Archive for the 'Play Piano & Music' Category

Yesterday, my girl had her Grade 1 piano trial exam. Though it was only a trial, we were more nervous than her, worried about whether she would be nervous. Hahaha. It turned out alright. The examiner said that she was a very musical child and for a first timer, it was good achievement, something like that. My memory is so bad, even as I left the music school, I had forgotten what the examiner said so I can’t blog it. lol. I only remember “musical child’ so we went to celebrate even though we didn’t have the results yet. Hahaha. Anyway, its just a trial, so the “celebration” is to encourage and reward her for her hard work in practising and being brave during the test.

She wanted to have McDonalds, so thats what we had. After I left McDonalds and walked past KFC, I saw a familiar face. It was Small C. (The face was unmistakable) Then I saw Big C. So I looked out for Sasha. By that time we had walked on quite far ahead and the family was far ahead of me as I was turning my head back to look. I didn’t catch a glimpse of cute Lil C though. I wanted to run up to her to say “Hi! I know you but you don’t know me” then walk off with a cackle but then they went up the escalator and my family who likes to race in shopping malls had almost disappeared from view by then so I couldn’t go to kacau her.

Too bad. I would have loved to kacau her. My husband would probably think I am mad going to greet and chat with someone I don’t know like she is a long lost friend. Haha. But that is the thing with bloggers. She feels like a long lost friend even though I have not met her before. No, I think it should be, that is the thing with SOME bloggers. Those whom you connect with. They feel like someone whom you have known for a long time.

Maybe another time and place yah Sasha. Its just as well too because a moment later, the little one said “Mummy, I want to shi shi and mmm mmm” Oh. Oh. So I had to rush him to the toilet. Luckily I didn’t have to use a bottle like Sasha did. Haha. But when we reached the toilet, there was a long queue and the little one started to remove his jeans to get ready and everyone stared. Hahaha. I just smiled at another lady in another queue and said “Dia sudah tak boleh tahan” and the lady smiled back understandingly but no one offered the toilet for my poor boy. Hmm….

We went to the toy store to look at possible presents for the little one who will be 5 in two weeks time. He wants more cars for his birthday. Little cars, he says. Hmm… have to crack head on what to buy for him soon. Next month, have to crack head over what to buy for his sister. “If you all can’t tell me what you would like for your birthday, I will buy you more Maths books” says daddy who is their home Math tuition teacher leading to squeals of “No!” As for me, well, I would very much like to have a WII Fit or an electronic dictionary for my birthday which is in June. Hehehe.

Later on, we went to Cold Storage to get two loaves of bread and two ice-creams for the kids. I brought RM10 with me. When my bill came to almost RM15 I got a shock. Apparently the Mars ice-cream cost RM4.79 each! Siao!

Oh, another thing I wanted to write down but forgot. Last week we got a sofa bed for the study room. Its fun. Now we open up the bed during the weekends so that everyone can laze on it and I can have a good uninterrupted afternoon nap away from everybody. We can all congregate at the study room during weekends, daddy can play a game on the pc, the kids can play a game on the tv and mummy can laze on the sofa bed to read a book or daddy can laze on the bed to watch his kungfu movie, the kids can sit on the floor to read books while mummy uses the pc or the kids can laze on the sofa bed reading or playing, mummy can sit on the floor reading while daddy works on the pc etc. Lots of combinations. Hahaha. The funny thing with us is we spend much more time in our study room then in the living room. I guess that is because our family is small so its just more convenient and more cozy that way.

Lastly, a message to all you bloggers who always post lots of photos on  your blog. You are now a familiar face in public and almost like a celebrity where everyone can recognise you. Hahaha.

We finally played at the Piano Concert. The Piano “Concert” was just a very casual affair held at the music school shop lot itself. You know, one of those casual afternoons where parents go and watch how their children are progressing in their classes.

And then they have to see this old fat lady sing, I mean play. Hehe. I have always dreamed of being able to play the piano and last year my husband made that dream come true by buying me a piano for my birthday, enrolling me in classes, fetching me to lessons and watching the kids during my lessons. Before you think otherwise, no, hubby does not normally buy me extravagant gifts for birthdays. In fact, we are normally rather unromantic and don’t get each other anything at all. So it was a big surprise.  (Although, I think he was actually investing for the future for the kids. I mean, he has plans to get the kids to learn piano after all, so why not enrol the wifey first so she can help them later. Hehe.) 

This year, we started my girl on piano lessons too. She is six. I have been learning for 1 1/2 years now and the girl about 4 months. The piano teacher comes to our home to teach now because its easier for us to manage that way so hubby doesn’t have to rush home after work to take us there.

On Concert Day, I was supposed to be playing a solo and a duet with my girl. Now, although it was really casual, my fingers were sweaty and my heart was racing. Hahaha. And naturally, I was the oldest student there required to play.  I was hoping that perhaps there might be a grandpa or grandma aged around 60 playing but there was none. Hehe. So I was the oldest, as expected.

Worse still, teacher had picked a really fast song and she wanted me to play along with the CD acccompaniment. Boy, oh boy. I had trouble keeping up with the CD music.

Whats the end result? I was so nervous, I couldn’t keep up to the tempo in some parts, I even had to stop for a while to wait to catch up and I played the wrong key in the finale. Hahaha. However the duet with my girl went perfectly. Woohoo! I think my girl is less nervous than me. Must be all that kindy emcee training she had. She looked cool and collected even though this casual crowd were total strangers to her since we take our lessons at home and not at the school. We held hands, took a bow, played then bowed again. I felt really funny when I had to do that too on my own for the solo in front of the crowd of parents who went there to watch their little ones. Haha.

The music school took advantage of the fact that we were the only mother and daughter team playing. There were many brother and sister or sisters team playing. They even invited other parents to sign up before and after we played. Hmmm….. I should probably charge them a marketing fee. Heheh.

At the end of the day, hubby said he felt like a proud husband and dad. Hehe. Luckily he included the word proud husband, not just proud dad, even though his wife messed up. Oh, but I forgot to thank him for making my dream of playing piano come true, not until I wrote this post. Aiyer.. terrible of me.

Do you have an old record collection that you cannot listen to simply because you no longer have a player to play it? Fret not. Now there is a solution. You can now bring your old records into the digital age with a USBTurntable.

This device allows you to convert your old records to CDs, iPod, MP3 or any other digital files quickly and easily. All you need to do is plug it into your computer using the USB cable which is included.  At the same time a sonic equalizer helps eliminate any pops, hisses or static sounds that you find in old records.

This great gadget is a unique and fantastic Christmas gift don’t you think?

Recently my piano teacher informed me that she may ask me and my daughter to play something during their school concert.

“OMG! Pengsan. Pengsan.” I told her. ”No, not pengsan at all” she replied. After she told me that, I was so nervous, I played lousily during my lesson just thinking about it. Hahaha.

I had always dreamed of playing the piano and finally had a chance to learn a little over a year ago. My daughter has been learning for about a month.

 I think this will be good exposure for my girl. And so, though I’m shivering right to my very bones, especially the finger bones, I shall do it if given the chance. All for the sake of my girl. Oh, the things we parents do for our little ones.

I shall have to practise and practise and annoy the neighbours and practise and practise some more till I can play with my eyes closed, otherwise, I shall be so nervous, my fingers will freeze and tangle up!

The only other time I’ve “performed” a musical instrument was playing the organ in a shopping mall when I was young. Oh yes, and there was this other time when I had to sing in front of some judges during a test at the end of my Singing Classes. Boy oh boy, how my voice shivered and shook made worse by the fact that my teacher had asked me to sing “On my Own” from “Les Miserables.” (Video below as sung by Lea Salonga so beautiful). I have always been in a school choir and I enjoy singing in a choir but singing alone is a different ball game altogether. Playing the piano with my girl playing the accompaniment is just as scary but I shall have to put up a brave front for my girl. Ooooh shiver shiver.

Time flies. Its almost a year now since I started taking my adult pop piano classes. “How come  you’re still not playing any pop songs?” asks my husband. 

Well, I’m trying to learn Mariah Carey’s Hero now so he should recognise that one. I am happy to be able to play Beethoven’s Fur Elise and Baby Elephant Walk now.

My playing is not fantastic. Its offbeat, and does not have enough “feel” (I’m just playing notes and it doesn’t sound melodious or like a song.) Still to be able to play is an achievement enough for me. I’ll work on the “feel” slowly.

And sometimes, I’m lazy. I’d try to guess the notes instead of looking at them properly and I play on my own beat. My teacher would laugh at me. “You ar… just simply play.” she would say.

