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Monday, January 16, 2012

Better Late Than Never

After months (and years) of procrastination, daddy and mummy finally enrolled me for music lessons. My journey in music did not start out smoothly. It all started way back in my young toddler days when mummy tried teaching me the piano. It was a futile attempt that often ended in tears, frustrations and unhappiness. Mummy was impatient and fierce. I was slow and easily distracted. I couldn't follow her instructions and I disliked the way she taught me (wrong approach). After a couple of lessons plus many more re-tries as I grew older, mummy did not see any improvement in me so she gave up teaching me.

In early 2010 (when I was 3y5m), mummy decided that I needed formal music lessons so she brought me to a music centre only to be told to return later because I was too young (for the program of her choice). Later, somewhere in early 2011 (when I was 4y5m), mummy brought me there again. This time, mummy was very disappointed with the customer service of the music centre. Nobody attended to us after a long wait so we left. She tried contacting the person in charged via email but her email was never replied! Mummy was angry and upset.

She then went to inquire about this music program in another branch and was told that I was over-aged. How can I be "over-aged" when I was only 4+ and the music program is for kids aged 4-6? Mummy left feeling baffled this time.

Meanwhile, I began to lose interest in music and whenever mummy suggested music lessons to me, I would say NO and refused to go until very recently (late December) when daddy and mummy decided to "force" me there. They "dragged" me to the music centre again.

Finally, in Jan 2012 (at 5y5m and being one of the oldest in class), I was accepted into the January intake of Yamaha's Junior Music Course (JMC) for Book 1 (just in the nick of time, in their last available slot) and classes began in the first week of this year.

Solfege singing with a group of new friends

As of today, after attending just 2 lessons, I'm madly IN LOVE with music now. I could play the first few pieces in the book (I learned them all by myself) even BEFORE attending my first lesson. Now, I can play 70% of the pieces in Book 1. Most of them have not been taught by my music teacher yet. Mummy did not teach me too. I learned everything on my own by listening to the CD and watching the DVD a few times everyday. I love the catchy tunes and I sing and hum to them almost all the time.

Singing and playing the piano is my favourite pastime now

I practice the pieces on the piano very enthusiastically everyday. Of course, mummy's constant praises and encouragement motivate me too. Mummy regrets not enrolling me earlier. Anyway, it's better late than never, isn't it?

20 comments:

  1. wah your mommy is very determined wor. Went to the music centre so many times. Good for you!

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  2. Ya, as long as you're interested, it'll never be too late!

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  3. Oh, how come it's a bit late? I thought JMC is for 4 to 6 years old? Glad that she likes music. Book 1 is my favourite too. Very catchy and fun songs. It helps a lot that you know music and has a piano at home :) Ashley didn't have the patience and neither do I :( She stopped after Book 2 :(

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  4. MtC: I feel that it's a bit late cos she's going to be 6 this year. If she had started earlier, she would probably be doing Book 3 or 4 by now. Furthermore, all her classmates are like tiny tots and she's the odd one out... so big and tall :p

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  5. Good that Chloe is interested in piano now....another achievement for her !!

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  6. Bravo Chloe gal....keep it up. Learning music is fun.

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  7. Uh oh. My plan this yr was to teach Ryan to play the piano this year. Yah i know its hard for parent to teach child. My first lesson with him last wk also ended with lots of frustration( from both parties!)
    Looks like Chloe has a good foundation already. I guess its good in a way that she is one of the elder kids there...she willpick up faster...

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  8. Yes, better late than never. She will love music more. Playing musical instrument can help release tension in study.

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  9. So clever, self taught! Bravo!

    We've enrolled Ethan for Play By Ear last year but until today havent got the chance to send him for his classes! We promised the teacher to go after CNY ... hehe...

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  10. Oh yes, better late than never. Way to go, Chloe~

    I'm not a music person, hence haven't expose this area to both my kids yet.

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  11. wah good job girl, so glad she is so in love with music now. I still yet send my C to any music instrument class. Because still undecided what she want to learn, violin? piano? Friend told me those active kid should learn violin rather than sit still to play piano. Emm 7 years old only start learn piano it's very late ar? Thought of getting her individual piano class cause teacher can guide and concentrate only on her. What you think?

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  12. Chloe has Mummy's musical talent. :) Someone told me piano is actually the most difficult instrument to master. 6 yrs old already considered late to learn piano? Thought want to enrol Gwen to piano too.

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  13. Yeah...finally Chloe has her music lesson on. I am so glad for her.

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  14. It's never too late. Good that Chloe loves music :-)

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  15. omg....so many times u both went in and out from the music centre.

    Glad to know that you are liking it very much.

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  16. Jmc is for kids age 4-6 and I am surprised the branch told you she was overaged. Anyway, good that she is excited over music, my Vic needs more motivating maybe becoz I don't make practicing music fun for her... Teaching own child music is not easy. Btw, many parent friends of mine including myself feel that yamaha syllabus does not emphasize on note reading, unlike abrsm or trinity. I have decided to pull Vic out after she completes her advanced course.

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  17. wow, can "self-learn" somemore. At this rate, she'll be bored by the end of the semester.

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  18. Vicky: Actually I also brought my C to the music centre to enrol her for individual piano class. I really thought that she was overaged (I thought they start the course at age 4 and complete at 6)!

    The student counselor then recommended that she joined JMC first so I just followed her advice. For young kids, I think individual lessons will be quite boring... I dunno about your C la. Maybe you can send her for a trial class first? Starting at age 7 is not late but I think the earlier the better. Hope you can find a good music school for your C :)

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  19. Hello super mommy Lily! You're such an inspiration...i can't even keep pictures and videos of Erynn in the right order, nevermind keep a blog! Sigh...hehee...:)

    Chloe is a beautiful smart and loving girl!:)

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