Instrumental Pedagogy - Piano & Violin

An advanced mentorship programme supporting instrumental teachers in preparing for the internationally recognised ABRSM Teaching Diplomas

About the Academy - Advancing the Art of Music Teaching​

Joyeux Music Pedagogy Academy (JMPA) is a specialised training institution dedicated to the professional development of piano teachers and advanced musicians. Founded by Josephine Koh, the academy focuses on cultivating structured, intelligent, and artistically informed teaching for the modern music educator.
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At the heart of JMPA is a distinctive approach that bridges performance, pedagogy, and musical understanding. The academy goes beyond conventional teaching methods by equipping educators with the ability to analyse, guide, and refine performance at a high level—particularly in the context of diploma-level examinations such as ABRSM and Trinity College.Develop your teaching. Refine your thinking. Elevate your artistry.

NOW RUNNING — 2026 COHORT IN PROGRESS

A woman in an orange dress and black blazer presenting to a group of seated young adults in a classroom or conference room setting.

The Joyeux Music Pedagogy Academy™ is currently in session with an active cohort of well qualified Piano and Violin music educators.  This course will end in February 2027.   They are highly engaged in:

  • Structured lecture modules

  • Guided teaching reflections

  • Video-based pedagogy coaching

  • Tutorials on written submissions

  • Repertoire and career development

Inside the Programme (Weekly Structure)

  • Week 1 – Lecture (Instrumental Pedagogy)

  • Week 2 – Tutorial (Tutorial: Case Study Discussion)

  • Week 3 – Lecture (Principles of Pedagogy)

  • Week 4 – Tutorial (Practicum and Performance)

Structured Pedagogical Training

Limited places will be available for the next intake.
👉 Register your interest to be considered for the upcoming cohort.

Get Your Free Course Prospectus - Overview 2026 (Digital Copy)

Performance-Based Learning Approach by Specialized Faculty

At the core of JMPA is a performance-based approach to teaching and learning. Drawing from years of live performance classes, the academy trains teachers to:

  • Evaluate playing through performance outcomes

  • Guide students towards musical communication

  • Understand the relationship between technique, sound, and interpretation

  • Prepare students effectively for recorded and digital examination formats

This approach is especially relevant in today’s context, where performance recordings form a key part of assessment.

What Participants Are Doing Now

  • Writing structured pedagogical reflections and submissions

  • Filming practice videos and applying principles of pedagogy

  • Trained in aural, musicianship, sight reading

  • Acquiring knowledge with improving demonstration skills

The Joyeux Music Pedagogy Academy is built on the belief that effective teaching is not instinctive—it is developed through structured thinking, observation, and refinement.
The programme supports teachers through:

  • Guided mentorship

  • Score-based teaching analysis

  • Reflective teaching practicum

  • Professional discussion and dialogue

JMPA PEDAGOGY PORTAL (Enrolled Candidates Only)
GLOBAL Digital Mentorship Programme
Pedagogy Course with Conducting Modules for Other Instruments

Pedagogy & Mentorship

Two girls practicing piano together in a well-lit room with large windows and green trees outside.

Training emphasises pedagogical clarity, score-based teaching, and reflective professional practice through guided mentorship, group discussions, and lesson observation, aligned with ABRSM exam requirements on teaching reflections and approaches.

Who the Programme Is For?

  • Piano and violin teachers seeking professional development

  • Teachers preparing for ARSM or LRSM Teaching Diplomas

  • Conservatoire or music degree graduates

  • Educators who wish to move beyond instinctive teaching

  • Advanced musicians transitioning into teaching

  • Teachers looking for professional-level pedagogical training

Summary of Structure & Assessment

Joyeux Music Pedagogy Academy’s training programmes are designed to help candidates interpret these requirements, develop appropriate teaching evidence, and prepare candidates confidently for the exams: 
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ARSM & LRSM in Music Teaching

  • Teaching is assessed through live recorded teaching practice

  • Candidates submit contextual written or spoken evidence

  • A professional discussion with an ABRSM examiner forms a core component

  • Emphasis is placed on:

    • planning and responsiveness

    • musical interaction

    • reflection and professional values

Venue & Learning Environment

Spacious music studio with grand pianos, modern lighting, a reception area, and a polished wooden floor.

Main lectures and programmes will be conducted at Voices of Singapore, Stamford Road — a centrally located professional music venue in Singapore, offering an inspiring and accessible environment for advanced learning. Tutorial sessions will be held both online and in person.  

Why This Programme Is Unique?

