Violin Competitions!

This is the time of the year and the season for violin competitions again.

 

The National Piano and Violin Competition starts tomorrow for violin category.

 

 

 

While it is supposed to be stressful, it has always been fun for our students and their parents. To us, winning is not everything, IT IS THE ONLY THING! Get it into your heads, young punks!

 

Bwahaha!!! Just kidding. We'll be dead meat if we adopt that kind of unhealthy attitude. Our students seem to have a knack for last minute work, what with their PSLEs, Concerts (ok, performing for the Prime Minister is not insignificant, I have to agree), Tours, Exams, etcetera etcetera etcetera. I even have one student taking the Piano, Violin and Theory exams plus uncountable school rehearsals all in this competition year. Or happily went for tour after PSLE before coming back to start learning their competition pieces!! Looking at their innocent and carefree faces .... I am the one who feel stress >.< !!!

 

 

On the way to Practice Sessions at Competition Venue

 

 

The practice sessions at the Competition Venue is like having picnic, without the food though. The students, parents, accompanists, helpers all went in as a group. Although they are supposed to compete against each other, yet we are still like a big happy family.

 

 

Some of the parents supporting their kids in our studio

 

To prepare for competitions, we open up our studios for the students to come as and when they like to practise. There were years where we went out as a group for feast, eh, bill on me of course. There were also years that we belanja the students to body massage to help them release stress :))) And, this is epic - one year, we bought this for Tian Ye to rest in the studio after his practices ....

 

 

 

 

So, now you students out there know why there is a folding bed in the studio!

 

Seriously, for our students - if you dare to go for competitions, we dare to teach you. All the Best!

 

 

 

 

 

 

When You Listen To Bach, What Color Do You See?

When You Listen To Bach, What Color Do You See?

Interesting, do click on the link to read about it. Long suspected but now with research done on it.

To my JPS students: I have not abandoned you.

(after a gathering with the parents and students over great pizzas & delicious brownies)


To my JPS students, make no mistake, I have not abandoned you.

Although I no longer teach in Jurong Primary School, that doesn't mean I have forgotten the whole lot of you. We have been through thick and thin together for the past five years; I have watched you all grown. I have always believe in you kids - you are a righteous, hardworking and talented lot. That means....don't give up music even though I am not around!

And I thank you and your parents for your unwavering trust and support all these while. It is people like you that make the world a better place. Stay true and God Bless.

Here's to our happy time together.....

1st Anniversary of JPS New York Trip

In 2010, our string ensemble went on a music exchange program to New York after obtaining a Gold Award in the Singapore Youth Festival (SYF). It was a wonderful trip that I am sure all the students, teachers, parent helper and myself will never forget. The bonding among us is very strong, even till today.



Celebrating 1st anniversary of Gold NY Trip



We had a mini celebration in 2011 at Jurong Primary School. The seniors came back to help out during ensemble practice and brought a cake with them. We had a fun time reminiscing about our sweat and hard work in getting the gold award and overcoming obstacles to perform in New York.

You can see that they are a cheerful lot and very close-knitted. The rapport was great - they worked hard together and played just as hard. In case you wonder, yes, that was how happy they were during every single lesson! It was a great pleasure to teach them. It is because of such students that the passion of teaching never dies.

 

Bonding Time with my JPS students (2011)

The P6s are leaving school soon, we had a get together before their PSLE. This is also my way of encouraging them in their studies. These were taken at Science Centre Cafe.

In the school garden ...

 With the card they made for me....

I am touched...

 

Erh....the power of music!



Mediacorp - shooting at Clarke Quay

29 September 2011

There was a request for my student to do a shooting with mediacorp, this is a good exposure for them so I jumped on the opportunity. Choosing the student was not easy, she must be free in the afternoon of a school day, of about the same height as the actress and can play the violin well. "Well", as in we don't know what to expect, so she must be able to sight-read with ease.

Rachel is the choice. She is confident, and she plays well - she is the High Scorer in her previous ABRSM Violin Exam.

We were given the music last night so Rachel only started learning the piece the night before the big day. I fetched Rachel from school and bought her McDonald for lunch to be eaten in the car, and we rushed to Clarke Quay. Here she is sight-reading the piece while waiting for her turn.

Some of my students like to do last minute work, so this is really a good chance to showcase their "last-minute" ability. We were told she is to play the music without the score! Rachel memorised the score while they're shooting the scenes!

That is the beautiful actress, Xiao Hui, that Rachel is playing double as.



    Rachel patiently waiting for her turn.

It's not easy to be an actor or actress. The weather is warm, and there are retakes sometimes through no fault of theirs, and they have to memorise their lines. It's hardwork but interesting.

I couldn't blog about this until now as they requested us not to until the show is out.

On another occasion, in early November 2011, I also brought Yuan Lin to Mediacorp's cadecott hill for similar shooting. It was much comfortable there as there's aircon.

As usual, my wife was there to help me with all the arrangement. She is a meticulous person, lucky me.

JPS New York Music Immersion Trip 2010 Part 4

Happy Times!

Now that I have completed the serious stuff, it's time for Happy Hours! Good Palate ... Great People ... Glorious Places!

We are certainly well-fed during the trip!

Central Park in Autumn!



            



Look at all my adorable kids! They actually ate 7 American Hotdogs each on average! Good God!



Ellis Island & the Statute of Liberty!



Can you feel the Spirit of Freedom?



    



 

Empire State Building!

Above: Haha...my four boys! The three Musketeers and Friend. The one on the right is my son, Thomas.

No, he is not into music...he's a science geek. Much as I would like him to follow my footsteps, he's more influenced by my wife. It's ok, mine is a democratic family :) I am happy as long as my students are doing well in music.

Natural History Museum

Many of my students have watched the movie Night Museum, this is a chance for them to see the real thing!

Well, I'll let you in on a secret. We, the guys in the group, got lost in the museum...lost in time! The group would know what I mean.



The Gum Gum looks bigger in the movie



Ah...the Little People!



I don't know why all the videos became blur after uploading onto the blog. I am so sorry about that.

Downtown Manhatten!

 

Street Scene

  

Joshua, Ethan, Jared



The Performing Arts Scene in New York is very active.

- this is an understatement.  

I'll let the Concert Mistress, Rebecca Beh, conclude with her feelings and impression of her string ensemble:

"The New York Trip was a great experience for me in leadership as well as learning to look after and look out for my friends, just like how they looked after me. In just 10 days, we have really bonded strongly and had lots of fun. This trip is indeed a memorable experience. I will never forget it."

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That's all, folks! This is my first try at writing a blog, I hope you enjoy reading and watching our New York Trip and I also hope the students will remember this wonderful time together. We must also not forget those who cannot made the trip but played an important part in helping the ensemble achieved excellence. All of you in the ensemble are winners. My wish for you all is success in anything you put your hearts into. Without a doubt, you can.