Advanced Extension Course
For children who have completed the Junior Advanced Course.
The Advanced Extension Course is the final course in the Yamaha Music School pathway. By the end of this course, students will be studying at the highest student grade levels. Students will have attained a very high level of musicianship by this stage.
Overview
The Advanced Extension Course studies many musical concepts helpful for GCSE, A-Level and beyond as the approach becomes more academic. The group lessons continue to be effective and the children create strong social connections with their friends in the class making it a fantastic shared experience. Individual piano lessons continue with each student working on repertoire appropriate to their level - and taste!
The course is spread over 3 years to allow time to go into detail with each subject. Ensembles are a highlight of this course and continue to teach students how to play together while reading an orchestral score. Creativity and musical expression is still at the heart of the teaching approach. The pieces are longer and more complex than the previous course.
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Children who have completed the Junior Advanced Course
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Group lesson: 60 minutes (includes class changeover)
Individual piano lesson: 30 minutes (includes changeover)
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Up to 10
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There are four sets of materials over the three-year course. Each set contains a Repertoire book for the individual piano lessons and a Solfege & Ensemble book for the group lessons. The core piano lesson textbook is from Yamaha’s graded ‘Pianoforte’ series. The Solfege & Ensemble books come with access to the music via Yamaha’s streaming service.
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Class times may change when moving into this course. We give lots of notice if this is the case
Further information
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The parents’ role continues to be important even though parents do not attend lessons regularly.
Please continue to show in interest in your child’s progress and encourage regular practice for both group and individual lessons. Enjoy the music!
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A piano (acoustic or digital) is required at home for this course - see the Junior Advanced Course page for a list of requirements if you are looking to upgrade
The instrument should be in an accessible and inviting place at home - this makes a big difference
The children need a device to stream the audio recordings - active listening is crucial when it comes to practice
Please make sure that they are listening to a high quality of sound at home (phone speakers are not satisfactory)
JAC parent:
“I just wanted to let you know that L*** is enjoying music so much again. He plays the piano all the time, improvises, experiments non stop… The new piano has been a real blessing, if I knew it, I wouldn’t have waited so long. Thank you very much for sharing your love for music with him.”
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Students have the opportunity to celebrate the end of the AXC by participating in Yamaha Grade 7 (some may be aiming for Grade 6)
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We stage several concerts each year: every child has the opportunity to take part in an annual ensemble concert. Look out for ensemble, composition, and performers' platform concerts - all of which can be very inspiring.
Yamaha celebrates the work of the young composers with Junior Original Concerts: Matrix Arts Centre student composers often represent the school at both national and international levels.
You can listen to some of these performances on our news and events or on our social media.
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This is the final course in the Yamaha Music Education System, so once students complete this course, they graduate from the Yamaha Music School!
We invite YMS graduates to join in ensembles in our annual concert every year and many continue their piano lessons with us until they finish school. We also run workshops occassionally.
Once the course is finished, students can continue whichever route they choose - some like to work for the final student Yamaha grade (and beyond!), and/or higher grades from other systems, or just for enjoyment.
Several go on to study music at GCSE, A Level and degree level - and even if not, our students have the tools to enjoy music, listening, playing their own or other peoples’ music, for life.
Whatever it is, we always love to hear ‘what happens next’ so do drop us a line even if it’s out the blue in several years’ time!
Course progression
You can join our courses at any time between the ages of 2 and 7
New courses start every April and November
“The methodical concept and your practical teaching have been perfect for my son - the ability to listen carefully, to develop a good ear, to express and create music have all been carefully and sensitively nurtured by you and he has so beautifully responded. For a shy person like him to grow so confident in their musical ability, so that they are comfortable to share their music in a public space is a great developmental achievement.”
“AXC = Accelerating Exhilarating Classes!”