IZ's 1st Performance with Seed Orchestra

IZ's first performance with the Seed Orchestra.

Venue: Cairnhill CC

Date: 13th May'17

Conductor: Mr Keita Suyama

Not perfect, but I know how much effort he's put in.

Thanks to buddy's family and Biaoyi for coming to support him. A boost of confidence before the show started. :-)

Keep it up, IZ!

IZ's 1st Violin Performance

I was at Willing Hearts Soup Kitchen for community service organised by my company when I got a text from hubby who accompanied IZ to his group lesson.

"Mr Lee ask if IZ like to perform later at Simei CC at 12pm"

I was like, "what? does he even want that?"

"Mdm Teo says he wants"

They came to pick me, went home, ate, changed and off we went to Simei CC.

I didn't even know which song he was going to play. 

Then Mdm Teo told me "Song of the Wind".

IZ was oblivious of what was going on, he just followed suit. He told me he didn't want to perform when we were going to assemble with the rest. I said ok, although my heart fluttered (why did you agree in the first place? beats me, really).. But I also told myself, it's ok, it was not planned, so it's ok if he really didn't want to do it.

The moment he saw so many kids in the dance studio playing their violins, he said "I need my violin", and he started playing.

Mr Lee was arranging the group when we were told IZ was going to play solo and we had to go to the stage right away. The audience was waiting for the next show!

I briefly told IZ to introduce himself (not knowing what else to say/do - I was anxious, nervous, panic, lost)..

He didn't want to go up the stage alone, so I had to go with him, and hid behind the curtain.

He started "Hello! My name is IZ. I am 4 years old"

And started his piece.

I couldn't breathe.

I guess the dad was anxious too, for the video he took, was shaking.. badly.

He was off pitch, but I gave him credit for being so brave, steady and cool on the stage, went on even when there was mistake.

I couldn't have done it as well as he did.

Proud of him.

He's still oblivious of the whole thing.. he said "I practised on the stage, alone".

His first solo performance @
Changi Simei CC Open House

Music lernen-reise..

It has been 3 months since he started attending violin lessons. He still can't read music.. not that I care.. he can play some simple songs and many times, he wanted to make some noise music himself. Good enough.

Completely reliant on my mouth and his ears, he can play most of Rondosaurus now.

Learning violin is seriously not easy. You'll have to watch your posture while you STAND, correct way of holding the bow with your right hand making sure the pinkie finger is touching the end of the bow (to ensure the bow is straight), pressing the right place at the string using your fingers on your left hand, making sure there's no double string played, making sure you do not pull the bow when you're changing fingerings.. the list goes on.

All this, while remembering the music and playing at the right tempo.

ALL TOGETHER AT THE SAME TIME!

It was really difficult for him in the beginning. I think he's progressing well.

He would hum the song he learn when he's doing nothing.

Lately, he wrote them down too (albeit not really music notes)!

Music lernen-reise..

I'm not one born with music talent. I remember dreading piano practices as my mom nagged and "forced" me to practice. I don't remember why I took up piano, but I vaguely remember started my journey in a music school and then changed to a private teacher.

In the beginning, I didn't have a piano. I had to practice in the music school. I guess that's why I didn't do well the first 2 years. Understandable now (but not then), my progress was quite stagnant in the music school that my mom got pissed and engaged a private teacher instead. By now, you could guess my "talent level".. almost non-existence I guess.

I went to the teacher's house, half hour of playing and the remaining on theories. Gosh, I remember dreading the theory part too. I couldn't go home if I did not answer all correctly, and I had to do, re-do and re-do until I got them right. Especially bad when preparing for exams, I always felt like crying.

I quit piano when I was in Form 6 (JC1 equivalent) at the age of 18, when I was preparing Grade 7. I quoted I couldn't cope, I needed to prepare for STMP (A level equivalent). What a bullshit.

Hearing piano sound now, makes my fingers itchy. But tell you what, I couldn't play for my life (not without pieces anyway). I was trained to play classicals, I was not adventurous, I have never ventured anything more than Richard Clayderman's pieces. Other than that, give me a piano, I have to figure how to play Happy Birthday song. Now you can confirm I have no talent at all.

But I love music. I love hearing music sound. I love hearing different instruments.

It is in my wish, to let IZ explore music. It is really good for emotion expression. I remember banging on my piano when I was angry, when I was sad, when I was happy. There was a channel to vent.

While watching Cantabile Tomorrow (a Korean show about orchestra, instruments, talented musicians), I was mesmerized by the sound of a cello. It's so melancholic.

So I hope IZ could take up cello. Unfortunately, he's too young. The only instruments he could play at the age of 4 is either piano (or keyboard) or violin.

As Kinderland has keyboard lesson in the music class, I decided we should go for violin. Afterall, if he can play a violin, he shouldn't have problem playing a cello, wouldn't he?

IZ obviously has different opinions. His list would go: trumpet, ukulele, guitar..

I told IZ he will learn violin till he turns 5, and then he can choose an instrument that he likes then. Actually at 5 years old, he probably can choose ukulele and guitar, for trumpet probably close to 6 or 7 years old.

It's not that I want to groom him as a violinist or musician whatsoever. It's the whole package. The joy of playing music on an instrument, using both hands for brain stimulation, the discipline to practice diligently, and also if possible taking up cello if he likes it? Hahaha...

To cut story short, he is we are now attending class on Sunday by MusArt Edu Hut who is run by Kids Philharmonic founder, Mr Lee.

More on the violin lernen-reise in future post..

His 1/10 and my full size