COURSE GUIDE 2013 - Yamaha Music School

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Yamaha Music Education 

COURSE GUIDE 2013

CONTENTS 

Why Choose Yamaha? 4 

Course Progression 6 

Courses for Children 8 

Courses for Young & Teens 15 

Courses for Adults 16 

Exams 20 

Events & Concerts 22 

Frequently Asked Questions 24 

Yamaha Special Offers 25 

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YAMAhA MUSIC EDUCATION 

WhY ChOOSE YAMAhA? 

A WORlDWIDE NETWORk 

Today, Yamaha Music Schools have developed into a large system with more 

than 690,000 students and instructors at 5,650 locations in the world. 

BENEFITS OF lEARNING MUSIC FROM AN EARlY AGE 

Research has shown that learning music from an early age strengthens 

children’s educational, physical and emotional development. The best way 

to enhance your child’s learning with music is to encourage listening to and 

learning music throughout the child’s developmental years. Yamaha believes 

it is best to give children appropriate guidance in accordance with the degree 

of their physical and mental development. 

GROUP lESSONS 

The Yamaha teaching method is based around learning in a group class. 

Group lessons have many advantages that enable children to enjoy rich 

musical experiences such as making friends through music, developing 

cooperativeness and deepening understanding of music through participation 

in ensembles. For this purpose, Yamaha has developed a method whereby 

students can listen and play in a group, learning music while enjoying it. 

EXPERT TEAChERS 

Our teachers are specially selected for their musical ability and 

communication skills and, of course, they love working with children. They 

take part in intensive training programs and their work is regularly monitored. 

EMPhASIS ON CREATIvITY 

In order to enable students to develop their creative capabilities, it is 

important to help them develop the ability to express themselves by thinking 

freely. We help them acquire and enhance sensitivity and imagination, which 

are both sources of creativity, through our comprehensive system of music 

education. 

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COURSE PROGRESSION COURSE PROGRESSION 

COURSE PROGRESSION 

MUSIC WONDERlAND COURSE For children aged 3½ 

Capture the opportunity to explore music with your child through 

singing, movement and musical instruments. 

JUNIOR MUSIC COURSE For children aged 4½ - 6½ 

No matter what direction your child may take in the future, the musical skills 

developed in this course are a foundation they will cherish. 

Junior Special Advanced Course Junior Extension Course 

Junior Advanced Course 

Advanced Musicianship Course 

Junior Ensemble Course 

YOUNG MUSICIANS’ COURSE For children aged 6½ - 8½ 

Children are motivated by each other as they learn important musical 

skills including keyboard and piano performance, ensemble playing, 

improvisation, singing and reading of music. 

Junior Ensemble Course 

JUNIOR ORIGINAl CONCERT (JOC) 

Junior Advanced Course 

Advanced Musicianship Course 

Yamaha provides students who enjoy music composition with further 

lessons and performance opportunities to develop their skills and interest. 

DRUMS / GUITAR / PIANO / vIOlIN For children and adults 

Learn to play the guitar, drums, piano or violin in a fun interactive 

environment using Yamaha’s comprehensive Popular Music Courses. 

Group and private lessons offered for children and adults. 

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ChIlDREN ChIlDREN 

MUSIC WONDERlAND COURSE 

FOR AGES 3½ - 4½ YEARS 

Music Wonderland is the entry point for the Yamaha program for children. 

The lessons are designed to educate and foster a musical ear at this key 

early developmental stage. Children begin to explore the keyboard through 

music designed especially for this age and develop foundational skills that 

they build on in the Junior Music Course. 

ChIlDREN WIll lEARN 

• To express music together with a parent in class 

• Singing, movement and keyboard playing 

• To listen for changes in musical elements 

• Keyboard orientation 

lESSON lENGTh 45 minutes 

COURSE lENGTh 6 months - 1 year 

GROUP SIzE 8 - 10 students 

JUNIOR MUSIC COURSE 


The Junior Music Course introduces children to the fundamentals of music 

at an age when they can learn quickly and can absorb aural skills to the 

optimum. This course provides a strong musical foundation which is valuable 

for further piano or instrumental study. At the end of this course students will 

sit a Fundamental Skills Survey test which provides an assessment covering 

all areas of their musical development. 


• Keyboard performance skills 

• Singing, solfege and aural skills 

• Fundamentals of music including pitch, rhythm and orchestral awareness 

• Musical expression and creativity 

• Self-discipline and social skills 

lESSON lENGTh 1 hour 

COURSE lENGTh 2 years 


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ChIlDREN ChIlDREN 

YOUNG MUSICIANS COURSE JUNIOR EXTENSION COURSE 


The Young Musicians course is an ideal way for children to learn important 

musical skills in a dynamic, group environment. Children will learn how to 

perform on keyboard/piano as a soloist and as a member of an ensemble. By 

the end of the course, children are eligible to sit their Yamaha Grade 9 exam. 