  • ABRSM Authorised Diploma Teaching Centre

  • Direct insights into diploma assessment expectation

  • Mentorship from experienced pedagogues

  • A professional community of dedicated music educators

Group photo of women standing in a room with a piano and C.BEC sign, green and yellow walls

Overview of ABRSM Teaching Diplomas

The ABRSM Teaching Diplomas introduced from 2024 outline the professional expectations, assessment components, and evidence required for teaching qualifications at ARSM, LRSM and FRSM levels.  It represent a significant shift in the assessment of professional music teaching.  Rather than focusing on repertoire, these diplomas assess real-world teaching practice, contextual understanding, and reflective professional values. The overview below summarises the structure of these qualifications. Candidates are assessed by ABRSM, while Joyeux Music Pedagogy Academy provides structured preparation and guidance aligned with these requirements.

Click the image above which links directly to the ABRSM website for full details of the Diploma syllabus. 
Book cover titled 'Music Teaching Diplomas from 2024' published by ABRSM, detailing qualifications for music teaching including ABRSM, LRSM, and FRSM with a purple background and musical staff graphic. 
Official ABRSM Music Teaching Diploma Qualification Specification (2024). © ABRSM. Used here for reference via direct link.

EMPOWER YOUR TEACHING SEMINAR on 3 MARCH 2026 (PIANO & VIOLIN)

Event flyer for the ABRSM teaching diploma seminar and professional conference on March 3rd at Concorde Hotel, Orchard Road, from 9 AM to 5 PM, featuring guest speakers Josephine Koh, Lynette Lim, Mervyn Cousins, Zoe Booth, and Tan Yao Cong, with a QR code for ticket booking.

The Conference Dialogue Session was a highlight, featuring a distinguished panel including:
• Mervyn Cousins – Chief Examiner, ABRSM
• Zoe Booth – Chief Examiner, ABRSM
• Yao Cong – Representative, ABRSM Singapore
• Lynette Lim – Faculty of Strings
• Josephine Koh – Programme Director

Through lectures, demonstrations, and interactive discussions, participants explored important areas of contemporary music pedagogy including:
• score-based teaching approaches
• reflective pedagogical practice
• teaching practicum and case studies
• professional pathways towards ARSM and LRSM Teaching Diplomas

The seminar created a vibrant platform for professional dialogue and exchange among music educators, encouraging teachers to reflect critically on their teaching practice while strengthening the artistic and educational standards of music training.   It reflects Joyeux Music Pedagogy Academy’s commitment to fostering a community of thoughtful and reflective music educators while supporting the continued development of high-quality music education in Singapore. See reviews of attendees below. 

As part of the activities of Joyeux Music Pedagogy Academy, a full-day professional seminar titled “Empower Your Teaching” was presented for music educators seeking deeper understanding of pedagogical practice and professional development pathways.
The seminar brought together experienced music teachers, pedagogues, and industry leaders in a dynamic forum dedicated to advancing the standards of music education in Singapore and the region.
Facilitated by Programme Director Josephine Koh, the day's activities combined teachers' self evaluation with examination insights, a conference segment and guided professional practicum to support teachers who are preparing for the  internationally recognised ABRSM Teaching Diploma qualifications.

If you are ready to move beyond routine teaching and develop a clear, structured, and professional approach, we invite you to take the next step.
Join the Joyeux Music Pedagogy Academy

  • Gain clarity in your teaching

  • Develop confidence in your pedagogical decisions

  • Prepare effectively for diploma-level teaching

  • Be part of a community of committed educators 

Group of diverse adults posing for a photo in a conference room, some making peace signs, smiling, and dressed in business casual attire.
Two young women performing on stage; one singing into a microphone, the other playing the violin.
Five people standing on a stage in front of a piano and a speaker, smiling for the camera.
A conference room filled with attendees sitting at round tables, facing a stage with a grand piano and a white projection screen, in a professional setting.
A man in a suit is speaking into a microphone while a woman in a white dress plays the piano on a small stage. Four people are seated to the right, reading sheet music or watching the performance. The setting appears to be an indoor event or presentation with a large white screen behind the stage.
Panel discussion at a conference with a presentation slide titled 'ABRSM Teaching Diplomas - raising standards through reflection' and four participants, including two women and two men, seated on stage.
Group of people socializing at a buffet table in a restaurant or event space.
Group of seven people, four women and three men, gathered around a table at a conference or event in a banquet hall, smiling for a photo.
A woman playing a grand piano on stage with five people seated with sheet music, in a room with beige walls and red folding screens.

Teachers' Testimonials: 

Collection of four quotes from a seminar about teaching and music education, with each quote attributed to a different person named Joy, Rita, and Ping, on a beige background with teal quotation marks in the design.
Collection of two feedback messages on a beige background with blue quotation marks. The first message praises a seminar on active listening and diagnostic skills in teaching, signed by Violette. The second message appreciates a seminar on interpreting music and effective communication, signed by Nellie.