Yamaha Electone courses

It’s June…which means in another month, my girls will be having their Yamaha exams. My girls have been learning Yamaha electone for 4 years (@Sincere Yamaha Music School – M2S), beside other music classes. During the time when I waited for my girls practicing their exam songs, I remembered when I enrolled my girls at Yamaha for the first time, back in mid of 2008. And as the time passes, some of my friends have asked quite the same questions to me, in regards of music class for children and Yamaha in particular. Therefore, I am writing the following as a reference for those parents who would like to enroll their children into Yamaha electone class (i'll write another reference so pls come back in the future). Please be kindly reminded that what I wrote here is based on my experience and knowledge (fyi, I am not on Yamaha payroll)   *smile*  For more official information on Yamaha, you can go to http://id.yamaha.com

My youngest girl (JXC2) is standing while practicing her exam songs since she is too short to press the pedal

What makes electone so special? Electone is 2levels keyboard produced by Yamaha, with almost 2octaves keys on its pedals. So a player not only plays with both of his hands, but his 2legs are active as well (can you imagine the coordination required…it serves as a good training for balancing between right and left brains). Electone has programs which enable the player to have full orchestra support (if he wanted it) right on the tip of their fingers. An expert electone player (like the one I watched on video, performed by a Japanese guy in his 20s) can mesmerize you not only by the melody played but also by the body movement. I called it a total performance which satisfied my ear, feast my eyes and captivated my heart (my heart went thump thump thump…well the player was quite a hunk)…a really total musical experience.  

My oldest girl (JXC4) is practicing her exam songs

Yamaha, compared to other music schools (in asia), can be considered as the big brother. Therefore, the curriculum itself is well-structured and quite mature (and it keeps evolving along with the trends). The curriculum is more extended that what I will explain below, however since I have no real experience on those other courses, I will skip those. If you are interested, please go to Yamaha website.

Yamaha electone curriculum can be described as the following:

1.       Music Fantasy (MF)

This new course has been introduced in the early of 2012 with 2yo and above children as its target. The learning duration will be 1 year (36times @40mins) in a group with max 10 students per class. Parent (representative) involvement is required throughout the whole class. Since I’ve never experienced this class on-hand, I have no say on this.

2.       Music Wonderland (MW)

MW, a continuation from MF (but not as a prerequisite) is created for 3yo and above children, with intake in February and August. The learning duration will be 1 year (40times @50mins) in a group with max 10 students per class. MW lets the children experience that learning music is not something difficult (where you knit your eyebrow and scowl or tapping your forehead with a finger or even worse, pulling out your hair he he he). Learning music can be fun and entertaining, moreover when it is done together with your parent. MW requires full involvement of parent (representative) during the class. Together with the parent, the child will learn about music beat/tempo, rhythms as well as to develop their musical hearing and feeling. The class also includes song-singing, musical expression, and electone introduction (introduce few keys to create sound – not music/song).

3.       Junior Music Course (JMC)

JMC, the continuation of MW (but not as a prerequisite) is designed for children above 4yo, with intake in February and August. The learning duration will be 2 years (4semesters/levels, 20times per semester @60mins) in a group with max 10 students per class. During the first year of JMC, the student will start to learn do-re-mi (solfege and music notes). They will learn to read music score, play the simple songs on electone (one hand only, either right or left). 


The repertoire difficulty is developed according to the improvement of student's fine motoric and finger strength. Playing with both hands will be learnt in the second year of JMC (still a simple song, 6 to 8 bars). Song-singing, melody harmonization and hearing melody will be practiced throughout those 2 years. Music theory will be thought along the course as well. Simple way of variation will also be introduced in the second year, by transposing the given songs into another key scale. They also will learn how to play a simple ensemble with the whole class (each student plays a different part or with a different music instrument of the same song). JMC classes require parent’s involvement (representative) as well, since parental support is important to oversee the student’s practice at home.

There will be an exam upon completion of each semester in which the test will be conducted by Yamaha Music Indonesia. The test consists of playing 2 repertoire songs, solfege (the examiner will choose 1 lesson song), melody harmonization (the examiner will choose 1 music scale), and singing the chosen song (with expression). In the event a student fails the exam, he still can continue his lesson however he will be required to re-take the exam. Upon passing the final exam (JMC4), student will be rewarded Yamaha piano grade 11. 

4.       Junior Extension Course (JXC)

JXC is designed for children above 6yo, graduates of JMC (prerequisite) with intake in February and August. The learning duration will be 2 years (4 semesters/levels, 20times per semester @60mins) in a group with max 10 students per class. In JXC, student musical skill and technique will be developed thru playing higher level repertoires (includes sight playing) and many style of ensemble. Sight playing is the ability to play music score directly, without memorizing the notes (unlike during JMC classes, in which prior playing repertoire, student memorize the notes first). Musical feeling and sensitivity will be nurtured by continuous practice on melody hearing and harmonization.

Learning the electone’s pedal is introduced in the second semester (only 1 key), with more complex arrangement in 4th semester. JXC also encourages self expression by providing opportunities for musical creativity. Student will be introduced to start their own music/song composing (4bars for the 1st year and 8bars for the 2nd year), and continuous learning of improvisation thru variation and creating accompaniment for the given songs.

Exam will be held once a year in which test material covers all lessons that have been learnt in the last year. Student can choose whether they want to take electone examination or piano examination. For student who choose electone examination have to play 1 compulsory song (Bagpipe for grade 10 exam and Don't Worry for grade 9, in which those songs have the pedals playing). Upon passing the exam, Yamaha piano grade 10 and 9 will be awarded respectively.


The test consists of (1) playing 2 repertoire songs out of the chosen 3, in which the examiner will decide which song to play. (2) Melody hearing, which examiner will play a song (not from lesson books) and exam taker should repeat/play the heard melody. (3) Hearing harmonization, which examiner will play cadence of certain scale and exam taker should repeat/play the heard cadence. (4) Sight playing, directly play the given music score (not from the lesson books). And (5) accompaniment or keyboard harmonization, in which examiner will play a song (melody only) and exam taker should play the accompaniment and do variation toward the accompaniment. 

Unlike the previous courses, JXC doesn’t require parent attendance inside the class to encourage student’s independency. However, parental support is still the most important for the student.

5.       Junior Advance Course (JAC)

JAC is designed specifically for the graduates of JXC (above 8yo) with intake in February and August. The learning duration will be 2 years (4 semesters, 20times per semester @55mins). The learning will be in 2 different classes, a group with max 10 students per class which continues to emphasize hearing, reading, writing, and singing as part of a broaden musical foundation. It focuses on ensemble playing and improvisation (musical arrangement), as well as encourages the student to develop their own music/song.

Beside the group class, the student is required to take 1 private class (@30mins) on either piano or electone. The private class focuses on improving performance skill and piano technique by playing more repertoires. 

Books used on JXC levels

Beside JAC, this year Yamaha also introduced new class called nJNC (sorry, i still don't know what it stands for). This new class is designed for graduates of JXC which don't want to have a private class. nJNC will only have group class with the same lesson as JAC (minus private). However, the time to complete nJNC is doubled, 4 years instead of 2 years of JAC. 


Currently I don't have any information on JAC or nJNC (unless the above one) and once I get more, surely I will update this post.