They will have learnt musical skills that enable them to play in a variety of 

keys and styles. They will have the ability to learn music using both aural and 

reading skills. 


• Piano accompaniment and arrangement techniques 


• Music theory, reading and writing music 

• Musical expression and creativity 

• Group Interaction through performance and peer feedback 




FOR GRADUATES OF JUNIOR MUSIC COURSE 

The Junior Extension Course fosters students musical abilities through the 

development of their aural and reading skills. By the end of the course, 

children are eligible to sit their Yamaha Grade 9 exam. 


• How to perform on keyboard/piano as a soloist and as a member 

of an ensemble 

• Piano accompaniment and arrangement techniques 


• Music theory, reading and writing music 

• Musical expression 

• Scales and technical work 

• Fundamentals of composition through imaginative creativity activities 




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ChIlDREN 

JUNIOR SPECIAl 

ADvANCED COURSE 

FOR SElECTED JUNIOR MUSIC COURSE GRADUATES 

(ChOSEN BY AUDITION) 

The Junior Special Advanced Course (JSAC) is a four-year program designed 

for graduates of the Junior Music Course who have demonstrated exceptional 

capabilities in advanced music learning. The aim of the course is to develop 

creativity and musical expression through performance and composition. 


• Advanced keyboard harmony 

• Improvisation and composition skills 

• Arrangement techniques and ensemble 

• Performance skills, both in ensemble playing and through solo 

performance opportunities 

• Yamaha Grade 6 Exam at the end of the course 

lESSON lENGTh 

1 hour weekly group and 

30 minute weekly private tuition / lesson 



ChIlDREN 

JUNIOR ADvANCED COURSE 

FOR GRADUATES OF JUNIOR EXTENSION & 

YOUNG MUSICIANS COURSES 

The Junior Advanced Course further develops musical skills students have 

acquired in the Junior Extension Course and the Young Musicians Course 

with special emphasis on keyboard performance, advanced keyboard 

harmony, arrangement and creativity. 


• Deeper knowledge of musical expression and musical analysis through 

solfege singing, ensemble and group discussion 

• How to arrange a given melody with suitable harmony, accompaniment 

style and the understanding of how to arrange music for different 

instruments 

• Performance skills, both in ensemble and through solo performance 

opportunities 

• Yamaha Grade 7 Piano Exam at the end of second year 

lESSON lENGTh 

1 hour weekly group and 

30 minute weekly private tuition / lesson 



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ChIlDREN 

JUNIOR ENSEMBlE COURSE 

FOR GRADUATES OF JUNIOR EXTENSION & 

YOUNG MUSICIANS COURSES 

Junior Ensemble Course further develops the musical skills and allows 

students to continue group classes at an advanced level enabling them to be 

motivated by performing, creating and discussing music together. 


• Deeper knowledge of musical expression and musical analysis through 

solfege singing, ensemble and group discussion 

• How to arrange a given melody with suitable harmony, accompaniment 

style and the understanding of how to arrange music for different 

instruments 


opportunities 

• Yamaha Grade 8 Piano exam at the end of second year 

lESSON lENGTh 1 hour weekly group lesson 



ADvANCED MUSICIANShIP COURSE 

FOR GRADUATES OF JUNIOR ADvANCED COURSE 

The Advanced Musicianship Course builds on the musical skills and 

interests developed during the Junior Advanced Course. In addition to the 

set curriculum, classes may choose to pursue a deeper focus on specific 

areas of music including theory/musicianship, composition, music history 

and more. 


ChIlDREN 

• Deeper knowledge and analysis of music through solfege singing, 

ensemble and group discussion 

• Extended techniques in harmonisation and arrangement 

• Improvisation and composition 


opportunities 

• Further study in a chosen focus area (this may include theory/ 

musicianship, contemporary music, music history, etc.) 

lESSON lENGTh 

1 hour weekly group lesson 

30 minute weekly 

COURSE lENGTh 2 years (flexible) 


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YOUNG & TEEN 

POPUlAR MUSIC COURSES 

YOUNG: 8 – 12 YEARS & TEENS: 13 - 18 YEARS 

GUITAR COURSE 

In our guitar course students learn classic rock songs with fantastic backing 

tracks. The emphasis is on learning chords, melody lines, picking, strum 

styles and riffs. 

DRUM COURSE 

Right from the start, students feel they are playing with a band in this course. 

