Top Music Schools in Singapore

Singapore’s Music Scene

Singapore’s music scene has evolved over the years. The diverse culture of our nation is reflected in our music scene, which includes a mix of western and Chinese music as well as mainstream and independent music. 

Along the way, Singapore has established its own Chinese National Orchestra and Wind Symphony, which has gone on to perform at numerous renowned world theatres.  

Musical literacy has grown in parallel with Singapore’s development. With the burgeoning number of parents sending their children for music lessons as well as the proliferation of adults picking up a new musical instrument, this has paved the way for more music schools across our island. 

Discover your inner musical talent with these top music schools in Singapore

When is a good age to start taking music lessons?

Most experts would recommend learning music between ages 3 to 8. There are plenty of benefits in learning music at an early age. The earlier you start a child, the more time they will have to learn and perfect their technique. 

However, that should not limit you from learning music even if you are an adult! As they always say, learning is lifelong.

How to choose a suitable music school

With the plethora of music schools available, it might be hard to decide on a suitable music school. Here are some factors to help you narrow down your options.

Type of musical instrument

There are music schools which offer lessons for multiple musical instruments and others which specialise in a particular musical instrument. 

For instance, if you intend to pick up drums, you will have to look for schools that offer drumming lessons.

Teaching pedagogy

Each music school may have their own methods of teaching music. Some music schools may specialise in the Suzuki method, while others may specialise in the Kodaly or Orff approach.

Do some background research to understand the teaching pedagogy that the music school utilises. This will help you to better understand how each music school engages their students in learning music.

Go for a trial lesson

Most music schools tend to offer trial lessons to give you an idea of what to expect from their music lessons. Take this opportunity to find out more about the music school, such as the cost of the music lessons and the range of music instruments that they have and teach. Ask about the background and certifications of the teachers, and assess if you are comfortable with their teaching methods.

Location

Learning music requires plenty of time commitment. As such, you will want a music school that is conveniently located so that you can save on commute time.

Some music schools have various outlets located across the island while others may only be located in a specific neighbourhood.

Here are some popular musical instruments you can learn at a music school:

• Piano
• Guitar
• Violin
• Cello
• Drums
• Trumpet
• Saxophone
• Flute
• Clarinet

Music genres that you can learn at a music school

Whether you are taking music lessons out of interest for a particular instrument or simply to learn how to play your favourite pop song, there are plenty of music genres that you can learn.

Regardless of the musical instrument that you are learning, it can definitely be used across most music genres.

Here are some of the commonly taught music genres in music schools:

Classical music

Classical music is known for its rich tones and complicated musical arrangements. Popular classical music composers include Wolfgang Mozart, Beethovan and Chopin.

Jazz

Jazz music has no doubt one of the catchiest musical arrangements and beats out of all the music genres. From boogies and blues to lounge chill music, almost any musical instrument can be used to create jazz music.

Pop music

The likes of talented musicians/singers such as Jay Chou and JJ Lin are some of the common reasons why people take up music lessons. 

Learning pop music is highly popular among teenagers and even adults. After all, who does not want to be able to perform their favourite song?

Chinese music

Nope, we are not referring to mandarin songs but creating music using Chinese instruments. Given the diverse culture that Singapore has, it is common to find people learning chinese musical instruments as well!

The distinction between Chinese and Western music goes beyond merely different musical instruments – the sound, pitch and even musical arrangements are different as well! 

Singing

Who said that music lessons are all about learning a new musical instrument? Singing lessons are also commonly offered at music schools.

Similarly, singing also has its own genre as well. Be it classical, opera or pop, singing lessons can help you achieve the right tonality and harmony so that you can impress your friends at the next karaoke session.

Benefits of taking music lessons

Improves your memory

Research has shown that music can help to enhance your verbal memory and literacy skills. Learning a musical instrument uses both sides of your brain, which improves your memory skills. 

Strengthens your hand-eye coordination

Playing a musical instrument allows you to use multiple senses at once, boosting your multisensory skills. From reading the musical scores and processing the musical notes to getting your hands and fingers to play the right notes, there is definitely a lot of hand-eye coordination required!

Boost your confidence

Creating music allows you to self-express. Whether you started learning music from a young age or picked it up recently, there are bound to be instances whereby you end up playing for a few audiences such as your music teacher or parents. 

This can then help to boost your confidence in presenting your work to a broad audience in a non-school or non-working environment.

Relieves stress and keeps you happy 

Think about the times whereby we unconsciously bob our heads to the beats of our favourite music. Or perhaps dancing wildly to the upbeat tunes of a pop song. There is no denying that music stimulates the release of happy pheromones within us that keeps stress at bay.

Improves your patience

Excelling at a particular musical instrument or perfecting a musical arrangement does not happen overnight. It requires days, months, and even years of practice to master a musical instrument. 

When picking up a new musical instrument, be patient with yourself and give yourself ample time to practise. The more effort you put in, the better the result. There are no shortcuts to learning a musical instrument.

Editor’s Note:

While every precaution has been made to ensure the accuracy and fairness of this listing, we acknowledge that they may be inaccurate. Therefore, we urge you to contact the service provider above for the correct information and/or contact us with the correct information.

If you are a service provider and wish to be featured in this listing (MediaOne reviews are read by hundreds of thousands of Singaporeans), please contact us at [email protected]. There is no charge! Please allow us up to 3 working days to review before adjusting the information or including your entry.