wish to improve your music knowledge? Wishing to learn more about questions that aren’t explored as much as it should be? You have come to the right place.
Do remember to like our Facebook Page to get weekly updates and specials that you would love !
THIS WEEK’S
KNOWLEDGE PEARL
Everyone has had a teacher that they remember fondly while they were growing up. It might even be someone that is currently teaching you now.
The teacher(s) that first pops into your head associated with warm memories are usually the ones that have made you feel that they have given their 100%, but somehow they always managed to turn around and surpass that expectations somehow.
These are the teachers that have impacted your life, but what was it that made you remember them well?
Was it how they always managed to explain all the tough concepts in such an easy to understand way?
Was it how they have always seemed to understand you, not just as a student but personally as well?
Or was it that they always demonstrate great patience even though you are just unable to grasp certain things after multiple explanations?
For all that they have done for us, it is clear that a good teacher does make the learning easier, brightening the experience along the way.
At this point, you must be wondering, “isn’t this article supposed to tell me how does a good music teacher enable me to learn music well?”
Rest assured, I would break down what makes a music teacher, an efficient & effective music teacher and then how it helps a music student learn and effectively master an instrument!
Having a genuine love for music is essential for all music teachers, and the best music teachers aren’t just passionate for the specific genre(s) that they teach, but music as an art as a whole!
People, especially children, usually respond well to teachers who show genuine enthusiasm. A teacher who loves music, can help you to love it too.
Not just in lessons that they personally find exciting but in all the lesson types as well!
Learning music may be hard work, but music lessons doesn’t have to be a depressing experience
When a teacher is dedicated and enthusiastic to their craft and their students, it would make them go the extra mile for you and your education.
By doing so, they can make learning and exploring music (e.g. new genres) easier to understand and fun because of the love of music!
This also helps to nurture younger students by motivating them to practice and become more engaged with lessons.
To be an effective teacher, not just a music teacher, 3 qualities are a definite must-have.
Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
People-Oriented
Lots and lots of Patience
Everyone learns at different paces, which also means they would develop their musical capabilities at different speeds and some students might not grasp the same important concepts immediately.
Being an effective music teacher would mean
being able to identify what key problems that student might be facing that’s holding them from their progress.
being able to give constructive criticism to enable them to improve and surpass themselves.
How does this help?
Learning and mastering an instrument takes time, patience and lots of practice and an effective music teacher knows that. That is why an excellent teacher never fails to provide the support and belief in their students of all music abilities, and this gives students the extra motivation and push to go further.
Everyone is different, hence it is also true that they would respond differently to a structured lesson type.
The best music instructors never forget the importance of fundamentals in learning and understand that the basic elements like breathing, posture and hand positioning must be maintained and reinforced as they grow with their instrument.
An above-and-beyond music teacher will show care to their student, as a person and as a musician, about their progression and growth!
By communicating the struggles and joys of learning an instrument, an effective music teacher would help their student understand and develop reasonable goals for the students to work at a pace that shit their personal musical ability.
The best music teachers will never forget the importance of fundamentals!
They understand that reinforcement of basic elements like hand positions, body posture, breathing techniques etc must be maintained as the student grows with their instrument.
They also understand that basic music theory shapes the way these students, especially children, in the way they understand, relate to as well as personalize music as they mature as musicians.
Understanding these core lessons’ relevance and revisiting them so as to reinforce them whenever necessary, helps a teacher to solidify their students’ foundation to be solid and unshakable.
When taking lessons with a music teacher that has other students under their tutelage or even a music teacher that is with a school, the lessons would be taking place within a certain time slot as they have other students .
A well organized music teacher, would be attentive to the time while guiding the student from one task to the next so as to be able to achieve productivity throughout the lesson.
Having great organizational skills would also mean that your teacher is able to help better structure the lesson to your music goals and targets.
Music is filled with complex theories and concepts that can be difficult to teach and explain.
Efficient music teachers are able to teach subjects in a way that is comprehensive yet brief, leaving the students with more than enough time to practice and clarify about any questions that they may have.
The current practice for many music teachers is to keep the explanations clear but short, and letting the students “feel” it from the music.
The ability to come up with creative yet different ways to explain a concept shows the teacher’s understanding and acknowledgement of the fact that “everyone learns differently”.
Teaching in different ways till their student grasps the concepts shows dedication.
Getting students to open up to a teacher, not just a music teacher, is being approachable. By having students come to the music teacher on questions that are unclear on, will allow the teacher to see what the challenges they are facing and how to target them effectively.
Every musician knows that music learning is a lifelong journey and every responsible music teacher should seek out opportunities to improve themselves and their students.
Listening to new genres of music, taking lessons and asking questions from their peers shows a thirst of knowledge and humility.
Effective music teachers are unafraid of sharing this insight to their students and promoting the belief that musicians of all levels of proficiency can always strive for improvement!
An excellent music teacher will know and acknowledge that if they did their job right, they would no longer be needed.
By doing their jobs well, it helps students to achieve progress that allows them independence to find their personalized music style.
The ability to recognize when it is time for the advanced students to move on, and helping them to develop a solid foundation of skills that will serve them well as they continue on their music journey, is a quality of a masterful instructor.
Curious to know how to qualify a music school after knowing what makes a good music teacher?
