The typical kiasu Singaporean parent....
- Thread starter DoubleBlade
- Start date
joel68
Member
I wanted to learn Piano..In the end my Mom bring home a Bongo and asked me to play.. :?: She looked the thing with commercial aspect !!!!!!!!!!
So bought the cheapest one....Probably not to disappoint me !!!
Ultimately I have to write to my uncle who was in USA that time to buy a synth and he bring home a DX7..(All this happened 17 years ago.....)
My parents literally never allow me to learn Music..I have to go to my friends place who play at churches and take tips and playing styles fro them..That's how I came up in Music..By this way of struggling i finished 6 gr in Piano and 4 gr in Guitar.... :roll:
So bought the cheapest one....Probably not to disappoint me !!!
Ultimately I have to write to my uncle who was in USA that time to buy a synth and he bring home a DX7..(All this happened 17 years ago.....)
My parents literally never allow me to learn Music..I have to go to my friends place who play at churches and take tips and playing styles fro them..That's how I came up in Music..By this way of struggling i finished 6 gr in Piano and 4 gr in Guitar.... :roll:
DoubleBlade
New member
Basically for me , I never had any special interest in the piano when I was young although a handful of my cousins are piano teachers on both sides and my grandfather was a piano tuner and my late granduncle was a piano tech....
Maybe i guess piano playing and fixing runs through my blood :lol:
Although i would anyhow whack the keys of the piano when i was at my cousin's house just for fun...it really never occured to me that i would one day develop a huge interest in pianos....
Everything changed when Maksim entered the MTV scene but when i first saw his Flight of the Bumble Bee on MTV , i had no reaction towards it.Until some s**t happened to me in life when i was in sec 3 and during this period of time i somehow got so attracted to Maksim piano pieces.That was the starting point of my deep interest in pianos.Obviously my mom's initial reaction was "WHAT?! YOU WANT TO LEARN THE PIANO?! I'M NOT GONNA BUY YOU A PIANO , IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE...WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS AFTER YOUR FINAL YEAR EXAM" then my father would side my mom and say "YOU KNOW HOW MANY YEARS DOES IT TAKE FOR SOMEONE TO BE AN ACCOMPLISHED PIANIST?! LOOK AT YOUR COUSIN , SHE'S STILL LEARNING THE PIANO AFTER SOOOOO LONG!!!!"
So i kept on pestering my mom to take piano lessons until finally one day she gave in and i finally got my piano
It's a good thing my parents were supportive of my decisions and NO i practice on my piano on my own free will :lol:
Maybe i guess piano playing and fixing runs through my blood :lol:
Although i would anyhow whack the keys of the piano when i was at my cousin's house just for fun...it really never occured to me that i would one day develop a huge interest in pianos....
Everything changed when Maksim entered the MTV scene but when i first saw his Flight of the Bumble Bee on MTV , i had no reaction towards it.Until some s**t happened to me in life when i was in sec 3 and during this period of time i somehow got so attracted to Maksim piano pieces.That was the starting point of my deep interest in pianos.Obviously my mom's initial reaction was "WHAT?! YOU WANT TO LEARN THE PIANO?! I'M NOT GONNA BUY YOU A PIANO , IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE...WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS AFTER YOUR FINAL YEAR EXAM" then my father would side my mom and say "YOU KNOW HOW MANY YEARS DOES IT TAKE FOR SOMEONE TO BE AN ACCOMPLISHED PIANIST?! LOOK AT YOUR COUSIN , SHE'S STILL LEARNING THE PIANO AFTER SOOOOO LONG!!!!"
So i kept on pestering my mom to take piano lessons until finally one day she gave in and i finally got my piano
It's a good thing my parents were supportive of my decisions and NO i practice on my piano on my own free will :lol:
DoubleBlade
New member
and his arrogant now but i dun mind his music
Metallando
New member
haha...funny seh....sometimes when the parents dun let the child play music...the fella actually becomes a good musician....and when the parents force...they lose interest.......the irony....
dric
New member
yea man. when i was really young, my parents kept pushing me to learn piano. for many years they kept wanting me to learn. but i just kept defying em. 5 years plus ago picked up the melodious classical guitar. then few years ago i discovered the beautiful DISTORTION!. never lost interest, and still rocking on! though not wif very gd skills sadly. lolx
My mom also used to take me to piano lessons. I remember my teacher used to say I have the sharpest ears because when she plays a tone, I would be able to guess what she played. On the other hand, I was actually crap at it (the worst in the class). I used to be asked to practice and being a good boy I would do it but it didn't help. In the end it started to get unbearable since I was just not good at it (something about my finger co-ordination probably).
