Specialist Diploma in Orchestral Conducting

Certificate in Orchestral Studies

• Principles of Conducting 1 (60 hours per module)
  The Principles of Conducting focuses on fundamental conducting techniques including baton techniques and gestural awareness, score preparation, rehearsal strategies, and various approaches to conducting. All participants will have the opportunity to participate or observe the NAFA orchestra rehearsals where they will acquire first-hand experience working with a standard orchestra and the conductor. Students will be granted podium time in orchestra rehearsals during the course of study in which conducting an orchestra is part of the assessment process.
  
  
• Orchestral Repertoire and Analysis 1 (20 hours per module)
  This module provides an overview of the development of standard orchestral repertoire. Relevant performance practice and stylistic issues will be discussed.
  
  
• Orchestral Score Reading and Musicianship 1 (20 hours per module)
  Students will develop score reading skills and musicianship skills on the keyboard, topics will include transposition, sight-reading, harmonic analysis, meter changes, figure bass, and instrumental balance in standard orchestral scores.
  
  
• Instrumentation 1 (20 hours per module)
  All students will attend a semester of instrumentation classes to enhance their understanding of standard orchestral instruments and various orchestration techniques.
  
  

Certificate in Orchestral Leadership

• Principles of Conducting 2 (60 hours per module)
  The Principles of Conducting focuses on advanced conducting techniques, rehearsal strategies, and various approaches to conducting. All participants will have the opportunity to participate or observe the NAFA orchestra rehearsals where they will acquire first-hand experience working with a standard orchestra and the conductor. Students will be granted podium time in orchestra rehearsals during the course of study in which conducting an orchestra is part of the assessment process.
  
  
• Orchestral Repertoire and Analysis 2 (20 hours per module)
  This module continues to survey the standard orchestral repertoire. Relevant issues in performance practice and stylistic interpretation will be discussed.
  
  
• Orchestral Score Reading and Musicianship 2 (20 hours per module)
  Students will continue to develop score reading skills and musicianship skills on the keyboard, topics will include transposition, sight-reading, harmonic analysis, meter changes, figure bass, and instrumental balance in standard orchestral scores.
  
  
• Instrumentation 2 (20 hours per module)
  Students will continue to study the standard orchestral instruments and orchestration techniques.
  
  

• Academic Requirement
  Relevant Diploma or Degree from recognised institution in Music, or equivalent qualification. Individuals with 3 years of relevant working experience in the music industry but possessing other diploma/degree qualifications shall be considered on case-by-case basis.
  
  
• Language Proficiency
  Minimum of GCE ‘O’ Level Grade D7 in English Language, or TOEFL iBT 40, or TOEFL 400, or IELTS Band 4, or SAT score of 450 (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing component) or Duolingo score of 55.
  
  
• Audition (15-20 mins)
  The audition comprises the following:
  • Sight-sing
  • Aural test
  • Short interview with the audition panel about your knowledge of repertoire and how this course will be of value to you.

Course Fees

Other Fees

This fee is payable during application.

^ Compulsory unless the student chooses to opt-out, subject to NAFA’s Office of Student Care (OSC)’s evaluation on the medical insurance coverage.

These are compulsory fees payable in addition to the course fee and are non-refundable.

The fees stated above exclude material costs.

Fee Protection Scheme

NAFA adopts a mandatory Fee Protection Scheme (FPS) to protect the paid fees of both local and international students for Full-time degree programmes, Specialist diploma courses, Preparatory English courses and Nafa Foundation Programme. The FPS serves to protect the student’s fees in the event that the PEI is unable to continue operations due to insolvency, and/or regulatory closure. In addition, the FPS protects the student if the PEI fails to pay penalties or return fees to the student arising from judgments made against it by the Singapore courts.

NAFA has appointed Etiqa Insurance Pte Ltd and Liberty Insurance Pte Ltd as our FPS insurance providers. Under the FPS insurance scheme, students’ fees will be insured by the insurer pre-assigned by NAFA. In case of events, as stated above, students will be able to claim their paid fees from the respective FPS insurance provider.

More details of the FPS can also be found in the FPS Instruction Manual, available at www.ssg.gov.sg/cpe/pei.html.

Fee Protection Scheme Certificate

Etiqa Insurance Pte Ltd
The policy is valid from 15 Oct 2020 to 14 Oct 2021. To view the certificate, please click here.