Find out more with us!
Choosing a Music School Part 1
Choosing a Music School Part 2
Choosing a Music School Part 3
Thank you for coming to our KPI this week!
Coming next week:
“How do I find the right music teacher for me?”
Do share this content to all your friends and family if they are still sitting on the fence between having a music teacher or not!
Thank you for supporting us thus far, but the Knowledge Pearls Initiative will be having a name change soon. Look forward to it!
In the meantime, do drop us a like, share and comment on any “what if” or “how to” knowledge pearls you would like us to take a crack at !
by Zeilver on September 20th
Hello Zeilver here, coming back to you LIVE once again from King George’s Music Academy!
Today we are bringing to you the ninth episode of a series we call- The Knowledge Pearls Initiative (KPI).
The KPI would be bite-size knowledge content centered around music, music creation as well as music playing.
Wish to improve your music knowledge? Wishing to learn more about questions that are rarely explored upon? You have come to the right place.
Do remember to like our Facebook Page to get weekly updates and specials that you would love !
THIS WEEK’S
KNOWLEDGE PEARL
In the past 2 episodes, we have mentioned several things that should be considered before we start considering how to choose the music school that’s right for you, such as:
Your end goal
Which results in the type of music school you should go for
The Foundations and Testaments concept
Foundation points and how they weigh on the decisions
By having a deeper perspective on these matters, it would help to eventually make an informed decision on how to choose your schools well!
Read more about what was covered in the previous KPI here!
Just a brief recap onto the foundation and testaments concept, Foundations are what the school has to offer, be it facilities, amenities or even accessibility.
Testaments are focused much more on the human aspect of matters. Students, who are the walking ambassadors of the music school, are the testament of the music school’s ability to teach a student to do music.
Usually, most people shortlisting music schools are only qualifying (or disqualifying) music schools based on Foundation points instead of looking at the Testament points, which should hold a much heavier weight in qualifying a music school.
Don’t get me wrong though, a nicely decorated interior is definitely pleasant to the eyes, paid endorsement by a popular artist is charming to say the least, but ultimately these factors do not play an active part in your learning.
Testament Points are the most important points to look at, if we were to be shortlisting music schools to engage.
Simply, the entirety about Testament points can actually be summarized into one simple statement:
“Can the students of this music school do music?”
If the music school’s students:
are able to play music
are able to achieve their musical goals and grow alongside their goals
Then...
✔️ you have found a good one!
You may ask: why so?
Let’s take an analogy from race cars. We do not judge a race car’s performance by how smooth is the finish, or how shiny its paint is. Sure, its appearance may help in the impression that it gives but it’s not it’s jaunty appearance that wins races.
It’s the well crafted engine and well maintained parts that do just that.
Just like it’s not how posh and well decorated a music school is that determines whether or not it is a good school, but how well that their students are able to play music.
Easiest way to find out is to ask the music school about their students’ ability to do music.
I am sure, however, all of the schools would confidently say that any and all of their students are great musicians to be.
This might not be a satisfactory enough answer for you, and that’s alright! Some detective work never harms anyone… try searching for:
reviews on social media, their website or an independent forum
any video proof on students performing (performances, videos on their lessons, testimonials, audition videos) if it’s students playing music, it is something to help with your assessment.
However, if we were to break down these points in greater detail,
Testament points that we are going to cover are:
Online materials
Reviews about the Music School
Videos by the music school students
Public Concert/Performance by the music school students
Find out more from a current student
Searching on the internet in search engines like Google, and social media platforms like Facebook, Linkedin, Google Business to read what their customers (and students) are saying.
Prices, convenient location and nice decor etc should not be a factor in the consideration of these reviews. Remember: we are looking for tell-tale signs that students can play music, so matters such as cost should be considered only when you are considering the foundation pointers.
Music Schools sometimes will showcase videos of their students playing, be it lessons, cover songs, or a solo/group performance. These will help to give you a general understanding of whether the students are able to play however a Live performance or concert will give you a much clearer assessment because music schools can choose not to post the videos of weaker students.
Showcase videos like these could be found on social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram and even on the music school’s site itself. (Here’s an example of a Showcase Video)
Intrigued by a few music schools? Try finding out if they do have public concerts or performances featuring their students.
At concerts/performances such as these, you would be able to discern if their students are able to play music well, especially in front of an audience.
It also gives you a chance to meet people like the teachers and perhaps administrator staff, so it also gives you the chance to see if you like the culture of the music school.
Chances are, if you have been recommended to a music school after expressing your interest to learn music to someone, they might be or have been a student of that music school.
This is a great chance to know more about the music school if you do know someone like that. Asking them about the programs, their experience and how well they feel they are hitting their goals will help to give you a better perspective about the school.
For potential students who are new to music, evaluating the music school’s students might be a tad tough. No problems on that though, I have just the tips for you!
Whenever you watch a student’s performance Live, on a showcase video, or even during lessons that you may watch online, there are some things that someone with layman music knowledge can spot.
Performances are meant to sound good, so whenever it comes across as a very showy performance, that's because it's meant to be! Showy pieces are sometimes easier than simple sounding pieces, which is also why pieces like that are picked; it allows the students to wow the audience and at the same time, the students are able to build their confidence for performance using a simpler piece.
