Junior Extension Course

After Book 1 of JXC, you will be offered the opportunity to support your JXC group lessons with additional 1-1 piano lessons. This can be with your group teacher or another Yamaha qualified tutor to focus on piano technique, versatility and content you may wish to progress with outside of your JXC lessons such as additional exam or performance opportunities. 1-1 lessons can be booked as regularly as you wish, but we recommend at least once a half term to start with.

Junior Extension Course invites children who studied on the JMC or JSFC course to move on to the JXC course as their next step. Building on the skills and musicality already developed the Junior Extension Course will:

• Develop expressional piano playing technique, music reading skills and theory.

• Encourage self-expression and develop the ability to create their own music through improvisation and composition.

• Guide children to musical independency along to their growth to school age

The Junior Extension Course encourages students to apply the knowledge gained in earlier courses in creative and innovative ways. It’s a transformative stage where parents witness their children blossoming into independent and imaginative young musicians.

Aligned with Yamaha’s emphasis on “timely education” (tailored to developmental stages), this course introduces a unique approach. Early in the course, the focus remains on auditory learning, with notation gradually becoming more prominent as the program progresses. By the second year, students begin learning pieces by sight before relying on their ears.

The curriculum covers a diverse array of subjects, including repertoire, lyric singing, solfege singing, keyboard harmony exercises, improvisation, composition, music theory, and ensemble performance.

After 2 years the children can have the option to take the next graded exam and then move on from the Junior Extension Course to the Junior Advanced or Ensemble Course.

  • JXC lasts 2 years, approx 72 lessons.

    Lessons last 60 minutes, in classes of up to 10 students.

  • There are four sets of materials over the two-year course. Each set contains a Repertoire book and a Solfege & Ensemble book, with access to the music via Yamaha’s streaming service. Each book lasts 6 months.

    Students will also require a Keyboard to practice at home. Where feasible, we recommend that JXC is a good time to ensure you have a keyboard instrument that is touch sensitive and represents that of a piano.

  • Children attend JXC lessons without parents, although parents still play an important role. Teachers offer ‘open lessons’ regularly in order for parents to stay in touch.

    Adults may be asked to join the class some weeks or asked to come in at the end of the session for a performance.

    This comprehensive approach helps develop an all-round musician that they share with their friends - a very motivating experience!