An Inspiring Story of Li Min

HOW AN ENGINEER TEACHES MUSIC

This is an inspiring story about someone who was inspired by others and her success story turns out to inspire others.

Li Min, a student of mine, who was an engineer, came to learn music Theory with me (while learning piano with other teacher), hoping to complete her Grade 5 Theory. She was under my coach for only 11 months before I left Singapore. She said to me that it was her eye-opening period that I brought her to “sky” rather than limiting students to coursebook materials. How was it so?

How was she inspired?

Photo of LiMin taken in 2009

At that time, her intention was to learn basic composing which was in Grade 5 Theory syllabus. Instead of just covering the syllabus itself, I explained every necessary detail even helped prepare for Grade 6 Theory. 

A classical student learnt classical stuff, but I went beyond to introduce Jazz stuff. To her, it was the introductory Jazz course that spiked some motivation in her. She said,

“Because when you taught me Theory, you introduce Jazz chords notation, progression ii-V-I with the 7th degree note added to Jazz chord, Jazz voicings, the colour tone of Jazz/modern music (which heavily uses 9th, 11th, 13th degree diatonic notes of the key. ”

“And all these are from the basic classical music’s teaching. You demonstrated those to me when I was a student. And it helped motivate me a lot. I saw how teachers could bring the “sky” to students instead of limiting students to coursebook materials purely.”

From then on, she felt like she had so much yet to learn.

Years later, I was told she passed her both Grade 8 Theory and Practical.

Photo of LiMin

Success continues.

After many years of not contacting until recently, I asked Li Min whether she is teaching music. Despite her busy work routine, she is giving music lessons to her students. I thought she is teaching at home or at a music school. No, she teaches at students’ home during her free time.

She learnt piano out of interest, at a very relaxed pace, when she was working as an engineer. At that time, she did not consider to teach music. She said it was my suggestion that she begin teaching piano after completing Grade 8. At that time, I asked her to consider teaching after finishing Grade 8, which I totally forgot about this matter. She did finally. If not, she might have just slacked down.

How was she exposed to teaching?

Photo taken during group assessment 2009

Li Min said, “You also brought me in to your other students’ classes to see how you conducted classes. It was the first steps that formed up my piano teaching milestones too.”

“I am really grateful for your teachings/sharing.”

She learnt piano for 2 years when she was 9. She resumed her piano learning after her engineering course. It then took her another 8 years to complete Grade 8. Finally, her 10- year effort paid off. Now, she is teaching music as part-time. Based on today’s market rate, a beginner pays S$170 -200 for piano lessons a month in Singapore.

This real life story shows you it is never too late to learn music. Hopefully readers will be inspired to learn music if they are still considering to pursue it.

All in all, I do hope I will be an agent to motivate people to pick up music again.

Final word: Jazz introductory course will inspire you. Believe it or not?

Written by KC Tan

31/12/2019

Taiping Charity Jazz Concert 太平慈善爵士之夜

Taiping Charity Jazz Concert

太平慈善爵士之夜 2019

Date: 26 Nov 2019 (Tue)

Time: 7:30pm

Venue: Old Master Nanyang Cafe老头手私房菜馆

一个现场演出爵士之夜

A Night with Live Jazz Music

Jazz blended with coffee

一个不容错过的机会，让您重新认识这个充满魅力的爵士乐。也许身心疲乏的您，听一听爵士乐，让您焕发一新。在烛光餐桌，来一支爵士乐，让您浪漫无比。夜里来一首轻柔爵士乐，带您缓缓进入梦境。

It is an "ear-opening" session where you will experience the wonders of Jazz music. Feeling tired? It will cheer you up. Dining with your loved one? It will bring back the romance that you once had. Sleeping with soothing Jazz music? You will enter the dreamland without you knowing.

也许您学过古典音乐，但还未曾见识过即兴表演的热情。或也许您爱听爱唱流行音乐，但还未体验过爵士乐自由发挥的情怀。这场爵士音乐会正是让您打开眼界的时刻。

It may be an "eye-opening" moment when you will see the musicians produce something out of nothing. Maybe you have learnt classical music, it is time to experience the passion of the improvisation. Perhaps you love pop music, you are going to see how Jazz may go beyond the boundary.

听一场爵士乐犹如参加一场盛大的宴会。品尝美食，聆听美妙音乐，让您生命过得精彩、不再一样。

Attending a Jazz concert is like going for a grand banquet. Enjoying food while listening to wonderful music, your whole being will be refreshed and energized.