Instead of considering trying to consider if the piece that’s being played is complex, try looking out these 3 signs:
Does the performer project confidence when they play?
If they play confidently, they are usually well-prepared.
Are the students playing the music in control? (e.g. at the right volume at the right time)
If they are playing in control, it shows that the students are taught the right practices and technique
Are the students playing expressing themselves through their music?
If they are projecting showmanship, it means that the music school itself encourages them to express themselves as a musician artistically & creatively instead of just churning out another musician that can play sheet music.
No matter the type of music, a good musician prepared by the music school should display these 3 qualities. The only difference between a professional musician and a novice should only be the level of difficulties in the pieces.
If the student displays confidence, control as well as showmanship in their playing, the music school has done an amazing job by having the testament in this student to show for!
Thank you for coming to our KPI this week!
Coming next week:
How important is having a Good Music Teacher = Mastering an Instrument?
Do share this content to all your friends and family if they are keen on qualifying a music school for their music education!
Thank you for supporting us thus far, but the Knowledge Pearls Initiative will be having a name change soon. Look forward to it!
In the meantime, do drop us a like, share and comment on any “what if” or “how to” knowledge pearls you would like us to take a crack at!
Points to consider when choosing a music school
by Zeilver on September 20th
Hello Zeilver here, coming back to you LIVE once again from King George’s Music Academy!
Today we are bringing to you the eighth episode of a series we call- The Knowledge Pearls Initiative (KPI).
The KPI would be bite-size knowledge content centered around music, music creation as well as music playing.
Wish to improve your music knowledge? Wishing to learn more about questions that are rarely explored upon? You have come to the right place.
Do remember to like our Facebook Page to get weekly updates and specials that you would love !
In the past episode, we have mentioned a few things that should be considered before we start considering how to choose the music school that’s right for you. Points such as:
Your end goal
Which results in the type of music school you should go for
Foundations and Testaments concept
By having perspective on these matters, it would help to eventually make an informed decision on how to choose your schools well!
Read more about what was covered in the previous KPI here!
Just a brief recap onto the foundation and testaments concept, Foundations are what the school has to offer, be it facilities, amenities or even accessibility.
Testaments are focused much more on the human aspect of matters. Students, who are the walking ambassadors of the music school, are the testament of the music school’s ability to teach a student to do music.
Usually, most people shortlisting music schools are only qualifying (or disqualifying) music schools based on Foundation points and not looking at the Testament points, which should hold a much heavier weight in qualifying a music school.
Don’t get me wrong though, a nicely decorated interior is definitely pleasant to the eyes, paid endorsement by a popular artist is charming to say the least, but ultimately these factors do not play an active part in your learning.
We are now going to jump right into the Foundation points now and yes, I know I did mention that the weight of the Foundation should be lesser than that of the Testament but it will ultimately help you to make an informed decision if you are unable to observe how the music school’s students do music.
I’ll explain further.
Going into these points, we are going to be covering what the Music School stands for (policies), the location, the administration and staff (people), and even things like its location.
For the Foundations points that we are going to cover are:
Vision & Mission of the Music School
Staffing of the music school
Director(s)
Teachers
Administrative Staff
Awards and Recognition
Location VS Travelling time
What is their teaching methodology?
Your goals or an assembly line?
Policies & Procedure
Facilities
The Costs
The Culture
Does the chosen music school have a direction in their vision? Do they have a relatable identity that you are able to get behind with?
Deciding if a Music School’s mission/vision that is for you, is not something we can be a judge of. Especially so, with the many types of vision and/or mission out there. You are your best judge!
At the very least, look for a music school that has given thought to what they have wished to accomplish. (The direction of their goals)
The music schools which have given thought to such matters would be reflected in their hiring decisions.
Teachers that have aligned their goals to the music school’s, would have it reflected in the quality of the teachings as well as the consistency of the lessons.
Here we are looking at who is being chosen to be staffed at the music school, the leaders, the teachers and even the administrative staff plays a part, no matter how big or small.
The director of a music school is just like a ship’s captain. How they decide to chart the course to steer the ship that is the music school, determines the direction the music school would take.
Having a director that is in-line with the school’s vision and mission would ensure that you get what you signed up with the school for, especially if it’s vision and mission is one of key qualifying factors.
Some qualifying questions that could be helpful to you to assess the music school director:
What are their guiding values?
Are they committed to the music school’s vision and mission?
Are they experienced in running a music school? If so, what experience do they have as a leader (music industry or otherwise)
What are the goals intended for the school in the next e.g. 5 years?
We may have placed the Music Director in the position of the ship’s captain, but the main key people that would help to steer the ship are the coxswains, which are taken on by the Music Teachers.
As the ones that you will be in constant contact with, it is also important to know who your teacher(s) are. To facilitate this, here are some questions you should consider finding out:
What is their music education and experience?
Having a well founded education as well as being able to show what they are teaching are essential qualifiers.
Clues to prove the teacher have sufficient experience:
Certificates of the teacher
Resume/CV of the teacher
What are their credentials as a teacher?
Someone who is able to play music does not automatically qualify them to be able to teach. This is much more important than musical aptitude as it is the capacity to pass on knowledge from them to you!
By that point, being able to communicate themselves clearly to you, the student, is important to be able to impart these knowledge.
