SOMA | School of Music and the Arts

SOMA Enrichment

Established in 2005, soma enrichment is the training arm of School of Music and the Arts (SOMA), a MOE-registered private institution in Singapore. We conduct music enrichment programmes for primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, as well as training programmes for Ministry of Education (MOE) and other corporate companies.

Our vision is to provide excellence in holistic training comprising programmes that are educational, entertaining and most importantly effective in imparting musical skills to students today.

We strongly believe in providing top-notch programmes that are accessible to all. We engage students by making music fun to learn and easy to understand. Character building and teamwork is also as highly regarded as learning the practical skills of producing music.

We also believe in providing schools with additional value-added services to facilitate the running of these courses; installation of software and setup of computer labs, loan or purchase of instruments, issuing of feedback forms and compiling evaluation data are just some of the services we are more than happy to provide.

Soma enrichment employs only the best instructors with substantial experience in music education. Our instructors are either graduates from the renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston, or industry professionals who have worked with artistes including JJ Lin, Kit Chan, Michael Learns to Rock, Kelly Poon and Hady Mirza. All our instructors are AMIS-approved, with vast experience teaching in both primary and secondary schools.

Our facilitators are music diploma graduates who possess impressive resumes of formal training and performance experience that enable them to effectively guide students along and aid those having difficulties in class.

Soma enrichment is fast becoming one of the top-chosen music education vendors among schools because of our innovative and effective teaching methods. We believe in constantly upgrading the quality of our programmes so as to equip students with the foundation needed to excel in music.

We recognise that each school has its own distinct needs for music education, and therefore all our programmes are customizable to fit your needs and achieve your goals.

We guarantee that you will soon discover soma enrichment is music education at its best!

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POP! An Introduction To Pop Music

This interactive programme will expose students to different styles of pop music through the different eras. With the use of audio visual examples, students will be introduced to the different genres of pop music, their origins, and music icons that have played an important role in shaping today's music.

The final project will allow students to stretch their imagination in presenting a music icon; they may choose to dress up as the artist and attend a mock-up press conference or perform a song live.

Introduction to Songwriting

Everyone can write a hit song! This interactive programme aims to allow students with no music background to start writing their own songs. Topics include music theory, harmony, lyric writing devices and key songwriting techniques such as the use of repetition and motif development.

Our instructors, who are established songwriters, will help them improve on their songs and steer them in the right direction. Finally, students will experience producing and recording their own album in a professional recording studio, and leave with a CD of songs written by the entire class.

Vocal Enrichment Course

Now everyone can learn to sing the correct way! This course is designed to give students a strong foundation in vocal techniques and performance exposure. Through the use of NE songs and current pop tunes, topics such as proper breathing and posture, projection, diaphragm control, transitions and diction will be taught. Basic music theory and solfege will also be covered in this course.

Finally, students will put up a performance showcase performing the songs they have learnt, allowing them to apply what they have learnt and gain performance experience.

Guitar Appreciation Course

This course is designed to introduce students to the guitar and the various styles of guitar music. From the history to the construction of the guitar, different types of guitars to key guitar icons from the different eras, students will develop a greater understanding and appreciation for this versatile instrument.

To further enhance this experience, basic guitar chords and strumming patterns will be taught to allow them to play their favourite songs. They will also be brought to a guitar concert to experience first-hand what they have learnt in the classroom. Lastly, the final project will allow them to stretch their creativity through designing a unique "dream" guitar.

Guitar Enrichment Course

This is a continuation of 'Guitar Appreciation Course'. Students will now apply their knowledge learnt and new-found appreciation for the guitar to acquire basic and intermediate guitar skills.

Topics include learning to read standard tablature and chord charts, finger exercises, strumming and plucking patterns, note-reading and playing simple melodies, tuning techniques, understanding the fretboard, and learning to play a variety of chords in different keys.

All these will be taught through the use of current pop/rock songs, making this learning journey more enjoyable for the students as they sing-along in class. At the end of the course, they will put up a final performance to showcase the songs and skills learnt and gain performance exposure.