别再犹豫了，赶快行动！！

Come. Don't miss the night with live Jazz music.

Call 012-555 9987 now!!

This is a Jazz concert that you must not miss.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Choice of Donation 捐献方式

VIP ticket: RM80 

Premium ticket: RM50 

Silver ticket: RM38 ( limited 40 tickets for students only )

学生券是限量版，只有区区40张

Beneficiaries受益单位: 

ESDA, Crystal Home

Note: Admission by donation only

注：持票入门

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Call 012-555 9987 now!!

Below is the map to guide you to the venue.

It is in between of Panorama Hotel and McDonald @Taiping Lake Garden.

Call 012-555 9987 now!!

老头手私房菜馆就在顺德会馆

Call 012-555 9987 now!!

Organizer

The Benefits Of Learning Music and The Achievement Illustrated

It is said that kids who learn music young will not become bad. Instead, music helps shaping one's temperament or character. It is good to learn music when the kid is young. Besides shaping good temperament, it improves the kid's learning progress in other aspects. Why is it so? Let me list down 3 C's.

CO-ORDINATION : When PLAYING music, the left and the right hands must co-ordinate. Not only that, the eyes and the ears are trained to work together, resulting the balanced development of the left and right brain.

CONCENTRATION : When PRACTISING music with a fixed amount of time everyday, one must pay full attention to do so. He who constantly does so will be more self-disciplined indeed. 

CONFIDENCE : When PERFORMING in front of people, he is given chances to express himself emotionally through music. By then, he will gain self-confidence.

音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情

A C H I E V E M E N T

音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情

In 2017, my students and I paid a visit to Children's Home and St John Ambulance Nursing Home.

KC Violin Class performing @ Taiping Children's Home 

As you can see the picture, Taiping Children's Home has a nice stage to perform. We took photos with the children, and the management asked me to write my name on the white board to show their appreciation.

KC Violin Class sharing joy @ St John Ambulance Nursing Home

When we reached St John Ambulance Nursing Home, people were already waiting eagerly there. We also visited the new building there.

Assessment, KC Violin Class, KC Music Designer 

We also had the usual assessment to keep the learning in progress.

Achievement in both violin and Theory examination

It was the celebration time as students did well in their examination. 

Students invited to participate a concert held at Taiping Town Hall

Students had the privilege to join a group of young people to celebrate Christmas to perform on stage at the Town Hall. It was not an easy task as it required a lot of practice and rehearsal, but their efforts had finally paid off.

Seeing his child performing on stage, a father commented he felt very pleased after so many years of his child's learning.

Yes, performing on stage is the dream of every music learner. This is the process for every music learner to become a musician.

音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情

C O N T A C T

音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情音乐陶冶性情

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Music Is About Sharing

Looking back...

A picture speaks a thousand words

KC Violin Class performing @ New Hope Home 新希望之家

On 16 September 2015, my students and I visited Crystal Home and New Hope Home 新希望之家.

A visit to an orphanage and an old folk home
Charity Performance 2015

KC Violin Class sharing joy @ Crystal Home

In the same year, we had the privilege to perform on Christmas.

KC Violin Class, KC Tan

Charity Performance 2013 慈善表演

Charity Performance 2013

"Sharing Joy With The Community"

KC Violin Class, Taiping

2013年慈善表演

On 15 October 2013, my students and I visited an orphanage and an old folk home. At 9 am, we gathered at Crystal Home, the orphanage. The orphans were sitting on the floor waiting eagerly for the performance to begin, while violin students were tuning their violins and my choir students were doing warm-up.

陈老师小提琴班

Students first performed violin pieces arranged by myself. Later, they performed their favourite pieces one after another. They even introduced themselves and pieces before they played. After that, my choir students sang few songs with guitar accompaniment played by my guitar student. As you see in the picture, we took photos together with the orphans and the person-in-charge.

We later moved on to Taiping Care Center, the old folk home. As privacy is concerned, we were not allowed to take photos with the old folks there. Being the first time to an old folk home, some students felt strange the moment they reached there. Old folks there actually enjoyed very much listening to music performed by my students.

太平小提琴班

As the theme goes, "Sharing Joy With The Community", some students gave away their used clothes to the less fortunate, besides taking the opportunity to share their music. Before we left, we took a photo outside the old folk home.

I personally felt that it was the happiest day I could have since the birth of my music classes in Taiping. My dream of organizing charity performance has finally come true.

The good thing about this event is that parents of students showed their support throughout the whole morning. Students also gave their comments that they like the ideas of performing at the local community. They also like to have such an event organized every year.

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