Day 2 of the 1st Kota Kinabalu Music Pedagogy Conference – Exclusive Highlights for Music Teachers
Day 2 of the 1st Kota Kinabalu Music Conference started with a warm-up session revisiting the teaching philosophies of Carl Orff and Zoltán Kodály. If you are a music educator, you will certainly know these two influential composers and ethnomusicologists. Their methods continue to shape the way we design our music lessons in Singapore, helping us guide our students more effectively. We think Dr Colleen Wong and Dr Christine Augustine did a great job delivering the session!
Oh, we had a very enjoyable group working session! Creating our rhythmic pattern and presenting them with random words! Ours is “Kedai Kopi”.
A Diverse Range of Topics
The variety of topics at the 1st Kota Kinabalu Music Conference was truly impressive. As a team of three, we split up to maximize our learning, since every session was as compelling as the next. Audrey, the main organiser, summed it up best in her closing speech:
“We want to make it hard for you to choose which topic to attend. If you find it easy to choose, then we did not do a good job. But if you are splitting into groups to cover more ground, then we have succeeded.”
The itinerary was packed, covering two full days of seminars, workshops, and concerts. Here are some highlights from Day 2.
Less is More
Alton shared how creative constraints can spark better musical compositions. By focusing on motifs, composers can create works that leave a lasting impression. He highlighted Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, where a simple five-note motif defined an entire movement. Alton also presented his own composition, Fall, showing how restraint in writing can produce music that resonates deeply with audiences.
Performance Preparation
As a music school that runs annual recitals, this session hit home for us. Dr. Seho Lee presented an inspiring talk on performance readiness. His most powerful point was that a performance begins the moment a student steps onto the stage. Every gesture and movement affects not only the audience’s perception but also the performer’s confidence. It was a clear, impactful way to express something we have always tried to instill in our students during our music lessons in Singapore.
Lunchtime Concert
Lunch on Day 2 came with a surprise! World-class live performances by the presenters themselves. While enjoying our meal, we were treated to impromptu sessions that felt as polished as rehearsed concerts. It was a surreal and humbling experience to witness such artistry up close.
Most of the time, I would be holding my plate of food while my gaze would be fixated on the performance. The best part? They were simply doing some impromptu performance, and it felt like they had rehearsed for months!
Solos That Speak
One of the standout performers from the lunchtime concert was saxophonist Julian Chan. His later lecture, Solos That Speak, focused on improvisation. At Vinnie Classroom, we know improvisation is often the toughest part of Rockschool examinations. Instead of spoon-feeding pre-written solos, we encourage our students to create their own. Julian simplified the concept into three powerful words:
“Imitate, Assimilate, Innovate.”
This framework gives students a clear pathway to grow from copying ideas, to internalizing them, and finally creating something original.
Closing Speech and Final Takeaways
The conference ended with a press-conference-style closing speech by Audrey and her team, which felt both professional and cinematic. She touched on the role of AI in education, encouraging teachers not to fear it but to use it as a tool to enhance their teaching. That philosophy mirrors what we do at Vinnie Classroom, combining tradition with technology to improve music lessons in Singapore. Check out how we used AI to create our very own metronome app!
Her final words captured the essence of the event: the 1st Kota Kinabalu Music Pedagogy Conference succeeded because it was built on love for music and generosity in sharing knowledge. This spirit of collaboration is exactly what will empower the next generation of musicians! A mission that is also at the heart of our work. As with our motto, “Empowering the next generation through music”.
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