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Music Production & Songwriting Elective Module

This elective module is designed to provide students with an insight to the various recording stages of an album production. They will understand the theory behind recording, editing, mixing and production techniques, and experience using pro-audio equipment in a commercial recording studio.

Topics include signal flow, mixers, signal processors, microphones, miking techniques, acoustics and mixing techniques.

They will also be introduced to songwriting and lyric writing techniques used by professional songwriters and use these techniques to compose their original songs and accompaniment tracks. Finally, they will record and produce their songs in a professional recording studio and leave with a CD of songs written by the entire class.

Let's Get Loud! A Creative Percussion Course

This fun and interactive course teaches students how to create music using recycled materials and house-hold items around the house. Following the award-winning musical 'STOMP', pots, pans, utensils, bottles, garbage bins, cardboard boxes and even toilet rolls will be transformed into percussion instruments to form a band!

The aim of this course is to instill in students rhythmic fundamentals, musicianship and creativity, while encouraging them to recycle. They will also be exposed to different rhythmic grooves and percussion techniques for a variety of musical styles.

Basic Keyboard & Music Theory

Now everyone can learn to play the keyboard! This engaging course establishes in students a strong foundation in music theory and basic keyboard skills.

Through the use of aural and visual examples, notated handouts, rhythmic exercises and musical games, students will be introduced to note-reading, rhythm, solfege and conducting.

Students will learn to play 3 songs in a variety of styles: folk, classical and pop. Emphasis will be placed on correct playing techniques and proper fingering. Finally, they will put up a performance showcase as a class.

Digital Music Arranging

An introduction to music arrangement using today's technology. This highly interactive course will expose students to the ways in which pop and dance music are created today through the use of audio loops.

Topics include basic arranging concepts, various editing and layering techniques, understanding instruments and their roles in a band, and mixing concepts. Students will apply these techniques learnt to complete an individual project, creating music for their own photo collage.

Composing For Animation

This is a continuation of 'Digital Music Arranging' and is one of our most popular courses! Students will be introduced to the world of post-production for animation, which includes music composition, designing sound effects and voice-over recording.

Employing their editing and arranging skills learnt from 'Digital Music Arranging', they will compose an original soundtrack, write the dialogue and record voices for the characters, as well as mix in appropriate sound effects for an animation movie clip.

This highly interactive course aims not only to educate students, but to keep them entertained as well by providing them with a hands-on experience in creating the soundtrack of an animation movie they are familiar with.

Be a DJ Today! The Art of Turntablism

This highly interactive course introduces students to basic turntable techniques. Being one of the only DJ turntable programmes in schools, this course aims to provide students with a rare opportunity to learn beat-matching and scratching from a professional DJ.

Students will be given hands-on exposure to techniques such as crabbing, cutting, stabs, crossfader techniques, mixing and transforming. History of DJing and hip hop culture will be covered to develop students' understanding and appreciation for turntablism.

In addition, students will learn how to play the turntable as a musical instrument within a band, as seen in many popular rock bands today including Linkin Park and Incubus.

Finally, they will put up a performance showcase, demonstrating techniques learnt during the course.

The Recording Studio Experience

A once in a life-time experience for students to gain an insight to the various stages involved in an album production.

Students will be introduced to core equipment, microphones and other pro-audio gear used in recording, as well as the different people involved in a music production. This will provide career options for those interested in pursuing a music career.

The second half of the workshop is hands-on application where they get to apply the skills learnt; from setting up a recording session, to recording the session and finally mixing the tracks.

To end off on a high, students will be brought on a tour of Singapore's largest recording studio, which recorded international artistes such as A-Mei and Wang Lee Hom.

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Beatboxing & Vocal Percussion Workshop

Master the art of beatboxing and learn how to produce drum beats and sound effects, as well as imitate instruments, all using your mouth!

Learn drills, techniques, warm-up exercises and tricks to perfect this unique skill.