Techniques taught include stick control, footwork, rhythm and drum notation. 

vIOlIN COURSE 

In the Yamaha Violin course, the emphasis is on musical sound and the 

development of musical sensitivity. Students are introduced to the beauty of 

sound, intonation and music notation. 

lESSON lENGTh 


30 minute or 1 hour individual 

COURSE lENGTh Up to 2 years 


kEYBOARD COURSE 

ADUlT: 18+YEARS 

ADUlT 

The adult keyboard course is perfect for older beginners or people who want 

to pick up where they may have left off many years ago. This course explores 

basic keyboard playing in a fun group environment. Experience a variety of 

repertoire styles each lesson selected from pop, jazz and the classics. 

ADUlTS WIll lEARN 

• Etudes (exercises and finger warm ups) 

• Keyboard Repertoire enables the student to experience the joy of musical 

expression through playing solo pieces on the keyboard 

• Music Theory (Music Dictionary) 

• Use of Keyboard Functions such as voice selection, finger chords, pitch 

bend and modulation and keyboard percussion 

• Music Appreciation - share your favourite music with the class and under 

the experienced guidance of your teacher 


COURSE lENGTh 8 week modules - up to 2 years 


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ADUlT 

POPUlAR MUSIC COURSES 

ADUlT: 18+YEARS 

GUITAR COURSE 

In our guitar course students learn classic rock songs with fantastic backing 

tracks. The emphasis is on learning chords, melody lines, picking, strum 

styles and riffs. 

DRUM COURSE 

Right from the start, students feel they are playing with a band in this course. 

Techniques taught include stick control, footwork, rhythm and drum notation. 

PIANO COURSE 

We offer individual piano lessons for adults. 

lESSON lENGTh 


30 minute or 1 hour individual 

COURSE lENGTh 8 week modules - up to 2 years 


PRIvATE lESSONS 

All AGES 

PRIvATE lESSONS 

Yamaha offers individual tuition for children and adults of all ages in piano, 

guitar, drums and violin. 

Private lessons are sometimes required as an extra component to our more 

advanced courses to assist in the learning and progression of students. 

In other instances a group class may not suit you or your child’s needs. We 

are always happy to assess whether group or private lessons are the best 

option and aim to find the most suitable teacher for you. 

lESSON lENGTh 

30 minutes 

45 minutes 

1 hour 

COURSE lENGTh As required 

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EXAMS EXAMS 

YAMAhA GRADE EXAMS 

Yamaha Music Education curriculum offers an integrated examination system 

that provides periodic assessments for each course and reflects the broad 

range of musical skills studied by students in class. 

At entry level (Junior Music Course) students undertake a Fundamental Skills 

Survey, where the parent and student receive written and oral feedback from 

the class teacher and a qualified Yamaha examiner about the skills acquired 

during the two years of lessons. 

Subjects include Lyric Singing, Melody and Chord Hearing, Repertoire, 

Creativity and Reading. 

Fundamental Skills Survey is the first assessment of the Yamaha Grade 

Examination System, internationally recognised as providing a rigorous 

and encouraging test format, where a student’s ability to accompany and 

improvise, based on advanced hearing skills, is given equal weight to 

technique, repertoire and sight reading. 

Each Grade level can be accomplished independently, but the skills acquired 

within group lessons mean that at the end of each course a Yamaha Grade 

exam is achievable. So Junior Extension classes graduate after undertaking 

a Yamaha Grade 9 examination, Junior Advanced year 1 = Grade 8, Junior 

Advanced Course year 2 = Grade 7 and so on. 

Course Years 

Junior Music 2 

Yamaha 

Assessment # 

Fundamental 

Skills Survey 

AMEB 

Equivalent* 

# Yamaha exams start at level 13 and progress through to grade 5,4 & 3 as 

the highest. 

* An approximation only, as the focus is different to that of the Australian 

AMEB exams; Yamaha exams specifically support the skills developed in the 

group lessons. 

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N/A 

Junior Extension 1 Grade 10 Preliminary 

Junior Extension 2 Grade 9 

Preliminary 

Grade 1 

Junior Ensemble 2 Grade 8 Grade 2/3 

Junior Advanced 1 Grade 8 Grade 2/3 

Junior Advanced 2 Grade 7 Grade 3/4

EvENTS & CONCERTS EvENTS & CONCERTS 

EvENTS & CONCERTS 

FREE TRIAl lESSONS 

The best way to understand Yamaha’s approach towards Music Education 

is to come to a Free Trial Lesson. This lesson is run in a similar way to our 

classes with lots of fun musical activities including singing songs, learning 

the musical language of solfege, listening and moving to music, plus playing 

the instrument. 

You will have the opportunity to talk with our teachers about your child’s 

needs and see the benefits for your child to learn music in a group class. 

