A Note to Parents on Piano Lessons

Many parents tell me their kids don't practise or are reluctant to take piano seriously.

Ask yourself if you've ever put piano lessons as a top priority IN THEIR EYES.

Before you sigh about why your child isn't taking it seriously consider if you are ready to say to the rest of your family that you'll have to pass on a dinner outing because your child hasn't practised today. 

Because there is a marked difference in the families of the kids who do well, and those who barely get enough practice to scrape thru' each grade.

So parents,

-if you're not prepared to give up that birthday party, or go a little later, or leave a little earlier;

-if you simply MUST go to the airport (yes, all 14 of you) to meet a relative coming in from out of town;

-if everybody HAS to have dinner at the same time all the time;

-if same-age playmates drop in and your sense of fairness means everyone gets to play at the same time (despite there being undone homework)...

then don't grumble that your child isn't taking piano seriously. Because in MY eyes you're not taking it seriously either.

The secret to being a successful piano student? 

- if it's not urgent or critical, don't change lesson time. what's urgent / important / critical? If it's something that you would be prepared to forfeit your lesson for - out of town vacations, award ceremony, medical appointment, deaths, weddings, illness, other CCA exam / performances - then it's a valid reason. Having the day off and wanting to spend time with your kids isn't the best reason but if you let me know early I can make arrangements.

- if they've not practised, they don't get to go out or do anything that is "less" important than piano - including: reading time, tv time, computer time, play time, and yes, sometimes, mealtimes!

- set a fixed piano practice time and STICK TO IT. This means if maths homework is being done and 3 o'clock comes around, stop the h/w, practise piano, THEN resume maths homework.

Harsh? That's how you send a message to your child that PIANO IS IMPORTANT and not something you can put off when other things pop up.

It's not for everyone, I agree, but I'm just saying, if you want your child to think of it as being a priority, then YOU'VE got to make it a priority. If you don't, then they won't. And practising will be the LAST thing they'll do.

Singing Alone Together

I was thrilled to score an audition with the Singapore Symphony Chorus. I'd seen them perform a number of times and I thought it would be terribly prestigious to be able to say I was part of the SSC.

So I went for tryouts. The person-in-charge said I should just go and join them (informal audition maybe?) for a practice session before deciding if it was for me. I didn't understand what she meant by that, but I went anyway. 

It was a cool evening as I made my way to the Victoria Concert Hall. It had been closed for some time while renovations were carried out. And the chorus had been practising here and there and everywhere meanwhile. This was to be the 2nd Monday that they'd be back "home". 

Full of anticipation, I approached the security desk. Er, my name wasn't there. Great. Called the person-in- charge. No answer. Sheesh. What kind of operation do they run? Texted her - she replied that she was on the way and I was early. True, true. So I said I'd find a place to wait and could she let me know when she got there. Then I hopped to the Arts House across a little lane where there were seats. And shelter. 

It turns out that the person I saw loitering there a few minutes after I had gone to sit was the lady I spoke to had been texting. She sent someone over to where I was sitting to ask if I was me. Hi, I say. Are you person A? No, I'm person B, she replied, I help person A. She's over there. 

I was a little confused. She had been standing around at the front of the security desk and could have called or texted (since that was her preferred mode of communication) to let me know she had arrived. But instead I watched them la-di-da like school girls for a good 10 minutes before she got her "assistant" to come over to ask if I was me. 

Ok. Fine. I got up to the hall. No one was talking to anyone else. It was as if everybody was new to the group. I couldn't be more friendly if I tried. I introduced myself to at least 3 people. Every one of which had no clue how to carry on a conversation. Turned out the newbies were the ones looking around and smiling at the people around us, and the existing members were the ones doing their own thing on their mobile devices. 

What the? These people aren't friends with each other. They're all loner types. 

That explains the total silence in the elevator getting up there. Tsk. To think that I made the mistake of assuming all the shy, quiet ones were newbies. 

