Q: What do I need to know before I can take up a music course?
A: All you need to know is how to count from 1-20 and know the alphabets A through G! Anyone can learn.

Q: Do I need any musical background to take up a music course?
A: No. Musical background is not necessary. Our school provides the syllabuses for you to pick up the instruments, and our teachers are trained instructors who will carry out the learning materials and methods to give you a high quality music education.

Q: What if I've already learnt another instrument before?
A: Any music background aids in the faster learning of another instrument. Our teachers will assess you during the first/trial lesson to see what level you are currently in, and advice you on how you should carry on from there.

Q: How long does it take me to get through the beginner stage? How long does it take for me to finish Grade 8?
A: Everyone has different learning speeds. An average learning time of 20 weeks is allocated for beginner's lessons, before you progress to Grade 1. From there, we estimate that it usually takes 30-50 weeks to complete each grade. Practice is the key. If you practice, your progress will be much faster than if you don't. So keep working on it! Never give up!

Q: Can I skip grades when I'm learning?
A: Yes you can! Depending on your progress, your teachers will recommend which examination grade you should go for. However, do remember that every grade has a syllabus to be covered. Always ensure that you've learnt everything necessary before jumping to the next grade!

Q: How qualified/experienced are your teachers?
A: All our teachers are registered with the Ministry of Education and are definitely qualified to teach. Each teacher has their own level of experience, but ALL of them have gone through training with Music Delight to ensure a similar high standard to teaching. Furthermore, lesson plans and syllabuses have been put in place to safeguard both teachers and students so that they will be learning music, the Music Delight way.

Q: Who should learn the Piano?
A: Anyone with a keen interest in Music should learn the piano. The piano provides a strong solid music foundation for students. It's a great instrument to start off with, as it's one of the few instruments that require you to read both treble and bass clefs. Understanding how music notes flow on the piano will give you a great insight to music in general, and picking up any other instrument after the piano only makes things easier.

Q: What’s the difference between learning the Piano and the Keyboard?
A: One of the most common questions, and the simplest of answers. Acoustic versus Digital/Electronic. The Piano is an acoustic instrument where you depress on keys, which in leads to an action of strings being hit by hammers, and sound is produced. The keyboard on the other hand is where keys are depressed, leading to an electronic sound produced.
However, do weigh the pros and cons of both instruments before choosing which to learn.
The piano requires reading of left and right hand notes, and mostly follows music notes rather strictly. Sound production is wonderful due to the acoustic touch. Requires much more technical ability (finger strength, note reading skills etc.) to be able to play well.
The keyboard on the other hand mostly teaches note reading on the right hand, where melodies of songs are played. The left hand uses a chord approach (pressing three or more keys) as an accompaniment. There is more versatility to a keyboard player as electronic keyboards have different tones (like violins, trumpets, saxophones, vibraphones etc.) and different rhythm boxes (like samba, latin, pop, rock etc.), which enables players to sound like little bands on their own.
Both have their benefits. Mostly, younger students who are starting out their musical journey are recommended to take on the Piano, as it gives a stronger foundation. Adults and students with busy schedules should pick up the keyboard as less practice is required to attain a proper performance standard.

Q: Do I need to buy a Piano to learn the Piano? Can I learn the Piano using a Keyboard?
A: Yes you do! It is always essential to have an instrument when you learn an instrument! Practice is the key! If you do not have a piano, progress will be much slower, and when your progress is slow, your interest fades, and soon, you’ll lose interest in the instrument. As acoustic pianos are usually more expensive, you can turn to digital pianos. However, it is crucial that the piano you choose has a slightly heavier and firmer touch. That helps develop finger strength.
No! Please don’t use a keyboard to practice on when you’re learning the piano. Contrary to what many say about it being “similar”, it is never beneficial to use a keyboard to learn the piano, unless you’re really on a tight budget. Then choose to pick up the keyboard instead. Using a keyboard only gives you the impression that piano keys are light and easily depressed. It will cause your fingers to be lazy, and in turn, make it difficult for you to play on an acoustic piano in the future.

