"MEP is a special programme that not every JC offers. The JCs that offer MEP are RI, ACSI, ACJC, DHS, EJC and TJC. Most of the students who take MEP in JCs do both H2 and H3 Music for A levels. The H2 Music Syllabus covers a wide variety of music, ranging from Asian Music (e.g. Chinese Music, Malay Music, Indian Music) to the Western School of Music (e.g. American Music). MEP students would also be able to get the opportunity to explore their creative thinking through music writing and compositions (e.g. writing for String Quartets & Baroque Keyboard Music). You will be given various platforms to showcase your talent in the practical aspect as well, such as through concerts and school showcases. *Also, at the start of J2, you would have to choose if you would like to offer Performance Major(more emphasis on practical than music writing) or Performance Minor(more emphasis on music writing than practical) for A Levels. The H3 Music Syllabus is research-based, where students are allowed to research about any composer/work as long as what they are researching for does not overlap with the topics covered in the H2 Syllabus. Overall, MEP is an excellent platform for students to build up their musical experience, confidence and knowledge." --- Senior P(ACJC)

"There are 3 components: Content, Performance and Composition. For Content, we learn about World Music and fixed content that changes once every few years. For my batch, the fixed content was a choice between Music in the 20th Century and Concertos from the Classical Period to today. My teacher chose to teach us the content on the Concertos, but it differs between schools. For exams we have to write essays to answer questions regarding the fixed content. For World Music it is more of short-answer questions. Not sure if the World Music component will change in future years, but for me we are learning Indian Music and Malay Music. For Performance, everyone has to play their first instrument. However, duration of playing depends on whether you are taking a Performance Major or a Performance Minor. For Performance Majors, you have to play your first instrument AND second instrument/accompaniment/chamber (such as trio, for eg), total time given is around 20-25min if I remember correctly. For Performance Minor, you can just play one instrument for around 15min. Everyone must play at least 1 20th century piece in their repertoire. NOTE that you are either a Performance Major+Composition Minor OR Composition Major+Performance Minor. Everyone has to write a Free Composition of around 5min that contributes to a coursework portfolio. However, Composition Minors have to only do ONE set of writing exercises (consisting of around 4 exercises in each set), while Composition Majors have to do 3 (Eg, one set of lieder, one set of quartet, and one set of modal exercises)
Read the Syllables Content by SEAB for more details (can search H2 Music Syllables on Google)" --- Senior R(HCI)

"Since I took MEP in secondary school, I thought that it would be good for me to continue with MEP in JC, so that I could further expand my musical knowledge and not let what I've learnt in secondary school go to waste. Taking MEP in JC also provides you with many scholarship opportunities and I feel that it is a great platform for students to contribute to the art scene in Singapore and to build up one's musical experience. MEP in JC is not extremely different as compared to secondary school. We are still exposed to similar components in JC, such as Asian Music and American music. However, we definitely study these content in way more detail, and we have to write many more essays in JC. These are a few things to take note of if you decide to take MEP in JC! " --- Senior P(ACJC)

"I took this subject mainly because I took it for the whole of Sec school and didn't want my learning to go to waste. The teacher I had in Sec sch is the same as my teacher in JC, so I was already quite familiar with the teaching style and prepared for what's to come, so it's not really unexpected to me." --- Senior R(HCI)

"In my school, our lessons alternate between Western music, Asian Music and Music Writing. During our western music lessons, our teacher would run through with us the content (e.g. summarising the important points about the composer we were learning for that lesson), before we start analysing works written by that composer. We would have to pick out significant musical traits of that composer while analysing the score. For Asian music, we would sometimes be given the actual instruments (e.g. Pipa, Erhu - Chinese music) during lesson time to try out and explore the various instrumental techniques each instrument has to offer. During our music writing lessons, our teacher will go through with us various compositional techniques, ranging from the traditional classical compositions to composition techniques we have never seen. We will also be given opportunities to compose in school, such as using Logic Pro, a digital audio workstation and a software for composing anything we want (e.g. electronic music)! " --- Senior P(ACJC)

"We do a lot of content in class, by analysing Concerto after Concerto (because my fixed content is about the Concerto). In J2, a lot of focus will be placed on the Coursework (the Composition component that makes up our portfolio)." --- Senior R(HCI)

"I would say that every good result comes with hard work and self-determination. MEP is a very content-heavy subject, so it's best to start revision early so that you will not really struggle when exams are nearing. Having said that, as long as you do your work/assignments constantly and prepare for your term exams, you should not have to worry so much about your promos(end of year exam). Also, MEP consists of other components such as practical, and practical would usually help to pull your score up, so there's a very high chance of you passing MEP!" --- Senior P(ACJC)

"The thing about this subject is that many a times, it is very subjective. If you are somebody who is unwilling to take risks / really really wants to get a secure A, then maybe this subject is not for you. Because it is difficult to predict your grades and it is difficult to confirm that you will get an A in the subject. Also, you must have Music background, or else you will struggle. In my school, there are auditions for those who want to join and did not take music in sec school. These people should be at a playing standard of around Diploma level." --- Senior R(HCI)