Ms. Tomoko Satoh – Parent of a Yamaha Music School student

How did you feel when your child took the grade examination for the first time?: My child took the Junior Music Course (JMC) Fundamental Skills Survey when he finished the JMC. I had to wait outside the room and was really worried if my daughter could play and sing as she usually did before the examiner whom she had never met before. She must have felt great tension and sang as if she was angry, as the examiner gave her the comment “you looked a bit fierce when you were playing.” (laughter); But the result was good as her merits were all evaluated, and she was really satisfied with the result as she worked really hard. Anyway, it was a precious opportunity for a kindergarten child and her mother to take the examination before the teacher whom we didn't know.

Your daughter advanced to the Junior Special Advanced Course (JSAC) and took the Piano Achievement Test Grade 6 last year, right?: Yes, as she continued in JSAC, she took the exam once a year, and when she was in the fifth grade (10 years old), she took Grade 6. I think taking the grade examination was for her the milestone to confirm how much she had progressed. It is not easy for her to review what she had learned in class, so the grade examination is the chance to go back and review especially the theory, transposition and cadence playing. Mothers of other students share the appreciation that children can feel satisfied with their achievement once in a while.

Do you think your daughter had a hard time preparing for Grade 6, as it has difficult elements?: I don't think she had particular burden for taking the exam, as it is more or less confirmation of what has been accumulated in daily study. I did help her by playing the exercise for By-ear Playing, although it didn't work well as I made mistake when playing the exercise. (laughter)

Do you notice any change in your child after her success in the grade examination?: Not big change superficially, but she should be more confident with the abilities she has acquired. Also, as she has experienced the exam, she may have become more brave. At school, she wouldn't mind performing before the class, maybe because she is used to playing for the examiners to show her true ability. I think other children of her JSAC class are also like that. We cannot buy confidence, nor can parents give to children. Rather, children have to obtain by their own effort, so it is very important. I really appreciate the Yamaha Grade for giving such opportunity to my child.

What do you expect of your child in the future?: She enjoys ensemble very much ever since she joined the JMC, and that is actually the motivation of her continuing up until now. She has been studying with a group of six students in the JSAC class, so I hope they can continue their ensemble together.; At school, there are a few children who can play the piano well, but once they need transposition or other factors to prepare for performance at the school festival, for example, only my daughter is able to do, according to the teacher. I feel proud that she has learned at the Yamaha Music School. She would play and sing with friends the songs she had just heard on TV, or play the accompaniment at sight to the songs her grand parents like to sing. All these are the fruitful results of the grade examination that brought her confidence by confirming her own progress, and only Yamaha could make her like that.; The next exam is grade 5, and it must be a big challenge for her. Yet, she can be motivated by the goal with a jump, so I hope she can take that challenge one day.