Q: What piano should I buy? How do I maintain it?
A: Please approach our staff at the counter and we’ll be more than glad to answer your questions. Music Delight aims to provide our students with great pianos at competitive prices, so that your learning experience will be enriched. We will also give you guidance on how to take care of your piano.

Q: What else do I need to purchase when I start my Piano lessons?
A: For a start, your piano teacher will usually recommend you to purchase a Method book, Technique book, Repertoire book and Theory book. The method book teaches you how to read notes on the piano, helping you develop as a pianist. The technique book helps improve your fingering on the piano, enabling you to play more technically demanding pieces. The Repertoire book helps you with sight-reading as you get to play different songs, experiencing different genres of music. Finally, the theory book gives you knowledge on the rudiments of music, enabling you to understand why and what is written in your music scores and how you should be interpreting them.

Q: Are there any accessories that I should purchase with my Piano?
A: These are the accessories that should come with the piano, or should be purchased.
Piano Bench – for comfort and good sitting posture at the Piano
Piano Key Cover – to protect your piano keys from dust
Piano Insulator – to suppress/dampen the Piano sound & prevent your piano wheels from scratching your floor
Piano Heater – to maintain the temperature in the piano so your strings don’t expand/contract too much
Piano Polish/Key Polish – to clean the wood of the piano or the ivory keys
Piano Cover – to minimize dust being collected on your Piano
Piano Soft Closing – to prevent your piano cover from falling on your fingers

Q: What character traits must I possess to learn the piano?
A: You should have a keen interest in any form/genre of music. You may like to sing or like to just play a song that you’ve heard. You should be curious, and excited. Being happy, and playing the piano will make you even happier.

Q: What age should my child pick up the violin? And why?

A: We recommend that girls begin learning the violin at 5 ½ years of age, while boys should start at about 6 years old. This is because the violin is a more technically demanding instrument, and requires focus and a longer attention span. However, teachers will assess if your child is ready for the violin, and start lessons accordingly.



Q: Why does my violin sound so bad? Am I always out of tune?

A: The violin, unlike most other instruments, does not have any keys/frets to tell you where each individual note is. It takes both a good sense of hearing and good bowing/finger position techniques to create a nice tune. Don’t worry if you/your child sounds bad when you’re practicing. Remember that “at least” you/they are practicing! And you’ll only get better.



Q: Is it painful or uncomfortable to hold/play the violin?

A: Yes, in the beginning. Learning to hold the violin and bow on the violin properly is difficult initially, but once you get the hang of it, it gets really easy. And yes, it will no longer hurt or feel uncomfortable.



Q: What character traits must I possess to learn the violin?

A: Patience and perseverance. Even though these are essential in learning all instruments, it’s more so in learning the violin. It can be a little harder to “kick off”, but the moment you start getting your notes sounding accurate and you bow confidently, you’ll never want to put down the instrument!



Q: Do I need to purchase a Violin? How should I maintain it?

A: Yes you do! Purchasing a good violin will enhance your learning experience. When your violin sounds better, you will enjoy playing it, leading to more practice, and finally better playing ability. Please approach our friendly staff to get advise on purchasing a good Violin. To maintain your violin, you should clean your violin after playing it, loosen your bow so it doesn’t spoil and change your strings every 3-6 months, depending on how much you play it. Your violin is a very fragile instrument, so delicate care must always be observed. Never place it directly under the sun or at a wet area, else the violin may crack/decay.



Q: Are there any accessories that I should purchase with my Violin?

A: These are the accessories that you should purchase to enhance your violin playing experience.