The bottom line is that it was an awful affair. The conductor didn't know the choir (are you a bass? tenor? where are my basses?); the choir didn't care about new people in their ranks; the person-in-charge seemed to only handle administrative things so she had nothing to do with choir rehearsals proper; no one talked to anyone else; it was just a cold, dead place. 

I'm amazed that the SSC managed to survive for such a long time considering there was no evidence synergy, no sense of camaraderie, no togetherness. 

As I was leaving (I was waiting for the lift, where at least 10 others were also waiting in total silence, like a bunch of strangers at a mall) Ms-Person-in-Charge asks : did you have any problems following along? Nope, I said. Oh, so will we be seeing you again next week? 

That was telling. They must not get a lot of repeat visitors, huh?  

Well, I told her I'd think about it, but by the time I got home that night, I had made up my mind. No, sorry, you won't be seeing me again next week. Or ever. 

This is NOT what they looked like.

Doing Like Nike Says

Everyone has a mantra. Mine is a Nike tagline. It might be a telling sign of my age that the company's 1988 slogan, 'Just Do It', is one I apply in my own life. I am not ashamed to say that it is just as meaningful to me now as it was more than two decades ago.

Recently I got to thinking about a new business idea. I admit, it was a stolen idea. While discussing possible new ventures with people over a cup (or 7!) of tea, it occurred to me that some parts of the plan could be taken and modified to suit a very viable almost-similar enterprise, while steering clear of any conflict of interest. 

So I got on it. Research is currently underway; excursions to suppliers have been planned; market surveys are being done- albeit in an extremely casual manner; necessary people have been given a heads-up and asked if they are able to provide services I'll need.  

Am I certain it'll be a success? Not at all. But that's ok. "If you don't try, you've already failed. But if you do, there's a chance you'll succeed." Good advice that was given by a BFF also more than two decades ago. 

And that folks, is how every business in existence today got started. Someone just went ahead and DID IT!

I'm not sure this new baby will even make it from planning to execution, let alone become a success. But I'm sure sitting on my behind and wondering and thinking and twiddling my thumbs aren't going to help it take off either.

What is it? That's not relevant to the story. What *is* is that it's something I feel strongly about. Something I have a passion and drive for. Something I am committed to making work because I believe in it. 

And that's half the battle won. Success comes from achieving what you desire. The hard part is figuring out what that desire is. But once you do, Just Do It!

Hey, that slogan must be something special if it's enshrined in the Smithsonian Institution, right?

What's YOUR passion?

© 2014 Nike, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Everything Has a Price

That's what I used to believe. That everyone has a price, and everything could be bought for the right amount - however big a sum that might amount to. 

But I was wrong. And I'm glad I was wrong. 

Today someone offered me a full-time job. He hadn't said how much he'd be willing to pay me to give up my piano teaching and part-time writing, it was just a simple question. "Would you be willing to take on a full-time position?"

For half a second my mind hollered "YES if you pay me triple my current salary!"

This was immediately followed (pity it wasn't in slow motion!) by a montage of the past week's activities including taking mum to visit her old friends from Cold Storage days, accompanying her to Ikea to buy candles where we ended up sitting for more than an hour just chatting away over tea and siew mai, and telling dad about the stories I was reading on FB while we sat for over an hour in the waiting room of Clinic Q at CGH. 

Just one week. And the week isn't even over. That's all the stuff I've done with them this week. Stuff that I do because I CAN. 

And NO amount of money can convince me to give that up. 

So I said no to the guy offering me the job. There was nothing more to ask. I would never give up what I'm doing now for anything in the world, because the time I spend with them is way too precious to put a price tag on. 

X-men, X-code, X-terminate

I haven't written in years. Ok so I'm prone to x-aggeration.

Here's the update. 

HAWT right?

I watched x-men last night. It was fun, only because it's a Wolverine-is-the-star movie. And I love me my wolverine. But I thought it could have been more fighting and less talking. Altho to be fair I suppose the talking was necessary to the plot. They should just have given us (fine, ME) more crash-boom-bang for my buck. 