Songwriting & Home Recording Workshop

Our most popular workshop and perfect for post-exam periods! More than 3,000 students have attended this workshop and it is fast becoming one of the most chosen music workshops among schools.

This workshop aims to introduce key songwriting techniques used by professional songwriters to write chart-toppers. No music background is required, and students will follow a live step-by-step demo by our instructors who will compose an original song and record it on the spot using a simple computer setup.

Students will also be taught how to setup an affordable yet effective recording workstation to get them writing and recording demos straight away.

Now everyone can write a hit song and record high quality albums right in your own bedroom!

Music Camp

Sing and dance like a rock star, make your own instrument from recycled materials, and challenge your friends on the 'Music Battlefield', are among some of the fun activities designed to provide kids with the ultimate music experience!

This camp is specially created for Primary school students, and is perfect for post-exams or school holiday periods. We have selectedd our best instructors to offer a safe, interactive and fun-filled programme aimed at teaching music in a creative environment.

Through songs, dance and musical games, students will be exposed to a wide range of music fundamentals such as rhythm, solfege, conducting, keyboard skills, identifying orchestral instruments and music history.

To develop their creativity and educate them on the importance of recycling, students will create and design their own tambourines, shakers, guiros and drums from recycled materials. They will then be grouped into ensembles to prepare an item for the performance showcase.

Finally, teams will battle it out on the 'Music Battlefield' as they are put through different musical challenges, applying the concepts they have learnt and learning how to work together as a team.

Learning music has never been this fun!

Topics for this camp may be selected by music teachers to complement and reinforce the current music syllabus. Camp modules include:

. Understanding rhythm: Note values and rests
. Conducting and concept of time signature
. Basic keyboard skills
. Note-reading in treble and bass clef
. Creating instruments using recycled materials
. Singing with solfege
. History of music and the great composers
. Playing in an ensemble and aural awareness
. World music and different genres of pop music
. Music Battlefield: musical games and challenges
. Final performance showcase

*Schools can opt for a 1-day or 2-day programme.
All meals will be provided, and each student will receive handouts, training materials and a gift pack.

10-week Training Course for Teachers

This 10-week training course is designed to equip teachers with new skills to enhance their teaching of music in schools. Each module focuses on a unique skill or important teaching tool to provide an all-rounded music education.

This course incorporates the learning of guitar, pop keyboard, drum set and common percussion instruments. This will allow participants to use these instruments as teaching tools during music lessons. In addition, this course also aims to help music teachers become familiar and comfortable with music notation, sequencing and arranging software.

During the course, instructors will highlight important teaching methods and equip participants with the necessary skills in troubleshooting and designing lesson plans. Participants will be assigned to individual MIDI workstations where they will follow step-by-step instructions during the sessions and work on in-class assignments.

Finally, at the end of the course, participants will conduct mock-up lessons to demonstrate their ability in teaching the various skills learnt. Through the use of audio visual examples, accompaniment music, powerpoint slides and handouts, in-class participation, homework assignments and projects, this course aims to:

. Develop, in participants, basic playing skills on the guitar, keyboard, drum set and common percussion instruments

. Provide participants with a solid foundation in music technology utilizing notation, sequencing and arranging software in their teaching

. Enable participants to develop new training methods to reinvent music lessons so that lessons will be both educational and fun

. Train participants in pop songwriting and music arranging

. Equip participants with important concepts and teaching approaches to allow them to effectively design course outlines, lesson plans and necessary teaching material specially tailored for their students' abilities.

Module 1: Basic Guitar Skills
Module 2: IT Music Skills
Module 3: Vocal Techniques
Module 4: Pop Keyboard Skills
Module 5: Drum set and Percussion
Module 6: Introduction to Songwriting
Module 7: Writing for TV/Film
Module 8: Intermediate Guitar Skills
Module 9: MIDI and its applications

Prerequisite:

Knowledge of music fundamentals including rhythmic notation, note-reading in treble and bass clefs, key signatures, major and minor scales, intervals and construction of triads. (Preferably at least a Grade 3 Theory in ABRSM standard or equivalent)