Joyeux Music International™ Pedagogy Festival 2026
Celebrating Teachers. Developing Pedagogy.
At the heart of every young musician's development is a teacher. The Joyeux Music International™ Pedagogy Festival recognises the vital contribution of music teachers while creating opportunities for them to continue growing as musicians, educators and reflective practitioners.
Held alongside the International Piano Competition, the Pedagogy Festival extends the experience beyond performance and prizes. Through teacher workshops, guest speakers, masterclasses, pedagogical discussions and professional development sessions, teachers will be invited to explore practical approaches to instrumental teaching, musicianship, repertoire, interpretation and the wider responsibilities of music education.
The JMI Pedagogy Festival is founded on the belief that a teacher's education does not end with a qualification. Effective teaching continues to evolve through study, reflection, observation, performance and engagement with other educators. It therefore seeks to create a meeting place where teachers at different stages of their careers can learn, exchange ideas and discover new pathways for professional development.
Festival Registration Fees
Pedagogy Seminar — S$180 (Single session)
Pedagogy Talk — S$35 (Single session)
Pedagogy Masterclass — Free with registration or JMPA member
Full Pedagogy Festival Pass — S$329
$279 Early Bird (Registration before 30 October)
Includes both Pedagogy Seminars and Pedagogy Talks
Festival Calendar & Summary
17-19 November
With jury-led masterclasses during the JMI Competition , music teachers in the JMPA programme will engage in writing reflections and document their learning experiences.
24-25 November
The Festival then moves into the following week, with an intensive two-day programme of seminars and talks with the key topics:
Preparing ABRSM alternative exam pieces of Grades 6 to 8
ARSM & LRSM Teaching diploma courses offered by the Joyeux Music Pedagogy Academy (JMPA)
Preparing AMusTCL & LMusTCL Theoretical Diplomas
AI in music learning and teaching.
With competition winners featured in the JMI Gala Winner’s Concert, the JMI Pedagogy Festival Concert will culminate in performances by music teachers appearing in solo and ensemble repertoire — celebrating the teacher not only as educator and mentor, but also glowing with a continuing performance spirit.
Teach. Learn. Perform. Grow.
The Joyeux Music International™ Pedagogy Festival invites teachers to become part of a developing community committed to excellence in piano teaching and lifelong musical growth.
JMI Pedagogy Festival Concert
Performances by teachers in the JMPA progamme, featuring solo, and ensemble repertoire. Date, time and venue will be announced soon.
Pedagogy Festival Day 1 Programme
24 November 2026
Seminar | 9.30am–12pm & 1pm–3pm Fee: $180
Teachers’ Choice 2027: ABRSM Alternative Piano Exam Pieces, Grades 6–8
This extended pedagogy seminar will explore selected alternative repertoire for Grades 6 to 8, focusing on musical style, interpretation, technical and pedagogical challenges, and approaches to teaching the works effectively. Through score study, live demonstration and discussion, participants will be encouraged to consider repertoire choice not simply from the perspective of examination preparation, but also in relation to the musical and technical development of their students.
Talk | 3.30pm–4.30pm Fee: $35
Becoming an ABRSM Diploma-Qualified Teacher
A professional development talk introducing teachers to the progression towards the ARSM and LRSM Teaching Diplomas. This informative session explores the expectations of diploma-level pedagogical study, including the importance of reflective practice, musicianship and continuing professional development. The session will also introduce structured ABRSM Teaching Diploma training pathways for teachers interested in pursuing these professional qualifications.
Further Study: Priority registration for the March 2027 intake will be available to interested teachers in pursuing the ARSM and LRSM Teaching Diploma programmes offered at Joyeux Music Pedagogy Academy (JMPA) , an ABRSM Authorised Diploma Training Center.
Pedagogy Festival Day 2 Programme
25 November 2026
Seminar | 9.30am - 12pm, 1pm - 3pm Fee: $180
Preparing for AMusTCL and LMusTCL Diplomas (2026–2028)
This extended seminar examines the demands of advanced diploma study in music theory, analysis and composition, with reference to the current Trinity exam syllabus and prescribed works. Teachers and candidates will receive practical guidance on examination preparation, selection and study of set works, and approaches to written questions in areas including harmony, song writing, twentieth-century techniques and string quartet writing. The seminar will also consider effective study planning and strategies for developing the depth of musical understanding required at diploma level.
Further Study: A structured preparation diploma course commencing in January 2027 will be available for candidates planning to work towards the November 2027 examinations.
Talk | 3.30pm – 4.30pm Fee: $35
Engaging with AI: Music Teaching in the AI Age
This forward-looking discussion considers the changing role of the music teacher in an increasingly AI-enabled educational environment. The session will explore how emerging technologies can support lesson preparation, research, reflection and professional development, while examining what remains distinctively human in effective music teaching — professional judgement, musicianship, communication, psychological understanding and ethical responsibility.