What are your teacher’s goals?
What are your teacher’s goals for themselves? Is it to become a better teacher as they walk down this path, or are they teaching as a means to survive as a performer?
To teach is a calling, and having a committed teacher is like having half the battle already won.
Are the teachers equipped to teach? If not, is the school providing training?
As it stands, there are currently no recognized courses that train and prepares a musician to be a professionally qualified teacher.
Many musicians who becomes teachers usually have either:
performing experience
are trained in music performance/have the necessary certifications
Neither of these usually aid in the musician who is taking on the role of a teacher.
(That is one of the reasons why, we recognize this prevalent issue at King George’s Music Academy, and have worked to tackle it with our teachers, using KGMA’s our self developed training meant for our teachers)
The administrative staff are the front end, the first person you would see as you enter and the last person you would see before leaving. They play a key role as well in ensuring that you would get the best possible experience at the school.
After getting your buy-in and support into the school, are they:
Committed to providing stellar customer service support to you?
Working to ensure that your needs are met and making sure that the overall experience is a pleasant one?
Before I begin with this point, I would just like to take some time to state that awards (or even the lack thereof) does not play a part in your learning.
This point should only hold weight when you are comparing two or more schools of seemingly similar factors OR when you haven’t a clue to discern how a school is doing, then looking into its past prestige would help shed some light.
Everyone loves convenience. It’s one of the main reasons why convenience stores are thriving despite the times.
Location has always been deemed as an important factor, especially when choosing a school, and usually people would gravitate to the nearest school because of its convenient location.
This is where you have to weigh your priorities.
A great school or a convenient way to the school?
On the off-chance that the closest school to you also happens to hit all the qualifying points in your checklist, that would be great! Unfortunately, the closest school to you may not always be the best fit for your learning and the best way to compare the distance is against the amount of value that the best-fit school for you is able to provide.
Value delivered > Distance travelled?
If the above statement is true, then what you have is a winner!
Does the teacher ask you what you wish to achieve out of your music journey with them or are they focused on churning out another music robot from the assembly line?
Okay, that may have been a tad harsh on my end, but it is still true. Many schools usually are focused on teaching what is in the syllabus or even molding you into their image, (teaching you how they were taught) not on what you want to learn or even getting to what your goals are.
What you would learn however is how to play the instrument, have technique and skill as you progress but it might kill off your passion in the process.
That is definitely not what we want, but there is an understandable rationale why many schools do that. A customized lesson plan requires a lot more work and that is why many students’ goals tend to go unaddressed.
(That is why here at King George’s Music Academy, we understand this constraint so very well when we were under the tutelage of others. That is also why we now have our very own style of customized lessons! Read more here)
As with every school, it will come with its own set of Standard Operating Procedures.
These SOPs will inevitably vary from music school to music school and may differ rather greatly, however no matter its policies or procedures, it should be made clear to you when you sign up.
We aren’t here to judge on the policies (because there isn’t really a right/wrong) but mostly music schools create these policies based on their operation needs.
What is needed on your part as a student is to determine if these policies are what you can work with and if they are fair to you.
Good questions to ask when finding out about Music Schools’ policies are:
Payments:
how are they made?
When is it due?
Types of payment methods available?
Are there late payment charges?
Lessons:
Are they refunds or pro ratings of fees for unused lessons?
What is the policy for any missed lessons?
What is the rescheduling policy like?
How long do I have for the notice period for any rescheduling of lessons?
What happens if my teacher misses a lesson?
Registration:
Are there any registration fees?
How do I register?
Operations:
What are the music schools’ opening hours?
What days are you open?
Facilities do not play a big part in one’s learning but it can definitely help to make the environment for learning much more conducive.
Is the music school clean and organized?
Being clean would not affect your learning in any sort of way but it would definitely boost your comfort, while being organized helps to reduce any sort of distractions, as personally I would not do well with visual disturbance (e.g. have a very disorganized room with things lying about)
The formula for a successful learning experience is just:
Successful learning = A room + an instrument + a willing heart + an open mind + an awesome teacher
Proper soundproofing of rooms would also count as anti-distraction measures such that the teacher and the student would have their own private space to conduct lessons without any audio distractions.
Cost is a factor in deciding a school. Granted, prices vary amongst music schools but it is also important to see the amount of value that comes out of it.
To illustrate why some schools have higher costs:
Retention of quality teachers = Higher Pay = Higher fees
It is definitely unwise to sign up for music lessons that are not within your budget hence the best move is to choose from schools within your budget, and then compare the amount of value from the music program that you are going for.
(P.s. it may not be most expensive school)
However, that is not the end of the equation:
Retention of quality teachers = Higher Pay = Higher fees = More potential benefits for you, the student
Some music schools do charge higher due to their reputation but it may deliver lesser in value than a great school that may not be as well known. (Research is important in cases like these)
*** An important note from Zeilver: compare the music schools based not on cost, but the amount of potential value delivered from the cost! ***
Before diving into the lessons at the music school, this is a great point to consider.
What are the types of students the music school is attracting?
If the students are kids, then what are the values of the parents that send their kids to this school?
This should show you what kind of culture that the music school has or is attempting to build.
You should choose a music school that you feel is the right fit for your values, or a music school with a culture that you want to be a part of.