Of course then at my new school, I tried clarinet for the school band (they lent me one). As a start I was quite good at it since as the teacher taught me the basics then as I kept playing and the teacher moved, the new teacher didn't teach me anything new and made me join the better band. I then quit because I lost interest and couldn't keep up with the rest of the band (who were quite geeky and took lessons).
Joining the school band gave me some experience though. I'd been listening and watching the band's drummer and it looked so interesting. There were also 3 other drummers in my class at that time so I decided to start learning. When I first learned, my teacher only taught me rudiments on snare. he didn't let me hit other drums. Although this disappointed me, I still practiced almost everyday on my pad (watching the pro drummer who was taught by the smae teacher motivated me). Eager for something more than just rudiments, I started to learn in Yamaha. It was surely very helpful (I recommend Yamaha to learn drums) as I learnt the basics. Now I am determined to learn drums by myself as I just bought a kit. My friend also picked up drumming and I was amazed at how fast he could learn by himself (he was very determined as well).
So that's my story... I figured out drumming is my thing (let's say "weapon of choice")
Parents out there, if you want your children to learn music. Let the children reach a certain age and choose their own instruments. Sure, piano lets your children learn the basics of music and how to read it but if they're not interested or not good at it, they would be under pressure and they would dislike it. Getting a good teacher is also important.
Of course then at my new school, I tried clarinet for the school band (they lent me one). As a start I was quite good at it since as the teacher taught me the basics then as I kept playing and the teacher moved, the new teacher didn't teach me anything new and made me join the better band. I then quit because I lost interest and couldn't keep up with the rest of the band (who were quite geeky and took lessons).
Joining the school band gave me some experience though. I'd been listening and watching the band's drummer and it looked so interesting. There were also 3 other drummers in my class at that time so I decided to start learning. When I first learned, my teacher only taught me rudiments on snare. he didn't let me hit other drums. Although this disappointed me, I still practiced almost everyday on my pad (watching the pro drummer who was taught by the smae teacher motivated me). Eager for something more than just rudiments, I started to learn in Yamaha. It was surely very helpful (I recommend Yamaha to learn drums) as I learnt the basics. Now I am determined to learn drums by myself as I just bought a kit. My friend also picked up drumming and I was amazed at how fast he could learn by himself (he was very determined as well).
So that's my story... I figured out drumming is my thing (let's say "weapon of choice")
Parents out there, if you want your children to learn music. Let the children reach a certain age and choose their own instruments. Sure, piano lets your children learn the basics of music and how to read it but if they're not interested or not good at it, they would be under pressure and they would dislike it. Getting a good teacher is also important.
Cheez
Moderator
To be able to choose wisely, one has to be of a certain age - usually at least later primary school. For piano, that will be a little too late - if the child is to complete the exams. Once the child leave secondary school, music exams will be an added stress. So if he does not complete his exams by secondary school, it is likely that he will not complete it.
So at a young age, parents have to make a choice for the child. Same with everything - we choose the clothes they wear, we choose the food they eat, we choose the books they read, we choose the TV programs they watch etc. Until a certain age, they will be able to choose themselves.
I don't see choosing for the child as something wrong. It is in fact necessary. But I don't agree with forcing the child - that is the method to encourage him. It is OK to pick an instrument for him at a young age - then if he later feels he doesn't like it (at an age when he can make decisions), we can help him see the various options and guide him along.
It all depends what you want the kid to do. Music can be just a hobby. But it can be a career. As we all know, the best career is the one you enjoy. If he enjoys music and can make it a career, then it is the parent's responsibility to help him achieve it - at least provide him an option to be able to achieve it if he should choose it eventually. And if he loves music and wants it to be his career, he should be good at it - not just mediocre.
Although my parents did not force me, they did "strongly encourage" me - perhaps a little too strong. But they did choose my first instrument. They were not rich; we lived in a rented house then. I'm grateful to them for that - because they provided me the opportunity to choose later in life. I was able to choose music as my career if I wanted to. But of course, I didn't. Still, music played an important part of my life. But thanks to them, I am able to play 4 instruments and compose music today.
