Testimonials
Here are some comments by parents and students on Sok Yi's Classical Guitar lessons:
"Sok Yi is such a great guitar teacher, not only she has the combination of strong technique and musicality, but also she communicates her direction in a way that is simple to understand for my child. Simply five star!"
- Lastari Duggan, Beechworth
"Sok Yi, you are a very good teacher. You explain things really well and help with techniques. And the songs you give me are nice. Thank you for helping me."
- Henry Duggan, 7 year old, Beechworth
"We were lucky Sok Yi offered classical guitar in our primary school. We loved playing classical guitar from the moment we started. Seven years later we are still playing and performing. We love it! Thank you Sok Yi and Stephan for teaching us and sharing your love of classical guitar."
- Jesse and Micah Ramsay, Darwin
"Our sons learnt to play classical guitar with Sok Yi and Stephan teaching them in Darwin. Our sons enjoyed their lessons and quickly progressed. It is lovely music to hear as our sons practise and the neighbours enjoy it too! We are grateful for the fine teaching Sok Yi and Stephan gave our sons and the ability to play such beautiful music."
- Lois and Peter Ramsay, Darwin
"As the Classroom Music Teacher for St Mary's PS (2002-03) and Moil Primary (2004-09) in Darwin, I employed Sok Yi Bulmer to teach classical guitar as an integral part of both schools' instrumental programs. Sok Yi had a wonderful reputation for her musical ability and teaching skills. From the outset, Sok Yi was always able to give sound practical advice to parents, regarding instrument purchase and practise schedules for all her students. She displayed a warm and empathic approach to each child and was quickly able to establish a wonderful rapport with them. In a very short space of time, children were confident and happily playing guitars, and it was clearly evident that their playing, music literacy and musicality were very rich. This was largely due to her extensive knowledge of repertoire and technique, coupled with an ability to relate to even the youngest of students in a meaningful way.
In her first year of teaching in both schools, Sok Yi was able to deliver concerts where each student presented solo works, and several performed as part of a small ensemble. This achievement was nothing short of amazing, and it brought much to the musical life of both schools. Sok Yi always made it possible for her students to extend their musical performing beyond their lessons and school concerts. An example of this, was when several of her primary-aged students were invited to join a classical guitar orchestra at the NT university to perform with Anthony Garcia at the Darwin Festival in 2009. This was alongside adult performers.
Sok Yi's professionalism and work ethic were of the highest standard. She was organised and established an efficient timetable which always worked within the parameters of schools' day to day running. I appreciated her adaptability and willingness to fit in. Clear working timetables, invoicing and receipting for lessons, with regular communication with parents were 'standard' for Sok Yi, and I appreciated her thoroughness in these aspects of her work very much.
On a personal level, my daughter began her classical guitar studies with Sok Yi at the age of 8. She is now 16, continuing with her weekly lessons in Melbourne, playing her guitar daily, and remains with a continued love of the instrument and an ability to read music very well. This has all stemmed from Sok Yi's teaching and the excellent foundations she instilled."
- Loretta Simmonds
B Mus, Grad Dip Ed (Secondary), Grad Dip Ed (Jazz)
Classroom Music Teacher in Secondary and Primary Schools (1985 - Present)"
"Sok Yi has taught my son, Tyson, classical guitar for 5 years. With lessons beginning in Year 3 Sok Yi has successfully managed to keep Tyson’s interest in classical guitar from this early age right through to 14 years. Sok Yi has gifted Tyson with the more difficult skills of classical guitar which he has then been able to adapt to teach himself electric and acoustic guitar.
Sok Yi established a guitar ensemble for some of her more advanced and continuing students. The music pieces she brought together with the ensemble were amazing. Sok Yi organised for the ensemble to perform in front of a variety of appreciative audiences around Darwin to give her students performance experience.
We were disappointed Sok Yi left Darwin but feel privileged to have had the opportunity to have Tyson taught by such a skilled, enthusiastic and knowledgeable teacher. The ensemble she established, now called the Bulmer Ensemble in her (and Stephan’s) honour is still performing today in Darwin. I can highly recommend Sok Yi as a classical guitar teacher just as she was highly recommended to us."
- Sharon Wallent
Leanyer, Northern Territory
"Sok Yi taught me classical guitar for 5 years. Sok Yi made it interesting and enjoyable learning a variety of genres and different techniques, both as a soloist and in an ensemble with like-minded guitar players."
- Tyson Wallent
Leanyer, Northern Territory
"Sok Yi and Stephan are the kind of teachers you wish you had: they have patiently supported and extended our son as a guitarist. they are rigorous in their approach to music without being overbearing. In an inspired move, they matched our son up with other young guitarists to work as an ensemble. Nearly five years on, the fruits of their labours are beginning to show. Unfortunately they are no longer in Darwin to see it, but it is in recognition of the work of Sok Yi and Stephan that their current teacher has named them The Bulmer Ensemble."
