Josaphin (Teacher Shu Xian)
Founder & Principal Mentor, Stretto Music
Josaphin brings together nearly three decades of teaching experience, advanced musicianship training, and a deep understanding of both classical and contemporary music education.
Her background includes Master of Music in Performance from Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff, Wales (validated by University of Wales) with distinction in performance and won the Cardiff Violins Chamber Music Prize, Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Piano Performance at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts from University of Wales, where she was also awarded Best Graduate Award previously during her stint in Diploma of Music at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.
Josaphin also holds an Associate (AmusTCL) Theory Diploma and Grade 8 in Voice, both from Trinity College of Music, and Grade 4 Piano (teacher’s grade) awarded by Yamaha Music Foundation which includes components in Improvisation and Singing with Accompaniment. She had the honoured tutelage under Mdm Fang Yuan, Richard McMahon, Estelle Teoh, Low Shao Suan, masterclasses under Noriko Ogawa, Sergei Dukachev, Gary Cooper and others who had impacted in her music journey.
A versatile musician and teacher, Ms Toh’s exposure includes Chinese Orchestra where she held presidency in her secondary school days, and other instruments including the guitar and saxophone. She has performed widely on the piano, harpsichord, keyboard, voice, liu qin and zhong ruan locally and overseas.
Josaphin started her teaching journey since she was 16 years old, she celebrates her 28th year in teaching. Her experience includes working with students with various interest and needs, such as young children, MEP students, adults, teachers, classical to pop, improvisation, aural, theory, viva voce and composition fundamentals. She previously held teaching positions in various private music schools for classical/pop and Diplomas in Teaching, School of Young Talent at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts where she conducted Practical, Aural and Theory classes, and auxiliary teaching staff at the Junior department at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Josaphin currently teaches on private basis and occasionally performs with chamber groups or band while balancing her time in the real estate industry as well.
| Certification: | Accredited bodies: | ||||||
| 1 | Masters of Music | Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD), Distinction in Performance, | accredited by University of Wales (UoW) | ||||
| 2 | BA (Hons) in Music | Accredited by University of Wales (UoW), | Conducted at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), Singapore | ||||
| 3 | Diploma in Music | Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), Distinction | Awarded Best Graduate Award | ||||
| 4 | AMusTCL | (Theory Diploma) | Trinity College of Music | ||||
| 5 | ATCL | Trinity College of Music | |||||
| 6 | Yamaha Teachers’ Grades 5 & 4 | (grading is in a descending order) | Yamaha Music, Singapore | ||||
| 7 | Piano Grades 1-8 | ABRSM | |||||
| 8 | Musicianship in Practice Grade 5 | ABRSM | |||||
|
9 |
Voice Grade 8 | Trinity College of Music | |||||
| 10 | Theory Grade 8 | ABRSM |
Experience:
- Many years for teaching 27 years: since 16 years old.
- Track Record: Has produced ABRSM High scorer’s distinctions.
- Vast experience teaching in various institutions (ex-NAFA), music schools, local and overseas.
- Versatile teaching methods for various age groups (4+ to 60+) and objectives (play/sing/hearing/sing&play etc.).
Where are her students now:
- Some of her students are currently teachers as well, enriching more lives musically!
- Some of her students has further pursued music in different discipline, crafting their own footprints in music!
She is known for guiding students beyond technical execution into true musical understanding, with many students achieving distinctions, high distinctions, and top examination results in Singapore.
Stretto Music by Josaphin Toh 