So at a young age, parents have to make a choice for the child. Same with everything - we choose the clothes they wear, we choose the food they eat, we choose the books they read, we choose the TV programs they watch etc. Until a certain age, they will be able to choose themselves.
I don't see choosing for the child as something wrong. It is in fact necessary. But I don't agree with forcing the child - that is the method to encourage him. It is OK to pick an instrument for him at a young age - then if he later feels he doesn't like it (at an age when he can make decisions), we can help him see the various options and guide him along.
It all depends what you want the kid to do. Music can be just a hobby. But it can be a career. As we all know, the best career is the one you enjoy. If he enjoys music and can make it a career, then it is the parent's responsibility to help him achieve it - at least provide him an option to be able to achieve it if he should choose it eventually. And if he loves music and wants it to be his career, he should be good at it - not just mediocre.
Although my parents did not force me, they did "strongly encourage" me - perhaps a little too strong. But they did choose my first instrument. They were not rich; we lived in a rented house then. I'm grateful to them for that - because they provided me the opportunity to choose later in life. I was able to choose music as my career if I wanted to. But of course, I didn't. Still, music played an important part of my life. But thanks to them, I am able to play 4 instruments and compose music today.
DoubleBlade
New member
Cheez said:
That's what i really fear , when the academic year for Ngee Ann commences , the frequency in which i spend on my piano is limited because usually poly finishes at 5 and by the time i get home , it's already dinner time and after a long day at school , u'll just wanna drop dead on ur bed and u're just too exhausted to spend time on your piano....
this isn't so bad as compared to being enlisted for NS...
the only time i will get to spend time on my piano is on weekends and if i have a girlfriend , it would be double the trouble....
so i guess that is why my teacher feels that me not taking the practical exams is the right thing to do considering i started taking piano lessons 2 years ago....
on the other hand , i really want to be an accomplished pianist , 3 more years before i get enlisted for NS and so i guess i have to spent as much time as i can on the piano for the remaining 3 years....
is it possible for a pianist to halt his learning for 3 years without the slightest hint of technique deterioration????
duskalways
New member
i failed my gd6 piano practical, stopped for 10yrs, and went back to it, and passed my gd8. it depends on your determination. i practised everyday for 3hrs (with intervals of course), and often, i would even do my scales at 3am with the damper pedal down and with extra light touch, so as not to disturb the neighbors. :wink:DoubleBlade said:
Cheez
Moderator
DoubleBlade said:
I think you know the answer to that! One advice (which nobody gave me when I was learning) is not to take the exams for exams sake. It should be a gauge to help you know where you are. So really, if you can play a Grade 8 piece well, don't really need the exams unless you need the paper qualifications.
Don't worry too much about the "age of starting piano" thing. In the context of this thread, I think starting young gives the edge which a parent should think about. But if you start late, it is not over. As I told you before, if you're determined (which you are), you can do it!
DoubleBlade
New member
wha lau eh...3 hours on the piano?! i already struggling to maintain 2 hours per day on my piano depending on my determination level...sometimes i feel like practising 1 hour or sometimes guilt consumes me greatly and i'll practice for 2 hours at most....
Cheez :
Now is not so much of a problem.i can still sqeeze in some time a day (hopefully) for my piano or maybe perhaps practice piano in between lessons during breaks at NP since i heard they have a piano(s) there....
the real test will come when i get enlisted in NS....
i think it's just as good as stop playing for 3 years....
only time will tell i guess....
Cheez :
Now is not so much of a problem.i can still sqeeze in some time a day (hopefully) for my piano or maybe perhaps practice piano in between lessons during breaks at NP since i heard they have a piano(s) there....
the real test will come when i get enlisted in NS....
i think it's just as good as stop playing for 3 years....
only time will tell i guess....
duskalways
New member
no choice la. during then, gd8 pieces very long, not like now, all contained in one book. last time, 1st piece can be 14 pgs, 2nd piece 17 pgs, and last piece 7 pgs. not yet count scales leh. complete scales one night also cannot tahan. if cover everything in one night, sure no need to sleep. somemore sure backache.DoubleBlade said:
Cheez
Moderator
duskalways said:
Now THAT'S determination! Actually, I don't recall the GD8 pieces to be that long during my time (1988). I remember my first piece was the Bach Prelude and Fugue No. 2 - only 4 pages. The Mozart Sonata is the one that is long. Third piece was a 20th century composer - some Nocturne that requires my fingers to stretch from F to B flat - also not too long, maybe 6-8 pages.
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