Liberty Insurance Pte Ltd
The policy is valid from 17 Dec 2019 to 31 Dec 2021. To view the certificate, please click here.

Refund of Fees

Students who wish to withdraw from or defer their course must submit their withdrawal/deferment application, duly completed, to the Office of Student Affairs. The effective date of withdrawal or deferment is determined by the Office of Student Affairs after all formalities stated on the withdrawal form/deferment application have been complied with. Upon receipt of duly completed Refund Form, NAFA shall within seven working days refund the course fees paid in accordance with the conditions as set out below.

1. Refund for Withdrawal Due to Non-Delivery of Course:

   NAFA will notify the Student within three (3) working days upon knowledge of any of the following:

   1. It does not commence the Course on the Course Commencement Date;
   2. It terminates the Course before the Course Commencement Date;
   3. It does not complete the Course by the Course Completion Date;
   4. It terminates the Course before the Course Completion Date;
   5. It has not ensured that the Student meets the course entry or matriculation requirement as set by the organisation stated in Schedule A of Student Contract within any stipulated timeline set by CPE; or
   6. The Student’s Pass application is rejected by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).
   
   

   The Student should be informed in writing of alternative study arrangements (if any), and also be entitled to a refund of the entire Course Fees and Miscellaneous Fees already paid should the Student decide to withdraw, within seven (7) working days of the above notice.




2. Refund for Withdrawal Due to Other Reasons:

   If the Student withdraws from the Course for any reason other than those stated in Clause 1 above, NAFA will, within seven (7) working days of receiving the Student’s written notice of withdrawal, refund to the Student an amount based on the Refund table stated herein.




3. Refund During Cooling-Off Period:

   NAFA will provide the Student with a Cooling-off-Period of seven (7) working days after the date that the Contract has been signed by both parties. The Student will be refunded the highest percentage (stated in Refund table) of the fees already paid if the Student submits a written notice of withdrawal to NAFA within the Cooling-off-Period, regardless of whether the Student has started the course or not.

Note:

1. Aside from the voluntary withdrawal requests put up by the Students, the above Refund Policy is also applicable when the Student is expelled from NAFA or withdrawal from the course for any reason.
2. The Semester Commencement Date is the date of the first Term of the Semester.
3. NAFA reserves the right to claim against the Student and/or parent/guardian for any balance outstanding payment due and payable.
4. Refund of SkillsFuture Credit must be paid directly to WSG (previously known as WDA) which in turn will reinstate student’s SkillsFuture Credit account.

Replacement of Classes

• There is strictly no replacement lesson should the participant absent himself/herself from the course.

The Academy reserves the rights to alter the rules & regulations, course contents, class schedule and fee structures without prior notice.

Application period for AY2021/2022 intake opens 2 January and ends 30 March 2021. 

1. Apply online
2. Print out the Application Acknowledgement and submit all necessary documents as listed below to the Student Admissions Office, NAFA Campus 1, for verification within five working days from the date of your online application:
   1. Certified true copies of academic certificates and transcripts from relevant Diploma or Degree from recognised institution in Music, or equivalent qualifications.
      Individuals with 3 years of relevant working experience in the music industry but possessed other diploma or degree qualifications shall be considered on a case-by-case basis.
   2. English qualification (minimum Grade D7 at GCE ‘O’ Level/TOEFL 400/TOEFL iBT 40/IELTS Academic Band 4, or SAT score of 450 (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing component), other equivalent qualifications)
   3. NRIC for Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents (SPR) and a valid pass for international applicants to stay in Singapore
   4. Curriculum Vitae
   5. After verification of documents, proceed to make payment of the Application Fee at the cashier counter in NAFA. If you choose to pay the Application Fee via online payment, you will be required to upload the above document during application.
3. You will receive a test advisory on the details of the audition from the Student Admissions Office upon verification of the submitted documents and payment of the Application Fee.
4. You will need to attend the audition at NAFA with the required materials as indicated on the test advisory.
5. You will receive a letter via post on the outcome of your application within 4-6 weeks following your audition.

Below is the list of teaching faculty for this course

• Dr. Zechariah Goh Toh Chai
• Lim Yau
• Terrence Wong Fei Yang

Upon completion of this course, you may look forward to the following career options: