Music Elective Programme (MEP) Part 1- The 4 Considerations

Hi all!

This is a generic sharing to open up students and parents who may wish to prepare their children for the Music Elective Programme (MEP).

Throughout the 18 years for teaching, I have worked with students who requested to prepare them MEP (offered by Ministry of Education Singapore to selected secondary schools and junior colleges) auditions or to help them with the specific/multiple electives they are weak at.

What is Music Elective Programme (MEP) all about? Find it out here and download the brochure here .

Some of the common scenarios shared by students and parents regarding the interest to take up MEP are:

1. They enjoy music.
2. They can consider MEP to ‘replace’ a humanity subject.
3. They wish to learn more about music and the course interest them.

Having the interest and passion is definitely a great motivation to excel in learning. MEP offers a fantastic hybrid of programme which includes both Western and Asian music. Students will definitely benefit from this programme as the environment allows them to explore music beyond their one-to-one lessons, and also sharing music with one another.

As much as I encourage everyone who is eligible should try for it, however, the Singapore lifestyle of a busy and competitive one prompts me to share from a realistic point of view as an educator who believes music is for everyone. Hence, if you are open to my opinions, I urge students and parents to consider these points before deciding:

1. What is your/your child’s objective of the intention to take up MEP?
2. How’s your/your child’s music fundamentals for practical & theory?
3. How’s your/your child’s interest in music and its programme content?
4. Do you/your child has additional time to commit to after school lessons and practices/ rehearsals?

For now, I shall end this as is, and continue in my next blog entry in Part 2. Stay Tune!

Cheers!

Josaphin, Stretto Music