FAQ's

1) What instruments are offered through the IMP?

Violin, Piano, Singing, Ukulele (Year 1 to 13)

Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Ukulele, Drums (Year 4 to 13)

2) How do I sign up for IMP lessons?

You can sign up for lessons at specific times throughout the year. This can be done via the 'Sign Up' tab on this website. Continuing students are always given a priority sign up period towards the end of each term and new students will be able to sign up once continuing students have been confirmed. New sign up periods will be advertised via FAM emails and the school online newsletter. For further information, please see Ms Nik in the music staff room or via the contact page.

3) Who are the lessons for?

  • Young students wishing to learn an instrument in a friendly and familiar environment.

  • Students who are wishing to improve their instrumental skills before entering school ensembles such as the orchestra.

  • Parents who would like their children to have a go at one or two instruments to see which suits their child best.

  • Parents who would like their child to have music lessons without them taking up family time in the evening or on weekends.

  • Convenience for both students and parents.

4) What can parents expect?

  • Students will have a 40 minute lesson each week which will normally take place during the school day (for Primary students) or after school (Secondary students).

  • Students will miss some of their regular classes, however, care is taken to ensure that key curriculum lessons are not affected.

  • Students will have a lesson diary which will show what they need to practice during the week.

  • The lesson diary will also contain a short lesson report each week and act as a form of communication between the parent and teacher.

  • Parents will receive a report about student progress at the end of each term.

5) How do I choose the right instrument for my child?

A good indication is the child’s own preference for the sound of the instrument. If your child is impatient to make progress quickly then the Guitar or Singing may be a good choice. For the Violin, the ability to hear different pitches clearly is an advantage. If in doubt, please contact our IMP Management Team.

6) Can my child learn more than one instrument?

Learning more than one instrument is very common. However, normally it is better to get started and make some progress on one instrument before starting another. If your child is desperately keen to start two and you are not sure which one to choose, then taking two instruments for a while should help you make up your mind. Try to avoid ‘hopping’ from one instrument to another. This will mean that very little progress is actually made and can de-motivate the child.

7) What happens if my child misses a lesson?

Generally, our tutors will try to do a 'make up' lesson if a child misses a lesson due to a school event. They will generally NOT do make up lessons when a child is sick. Make up lessons will take place when a tutor has a gap in their timetable and the make up lesson has been approved by the class teacher.

Please see our updated policy (September 2021) about the process if a student misses a lesson due to illness.

8) Can my child have lessons after school?

Priority for lessons after school is given to older students - usually those in the Secondary school and sometimes those in Year 6.

9) What can I do to help at home?

Parents can make a huge difference to a child’s musical progress at home. Establishing a regular time and place for practice has been proved to be the most essential element for success. Using the same time for practice each day has also been proved to make a significant difference. Practicing for a short time each day has far more benefits than just one or two long sessions per week. Do not insist on practicing for a certain length of time to begin with. Just a short practice of things that have been set by the teacher will keep your child feeling successful and motivated.

10) How do I find out how my child is doing?

Your child’s music lesson diary should keep you informed about what your child is studying and the tutor will fill in the small report chart week. If you have any specific questions for the tutor, please write them in the note book on the page to be used in the next lesson. You will also receive a formal report at the end of each term. If you would like to meet with the tutor, please contact our IMP Management Team to arrange a time.

11) Will my child miss important class lessons?

Whilst every lesson is important in its own way, care is taken to make sure your child does not miss specialist lessons or class lessons where new material is being taught. Subjects such as Maths and English are also avoided. Once the timetable has been written, class teachers have the opportunity to request changes to suit the child’s individual needs. Despite children missing some of their time in class, research shows that there is a strong correlation between students who take part in an instrumental study programme and success in higher education and in gaining higher incomes in later life.

12) How experienced are the tutors?

Our tutors are from the KL music community and have all been working with GIS for a number of years. We take pride in the fact that our GIS Music staff and IMP tutors work closely together to ensure that our students are progressing and being given a music education of the highest standard. All of our tutors have been through a rigorous interview process and are expected to be continually improving their practice. All of our tutors are provided with training opportunities throughout the year, usually provided by GIS teaching staff. You can learn more about our tutors here.

13) What are the prices of the books available for students?

Click here to access the GIS IMP Book List.

14) I've lost my book purchase form? Where do I get a new one?

Come to the Music Office on the 3rd floor and receive a new one. Or download the form here.

15) My child is in Year 1, when is a good time to start IMP lessons?

It is completely dependent on the needs of your child, however, we would generally suggest that there is no rush to start during the first term of Year 1! New slots are offered at the beginning of each term so it is easy to sign up later. Often when a child starts Year 1 they can be overwhelmed with the size of the school, the new routines and the many activities throughout the day, so IMP lessons can add extra stress to some children. Other children adapt very quickly and are happy to begin straight away. It is always worth taking a trial lesson if you are not sure, or discuss with the class teacher whether they think your child is ready. If in doubt, please get in touch with us and we can discuss it together.