Yeo Ya Wan "Lavenders Blue"

• Nice hand posture and finger shape and I love your performance.
• JSFC Course

Wesley "No Matter What"

• Wesley practising No Matter What during lesson
• This song was popularized by the Irish group Boyzone

• This is the original version from the BOYZONE

Goh Jun Hui "Believe It or Not"

• Theme song from the Greatest American Hero.
• The Greatest American Hero was an American television series that aired for three seasons from 1981 to 1983.

Ee Jia "Somewhere Out There"

• Drum sequence and Registration data done by Ee Jia and me.

• This is my favourite version by James Ingram & Linda Ronstadt

Goh Jun Hui "Beyong the Sunset"

• Composer: 石坂 慶彦/葉加瀬 太郎
• Arranger: 杉本 豊之

Piano vs Electone

I stumbled on this interesting website 'Kiasu Parents', in the forum discussions where there are conversations between parents which clarify some of the concepts between the Piano and Electone. Below are some of the highlights which I would like to share with you:

• Do you get blank looks each time when you tell people that your DS is learning electone? The next question that typically follows is "is electone an organ?" & honestly i also can't explain the difference btw electone and organ.
• Personally, I would encourage electone as a starting musical instrument for kids - it practically trains kids to have great multi-task physical co-ordination (hence I would like to think brain too ;-p). If you think both hands playing is tough, wait till you see both hands (upper & lower keyboards), legs (left for rhythm controls, right for registration & volume changes ... plus knees too playing on the electone! Not to mention the music creativity aspect with the various music sounds. It's like learning all instruments with just 1 electone. Generally it's easier for kids to sustain their musical interest with electones.
• Wow, your reply came in just handy! Am keen to start my gal on yamaha electone but me being musically ILLITERATE.. sigh... and i have my SIL who was persuading my 4YO to go for 1-1 piano lessons!! I was wondering if it's too serious?
  But.. was wondering if in future she likes it, can she migrate to piano, or need to start from stage 1?
• Most kids prefer electone 'cos of the wide range of sound varierty. electone lessons (from my DS experience) other than your standard piano ABRSM theory, sight reading, focuses a lot on improvisation and music arrangements. if your kid has a good hearing, it helps a great deal 'cos "mixing & matching" music will come more naturally to them.
  as jce mentioned, techniques are different. piano focuses on touch. electone requires overall co-ordination ie both hands (play and to control rhythms etc) and legs (control expression pedals, vol etc) and emphasize on musical showmanship/expression. if u r looking at music producer kinda quality, I think electone players will have an edge 'cos of improvisation and arrangements capabilities. 
• Piano is of course more mainstream. my kiasu mentality kept prodding DS to pick up piano concurrently - easier to earn own pocket money than electone not everyone has electone but piano is common in public places (at least you don't get empty looks when you say you learning electone). alas, he just cant sit still in front of the piano and till now still not keen to pick it up. no choice - can't force a cow to drink water.
  I remembered asking the teacher then btw electone and piano, which will be better to start first. Was told piano will be better to pick up when the kids have finger strength later. and looking at the co-ordination level required of electone, if I would to choose again, I would still choose electone first then piano - - personal view of a parent only and not professional so don't stone me.

So, what do you say? Care to comment?

Related Post: Piano vs Electone Part 2

Yeo Ya Wen "Sayonara"

• JSFC Course, Book 2.
• Well played Ya Wen and keep up the good work!

Goh Yi Xian "Butterfly"

• Own arrangement of Gr 9 level
• Drum sequence and registration data done by Yi Xian and me.

• This version from SMILE
• Which version do you like?

Goh Jun Hui "亜麻色のスーベニール"

• 亜麻色のスーベニール by Cosmos from Japan.
• Own drum sequence and registration data.
• Expression needs attention.

Swathi "Camel"

• Well Played and I love the second chorus.
• Keep up the good work! Swathi!

Thomas "O Christmas Tree"

• A satisfactory performance and there is room for improvement.
• Beware of the touch on your right hand, some notes were softer then the others and your touch could be more even.

Judy "I Just Called to Say I Love You"

Jacqueline "Winter Games"

• Performer: Jacqueline
• Composer: David Foster, 1988 Olympics theme song

Memory (from Departures おくりびと)

• Performer: Jacqueline
• Composer: Joe Hisaishi
• Arranger: Yuichiro Oki 大木裕一郎
• 'Departures' is a moving story about a cellist who lost his job and ended up working in a funeral home by mistake.
• Want to see more videos? Please visit Jacqueline's YouTube channel.

