The Sound of Music

Date:  Sep 15, 2014

I bought a Er Hu for Jay Jay.

This is the one.  HaHaHa… 

He plays it quite confidently.  Although the sound is not so accurate.  But it is good already in my opinion for an eight years old boy with no family music background.  HaHaHa

Now, when you mix piano with Er Hu, this is what you will hear.  Kay just re-learned his piano not so long ago.  Jay picked up Er Hu from the school music class.

So, this is what I called “The Sound of Music”.

As Jay Jay still taking the Real Madrid Soccer class on Tuesday, we have decided to delay his Er Hu CCA to next year.

But I can tell, with no parent teaching, only learn it from the music class, the kid has excel himself to surprise his parent once again.

How can I not buy an Er hu for him?  Hahahahahahaha

So, the Er Hu I bought is fully made of plastic.

The only two pieces of wood is the tuner sticks.

Hey, it is only RMB 98 nia.  About $20.  hahaha

Taobao URL:  http://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.1.ZnMcGU&id=12764756754

 

Kay Kay & Piano Lesson Reboot

Date:  Aug 5, 2014

On July 23, we caught Kay Kay playing the piano by himself.

On July 24, we saw him playing the piano again.  

When Kay Kay is N2, we sent Kay Kay to a Piano teacher for about 1-2 months.  He have to canceled the piano lesson because Kay Kay suddenly lost interest of learning it.  He was learning under a very talented teacher at that time, but he is bald (no hair) and he always wants the student to be “perfect”.  So, that is why we figure, the main reason why Kay Kay quit piano a year ago have something to do with this teacher, the way how he teach.

If you remember, it was Kay Kay wanted to learn piano at that time.

As you know the policy in this family, if you wanted to learn, you will get the chance to learn, but the only thing is you cannot quit half way.  However, we make an exception for Kay Kay as we really see that he develops a certain phobia in learning the piano.

So, only July 23 & 24, while every one was busy, this young Kay Kay open up the Piano at home, and play with it.  

And some how, the tunes he play is not too bad.  Finger any how press.  But the tune is not too bad,

So, we asked him, if he would like to learn Piano again?

And he says yes!

So, he started his first piano lesson at ARC every Monday for 30 minutes after school.

And some how and don’t know how, he has the enthusiasm to learn piano, and we are happy about it.

After the class, he comes home and eagerly wanted to show me what he has learn. 

The Walking Song.

Hope that he can do well under this new teacher.

As I said before, Music is a strange thing.  

Father Mother do not have music gene, and sons some how gets a bit of music hobby.  

Like Jay Jay now likes Er Hu.

So interesting, and so cannot understand why.  HaHaHaHa

Anyway, if the kids want to learn, we shall let them learn.

Ukulele & The Boys

Date:  Oct 20, 2013

Today, I bought a Ukulele for Jay Jay.

He said he wanted to learn.  

The size is slightly smaller than mine.  And it is made in China.  So the quality may not be good compare to mine.

Let's tune it.

Cool!  It comes with "Teach Yourself To Play Ukulele".

And let's start teaching him C & F cord.  And the D-D-D-D strumming and the D-DU-DU-DU strumming.

He seems to love it.

My problem came when the young one also want to learn.  

After testing both the ukulele.  Jay Jay is more comfortable with my ukulele.  So, I let him use mine.

As for Kay Kay, he shall have the new ukulele.

 OK.  Let's hear it!  Jay & his first try on Ukulele...

Kay Kay & Piano

Date:  Jan 26, 2013

Who is sitting in front of the piano???

OK.  Who said that peer competition is nothing??

One fine day, this kid (Kay Kay) came back from school and ask mommy, "Why you never sent me to learn Piano.  I want to learn Piano."

We were like "HUH?  WHY?"

Our home has no piano.  There is no music gene in either my wife or myself.  So, why Kay Kay wants to learn Piano???

Kay Kay: "Because Noah Lee got learn."

Mommy: "OK… Are you sure?"

Kay Kay: "Nidal also learn piano."

This is purely peer competition and peer pressure.  But we like it. 

Jay Jay wants to learn a lot of things by his own will.  We were afraid and worry about Kay Kay as he has not shown any sign of interest beside the Art Boot Camp.  When we asked if he likes swimming? No.  Taekwondo? Nope.  Violin?  No.  Badminton?  No.  Football?  Nope.  Tennis?  Nope.  Some how this kids just refuse to have interest in these activities.

So, if Kay Kay ask for it, his wish is our command.  HaHaHaHaHaHa

So, on Sunday, same time slot with his koko, we got him a Piano teacher.  Mr. Yong Kai Lin.

What an coincident, teacher Kai Lin, also have a "Kai" in his name.  So, Kai teaches Kai (Liew Sin Kai), should have not problem la.

The first lesson is to be able to find all the 8 keys.  Kay Kay at first shown huge resistant in this class.  May be the teacher has no hair and he is a bit of afraid?  HaHaHaHaHa… We have to negotiate with 3x sweets, 1 hour of iPad education game (while waiting for koko later at Taekwondo).  Then, he has no problem learning.  He takes about 20min to warm up.  

And he found the last C key.

High Five!

This Kai Lin lao-shi actually has an impressive resume, and can see that he is totally a music guy.  He can teach piano, guitar, ukulele, violin, etc.  He study in some music school in Vienna, and has been in US for 9 years playing musics, etc.  Now part time in the art music school opposite Rendevous hotel, and here.  So, I think he will be a good teacher for Kay Kay.  We learned at Elite Music @ Sultan Plaza.

