For the newer generation, VHS (Video Home System) tapes might be unheard of. But to the middle age and elderly, most will be feeling nostalgic about them. After all, we used to watch many of our favourite dramas and movies, and even record overseas trips and parties on these old video cassette tapes. What if you still have such vintage tapes lying around somewhere, and would like to convert them into a more modern video format like the Mpeg-4?

<p><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Looking at the scores of the piano exam pieces and wondering if a piece is suitable for you; is a familiar situation most candidates face, with many lamenting the poor accessbility to their audios of quality playing. If you can hear the piece while following the scores; it can, in many occasions, give you a higher confidence whether you should choose that piece. While sight singing can help, it does not give a complete picture of the piece's demanding expressions and intentions, and is after all, not a skill everyone possesses. Here are some tips on how to find the audios. </span></p>

<p><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">It's natural for many passionate and advanced level pianists to look for ways to improve themselves in piano techniques, and in acquiring a deeper understanding of the pieces they're playing. Attending masterclasses, recitals, and workshops is one such popular way, where it's really a good opportunity to hear and learn from someone skilled and experienced, and willing to share. So, when I heard of a Piano Workshop on 3 August 2015 on the topics of phrasing and using singing to help the pianist express better, I jumped at it!</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Piano teachers, music schools, parents or candidates must take note that there is a slight change to ABRSM Piano Practical Exams in Singapore from 2016. This change includes not just the usual graded exams, but the diploma exams as well, and will definitely affect the planning involved to prepare the candidates for the exams</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">The </span><a href="http://www.abrsm.org" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM)</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">, and </span><a href="http://www.trinitycollege.com" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Trinity College London (TCL)</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> conduct piano examinations every year in many countries all over the world, with more than 650,000 candidates taking ABRSM exams alone. In Singapore, ABRSM is arguably the gold standard that most parents and schools recognise and go for. Even big and popular music schools in Singapore like </span><a href="http://sg.yamaha.com/en/music_education/faq/" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Yamaha</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> and </span><a href="http://www.cristofori.asia/ver4/graded-piano-course/" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Cristofori </a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">send their students for ABRSM piano exams in each qualifying period. So, what does a ABRSM graded practical piano exam syllabus comprise?</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">The ABRSM Representative Office in Singapore is responsible for a lot of administrative matters related to the ABRSM examinations conducted here in Singapore yearly. It also ensures that the information flows properly between the London office and teachers. Thus, it is very important for Examination Applicants and Candidates to know its office address.</span></p>

<p style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Most of us know, generally, that the piano has black and white keys, and there are upright and grand pianos. But here's the interesting question - have you ever seen the insides of it, and understand how the many parts come together to produce the familiar piano sounds where pieces like Mozart's Turkish March, Beethoven's Fur Elise, Chopin's Revoluntionary Etude, and more; are based upon?</p>

<p><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Tuning your piano is a very basic thing to do for any piano owner. But, just how often should you tune your piano to keep it in good condition? We know when it is the time to visit the doctor, to trim our nails, or to cut our hair - how about when to tune your piano? Also, why does the piano even need to be tuned at all? And for us living in hot and humid Singapore, do the usual tips and advices apply?</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">You have heard that learning piano or listening to piano music during your pregnancy makes your baby in the womb smarter. Or you may have come across readings that suggest the fetus can develop to be more appreciative of music, or even acquire a talent for picking up musical instruments. Truth or urban myths? Let's find out.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Symphonies are bigger pieces of works compared to Sonatas and Sonatinas, and are musical compositions usually scored for a concert band or orchestra. Classical and Romantic period Symphonies, however, are quite dfferent in their own ways. Let's explore.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">It is always a big dilemma for parents to choose a "right" piano for their kid who is going to learn piano for the first time. And the main concern runs roughly along this line - </span><em style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">I'm not sure if he has interest, and I do not want to invest too much money to buy an expensive piano. Even if he has interest now, I wouldn't know it would last</em><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">. Totally valid. So how do we weigh the factors, and balance them; so that the kid gets a decent piano?</span></p>