Marilyn "Lyphard Melody"

•  My student from the CHIJ Saint Nicholas Girls' School
• Lyphard Melody by Richard Clayderman

Grace "Hungarian Dance No. 5 by J. Brahms"

How to search Stagea Data?

Many times, I was asked on this subject "How to search Stagea Data?". This is a difficult task for those of us that do not understand Japanese especially.

With the help of my student, Jacqueline had created this PDF file showing the various steps to search for the data effectively.

To view the steps, kindly download the PDF file: "How to search Stagea Data?"

Music Notation Software

The Finale NotePad is a music notation software and will come in handy when you're trying to write your arrangement.

• Enter notes using MIDI or your computer keyboard and mouse.
• Enter guitar tab, lyrics, dynamics and tempo markings in addition to notes.
• Includes 128 professional instrument sounds and Human Playback™ to make sure your music sounds as good as it looks.
• MIDI compatible.
• You can even print your own music and many more...

To download this wonderful music notation software, please click the link: Finale NotePad

"Lets Jam!" Electone Concert by Ayaki Saito

Catch the electrifying Electone performance by Ayaki Saito, who started playing the Electone at the age of two. Ayaki, with a style mostly inspired by Jazz, Fusion and Latin, has since performed at UNICEF Charity Concert, won numerous awards and has two albums to his name.

• Venue: Jubilee Hall @ Raffles Hotel
• Date: 14 July 2012
• Time: 7:30pm
• Ticket: $18 (Available in June @ all Yamaha branches

Goh Yi Xian "Baby Elephant Walk"

• This video was taken on 28 April 2012 during lesson.
• Composer: Henry Mancini.

Yeo Ya Wen "Lions"

• Ya Wen's first video which was taken on 16 April during lesson.
• Keep it up! Please continue to practice as you are going to sit for your first Electone examination in June.

Wesley "O Sole Mio"

• Wesley's first video which was taken on 15 April during lesson.
• This was a bad example as the performer wore slippers. You're reminded to put on proper footwear while performing.
• The Chorus section will sound better if the melody was played more "Legato".  
• Keep it up! Please continue to work hard and practice regularly.

New Price Lists for Piano and Electone

Don't say that I never informed you! I have heard the wind of prices going up soon for all models of Yamaha Piano and Electone, probably within the next two months. Be prepared to pay a few hundreds to thousands more for your dream instrument. To avoid any disappointment, buy now before it is too late!

Email me your particulars and I will recommend the helpful sales guy to assist you with your purchase.

C ya and have a nice weekend ;-)

Popular Vol. 51 New Theme Music Grade 5

Are you fan of Jazz music? This book comes with five pieces of cool Jazz music which is not too difficult to appreciate.

• Order Number: TEL01087398
• Title of Songs:

          1) Beyond the Sunset
          2) Zoom in! Morning!
          3) The Sunday
          4) Wing
          5) Open Mind

• To order this book: Amazon Japan
• More details: Yamaha Japan

Not the book you want? Please read up my other post on "How to order Electone Books from Japan?"

Coming Electone Concert in July 2012

Time flies and almost a quarter of year 2012 has passed and it is time to plan for the yearly Electone concert this coming July.

Do you have any favorite artist in mind and wish that Yamaha Singapore could bring in? Let me know and leave your suggestion in the comment section below, I’ll try to bring your valuable suggestion up to the marketing department and see what we can do.

Kumiko Hirota, Naoko Hirota, Reiko Kashiwagi, Saori Iwauchi, Yoshitaka Mihara, to name a few, or you may prefer other Electone artists. Please keep your requests coming, okay?

Let's sit back and enjoy the following performances:

• Kumiko Hirota

• Naoko Hirota

• Saori Iwauchi

• Yoshitaka Mihara

Do you like their performances? Hurry, send in your requests today! Please support this event and let hope that your requested player is available and able to perform in Singapore.

I would like to see many of you in the coming concert. Cheers!

Downloads for STAGEA Electone

Have you ever encounter any issues with your STAGEA? I have noticed the following FAQ:

1. What is the latest firmware for my STAGEA? (Ans: ver 1.82)
2. What is the latest version of the MusicSoft Downloader? (Ans: ver 5.6.1)
3. Where do I get the update?
4. How do I install the update?
5. Compatible Thumb Drive for STAGEA?
6. How to use the MusicSoft Downloader?
7. How do I move the Protected Registration Data? (You can "move" but not "copy" the data)
8. How to playback the Protected Registration Data on my STAGEA and etc?

If some of the above questions are YES to you, help is just a click away. Please check out these two websites: Yamaha MusicSoft and Downloads for ELS01.

Bryan Lee "My Heart Will Go On"

Bryan has been learning with me since Oct last year, that's a great achievement for him considering he has only five months of experience.