Thank you for coming to our KPI this week!
Coming next week:
(How do I choose a music school (in Singapore)? part III)
Do like and share this content to all your friends and family if they are keen on qualifying a music school for their music education!
Drop a comment in the comment section on any “what if” or “how to” knowledge pearls you would like us to take a crack at !
How do I choose a Music School (in Singapore)? Part I
Points to consider when choosing a music school
by Zeilver on September 13th
Hello Zeilver here, coming to you LIVE once again from King George’s Music Academy!
Today we are bringing to you the seventh installation of a series we call- The Knowledge Pearls Initiative (KPI).
The KPI would be bite-size knowledge content centered around music, music creation as well as music playing.
Wish to improve your music knowledge? Wishing to learn more about questions that are rarely explored upon? You have come to the right place.
Do remember to like our Facebook Page to get weekly updates and specials that you would love !
THIS WEEK’S
KNOWLEDGE PEARL
The first thing to consider before going into the search for a music school that is for you is your end goal.
By having a perspective on what you would like/want to achieve as you embark on your music journey would definitely help you make your decision on whether to choose that particular school better.
That said, schools that perhaps weren't a right fit for you when you started your journey, may not be the case a few years down the road.
There is no harm in switching schools when you (or your teacher) feels that you are unable to achieve your aim by continuing your learning from your current school.
We may all have mentioned about going to a music school for music education, however it may mean different things for everyone. Music conservatories, music colleges and music community schools can all be referred to as music schools, and important questions should be considered before starting with any of them.
What are the differences between these (types of) schools?
Music conservatories and music colleges are focused on different goals from community music schools, and to illustrate I have summarized these points into an easy to understand table:
All of these schools require everyone to ask equally important questions, however we would not focus the questions on any specific type of school.
What we would do instead is provide and help you list the questions/points equally relatable for all 3 types of music schools, but more so for Community Music Schools.
The Foundations & Testaments concept
What is this concept you ask? This is a concept that I had materialized after some extensive research was done.
Take all “Foundations” to be what the music schools have to offer, be it qualifications, locations or even cost.
The “Testaments” are the results of the student after studying under the said music school. How well these students do Music speaks volumes.
All too often, everyone who is interested in learning from any sort of music school, only looks at the foundation conditions the school offers that would propel them towards the result, but not the past testaments of other student itself.
In easier terms, it just means that everyone looks at what the school has to offer but not what kind of students are being produced by the school, which should be a much more important key factor.
With that said, we would look into all of the “foundations” and “testaments” next week!
Thank you for coming to our KPI this week!
Coming next week:
(How do I choose a music school (in Singapore)? part II)
Do like and share this content to all your friends and family if they are keen on qualifying a music school for their music education!
Drop a comment in the comment section on any “what if” or “how to” knowledge pearls you would like us to take a crack at !
by Zeilver on Sept 6th
Hello Zeilver here, coming to you LIVE from King George’s Music Academy!
Today we are bringing to you the sixth episode of a series we like to call - The Knowledge Pearls Initiative (The KPI).
The KPI would be bite-size knowledge content centered around music, music creation as well as music playing.
Wish to improve your music knowledge? Wishing to learn more about questions that are rarely explored? You have come to the right place!
Do remember to like our Facebook Page to get weekly updates and specials that you would love !
There are so many talented musicians appearing on music videos on social media like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube who are able to transform the art of music into a new art form.
Which does beg the question:
Do I need Musical Talent to play the violin or an electric guitar?
One of the biggest misconceptions in Singapore is that you NEED musical talent to play any musical instruments well, or that music education or a music teacher only benefits those who have shown an innate or inborn musical talent.
Let me just tell you,
THAT'S NONSENSE!
Before I go into that, let me just tell you about the types of music talent(s) there are!
1) The Prodigy
Throughout the times, there will be people amongst others that show promise and raw natural talent that shines through displaying subtle skills like:
- the ability to sing in tune with little or no prior music education
- identifying and imitation of the pitch with accuracy
- having the rhythmic ability to tap along perfectly
...and more (perhaps in another KPI?)
People with this type of music talent usually demonstrate the ability to be able to naturally play pieces of music that they have a degree of familiarity while having no problems at all staying in rhythm.
2) The Artisan
The Artisan is a different being in comparison to the Prodigy. Born of a background of meticulously directed musical education, they have the innate ability to read any musical piece presented to them and play with amazing accuracy (even if they have not heard it before!)
To quote Thomas Edison: "Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration". To paraphrase in the terms of Musical Talent: Genius is 1% talent and 99% perspiration. The Artisan truly personifies this quote with regular practice, the practice of music theory, a music teacher to guide them, or even the following of a music program at a music school.
"We are only Human"
The Prodigy may seem to have the natural talent to make music playing seem effortless, without the need for extensive practice, or even extensive music education while the Artisan is able to play music without hearing about it before; both of these sets of musical talents are not without their own set of flaws/weakness.
To illustrate, the Prodigy, being somewhat more of natural musicians, are more likely to experience difficulty reading sheet music as they are usually not bound to a structured music education style to guide them.
While the Artisan may be a master in music theory, having gone through music programs in music schools or even having a private music teacher may experience problems when playing with others in a group.