Violin Bow – to bow on your violin (Should come with the Violin)
Violin Rosin – to give friction to your Violin Bow (Should come with the Violin)
Violin Case – to keep your Violin safe and well
Violin Shoulder Rest – to make violin playing more comfortable for your neck/shoulder
Violin Fine Tuners – to aid in fine tuning of the notes on your violin
Violin Performance Mute – to make the violin slightly softer for songs requiring “Con Sordino”
Violin Practice Mute – to dampen the sound of the violin for night practice
Music Stand – to put your music scores/books on
Hygrometer – to monitor the humidity in your violin case

Q: What age should my child pick up the Guitar? And why?

A: We recommend students to start learning the guitar at age 6 and above. This is because proper sitting posture is required. Even though there are smaller guitar sizes, students may not be able to sit and learn comfortably due to their stature and finger size.



Q: Who should learn the Guitar?

A: Anyone should learn the guitar! The guitar is an extremely versatile instrument. You can carry it everywhere you go, and there are many ways to play it. You can pluck a tune or strum and sing along. The guitar is one of the easiest instruments to pick up and lots of effective practice will help you master the instrument quickly.



Q: Will my fingers hurt when I pluck/press/strum on the strings?

A: Initially, there will be a little discomfort when you press on the Guitar fingerboard with the fingers on your left hand. Also, you will see lines on your fingers, due to the pressing down on strings. However, both the discomfort and lines will go away very quickly. After one or two lessons, you’ll no longer feel any pain, and if you’re playing nice tunes, you’ll enjoy your guitar tremendously. On the right hand, proper strumming/plucking techniques will ensure that there’s no pain at all when playing the guitar.



Q: Do I need to purchase a Guitar? How should I maintain it?

A: Yes! As always, purchasing a good instrument so that you can practice is quintessential to music learning. A good guitar will sound better and you will enjoy listening to your own guitar. Please approach our friendly staff to get advise on purchasing a good guitar. To maintain your guitar, wipe the guitar after playing, especially if you have sweaty fingers. It will give your guitar strings a longer lifespan. Also, you should change your Guitar strings regularly (depending on the frequency of your playing). We advise the changing of strings are 2-3 months if you practice daily. Never expose your guitar directly under sun as it can course your guitar to crack.



Q: Are there any accessories that I should purchase with my Guitar?

A: These are the accessories that are recommended for purchase with the Guitar.

Guitar Clip-On Tuner – to help you with the difficult task of tuning your Guitar. New guitars tend to go out of tune frequently as the strings have not been seasoned. Regular playing and tuning the guitar will help regulate the string expansion & contraction.
Guitar Case/Bag – a Guitar bag is minimal, giving your guitar the basic protection required. Padded bags are available to give better protection. However, a Guitar Case gives the maximum protection for your guitar.
Guitar Foot Stool – to help aid in the classical guitar posture. Alternatives to the foot stool are A-frames or guitar supports
Capo – to help transpose your guitar to play different songs in different keys more easily
Music Stand – to put your music scores/books on
Guitar plectrum/picks – to help in strumming the Guitar
Winder/Cutter – to help speed up the re-stringing process

Q: Who should learn the Ukulele?

A: Anyone aged 5 and above can learn the Ukulele! In our opinion, the Ukulele is probably the easiest course to pick up. You should take up the Ukulele if you like to strum and sing songs, yet don’t have too much time on your hands to practice. The ukulele is a lovely acoustic instrument with a unique tone that will keep you wanting to play it more!



Q: What’s the difference between learning Ukulele and Guitar? Can I play the Ukulele since I can play the Guitar? Would it be easier for me to pick up the Guitar after learning the Ukulele?

