Music Theory Lessons
Singapore

Advanced-level music tuition for students looking to go beyond MEP, ABRSM & IB exams!

Learn from Mr Ang Shao-Wen, an Ivy League graduate who also holds a Master of Music from the University of Cambridge.

Contact him at +65 96169220 today for a no-obligation discussion of your musical training needs!

Teaching Philosophy

Instead of simply saying “This is the correct answer because that’s just the way it is”, I try to get students to question their own assumptions that lead to that question in the first place and in the process allow them to understand something deeper about the topic at hand. This is usually more intellectually satisfying than accepting conventional wisdom at face value.

Do you teach the ABRSM or Trinity syllabus for music theory?

Neither. I used to prepare students for the ABRSM exams, which are highly popular with ambitious parents in Singapore, where I am based. Unfortunately, I had to confront the reality that the ABRSM syllabus did not adequately explain what music is about and why it functions the way it does, which is after all what music theory is supposed to do. Following the ABRSM syllabus to completion did not result in greater musical understanding in students, let alone equip them with the skills that professional musicians need. The examined topics are either too specialised, e.g. written and sounding pitches of transposing wind instruments, or of limited real-world usefulness to the working musician, e.g. the memorisation of Italian, French, and German musical terms.

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These classes would suit musicians who are sick of the ABRSM exams

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I will provide guidance regarding useful ways of comprehending challenging musical concepts and useful ways to practice and develop what one has learned

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These classes would suit musicians who are sick of the ABRSM exams

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Who are these classes for?

TL;DR — For anyone who has ever thought to themselves — “Even though I can play all these classical pieces, I don’t know what i’m doing.”

Specifically, these classes would suit musicians who:

  • want to learn how music works
  • can play advanced pieces on their instrument but cannot harmonise even a simple tune (like “Happy Birthday”)
  • are sick of the ABRSM exams
  • want to fill the gaps in their musical education
  • want to clarify years of music theory confusion
  • want to learn powerful music theory concepts applicable to classical music performance
  • cannot identify harmonies when they listen to music even though they have been learning music for years
  • want to satisfying their intellectual curiosity and ask questions they’ve always wanted to ask or have asked but not received satisfying responses
  • are not learning what they feel they should be learning despite progressing up the ABRSM grades
  • feel like they are no closer to understanding how music functions despite being able to play many difficult pieces on their instrument or despite having completed all the ABRSM theory exams or even despite having obtained a music degree from a reputable conservatory or college
  • always feel like there’s a piece missing in their music education
  • don’t understand how harmony works even though they can label the chords in a piece of music
  • try to harmonise a Bach chorale melody, but end up with many voiceleading errors, and then finally resort to a trial-and-error approach to rectify these errors (with limited success)
  • can’t improvise even at a basic level despite being able to play advanced classical repertoire
  • would like to write their own music, but don’t know how to

If any of the above describes you, then you might want to consider learning with me. Contact me at 96169220 today for a no-obligation discussion of your musical training needs!

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