Why Not?!
Musical talent presents itself in either form and while it may not be perfectly skewed to a side, YOU definitely have potential for it!
During modern times as such, with the time and resources, anyone can learn to play an instrument!
With the vast amount of music programs out there, all you need is a music teacher or music school with a music program and the education type that you believe in.
HOWEVER, there's one assumption and belief I would like to break. Many people believe that they are unable to be a whiz just because they were conditioned since young to think that they are unable to reach a prodigious level.
Thinking that if they are not a child prodigy, receiving gifted education programs at an early age can never bring similar results.
THIS. IS. UNTRUE.
It is not impossible at all to reach mastery in music with skills in:
- reading of music
- the playing of multiple instruments/singing
- hearing and identifying pitch proficiently
Are you now convinced and wishing to start your music education journey?
Interested in:
- learning music theory?
- learning to become a songwriter?
- looking for reliable music school or music teacher for a holistic music education?
- a suitable music program for Any/All age?
- getting musical accomplishment in your life?
Join us today and who knows? The next social media or YouTube sensation I watch might just be You!
by Zeilver on August 30th
Hello Zeilver here, back again from King George’s Music Academy!
Today we are bringing to you the fifth installation of a series we like to call- The Knowledge Pearls Initiative (The KPI).
The KPI would be bite-size knowledge content centered around music, music creation as well as music playing.
Wish to improve your music knowledge? Wishing to learn more about questions that are rarely explored upon? You have come to the right place.
Do remember to like our Facebook Page to get weekly updates and specials that you would love !
Ok, for those of you who think this is it.
RELAX, the sky isn’t falling!
Dyspraxia, which may have been more common amongst children (6-10%), but if you aren’t diagnosed with it, that just means that you can be trained!
So... to refresh the knowledge on “Dyspraxia” we are going to be taking a casual run back in time:
*whoosh*
tend to surface in children at an early age.
Psychomotor issues, known as Dyspraxia, occur in 6-10% of children.
Affects small muscle groups, even the one in your hands.
common myth: children with Dyspraxia are just much clumsier.
Or… you can just read the article here.
I mean… I don’t really like to write content that doesn't benefit you, the readers, so...
YES! As mentioned earlier, Dyspraxia may be much more common in the population, present in about 6-10% of kids).
But it mostly identified after a child passes 5 years of age as children vary in their rate of development
Quick test: How to know if you are not suffering from Dyspraxia?
Walking up/down stairs?
Jumping/running?
Getting dressed or even using the toilet?
If your answer is no, then it’s just likely that you are just lacking in physical coordination training and that’s completely trainable.
< disclaimer: please consult a local physician/doctor if you suspect yourself having Dyspraxia as we aren’t medical professionals >
I, for one, am a firm believer that Music solves and benefits us all in many ways.
As we have identified that “Physical Discoordination” is a misconception, let’s dive into how you can solve it with Music training !
Learning a music instrument is definitely an exhilarating challenge and as we undertake this challenge into improving (and perhaps mastering) physical coordination, I’ll break down 3 types of music instruments and how it can help you.
What are the different kinds of instruments?
The 3 types of instruments are as follows:
Guitars are instruments that come with the option of being played while at a standing or sitting position, it tackles coordination and balance issues
Guitars, with its varying weight types, can be supported by using a strap which helps to improve on an individual’s balance.
As for the actual playing of the guitar, it requires the development of precise picking and fingering skills, which definitely works on fine coordination of one’s motor skills.
The playing of a Piano promotes ambidextrous development as each individual hand are usually playing different sets of notes, with different rhythm/timings.
Piano playing certainly helps to develop good posture as well as the strengthening of the core, but that is not all.
To hit Piano keys and work the pedals, an adequate amount of arm strength as well as endurance would have to be developed; not forgetting leg/foot strength development for the pedals.
Finally, to strike the keys of the piano with precision requires finger dexterity as well as strength to be developed.
Drums, or even percussion instruments, grants the freedom to the musician to stand or sit depending on the type of percussion instrument being played.
Example(s):
Standing: Bongo/Conga Drums
Sitting: Drum Kit
Playing the drums can be liken to doing a full-body workout! It helps to build strength in one’s core strength, arm strength, leg strength and not forgetting building of stamina and endurance as well!
Fine motor skills may not be require for drums like the Bongo but percussion instruments like the Drum Kit or even the Xylophone, requires the learning of sticking techniques which would help in the development of fine motor skills.
(Random Fact: Drumming may actually help those with motor skills issue learn to control their movements much better)
I hope that you will be reassured with this article that anyone with worries on physical discoordination is able to find solace in music training, and not discourage yourself from being physically discoordinated, when you are just untrained.
Searching for music classes and unsure where to go for quality music lessons?
Have a look at our:
Offline Lessons here, or Online Lessons here
Thank you for coming to our KPI this week!
Coming next week:
Do like and share this content to all your friends and family so that you can remind them that Physical discoordination isn’t untrainable!
Drop a comment in the comment section on any “what if” or “how to” knowledge pearls you would like us to take a crack at!
by Zeilver on August 23rd
Hello Zeilver here, back again from King George’s Music Academy!
Today we are bringing to you the fourth installation of a series we like to call- The Knowledge Pearls Initiative (The KPI).
