Forty students and their families and friends squeezed into Staccato! eagerly waiting for the piano recital to begin on a blessedly cool afternoon on 11th December, 2011.

The first half began with the younger students (from as young as 4) performing their pieces amidst the oohs and aahs of their appreciative audience with more popular pieces like Old McDonald and even Jingle Bells with Christmas just around the corner. Older and more advanced students took the stage in the second half of the concert. Among the pieces played were Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Fantasie Impromptu Op 66 by Chopin, and Piano Sonata in F major K332 by Mozart, and with the students taking turns to flaunt their talents.

Another round of goodie bags for the older performers were distributed and with a short closing speech from Dr. Lee Pei Ming, the recital came to a close. Students returned home with their family and friends with countless pictures and videos to commemorate this special day.

Twenty- odd students from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YST) made an appearance at Staccato! on a bright and sunny morning on 20th November, 2011. They had brought with them various instruments of the orchestra. Among the instruments were the cello and the violin from the strings, the trombone and trumpet from the brass as well as the oboe and basson from the woodwind! But one student came with an electric guitar, introducing some "refreshing" music to the children. Once the students had their instruments ready, the games began!

The students armed with their instruments and flashcards first taught the children dynamics and then some articulation and tempo with card cutouts of clouds and "twinkle little star". Then, quizzes were held for the children with goodies given out to each child who answered correctly. The YST students played the tune of Twinkle Little Star on their instruments and each child had to identify the respective dynamic, articulation and tempo as Twinkle, for example, flew (legato) or hopped (staccato) around the clouds. After the games, the students introduced Kodaly's hand signs to the children with the infamous Do - Re - Mi from The Sound of Music. Then a short session was held where the children took turns holding the instruments and learning how the different ways of playing each instrument. By the end of the day, the children returned home beaming at the sweets they had collected and the infinite fun they had with the YST students.