- Helen and Michael, Darwin
"Sok Yi is such a great guitar teacher, not only she has the combination of strong technique and musicality, but also she communicates her direction in a way that is simple to understand for my child. Simply five star!"
- Lastari Duggan, Beechworth
"Sok Yi, you are a very good teacher. You explain things really well and help with techniques. And the songs you give me are nice. Thank you for helping me."
- Henry Duggan, 7 year old, Beechworth
"We were lucky Sok Yi offered classical guitar in our primary school. We loved playing classical guitar from the moment we started. Seven years later we are still playing and performing. We love it! Thank you Sok Yi and Stephan for teaching us and sharing your love of classical guitar."
- Jesse and Micah Ramsay, Darwin
"Our sons learnt to play classical guitar with Sok Yi and Stephan teaching them in Darwin. Our sons enjoyed their lessons and quickly progressed. It is lovely music to hear as our sons practise and the neighbours enjoy it too! We are grateful for the fine teaching Sok Yi and Stephan gave our sons and the ability to play such beautiful music."
- Lois and Peter Ramsay, Darwin
"As the Classroom Music Teacher for St Mary's PS (2002-03) and Moil Primary (2004-09) in Darwin, I employed Sok Yi Bulmer to teach classical guitar as an integral part of both schools' instrumental programs. Sok Yi had a wonderful reputation for her musical ability and teaching skills. From the outset, Sok Yi was always able to give sound practical advice to parents, regarding instrument purchase and practise schedules for all her students. She displayed a warm and empathic approach to each child and was quickly able to establish a wonderful rapport with them. In a very short space of time, children were confident and happily playing guitars, and it was clearly evident that their playing, music literacy and musicality were very rich. This was largely due to her extensive knowledge of repertoire and technique, coupled with an ability to relate to even the youngest of students in a meaningful way.
In her first year of teaching in both schools, Sok Yi was able to deliver concerts where each student presented solo works, and several performed as part of a small ensemble. This achievement was nothing short of amazing, and it brought much to the musical life of both schools. Sok Yi always made it possible for her students to extend their musical performing beyond their lessons and school concerts. An example of this, was when several of her primary-aged students were invited to join a classical guitar orchestra at the NT university to perform with Anthony Garcia at the Darwin Festival in 2009. This was alongside adult performers.
Sok Yi's professionalism and work ethic were of the highest standard. She was organised and established an efficient timetable which always worked within the parameters of schools' day to day running. I appreciated her adaptability and willingness to fit in. Clear working timetables, invoicing and receipting for lessons, with regular communication with parents were 'standard' for Sok Yi, and I appreciated her thoroughness in these aspects of her work very much.
On a personal level, my daughter began her classical guitar studies with Sok Yi at the age of 8. She is now 16, continuing with her weekly lessons in Melbourne, playing her guitar daily, and remains with a continued love of the instrument and an ability to read music very well. This has all stemmed from Sok Yi's teaching and the excellent foundations she instilled."
- Loretta Simmonds
B Mus, Grad Dip Ed (Secondary), Grad Dip Ed (Jazz)
Classroom Music Teacher in Secondary and Primary Schools (1985 - Present)"
"Sok Yi has taught my son, Tyson, classical guitar for 5 years. With lessons beginning in Year 3 Sok Yi has successfully managed to keep Tyson’s interest in classical guitar from this early age right through to 14 years. Sok Yi has gifted Tyson with the more difficult skills of classical guitar which he has then been able to adapt to teach himself electric and acoustic guitar.
Sok Yi established a guitar ensemble for some of her more advanced and continuing students. The music pieces she brought together with the ensemble were amazing. Sok Yi organised for the ensemble to perform in front of a variety of appreciative audiences around Darwin to give her students performance experience.
We were disappointed Sok Yi left Darwin but feel privileged to have had the opportunity to have Tyson taught by such a skilled, enthusiastic and knowledgeable teacher. The ensemble she established, now called the Bulmer Ensemble in her (and Stephan’s) honour is still performing today in Darwin. I can highly recommend Sok Yi as a classical guitar teacher just as she was highly recommended to us."
- Sharon Wallent
Leanyer, Northern Territory
"Sok Yi taught me classical guitar for 5 years. Sok Yi made it interesting and enjoyable learning a variety of genres and different techniques, both as a soloist and in an ensemble with like-minded guitar players."
- Tyson Wallent
Leanyer, Northern Territory
"Sok Yi and Stephan are the kind of teachers you wish you had: they have patiently supported and extended our son as a guitarist. they are rigorous in their approach to music without being overbearing. In an inspired move, they matched our son up with other young guitarists to work as an ensemble. Nearly five years on, the fruits of their labours are beginning to show. Unfortunately they are no longer in Darwin to see it, but it is in recognition of the work of Sok Yi and Stephan that their current teacher has named them The Bulmer Ensemble."
- Helen and Michael, Darwin