The KPI would be bite-size knowledge content centered around music, music creation as well as music playing.
Wish to improve your music knowledge? Wishing to learn more about questions that are rarely explored upon? You have come to the right place.
Do remember to like our Facebook Page to get weekly updates and specials that you would love !
THIS WEEK’S
KNOWLEDGE PEARL
Do your hands suddenly feel they have a life of their own and not listen to you when you play the drums?
Or perhaps your fingers can’t keep up when you play the guitar?
Ease up for not all HOPE is lost!
To start off, let’s bring you up to speed on what is Developmental Control Disorder (DCD) also known as Dyspraxia.
Science Facts: Dyspraxia, contrary to popular belief, is more common than we think- about 6-10% of children, may have some form of Dyspraxia.
There is also a small percentage of the children that suffer from mild symptoms of Dyspraxia that can be “outgrown”!
< disclaimer: please consult a local physician/doctor if you suspect your child of having Dyspraxia as we aren’t medical professionals >
Ease up y’all!
Before you run off to the doctors to diagnose yourself with psychomotor problems, one thing you have to realize is that Dyspraxia tends to surface from children at an early age.
A common myth surrounding this disorder is that kids with Dyspraxia are just kids who are clumsy or just uncoordinated.
But there’s more to that about this condition-
Dyspraxia affects muscles, even smaller muscle groups like the one in their hands. This makes simple tasks like writing or even putting on pants a challenge.
Due to these facts, children with DCD usually perform less well in daily activities as compared to other children due to their muscle coordination being unable to keep up with their brain.
Despite all this, do know that quite a number of children with DCD has problems with certain set(s) of tasks and early seeking of treatment has helped them.
Disclaimer: Please consult a physician if you are unsure as we are not certified Pediatricians.
In conclusion:
Your physical discoordination is probably you just being untrained!
Join us next week for more possible solutions!
Thank you for coming to our KPI this week!
Coming next week:
(Physical coordination, I’m your boss now!)
Do like and share this content to all your friends so that you can remind them that they have as much musical potential as anyone!
Drop a comment in the comment section on any “what if” or “how to” knowledge pearls you would like us to take a crack at!
In view of the current situation that the world is dealing with right now, I believe that it is only normal for any parent or student to ponder this question when considering alternative music education for their children.
We have compiled the answers to "Can I learn music Online?"
We hope to broaden your views on how music lessons can potentially be more EFFECTIVE than normal lessons.
Online Lessons can bring about a lot more convenience for the students and teachers. No more logistics on who to send your child for music lessons, because the music lesson will take place right in your home! That means no more rushing to have meals before the music lesson starts if your music lesson takes place after school or after work on normal weeks. Have your lessons hassle-free, rain or shine!
Lessons can occur at any time you like as long as both the teacher and student are at home and free at the same timing. Lesson timings will also no longer be affected by your Music School’s opening hours and the availability of classroom for use.
With access to Online platforms that come with Online Lessons, lesson materials can be accessed from your electronic device anytime you need them, wherever you are. Some teachers might permit recording of the Online Lesson for personal use, which you can watch again to revise the lesson you have had in your free time to refresh your memory. You can get creative and watch past lessons when you are on a holiday trip or commuting somewhere.
Remember to take down any questions that might have popped up when you were recapping the lessons! Some Music Schools have an online channel that comes with the Online Lesson, where the student can text their teacher directly online whenever they have questions regarding the lesson or anything related to music.
No more forgetting what was taught during lessons! Instead of writing on a whiteboard/blackboard to recap at the end of the lesson, teachers will type out key learning points of a lesson onto a Notepad or Google Doc that they can send for you to keep and review! No more jotting down on paper notes and worksheets that are easily lost!! Storing lesson takeaways digitally, whether it is in diagrams drawn by the teacher or in the notes that they have typed down, helps to save the Earth as well. Go Green by learning with Online Lessons!
By choosing Online Music Lessons over On-site Music Lessons, you have already started saving yourself about 10% of the lesson fees. (This may not apply to ALL Music Schools, but rest-assured it applies for us) When you choose to have Online Lessons at home, our teachers do not need to commute to our Music School to teach their student, there is less planning and logistics on our part as your lesson will not occupy one of our studios. Therefore, we as a school would like to pass on this discount to you by having cheaper lesson fees, if you choose to go Online for your Lessons.
On top of that, you get to save on travelling costs and also on outside food when you need to dine outside before lessons. No more travelling (and potentially running into train delays or traffic jams) for lessons, which saves you a lot of time and transport fees.
Lessons all take place in the comfort and safety of your own home. For many students, a home setting would mean less distractions and the ability to put more focus into learning.
Be in the safety of your own home, where you have no chance to come in contact with someone who potentially has COVID-19, especially when you are travelling via public transport to your Music School for class.
This is specially for students that are introverts or soft-spoken, who might be too shy to ask questions in class. In Online Lessons, do not have to directly see their teacher face to face in person. They can choose to type questions out to their teachers instead of asking them directly.
Students who are unable to express themselves well verbally would be able to better articulate their thoughts via typing as well. This facilitates their learning a lot better.
All you need is:An electronic device which could be your phone, tablet, laptop or computer
A stable internet connection
Music Instrument you are learning
We will guide you on how to do your stream set up to be lesson-ready!