One more thing… he can speak Mandarin, so, we think it is good to have him speak mandarin so that to increase mandarin exposure beside school.

Next, he will have to find the C & D & E key which is Do-Re-Mi.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/cgtYve5utHU

And Kay Kay loves playing games in the Piano lesson.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/IT2BTM7ouo0

 So, I think Kay Kay start having some interest in Piano, so, let's make it a routine.  So, we will have to move the Art Boot Camp class.  May be move to Saturday or later in Sunday afternoon.  

As for Jay Jay, he still hang on to his Violin.  As soon as he can pick up and read the music notes, long short playing without error, will make him take test.  hahaha

But I love him playing … free music mah.  hahaha

So, if Kay Kay learning piano, he must have a piano at home.  Before we really commit to buy a piano for him, let's make him play on this "SEPARABLE Folding Silicone Piano".  I went to Canton Fair last year, and I saw this quite nice, so, I bought it.  It is not cheap for China standard, but it is new and never saw it before, so, I thought one day it might have some use.  At first I thought of giving it to my mother in law, as she play piano.

And now, I have to let Kay Kay use it.  So, before we get a new piano for Kay, let's use this and it is a full size piano, I think.  

It is a functional piano.  And it is good enough for young kids like Kay Kay.  I am so glad that I bought this in my last trip to China.  Otherwise, I will be headache on where to get a piano for Kay Kay.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/v/z2HrkVYDGdI

Don't Force Your Kid to Follow You or Your Dream

Date:  Sep 25, 2011

Jay Jay took his violin lesson at Elite Music @ Sultan Plaza.

The admin lady there said, "Jay Jay is a good kid."

I said "Why so?"

She said "Compare to the little girl in the class before Jay, Jay Jay is a very good kid, and easy to teach, and teacher Leong likes him a lot."

I said "Oh, what's wrong with the little girl?  Is it the little girl with the very pretty mommy?"

She said "Ya... that one.  But her daughter is very naughty.  Always run here and there, don't want to learn seriously, and talk back to the teacher.  So, teacher Leong always  have to scould her."

Then, I asked the real question "So, does her mom force her to learn violin?"

She said "Oh, I don't know.  Possbile."

I asked "How old is the girl?"

She said "Don't know?  May be 6-7 years old?"

I said "We did not force Jay Jay to take up this violin lesson.  It all started on one fine day, where Jay Jay asked his mommy to buy a 'Guiter'.  so, mommy went to toy shop buy a toy guiter.  And Jay Jay then put the guiter on his shoulder.  Then, we asked, that is not how you will play a guitar.  Jay said, yes.  That is when we reliaze that he wanted to learn violin.  so, we enrolled him at this Elite Music school.  And the most funny thing is, both mommy and daddy does not have any musical cells, we do not listen to lots of music, we did not went to any music class before, and we definitely not knowing violing."

She listen to my story, and is very amaze about Jay Jay.

Then, I continue "In order to keep to the pace, as a daddy, I bought myself a Ukelele, and it seems quite easy to handle as it has only 4 strings.  The most importantly, is I have to learn music, and hopefully I can learn faster than Jay so that I can answer any question he possibly have."

We both laugh...

Later, outside the class room, there was this couple watching their daughter learning flute.  Again, the mommy opened the door, and say "I am standing outside, I saw what you did.  You talk too much, need to focus."

A while later.  The teacher came out after the lesson.

Teacher said "I am still trying to teach her and make her get the idea of blowing the flute.  It will need sometime for her to get the hang of it."

So, given the story above, there are many parents really sending their kids to enrichment class simply because they "think" their kids will have the same gene and hobby as them, and some even wanted their kids to follow their footsteps.  Some may have the dream, to become a musician, but never fulfill the dream, and they wanted to expose their kids to music.

So, my view is... Please don't force your kid to follow you and your dream. They are not you.  Forcing them is not a good way.  Sometimes you should expose them to all kinds of things, and let them tell you what they want to learn.  That is very important!

2 years ago, I enroll Jay into Tennis class.  After half a year, I think I finally realize that Jay does not like tennis at all.  I have learned my lesson too.

So, at the moment, Jay is taking violin lesson which is a request out from his own little mind.  And he is also taking Swimming classes where he wanted to learn how to swim.  And since these are both his hobby and his interest and he requested for them, he is learning well in these two hobby.

 

 

 

The Young Mozarts

Date: July 30, 2011

Last saturday, my wife brought Jay Jay to "The Young Mozarts" concert performed at The Singapore Chinese Orchestra Hall.

You know Jay Jay, very excited about everything.

He is happy of course.  Mommy mommy, please take picture of the concert hall.

He is an observer.  He is more interested to know how the video camera projected the video on to the big screen, where the lighting are from, etc etc.

Ya the chair is comfortable.

First came the 4 years old boy playing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars".  My wife was like, "huh?  Mozarts wrote this?"

Then, a bunch of kids came out and pull the violin.  Jay was like, wow, all these kids are similar age or older than me, can I play the violin like that?

Tiffany Tan Chao Min.  12 years old.  On violin Solo.

Nikolai Song.  8 years old.  On Flute.

The ochestra.  Display all sort of instruments, and play it together.

Jay Jay did learn a lot of things during that concert.

The next day, when he is learning violin with Mr. Leong, this is what he told him...

"Teacher Leong, you know why today I play well?"

"Because I see other people play well yesterday."

OK... expose your kid to things they like, and keep encourage them.  This is the time to teach them about performance, and stage, etc etc.