Its wonderful to be able to realise a dream. Simply wonderful. You are never too old to start learning anything. I wonder what I should learn next. Yes, yes, I’d love to be able to bake but then I don’t have an oven nor the space for one.

This is an example of what usually happens when I am practising songs on my piano.

*tinkle tinkle tinkle*

The boy: Mummy, I want to umm mmm (poo)

*tinkle tinkle tinkle*

The girl: Mummy, can I sit here? (points to the piano chair)

*tinkle tinkle tinkle*

The boy: One more song only ok, mummy? (with a rather sad look on his face)

*tinkle tinkle tinkle*

The girl: Where are you playing now? (Points to the page on the piano songbook)

*tinkle tinkle tinkle* 

The boy: Mummy, why so long?

*tinkle tinkle tinkle*

The girl & The boy: *puff puff* (blowing air and saliva all over the piano keys)

MG: What are you all doing?!?

The girl & The boy: We’re helping you to clean the dust from the piano, mummy.

*no more tinkle* *pulls hair* instead!

Don’t know why everytime I try to practise songs on the piano, or trying to exercise etc, they suddenly want to go to the toilet, feel more thirsty then ever etc. AAAAARRRGGH! *Thumps chest*

 

YOU MUST WATCH THIS! ITS REALLY FASCINATING!

Someone sent Mr MG an email link to this amazing hand puppet song by Ray Crowe. I’m sure everyone has heard of that song “What a Wonderful World”. The accompanying hand puppet show is simply amazing and befitting the song. I found it too delightful not to share on my blog.

My kids love playing with torchlights in the dark and making shadow puppets with their hands. They loved it. I loved it. I hope you do too. Have a Wonderful Day you all.

Piano Lessons Update. My piano lessons have been going well. Teacher praises me occassionally. She says my sight reading is good, I learn fast and I’ve got a good feeling for music. Ahem! During my half hour lesson, hubby takes the kids to the park after dropping me at piano school. So they all enjoy themselves too.

I am diligent in my practise because I love it. However, even though I practise hard and sound ok at home, when I get to the class, my fingers stiffen and I make mistakes. I am suffering from Performance Anxiety.

Silly isn’t it? Despite my practise, despite teacher’s praises, despite it being an individual class with no one else around, I still feel nervous when playing for the teacher. I don’t feel nervous when playing for myself. In fact, I play with much more feeling too but in class, the feeling disappears in place for a nervous or performance anxiety feeling. Bleargh! 

 

My pop piano teacher is about 15 years younger than me, I think. The first thing she said to me when I arrived for my class is “Do you speak Mandarin?” Haha. Sorry. You can’t conduct the class in Mandarin or I would be totally lost.

I didn’t want to waste the first 1/2 hour of my class (each class is 1/2 hour long) discussing about what she was going to teach me. So I brought along my own book and played a piece for her which I had been practising for the past 2-3 weeks. Hahaha.

I discovered that pop piano is very different from classical piano. Its much easier to learn. She basically just told me to play the piece again with my right hand then she taught me an improvisation pattern for the left hand and told me to play it that way.

I played a while and very soon she was saying “Ok bye. See you next week.” Huh?! The lesson was over before I knew it. Too soon!

With pop piano, you just need to know some basics and patterns or styles and playing is entirely up to you to improvise (come up with your own style basically). In no time at all you will be able to play like a pro. No boring theory and practise pieces to play. Hehe. I like! I like!

I hope to be able to pretend to sound like a pro in a few months. That is my objective for learning. More updates later on.

I’ve always wanted to learn the piano but we didn’t have enough money so dad sent me for organ electone classes instead. It was cheaper to get an organ and it fulfilled my desire to learn some music. Dad bought the organ on hire purchase terms. It has served me very well and been with me for a long time. I’ve since sold it. I learned the organ around age 12, I think. I can’t remember!

Anyway, back to my organ. It has moved several places from Kuantan to KL to Penang and to KL again. It has been played by my cousin in Penang who loved it so much that she later took up some Clavinova lessons. It has been played by my nephews who loved it so much that they took up organ lessons of their own and got their own organ later on.

I stopped my organ lessons when we were moving around so much but took it up again when I was working. I was able to pay for my own lessons then. I studied till Grade 6. Later on I even taught a little girl till she took exams for her First Level, (that would be Grade 13 if I’m not mistaken). I was very happy to be able to achieve that.

What is this all leading to? The story of my very first pop piano lesson of course. I will save that for another post. Hehe.