A: The main differences between the Guitar and Ukulele is the size and tuning. Fingering, plucking and strumming are mostly similar. Due to the difference in tuning, the forming of Guitar and Ukulele chords will differ. If you have had prior Guitar playing experience, picking up the Ukulele would be a breeze. If you are comfortable forming and changing chords on the Guitar, it’s a similar technique to form chords on the Ukulele. On the other hand, if you play the Ukulele and wish to advance to the Guitar, there will be pros and cons. Most importantly, it will be easier to pick up the Guitar as you’ve adapted to the pressing techniques on the left hand and the strumming techniques on the right hand. However, due to the great difference in size between the Ukulele and Guitar, it will be a challenge as you will definitely need to stretch the fingers of your right hand quite a bit when playing the Guitar. However, having the played the Ukulele, it definitely makes learning the Guitar easier!



Q: Do I need to purchase a Ukulele? How should I maintain it?

A: Yes you do! A good Ukulele isn’t too pricey, and is definitely a must to enhance your learning experience. There are 3 main types of ukuleles we will use for our lessons. Soprano, Concert and Tenor (from small to big). Please approach our friendly staff and they will advise you on which will be more suitable for you and the benefits of each Ukulele. Ukulele maintenance is simple. Keep it in the bag/case, do not drop it, do not expose it to direct sunlight, and play it as often as you can!



Q: Are there any accessories that I should purchase with my Ukulele?

A: Most of the accessories for the Ukulele are similar to the Guitar. In addition to the Guitar accessories, you could purchase a Low-G string (4th string) that will give you a wider range of notes on the ukulele. Also, getting a Ukulele strap could be extremely useful if you intend to walk around and busk with the Ukulele.

Q: Who should learn the Keyboard?

A: Students who either love technology or love pop music should consider taking up the keyboard. As playing the keyboard involves mixing with different instrument tones and rhythm boxes, it can be extremely interesting, challenging and rewarding, playing one instrument that can sound like hundreds of others!



Q: Do I need to buy a Keyboard to learn the Keyboard? Can I learn the Keyboard using a Piano?

A: Yes! Purchasing an instrument is always beneficial to your learning experience. You can use the piano for your first few lessons where you learn to read notes on the treble clef stave. As you progress, you will need to purchase a keyboard because of the complexities of technology and the ability to mix different instrument tones and rhythm boxes for different genres of songs.



Q: How do I choose a good Keyboard? Do I have to change it regularly? Will a really cheap keyboard do?

A: As always, please approach our friendly staff and they will be glad to guide you on tips to choose a good keyboard. One of the most important features you must look out for is Touch Response. Touch Response enables you to play louder and softer with more strength or lighter touch on your keyboard. As technology advances, you may have to change your keyboard from time to time. However, a good keyboard could easily last you till the higher grades of keyboard learning (5+ years). There are many types of keyboards out there. Even though all are for learning to play the keyboard, not all are advisable for more serious learning. There are many functions that may lack in the cheaper models. Having to upgrade from a cheaper keyboard may end up to be more costly in the long run!

Q: Who should learn the Drums?

A: People with good beat and feel for music should take up the drums. It definitely looks extremely cool to be knocking up a drumbeat on a drum kit! Due to the size of the drum kit, we would advise students to start learning from ages 6 and above. Kids drum kits are available on the market.



Q: Do I need to buy a drum kit/set to learn the drums?

A: There are 2 types of drum kits you can purchase. Acoustic and Electronic Drum kits. Buying an Acoustic drum kit would be great as the sound and feel when hitting each drum will sound majestic. However, due to the size constraints of homes in Singapore and the proximity between you and your neighbor, we usually recommend students to purchase electronic drum kits. Students can still bang on them while having headphones on and sound will be kept to a minimal. Using an electronic drum kit enables you to practice even till wee hours of the morning! It is not compulsory to purchase a drum kit/set when learning the drums, but we will definitely recommend it. Practice makes perfect!



Q: Are there any accessories that I should purchase for my drums lessons?

A: The most important accessory you should purchase is a pair of drumsticks. There are many types in the market. Do feel free to approach our friendly staff for advise on the different types available. There are many accessories you can purchase together to enhance the sound of your drum kit. Each individual part of your drum kit can be accessorized or changed. Do consult your teacher for more advice on the accessories available.