Free Trial Lessons are conducted throughout the year at a range of different 

locations. Bookings are essential as places fill quickly. 

WORkShOPS 

We hold regular Holiday Workshops for our Popular Music Courses. These 

include guitar and drum sessions where children can come and try both 

instruments in one session. The Workshops are free and are a fun way to 

spend some time over the holidays. Parents are not required to attend but 

are welcome to join in at the end of the class to see their child perform and 

meet the teachers. 

Visit our website to find out more about upcoming Workshops and Events. 

SChOOl CONCERTS 

All classes participate in our annual school concert, where audiences 

see a wide variety of course levels performed and children learn valuable 

performance skills and self-confidence. Concerts provide an exciting milestone 

for the children as well as an opportunity to hear older soloists perform. 

SOlO FESTIvAlS 

Regular solo festivals are held regularly throughout the year giving 

performing opportunities for students from class or private lessons. 

JUNIOR ORIGINAl CONCERT (JOC) 

Encouraging original composition is one of the unique elements of the 

Yamaha Music Education System. Regular JOC activities are held at class, 

local and national levels. Each year there is also the opportunity for students 

to represent Australia in regional Asian Pacific Junior Original Concert 

(APJOC) or International Junior Original Concert (IJOC) events. 

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YAMAhA MUSIC EDUCATION 

FAQ’s 

What age can my child start at Yamaha? 

Yamaha Music Education has age guidelines to ensure children begin our 

courses at the most appropriate time educationally and developmentally. Our 

experience has shown that when children enter too early they can experience 

difficulty further into the course, as the skills they require are not as strong. 

Children can start our courses from age 3½. 

Do I have to purchase a keyboard when my child begins a Junior Music or 

Young Musicians Course at Yamaha? What kind of instrument should I buy? 

Yes, you need to have an instrument at home. It can be any type of Yamaha 

keyboard instrument as long as it has sufficient key range (61 keys or more); 

it must have standard-size keys and be in good-working condition. It is ideal 

to provide the child with a good instrument as early as possible. Yamaha 

has a great range of keyboards available for students. Please avail of our 

discounts on the opposite page to purchase your Yamaha instrument. 

What instrument will my child learn to play in Junior Music? 

In the Junior Music Course (JMC), the emphasis is on music fundamentals 

instead of on the acquisition of technical mastery of any instrument. JMC 

uses electronic keyboards. However, students develop basic keyboard skills 

which can be transferred to the piano. Through a variety of musical subjects 

taught in class, the elements learned can be applied to the study of any 

musical instrument or voice. 

What about learning other instruments? 

At Yamaha we feel that the keyboard is the most appropriate instrument to 

begin on as it requires coordination from both hands, and students learn 

to read both treble and bass clefs. We have found that after learning on 

a keyboard picking up another instrument is much easier. We offer other 

courses in guitar, drums, piano and violin for older children and adults. 

What if my child is faster or slower than the others in class? 

As children are involved in a variety of activities in the lesson, it is possible 

that each child may develop some skills faster than others. While one child 

may sing well, another may have good rhythmic sense. Instructors have been 

trained to deal with the individual differences of children in a group lesson, 

and can facilitate children’s development in learning from one another’s 

strengths. This is one of the many benefits from learning in a group class. 

How long is a semester and what are the term dates? 

Yamaha follows the school year in each state. Semester One is January to June/ 

July (Terms 1 and 2) and Semester Two is July to December (Terms 3 and 4). 

24 

PRESENT THIS VOUCHER INSTORE TO 

RECEIVE YOUR DISCOUNT 






RECEIVE YOUR DISCOUNT

Dicksons Music Complex 

Shop 6, 3-9 Spring St 

Chatswood NSW 2067 

Telephone: 1800 622 376 

www.dicksonsmusic.com.au 

Pats Music 

940 - 944 Centre Road, 

Oakleigh South VIC 3167 

Telephone: (03) 9563 8711 

www.patsmusic.com.au 

Prestige Pianos & Organs 

102 Bell St, 

Preston VIC 3072 

Telephone: (03) 9480 6777 

www.prestigepianos.com.au 

Sound Centre 

85 Broun Avenue 

Morley WA 6062 

Telephone: (08) 9370 1185 

www.soundcentre.com.au 

PDX-11 

Portable iPod Dock 

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CONTACT 

Yamaha Music Education 

level 1, 99 Queensbridge Street 

Southbank vIC. 3006 Australia 

P.O. Box 268 South Melbourne 

vIC. 3205 Australia 

T. 1300 139 506 

F. 03 9693 5256 

ymec_aust@gmx.yamaha.com 

yamahamusicschool.com.au

COURSE GUIDE 2013 - Yamaha Music School

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