1st Kota Kinabalu Music Conference – Insights for Music Lessons in Singapore
To enhance the way we conduct our music lessons in Singapore, our team had the privilege of attending the 1st Kota Kinabalu Music Conference. The very first day already proved to be rewarding, packed with informative and inspiring seminars. In this article, I’ll share the highlights and key takeaways that will directly benefit our teaching approach and our students back home.
As music educators, events like the 1st Kota Kinabalu Music Conference are essential. They allow us to learn, share, and refine our craft. By doing so, we uphold high teaching standards and remain committed to our students’ growth.
A Stunning Venue for the 1st Kota Kinabalu Music Conference
The conference was held at the beautiful Shangri-La Tanjung Aru. It was the perfect choice to host the 1st Kota Kinabalu Music Conference. The serene environment set the mood for learning from the very moment we stepped out of our hotel. As Zee described, “every corner was Instagram-worthy,” which added to the overall inspiring atmosphere.
3 Rooms, 7 Hours, 14 Topics
The first day covered an impressive variety of sessions. As much as we wish, it is impossible to attend every session! So here’s what we went for:
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Early Childhood Music Education
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Exploring Music Without Sheet Music
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Piano – Four Hands
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Improvisation and Interpretation
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Level Up Your Teaching
Let’s dive into some of these sessions and why they are so relevant to both music educators and students taking music lessons in Singapore.
Early Childhood Music Education
This session highlighted how the right musical foundation fosters mental strength and resilience in children. Building supportive communities, celebrating effort (not just results), and normalizing mistakes were emphasized as vital strategies. Without proper guidance, children often fear mistakes, which limits their willingness to try new things—something we are mindful of when conducting our lessons in Singapore.
‘Understand more, you fear less’.
Exploring Music Without Sheet Music
Many students say, “I can’t play without my score.” This session reminded us that music, like language, should first be spoken before being written. While reading notation is a valuable skill, students should also learn to play by listening, understanding structure, key, and harmony. This reinforces our belief that music lessons in Singapore should balance both score reading and ear training.
Piano – Four Hands
With ANZCA’s release of the new Duet Syllabus, piano students can now take examinations as a duo. Much like dance or figure skating, success depends on teamwork. This opens up exciting opportunities for piano students in Singapore to collaborate and grow through shared performance experiences.
Improvisation and Interpretation
Improvisation remains one of the most overlooked yet vital elements of music education. In Singapore, many students are conditioned to seek model answers and avoid uncertainty. This session challenged that mindset, encouraging teachers to guide students in exploring creativity rather than scripting it for them. It was a powerful reminder that music lessons in Singapore should nurture courage and originality.
Level Up Your Teaching
This was one of the biggest reasons we traveled to attend the 1st Kota Kinabalu Music Conference, hosted by Kota Kinabalu Music Society. Our goal is to continually level up our teaching, staying true to our motto: “Empowering the next generation through music.”
While some teachers in Singapore focus primarily on their performance credentials, we pride ourselves on being educators first. By constantly improving our methods, we ensure that every child receives structured guidance, holistic development, and an enjoyable learning environment in our music school.
Final Thoughts
The 1st Kota Kinabalu Music Conference was more than just a gathering of music educators—it was a powerful reminder of why continuous growth is important in shaping the future of music education. For us, the knowledge gained will directly impact how we run our music lessons in Singapore, ensuring that our students benefit from the best global practices while still enjoying every step of their musical journey.
Sean: I had a rewarding day at a music pedagogy workshop, gaining fresh, practical insights from multiple speakers that I’m excited to bring back to SG. The Dalcroze workshop by Jerison really left a deep impression, opened my mind to fresh ideas, and gave me a fresh perspective on how to apply them for teaching.
Zee: It was an event you wish you could split yourself into three, because all the topics were so interesting! The speakers were very engaging and supportive. There were plenty of opportunities to put what we learnt into practice, ask questions, and share ideas. Having Dalcroze as the opening presentation really helped everyone open up to one another, hence we made a lot of friends along the way, too. We’ll be here again next year, and strongly recommend that every music teacher attend.
Vinnie: Even though I only managed to attend the last session, it was truly an eye-opener and a very good experience. Dr Muhammad Fazli Taib bin Saearani was really able to work the huge group into an ensemble! I love it!
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