Nathan's First Violin Exam

Nathan took his first ABRSM violin exam last month and got a distinction. :) I'm so proud of him. This is the first of many exams he'll take and I'm glad that I was with him each step of the way.

About 4 months before the exams, I still wasn't sure if he'd be ready in time. Although he was able to play the exam songs pretty well, he was still struggling with the sight reading component. We persevered and I'm so glad he made it.

He had no idea what an exam was, this being his very first... I kept reminding him that he only had one chance to get each component right, so he can't make careless mistakes... He had worked so hard the entire year, I really didn't want carelessness to take away the results he so deserved. His teacher even rehearsed the entire sequence with him, from walking into the exam room with him, tuning his instrument, to her leaving the room before the exam started, so he wouldn't be surprised when he's left in the exam room by himself.

His reward for good effort and a job well done? A pair of Captain America shoes that light up when he walks. It was something that he wanted when he saw a friend with something similar last December. We made a deal - practice diligently and your hard work will be rewarded. He was all smiles when he put on this pair of shoes for the first time, and I was one proud mommy. Good job, Nathan! (And yes... I made him wait 9 whole months before he actually got it!)

There'll be many more exams that he'll be taking as he starts formal schooling in a year's time. I want him to know that working hard and giving his best is what matters to me.

Dear Nathan, know that mommy and daddy will always be behind you in all your endeavours.

Videos taken two months before the actual exams...

Mattachins

 Daisy Bell

 Russia - Gopak

Nathan's 2nd Violin Concert

It has been almost a year since Nathan's first violin concert. Today, he was wearing the exact same outfit from a year back. The pants are getting a little too short and the vest is also slightly too small... outfit aside, I'd like to think that he's improved. :) He played two songs today - Mattachins and Daisy Bell. The first piece was a duet with a friend (who happens to be the daughter of my secondary school mate) and the second, a solo piece. Both songs are ABRSM Grade 1 exam pieces; he'll be taking his very first exam in September.

To celebrate a job well done, Nathan got to decide where to go for dinner. His choice... Omakase Burger for the cheese fries!

It has been a joy learning the violin with him and I hope he'll always enjoy making beautiful music.

Suzuki Violin

Nathan has just completed a 40 week Suzuki Group Violin Course for children aged 3 to 4 years old. The Suzuki method is a method of teaching music conceived and executed by Shin'ichi Suzuki (1898–1998). Very often referred to as the mother tongue method of teaching / learning a language, pre-schoolers as young as 3 years old are capable of learning to play the violin before they can even read. Very much like how babies pick up their mother tongue from listening and mimicking.

I enjoyed learning with Nathan as we attended the violin classes together. He went thru the rigour of daily practice, took part in his very first violin concert, and tasted the fruits of his labour as he slowly managed to play familiar tunes from memory. In the 10 months or so, his class managed to complete the first 9 pieces in Suzuki Book 1 (from Twinkle, Lightly Row... all the way thru to Perpetual Motion). 

I want to make good citizens. If a child hears fine music from the day of his birth and learns to play it himself, he develops sensitivity, discipline and endurance. He gets a beautiful heart. —Shin'ichi Suzuki

In my search for a violin school / teacher for Nathan, I found that there are not that many options available in Singapore. There is only a small group of violin teachers in Singapore, much lesser than the number of piano teachers available. Most teachers only offered classes for children who are about 5 years old and above.

These are the schools that offered violin lessons for children above 3 years old:

1) Mac Music School - children aged 3 years and up start in their Suzuki Group Violin Course. It is a parent accompanied class, class size of max 6 students, both parents and students have to own a violin. Parent learns alongside the child so as to guide him/her in daily practice sessions at home. Follows the Suzuki curriculum. 

2) Mandeville Conservatory of Music - children aged 3 years and up start in their Baby Violin Course. It is a parent accompanied class, class size of max 12 students, both parents and students have to own a violin. Parent learns alongside the child so as to guide him/her in daily practice sessions at home. Follows the Suzuki curriculum.

3) Klassique Musik - individual classes only, no group classes available.

4) Wolfgang Violin Studio - children aged 2 years 9 months and up start in their Baby Beats One program, which I understand to be a music appreciation program. It is a parent accompanied class, class size of max 8 students. After one/two terms, students progress to Baby Beats Two, where they'll actually learn to play the violin. The school has developed their own curriculum, so they do not use the Suzuki books.

5) Violin Lessons Singapore - children aged 3 to adults learn at their own pace with individual or small group coaching. Lessons can be conducted in the comfort of your home, and parents have the option of learning together with their children. 

I decided on a group class for Nathan as I am of the opinion that learning a musical instrument is more fun in a group setting at this age. Nathan is more motivated to practise at home, so he can play the tunes together with his friends in class. Peer motivation is a strong motivator! Individual lessons offer you the flexibility in terms of time (as opposed to group classes that are usually held at a specified time each week), and allows you to progress at your own pace. Most teachers offer trial lessons so you will be in a better position to decide what's best for your child.

As much as Nathan has just completed the group violin course, it is really just the beginning of the journey. I hope that he'll continue enjoying the journey, as he picks up the skill of making music.

Nathan's 1st Violin Concert

Nathan started violin lessons last December, 3 months after he turned 3 years old. He attends a group Suzuki violin class once a week, and we practise daily (weekdays only). A few months ago, we were told that they'd be a school concert, and Nathan will be playing a few violin pieces together with his friends. We practised hard for the concert and have been looking forward to it. Nathan said he'd give his best, and we promised to take him out to celebrate if he gave his best. On the whole, I am pleased that he did a pretty good job. In a span of 8 months, he experienced learning a new instrument, the grind of daily practise and subsequently putting up a mini performance with his friends. :)

One day before the concert, his teacher asked if I would be one of the four parents to play on stage with the kids. I was taken by surprise as I was prepared to sit back, relax and watch the performance. So I asked Nathan if he'd like me to go on stage with him. He said 'yes', so I gamely agreed.

His journey of learning a musical instrument has only just begun and as I learn alongside him, I still struggle to find the right balance between pushing him to practise hard and letting him enjoy and cruise along as he pleases. It is clear that he feels a certain sense of accomplishment when he has mastered a song, and would love to play the piece that he has mastered for daddy or his teacher. But to arrive at the point of mastery, many hours of practice is required. Some days, he tells me that he's tired and doesn't want to practise. Some days, he gives me a half hearted attempt. Of course, there are good days, when we both enjoy the music he makes. I've tried the firm approach and this has driven him to tears sometimes. I've tried the fun approach where we play our violins together on a pretend stage, to an imaginary audience and this, he enjoys. Recently, I've tried accompanying him on the piano and this is a nice change (but I do need to practise the piano more so I can actually play the pieces he's learning). So it is a delicate balance between instilling discipline and pushing him to excel, yet not killing the interest and joy one gets from learning and playing a musical instrument.

Delighted to spot his name in the list of performers

Next year, Noah turns three. I've been thinking about whether to let Noah start learning the violin like Nathan did. My plan is to expose both boys to two different instruments until they are in lower primary. And as demands picks up in school, they can then decide whether to continue pursuing both, or to pick just one instrument. Some parents I've spoken to intentionally chose different instruments for their children, just so there would be no means of comparison / competition among the kids. I don't really think that would be an issue, so it is likely that both my kids will be exposed to the same instruments. I just hope that I'd be able to balance our schedules well, so I can continue doing parent accompanied classes with them until it proves not beneficial for me to learn alongside them. I have enjoyed the journey with Nathan thus far, and I am glad he's enjoying it too.