Cavan "It Begins Raining"

• JSFC Course, Book 2.
• Beautifully played and you controlled the 'Registration Shift' well. However, your fingers look stiff, please try to curve your fingers slightly and many more practice should help.

How to buy Stagea data_Nov 2014

Credit must goes to my student 'Jac W' for her effort in this issue. I will say the steps are easy to follow in our language, haha at least not in Japanese. The  PDF file was creatively done with clear steps from finding your songs, how to fill in your particulars, payment and download tips to prevent lost of data, this is very important as you have paid for the data and don't want to lose them, right?

To cut it short, click HERE!

Yamaha Course Calendar 2015

Here you go! The Yamaha Course Calendar for next year.

For easy reference, I would like to suggest you download it to your mobile devices. Don't know how? Fret not, please try the steps below:

1. Point and hold on to the image for several seconds.
2. Select "Save Image" from the drop down menu.
3. Voila! You're DONE! That's easy, RIGHT?

Wesley "YELL"

Many efforts, many weeks of struggle and well done finally, Wesley. However, please take care of your fingering, there were quite a few awkward finger turning can be seen from this video. Tempo needs attention too, your timing was a little shaky from 01:55 to 02:25.

Kindly find the link of this Japanese rock band Ikimono Gakari below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwakoE7VWMk

So, what do you say? Did Wesley do a good job? ;-)

Jaswant "Let It Be"

Good! Jaswant. In this video you were able to play continuously without pauses. However, there were few mistakes in your performance @ 0:53, 01:43 to 01:49 to name a few.

Teacher has a few tips for you:

1. Please stop staring at your foot work during your performance.
2. Continue to practice daily and regularly and teacher believes you can do better the next video.
3. Last but not least, please try to control your right foot, the control of expression needs attention.

Xue Zhe "Old McDonald"

• This video was taken during lesson on 23 Sep 2014
• Well played with good expression

Ya Wen "Old McDonald"

• This video was taken during lesson on 15 Sep 2014

Vallen "Weeping Mermaid"

• This video was taken during lesson on 15 Sep 2014

Judy "Roses are Red"

• Roses are Red performed by Judy
• Well played except there was a wrong chord being sounded toward the ending Perfect Cadence

Javier "An Evening Star"

Let welcome six years old Javier, he is a beginner and learning the JSFC Book 1 with me at Yamaha Plaza Singapura.
Javier made two mistakes at this practice session, a slip on his right hand @ 0:38 and a wrong ending note on his left hand @ 0:45.
On the whole, this was a satisfactory performance and there is room for improvement.

Videos on ELS 02 Series

• CANON ROCK By 大西麻美.
• At 4:01 please observe how she control the 2nd pedal to effect the 'Pitch Bend'.
• At 4:13 controlling the 'Horizontal Touch' to effect the vibrato.

• Overture By MAX TAKANO.
• This piece was his own composition.

Vishal "Marching Robots"

Marching Robots from JSFC course, book 1. How do you like his performance? Why not post a comment to encourage him.

Electone Showcase by MAX TAKANO

Come! Join us! Check out the all-new ELS02C and its amazing performing power.

Who is Mr Max Takano? If you don't, you're not an Electone player ;-) He is a very good entertainer, it is not boring to watch his performance and very awesome to watch how he enjoys himself on stage. He is a very good music arranger, watch how he transforms your favourite movie soundtrack into his Electone performance, the voices, the musical instruments chosen, the drums sequence he programmed, it is simply terrific! Don't believe me, come to see it for yourself.

Performer: MAX TAKANO
Venue: Courtyard @ Westgate
Date: 29 June 2014
Time: 2 pm and 5 pm
Admission: Free

Launching of the new Yamaha Electone Stagea ELS 02 Series

The new Stagea is finally landed in Singapore this afternoon, my insider friend told me due to unforeseen circumstances the launch will be postponed to next weekend.

There are a few interesting points to note:

• Price: Price of the ELS02C will be around $17K but you may be able to get a special price of $14 to $15K during the official launch.
• Upgardeability: Upgrade kit may be at the range of $4-5K, it is possible to transform your ELS 01 to the all new ELS 02.
• USB Devices: The retractable USB Dock includes two ports, it is conveniently located near the Rhythm section, back ache no more, hehehe...
• Pedalboard: Other than the usual IT & AT, the pedal is enable with Polyphonic play.
• Horizontal Touch: The pitch can be varied using the horizontal touch for ELS 02C. Better sensors with 127 levels of resolution that enable a range of delicate expressiveness.
• Data Compatibility: Best of all, the data created or purchased for the ELS01 series can be used with the new model. As usual, some data may require further adjustment.
• Registration Bank: Up to 5 registration banks and each bank consists of 16 memories.
• Voice Link: When using the voice in different voice section or registration memory, no copy is needed. This is something new which I am going to lay my hands on the new instrument ASAP.

Electone Concert by MAX TAKANO

Hooray! My idol is coming end of this month. If you can attend only one concert this year, this is it!

This is his first stop of concert tour outside Japan to launch the brand new ELS02 series. Be the first to catch Maestro Max Takano perform on the revamped Electone Stagea.

