The flame of youth and the harsh realities of life

totally true blueprint bro. when i realised that what i am investing in my music will impact my family, i had to make sure i had make up my mind properly (not a frivolous indulgence) and i have to live up to it and be proud of, and not perish economically.

i tell the young kids nowadays, its not industrial era anymore, very competitive out there. u guys dont have plentiful engineer jobs waiting when u grad with a science-based paper. find something u love and then do it all the way.
 
Good thread Doubleblade!

Passion and reality is a fine line. But most of us live in the grey zone trying (and hoping) to push that line towards the direction of making it happen. And there's nothing wrong with having a dream. In fact, without one, we would just be drifting through life and before we know it, it's over.

My definition of "flame of youth" is that it dies with age. I've lots of them in my youth. We all do. One of my music-related passion was being a concert trumpet player in SSO after I finish my JC. That passion was more then 20 years ago.

As time goes, some flame dies out. Others become a passion - something we like to do. But there's a constant struggle between living our passion and the reality of family and work. And I want to encourage the younger generation that it is not a bleak future! That passion can still be lived out with balancing.

My wife knows my passion - she doesn't share the same passion. But if one late night I would just play my keyboard for 1 hour, she completely understands. Sometimes, she's the one reminding me that I should take some time out to write music. In fact, yesterday, she just asked me if my music writing software needs upgrading since it's been years since I've upgraded. Of course, I said I would wait - given my priorities currently being my family and work. I do the same for her as much as I can with her passion.

I have 5 music pieces in my head for the past 1 year waiting to be put down into scores - but no time. But I'm still having the dream that I would get it done one day.

So, with other responsibilities coming into your life (family etc), you don't have to give up your passion. It's just a matter of re-adjusting them to the right priority, and then try to juggle and balance the time. I'm still hoping one day (maybe when I retire) that I would write music full-time. Flame of youth? Maybe. I would like to see myself as "youthful" even in my old age!
 
Oh, I forgot to add. We should be living our lives with lots of passion. My family is my passion. So is my work. Music is just one of the many passions. So...it's just a balacing of different passions. Then prioritising them is not a big problem.

The problem happens when one of the things we do (which takes up most of our time) is not a passion. Eg. work. Then we will struggle and complain while we find problem trying to prioritise because they don't quite match up. 2 ways to go about that - turn the things in our lives into passion, or change them. Some things like work can be changed. Many things cannot be changed. So I would say the main thing is to learn to enjoy and find passion in things in our lives that may seem mundane.

And don't let the passion die. Eg: if my passion for my family dies, then I'm in deep trouble. So I would still take my wife out for weekly dates as much as possible even after 7 years of marriage.
 
Last edited:
right now I'm a guy in my mid 20s , newly wed, house,career,commitment, y'know the "family building stage". I foresee myself in Cheez's situation and many other senior SOFTies here. I think many other younger teenagers should read and understand what this thread is telling to the next generation. standard of singapore is going up, the stress, the prices, the requirements, it's going to be a cruel world in future. the only way to live with yourself in reality and your dream is to work hard and PLAY hard. this thread is somehow related to the 9-5 life thread. so moral of the story : it's a basic requirement that all singaporeans who are into their passion, but understand the reality of life has to be some kind of time-planning/organising specialist.

"what's your full time job?" "I make time for myself, my job, my passion, my family, my friends."


rottenramone : hahaha nice.. you actually went to look it up ah
 
Bingo!

Priorities and what is important in life shifts as you get older, start to have other commitments that need to focus on, and is tied down things that you HAVE to do even if there are things you WANNA do.

Kudos to Blueprint and Cheez for being able to find that balance between reality and passion. It is sad though that a bulk of us can't. I have family members who play the instruments when they were younger, and they are very good at it. Then they got married and have kids, so their priorities have to change. Music is an expensive effort to maintain. So is having to feed your wife and kids. Unless you are blessed with a job that can earn you enough to feed both passion and reality, one have to prefix the other. In the end, that prefix becomes all that matters.

But does that make them any less passionate about music? Does that make them any less 'real' as a musician? No. In fact, if they can have another chance to it again, they would.

All they need a device to freeze time.
 
Yes, music is expensive. Trust me - we struggle as well! I work in a 3rd world country. 1 wife and 3 kids. I don't even have a TV.

I find that it's not the money. In the end, it's still the time and prioritising it. I have friends who are very well off. But because of time, they couldn't do what they love to do. I'm not doing too well either in time management. Still learning after all these years. I would still love to spend more time writing and playing music if I can. But as it is now, I can only do that much.
 
If music is really a die die passion then go for it!
BUT... always have a backup plan..

OR ask my friends uncle, Rex Goh. =)
 
haha... im 17 and im in a music course now. I have a die die passion for it too. but even right now, i have limitations, i have other stuffs, other priorities i have to take care as well. If im were to have another life, i would hope that my life is juz about music. theres a lot i have missed about music in life.

i do not know wat i would be in the future. but in my mind, all i can tink about is having a career in music. No matter what, no one can change my mind about that. people around u will say negative stuff about it. wat i believe is, if u put ur heart and soul into it, u will surely be able to achieve it. Just like people have dreams to be a doctor or lawyer etc, working hard to achieve it.

other factors in life may be an obstacle, but again, it is how u work your way arnd it to reach ur destination. juz like wat pf said, you only have one chance in life. Do wat u wan with it and make sure u dun regret it. when ur 50 years old, u look back into ur younger years, u might tink u were foolish to play in a band with some noobies that the drummer cant keep in tempo, guitarists who cant even read chord charts, a vocalist who cant even sing an E. But you are proud of it and have nth to regret.

Thats the most impt thing to me i guess.

*cheers*
 
Mortichro said:
if you wanna have a career in music... go to malaysia..
Click to expand...

Heyhey! :) Are the chances of becoming a singer better in malaysia? I'm a malaysian studying in singapore... but would like to pursue a singing career in the chinese industry... following the footsteps of singers like fish leong and other malaysian singers... Are chances really greater in Malaysia?
 
But i would like to enter the chinese industry...you noe and follow the footsteps of chinese singers(malaysian) that have made it big in taiwan like fish leong and nicholas teo... my role models! heehee :)
 
balletstarzz said:
But i would like to enter the chinese industry...you noe and follow the footsteps of chinese singers(malaysian) that have made it big in taiwan like fish leong and nicholas teo... my role models! heehee :)
Click to expand...
no problem, all you have to do is sing...

isabella... CHINESE VERSION
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

soft
  • Article Article
Youth Music Matters
Replies
0
Views
20K
soft
soft
Daniel Purnomo
Duo Guitar is the New Solo Guitar - Music Showcase
Replies
0
Views
182
Daniel Purnomo
Daniel Purnomo
M
STOLEN GUITARS ALERT Mayones Regius Core 7 and Sugi DH496C
Replies
0
Views
221
mechanevil
M
S
Looking for Jazz players: Bassist & Keys!
Replies
2
Views
316
AGS
A
ShadowMix Home Studio
ShadowMix Home Studio | Mixing and Mastering
Replies
0
Views
396
ShadowMix Home Studio
ShadowMix Home Studio

Latest posts

Share this page

Back
Top