With lesson materials readily available online, learning materials are much more accessible for students, allowing them to be more motivated and responsible for their own learning.
by Zeilver on July 26th
Hello Zeilver here, back again from King George’s Music Academy!
Today we are bringing to you the second episode of a brand new series we like to call- The Knowledge Pearls Initiative (The KPI).
The KPI would be bite-size knowledge content centered around music, music creation as well as music playing.
Wish to improve your music knowledge? Wishing to learn more about questions that are rarely explored upon? You have come to the right place.
Do remember to like our Facebook Page to get weekly updates and specials that you would love !
OK, the title may have been a tad misleading, but the truth is that people who think they have tone deafness can actually be trained!
So... just to refresh the knowledge on “tone deafness” we are going to be taking a Quick time leap back a week:
*time travel noises*
“Tone Deafness”
is a very misused and misunderstood concept.
is usually poor pitch recognition which leads to not being able to tell different notes apart.
True Tone deafness, is known as Amusia, occurs only in 1 of 20 people.
Or… you can just read the article here.
Let’s jump right in and say:
YES! As mentioned earlier, Amusia is rare (present only in about 4% of the population).
Quick test: How to know if you are not suffering from Amusia?
Can you recognize and sing/hum along to your favorite song if someone were to play it?
If your answer is yes, then it’s just likely that you are just lacking in music training and that’s totally trainable.
< disclaimer: please consult a local physician/doctor if you suspect yourself having Amusia as we aren’t medical professionals. >
First off, let’s identify some issues that can cause people to think they are “tone deaf”.
Do you speak with a BOOM? Do you make drill sergeants flee whenever you so much as raise your voice a lil’?
People with loud voices are mostly unaware that they are speaking loudly unless you were kind enough to enlighten them.
By having an innate loud voice, whenever you sing, you would sing at the usual volume as per your speaking volume.
This results in the inability to sing at a louder volume without going off pitch!
Simple diagram to help in your understanding:
Normal volume = Loud
Singing volume = Loud
Having to sing Loudly = Loud & out of tune
Calm down~ This isn’t something that can’t be fixed. Somehow if you have realized that yes, you have an overpowering voice- congratulations! You are able to project your voice better, the more you train !
For now, make a conscious effort to speak at a much lower volume. As you get used to your new way of speaking, your tone control will improve over time as well.
(Random Fact: Even Musicians [YES, EVEN US] sometimes think they are tone deaf because of their inability to sing in pitch. It’s all in your head!)
Are you someone that can hear what you need to sing but can’t replicate it?
… Or perhaps people are telling you that your singing is hitting all the right notes at times and you have no idea what is going on?
As Amusia only occurs in a small percentage of the population, many of us go around life believing others telling us that we are “tone deaf”.
But in fact, it is just our voice and/or ears being untrained that’s causing this issue.
By having an untrained ear, it just means you can’t hear if you / someone else is singing at the correct pitch; while having an untrained voice, it just means that you cannot sing the notes you are hearing in your head!
Like all issues, this is not without a solution too.
Most musical instruments, just like the Human Voice, have a remarkable range of pitch.
By learning to play an instrument, you learn to understand and master the pitches of the instrument. By doing so, the human voice is no different in terms of application !
A good comfortable instrument to begin your ear and voice training can be a Piano or a Guitar as:
They cover a wide range of pitches as there are voice types.
All instruments are born of the piano; which solidify your music knowledge if you have piano as your first instrument
I hope with this article that you will be reassured that even YOU have as much music potential as anyone else, and not dismiss yourself as tone deaf when you are just untrained.
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Thank you for coming to our KPI this week!
Do like and share our Facebook post to let all your friends know so that you can remind them that they have as much musical potential as anyone !
Drop a comment in the comment section on any “what if” or “how to” knowledge pearls you would like us to take a crack at !
King George’s Music Academy
Know that one friend that usually has problems singing in tune? Have you been teased a lot for being tone deaf?
Fret not, There is HOPE!
The term “Tone Deaf” is a very misused and misunderstood concept.
When somebody gets called “Tone Deaf” it is usually poor pitch recognition which leads to them not being able to tell different notes apart. This may not be the case all the time.
Science facts: True Tone deafness, also known as Amusia, occurs only in 1 of 20 people, according to a Harvard University article dated in 2007.
YES!
Most people, who think they are tone deaf are actually only lacking in music training.
With sufficient music training, even YOU would be able to sing along and play that instrument you have always been longing to play~
(Remember: if you can recognize that tune on the radio and jam along to it, you have just as much musical potential as everyone else)
Coming next week:
How do I train myself if I’m “Tone-Deaf”?
Do like and share this content to all your friends so that you can remind them that they have as much musical potential as anyone!
Drop a comment in the comment section on any “what if” or “how to” knowledge pearls you would like us to take a crack at! Stay tuned and we will share with you guys how NOT to sound Tone-Deaf!
Yes, bubble tea! That is where we got our inspiration for the name. But why?
Our aim is to deliver bite-size knowledge content that are soft and chewy, in just the right amount so that it’s not overwhelming and makes you anticipate the next one!
Wish to improve your music knowledge? Want to learn more about questions that are rarely explored upon? You have come to the right place.
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