• Date: 28 June 2014
• Day and Time: Sat 7:30 pm
• Venue: Joyden Hall @ Bugis+ (201 Victoria Street Level 7)
• Ticket: $15 - Yamaha Students / $18 - Public

Why is the Electone suitable for music education?

There are always many views as to which is the best musical instrument to learn? I am going to do a sales talk today, hehehe... All you guys should know by now that I am an Electone teacher and whatever points I am going to say here may be biased, so please read with a pinch of salt ;-)

• The Electone can create the tones of various instruments, Piano, Violin, Flute, Trumpet, Drums and etc. Learning the tones of various instruments at an early stage will encourage interest in learning music.
• The rich and beautiful tones of the Electone stimulate your imagination.
• The variety of rhythms Electone can produce develop your sense of tempo and the three manual keyboards help you acquires sensitivity to beautiful melody and harmony.
• Students can play the melody, harmony and rhythm simultaneously by themselves. Basically, Electone is an one-piece band or an one-piece orchestra.
• The keyboard's touch-tone function makes it possible to achieve expression as subtle as when playing an acoustic instrument. 

If children want to play other instruments in the future, join a brass or woodwind group, study composition or arrangement, be a music producer or composer, etc. They will have an excellent musical foundation from their practice on the Electone.

• Let's welcome my new student Angel.
• She played well with good expression, didn't she?

New Yamaha Electone Stagea! Singapore Launch!

Good news! I heard from the insider that Yamaha is scheduled to launch the new Stagea on 2 June 2014 and Ms YUKI WADA will be in Singapore for the event.

Another great news! Mr TAKANO will be coming for a concert on 28 June @ Bugis Illuma Hall.

Will keep you guys updated on the details ASAP. CHEERS!!!

Goh Yi Xian "Pokemon Seven-Colored Arch"

• Seven-Colored Arch from POKEMON.

  (七色アーチ フル)

• I love this lovely POKEMON song with awesome melody. What about you?

Stage Selection Vol. 2 (Intermediate to Advanced) (Gr 6-5)

1. The Last Emperor Theme (Gr 6)
2. Bolero (Gr 5)
3. Rydeen (Gr 5)
4. We’re All Alone (Gr 6)
5. Days of Wine & Roses (Gr 5)

• To order the book: Amazon Japan
• Details of the book: Yamaha Japan

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

Popular Vol. 66 World Songs 1 (Gr 7-6)

Popular songs from around the world arranged in a variety of genres, e.g. Pop Fusion, Symphonic Orchestra, Big Band and etc.

1. Susanna Pop 'n Adventure (Oh! Susanna)
2. Symphonic Grace (Amazing Grace)
3. Londonderry Show Time (Londonderry Air)
4. Go! Go! Pop Dreamer (Beautiful Dreamer)
5. Greensleeves de 1.2.3. (Greensleeves)
6. Fantastic Home (Home On The Range)
7. Condor @ Pop Fusion (El Condor Pasa)
8. Let’s Swing Cielito Lindo (Cielito Lindo)

• To order the book: Amazon Japan
• Details of the book: Yamaha Japan

Stage Selection Vol. 5 (Intermediate to Advanced) (Gr 6-5)

1. African Symphony (Gr 5)
2. Pachelbel’s Canon in D (Gr 6)
3. Mission Impossible Theme (Gr 5)
4. Spain (Gr 6)
5. Waltz For Derby (Gr 5)

• To order the book: Amazon Japan
• Details of the book: Yamaha Japan

Popular Vol. 68 World Songs 2 (Gr 7-6)

Song from around the world arranged in a variety of genres, eg. Pop Orchestra, Big Band, Bossa Nova and etc.

1. British Toy Symphony (The British Grenadiers)
2. Small Universe Orchestra (Aura Lee)
3. Irish Fair (Scarborough Fair)
4. I Found An Adventure (Pop Goes The Weasel)
5. Cheerful Choir (When The Saints Go Marching In)
6. Morning Glory of England (Blue Bells of Scotland)
7. Troika’s Strange Journey (Troika)
8. Bossa Del Sol ~ Bossa Nova of the Sun (O Sole Mio)

• To order the book: Amazon Japan
• Details of the book: Yamaha Japan

Electone Examination Update - 2014

The choice of Compulsory Pieces for the Electone Performance Grades 10-6 Course-A has been updated, which will be effective from 1st January 2014.

You may download the PDF files HERE.  

For Course-B and other grades please click HERE.

New Electone Stagea on the way

Yamaha Japan is scheduled to officially launch the new STAGEA ELS-02, ELS-02C and ELS-02X this coming 10 April 2014. Wander when they are coming to Singapore? Anyway, here come the sneak preview first.







Info & specs (translated Yamaha Japan site):
http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fjp.yamaha.com%2Fnews_release%2F2014%2F14012201.html


Photos & demo videos (translated music store site
www.gakki.me/n_pre/?p=2014012204):
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gakki.me%2Fn_pre%2F%3Fp%3D2014012204

Ryan "Toy Symphony"

• Well played Ryan and I am very proud of you.
• Composer: Joseph Haydn OR Leopold Mozart (Authorship is still disputed)
• Arranger: Kaori Koga