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Our History

Poco Studio was founded in 2004 as a children's music book publisher.

Our Vision

Every child can learn music (Suzuki Concepts)

Our Mission

Provide every child with the support they need to learn music

Our Approach

Here are some of the pedagogical principles adopted for the series Music Theory for Young Children Grades 1-5 by YY Ng:

Problem Solving: Breaking a problem into smaller parts makes solving it easier. This series isolates a problem, breaks it into small, manageable parts, and then merges it back into the bigger picture.

Repetition: The key to learning music theory is repetition. Under the lesson plan, the pupil studies component parts incrementally, applying previously acquired skills in the repetitive drills of subsequent lessons.

Association: Children will not learn if repetition is dull. The series creates a fantasy world by using pictures, cartoons and stories to introduce new key words and concepts; this arouses the interest and invokes the imagination of the child, thereby aiding retention of the information.

Challenge: Examinations can provide a challenge to the pupil. This series covers the latest revisions outlined by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music for their theory examinations. It uses effective and efficient drills and exercises that progressively teach the basic concepts. The material is simplified to suit the child's level. The examples and exercises build on language and concepts that children already have, culminating in the acquisition of the skills and knowledge vital to passing the examination.

Ying Ying Ng

Ying Ying graduated from the Conservatory of Music and Drama (CMD), the Dublin Institute of Technology in 1994, majoring in instrument teaching and music education for young children. Ying Ying studied with Margaret O’Sullivan and Nuala Levins at the CMD, where she was herself piano teacher from 1994 to 1996. In 1995, she became qualified Colourkeys Piano Teacher. While at the CMD she developed particular interests in music education for young children, and has written several articles in this field.

Over a span of more than 15 years, Ying Ying has accumulated extensive teaching and lecturing experience both at home and abroad in England, Ireland and Indonesia. She is very actively involved in delivering music pedagogy seminars to young teachers, teaching them how to use innovative methodologies in their teaching of young children to make music learning fun for them, and how to conduct pre-instrumental group classes for the same class of children. In additional to her regular seminar series in Malaysia and Indonesia, Ying Ying’s other major seminars include an invited session at the 2006 ISME International Conference and an invited session at the 2007 Yamaha Piano Fair.

Ying Ying’s experiences and knowledge have provided the basis for developing new teaching methods incorporated in her book series. Launched in 2004 the popular series of music workbooks for young children Music Theory for Young Children, which contains clear symbols and instructions, creative illustrations, intense colours, and leading learning techniques in a highly structured and well-researched presentation, has been well-received by instrumental teachers, kindergarten teachers, parents and young musicians in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Thailand.

In 2006, Ying Ying authored Sight Reading for Young Pianists, focusing on sight reading skills for young children from beginner level to grade 1 level. In 2007 she completed and launched her third series Music Theory for Young Musicians, covering theory grades 1-5 of the latest ABRSM syllabus. She is currently working in collaboration with Margaret O’Sullivan Farrell on a new piano tutor series Poco Piano for Young Children 1-4, which will be available soon.

Margaret O’Sullivan Farrell

Margaret O’Sullivan Farrell studied piano with Elizabeth Costello at the Dublin Municipal School of Music, now the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, where she was awarded the Lorcan Sherlock Gold Medal in advanced piano performance. She is presently a lecturer in Keyboard Studies in the Conservatory. Margaret graduated with the B. Mus. Degree from University College, Dublin. As an accompanist and duo player, she has appeared in concert, and on radio and television, with most eminent Irish instrumentalists and singers. She has worked as repetiteur with the Dublin Grand Opera Society, the Irish National Opera and many music societies, and she regularly accompanies students in concerts, competitions, auditions and examinations. She has recorded two CD’s with violinists Geraldine O’Grady and Oonagh Keogh. A former Vice-chairman of the Irish branch of the European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA Ireland), Margaret has given many talks to that organisation on various aspects of piano pedagogy.

Karen Kim

Karen Kim is the founder and Director of Hello Music Studios (www.hellomusic.com.au) , a music school and education company in Australia established in 1990 which has taught and showcased to tens of thousands of children through instrumental and pre school programmes, public and school concerts and events, award-winning TV shows and highly acclaimed Live Interactive Cinema Shows “Hello Music Land”launched through Village Cinemas.

Music has always been a part of Karen’s life, since learning to play ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’ on the piano at the age of 20months to her piano and violin studies later at the Melbourne University Conservatorium.

Currently Hello Music School offers programmes from new born to adults (you are never too young or too old to learn!) but with a strong focus on introducing the wide and wonderful world of music to children through entertainment (‘edu-tainment’).

Karen’s current projects include developing an animated television series “Hello Music Land Adventures” and promoting her DVD Storybook “Dimmie Drum and the Beanstalk”, first of a planned Hello Music Land Adventure series.