Voice of the people: Take your pick of music courses
There are dozens of music courses in town, all having their own specialities on offer, although from the first glance at their signboards it's often hard to tell them apart.
If you have ambitions of singing for your supper, just want to perfect that bathroom baritone or tinker on the ivories, scan the following list. At the end of the day, your choice may well hinge on which school is closest to home.
Sekolah Musik Yayasan Pendidikan Musik (YPM) Jl. Kepodang Raya No. 30, Tel. 021-7350374 Jl. Manggarai Utara No. 5, Tel. 021-8292469
Established in 1952, this music school is probably the oldest and most respected one in the country. Programs include piano, violin, guitar, flute and vocal. The school has yielded top notch graduates, including Kuei Pin Yeo, the first Indonesian with a PhD in music from the Manhattan School of Music. The New York Times once described him as a great technician and a responsive musician.
Yayasan Musik Indonesia Yamaha Music Center Building Jl. Gatot Subroto No. 4, South Jakarta Tel. 021-5201577/5202578
Perhaps the biggest music course chain here, with 60 branches opened across the country since it was established here in 1972. A franchise of Japan's Yamaha Music Foundation, it has programs in piano, electone, guitar, drums, children's music education and popular music course.
Elfa's Music Studio Jl. Duta IX Blok LL No. 15, Tel. 8203757 Jl. Wijaya I No. 7, Tel. 021-7251647
Formed by noted musician Elfa Secioria in his hometown Bandung, it now has branches all over the country. There are four branches in the capital. Programs offered are piano and vocal, with an admission fee of Rp 300,000.
Lembaga Pendidikan Musik Farabi Jl. Dharmawangsa XI/5, South Jakarta Tel. 021-7224407
Established in 1978, it was subsequently taken over by top musician Dwiki Dharmawan. Teachers include the famous drummer Gilang Ramadhan, and programs range from guitar, drum, violin, classical piano, bass, trumpet and saxophone. Admission fee of Rp 600,000 with monthly fee of Rp 200,000. Audition needed for electric guitar, with additional fee of Rp 25,000. There will be final examination, which means there is the possibility of flunking, and a certificate is provided.
Purwacaraka Music Studio Jl. BDN Raya No. 10B, South Jakarta, Tel. 021-7512845
Another music course owned by a musician. Courses include vocal, guitar, piano, drums and violins. Admission fee is Rp 400,000 and monthly fee Rp 200,000.
Bill Saragih Jl. Cikini Raya No. 77, Central Jakarta. Tel. 3157002
Run by Indonesian jazz legend Bill Saragih, often called the Indonesian Louis Armstrong.
Yayasan Amadeus Menara Citibank, Jl. Metro Pondok Indah 2nd Fl., South Jakarta Tel. 7662853/54/57
Recommended by conductor Addie MS, the school is run by 39-year- old violinist Grace Sudargo. She was the first Indonesian, and the first Asian woman, to graduate cum laude in teaching and concert from the Austrian Hochschule Fur Music, the oldest music university in Europe.
Institut Musik Daya Jl. Taman Kemang I Kav. 11, South Jakarta Tel. 021-71792331
A music school run by noted jazz musician Tjut Nyak Deviana Daudsjah. It has two programs, undergraduate and graduate study. Students will be taught anything they need to know about music, with a major given in later years pf study. There are five subjects given for undergraduate study, and 22 subjects for graduate. The minimum age for undergraduate students is 15 years old, while graduate students should be at least 18 but not older than 30.
-- Hera Diani