Q: Who should learn the Vocals?

A: Anyone who loves to Sing! Preferably aged 5 and above, as ability to pay attention and follow instructions is crucial in vocal training.



Q: I am Tone-deaf. Can I still learn?

A: Being tone-deaf is one of the greatest disadvantages to picking up Vocals. However, we are ready to teach students who cannot pitch notes correctly. It will definitely be a longer musical journey, but if you love to sing, we will love to guide you and help you realize your singing ambitions.





Q: I’m shy. Should I learn individually instead of group lessons?

A: This depends on your comfort level. If you feel like you can’t sing in front of others, individual lessons would be better to help hone your skills. However, we feel that group vocal lessons have major advantages. Most importantly, being in a group setting helps you develop confidence when singing in front of others. Also, singing in/as a group will enable you to train your listening skills. Don’t be shy! Give it a try! And you will grow to love singing!



Q: What do I need to purchase for Vocal Lessons?

A: We recommend our students to purchase an audio recorder to record your singing, so you can hear yourself and improve. Whenever we sing, we may not focus on our pitching and tone. However, having the ability to listen back to what we’ve sang will give us a great advantage in learning and enable us to improve on sections of songs that we may be weaker in.

Q: Who should learn the Music Theory?

A: Every Musician. Music theory is essential in Music learning. The ability to understand the rudiments of music will enable you to play your music with greater appreciation of each music score’s musical directions.



Q: Do I have to do lots of homework for Music Theory?

A: Most work can be completed during Theory lessons. However, if you intend to speed up the learning process, some homework must be done to enable you to complete more lesson material in a shorter timespan. Also, teachers will recommend you purchase past examination papers to understand how an examination looks like. Regular practice of doing examination papers will help develop confidence in taking the Music Theory Examinations.

Q: Who should join Tots Delight?

A: Children aged 28 months – 6 years old.



Q: What is Tots Delight?

A: Tots Delight is a unique Music Course that prepares your child for proper music lessons. Tots Delight helps you and your child make the decision of what instrument to pick up. They will get to try the Piano, Violin, Ukulele Guitar, Keyboard and percussive drums through all four steps!



Q: What’s the difference between Tots Delight Course and other Music Courses available outside?

A: Both Musicians and Early Childhood educators developed Tots Delight course, infusing child psychology with the necessary music techniques and information to give each child a head start to their Music education. Tots Delight gives children hands-on experience in playing not just simple percussive instruments such as the maracas and hand bells, but ACTUAL instruments such as the Piano, Violin, Guitar, Ukulele and Keyboard! The last lesson of each term is catered to a mini class performance that gives Children the opportunity to shine as performers.



Q: Can parents sit in for the lessons?

A: Parents participation is required for steps 1 and 2 (children aged 28-36 months and 36-48 months). However, parents are recommended not to join in for steps 3 and 4. We aim to develop children’s independence in learning.



Q: What do I get upon completing Tots Delight Course?

A: When you complete each step, a certificate of completion will be issued to your child. If you have started from Tots Delight Step 1 and completed ALL 4 steps, we will give your child a FREE Ukulele!



Q: Do I have to purchase any lesson materials for Tots Delight Course?

A: No. All lesson materials are provided for Tots Delight. Reference material will be given to parents to take home to practice with their child.



Q: If I miss a lesson for Tots Delight, will I be entitled to a Make-up lesson? Can I still get the certificate at the end of the course?

A: There are no make-up lessons for Tots Delight course as our lesson dates are fixed. You MUST have at least a 90% attendance to complete the course and obtain the certificate.



Q: Can I join in an on-going Tots Delight Course?

A: Each Tots Delight Course runs in 2 terms of 10 weeks each. You can join in a class at any lesson of the first term. Musical learning content of each 10 weeks is similar for each step, but themes, activities, games and songs are different to continuously spark interest in our Tots Delight Students.