Speaking of, did you know if you buy tix online with DBS / POSB cards you get a dollar off per ticket? In this day and age, one's gotta take whatever discounts one can get. After all, we need to start saving to fight against the minimum sum policy no?

Ouch. Yes. That was my tiny reference to the political situation in SG that one reads about on FB everyday. And it HAS to be true, I mean, it's on FB innit? 

On to other things. I've been helping my BFF with her game development business... writing and editing and just all round checking for grammar mistakes and stray apostrophes.  I won't say I'm awesome at it. But I do what I can to help. Recently we were collateral damage (I'm being kind and gentle and mellow) in a report that someone (who claims to be a game industry professional) wrote attacking Asiasoft. It sounds like she has a personal agenda, considering she's admitted to being in a long-term relationship with someone who is part of another indie outfit in SG. And I'm just annoyed. No facts, no numbers. Just this is bad, that is bad, this sucks, that's ugly, and that she was simultaneously horrified and terrified (verbatim). Tsk. You don't like it, that's your problem right?

So I'm thinking of starting up another blog - one that will be affiliated with the company - where I can say all the NICE stuff I want to, and all the BAD stuff I want to (in my super duper snarky not-sure-if-I'm-sliming-them way). All I gotta think of is a really cute and/or catchy name. Always the hardest part eh? 

And then I'll write and I'll write and I'll be satisfied that I got to say my piece. And then I'll be able to sleep easy.

I'm Screaming about Ice Cream

OK so I apologise that it took more than half a year for me to write anything. 

I'm not sure I wanna blog much anymore, but then I wanted to leave this spot for things that I felt I wanted to document but didn't quite belong on FB. (Cos that's where my entire life story is right?)

And yes, I can put stuff in a regular diary / journal, the way most people do, but then where would I put the DEEGEETAL fotos?

Now on to the post! 

Today I tried my hand at making ice cream

It's one of those things that I always thought was REALLY difficult to do. Until a darling friend from school  taught me how to do it. Well, she made some for a party we had recently, it turned out awesome - I couldn't tell it was home made - cos it was THAT professionally done, and then I found out how easy it was to do!

1) Beat 2 x 300ml of Bulla Thickened Cream in a mixer

2) Dissolve 4 tablespoons cocoa powder in a tin of condensed milk

3) When the cream is stiff (and starts to look like little clots - this happens rather suddenly, mind you - add the "chocolate milk" and mix well

 

4) Pour into an old ice cream tub for that authentic feeling of eating some store-bought ice cream

5) Freeze overnight for best results.



I'll let you know how it turned out after I try some tomorrow :)

It's Official

I am 40. 

I feel older. Not in that Oh My CNY is Coming and I'm Gonna Have to Field "Those" Questions Again way.

I feel older in the way that I'm happy with what I have, where I've been, who I've become. 

The 姐姐said it perfectly in the waiting room of CGH's A&E when she said "Maybe you're meant to touch the lives of all the children that you teach... something you probably might not do if your life had turned out differently."

I agree. A student of mine wrote on my FB wall today wishing me Happy Birthday and said some awesome mushy things about how I've taught him more than playing the piano. That's what makes my job worthwhile. Sure, you have ambitious parents who get a reality check from teacher dearest when their kid doesn't put in the time and effort... you get the kids come to class kicking and screaming, making up excuses, telling you stories... you roll your eyeballs and groan inwardly (or outwardly sometimes) when you're just NOT getting thru to them. 

But the occasional word of gratitude or the unexpected high mark could make it all better. For me anyway. 

People have often asked me how I define myself. I think I'm ready to take a stand and say - I'm a Teacher. It's what I do. It's who I am. 

Feeling my Age

Ok, so perhaps it's time to start popping the Glucosamine, order the Stemtech, and have a supply of Artrex on hand.

Ever since the gahmen decided that I should be the recipient of a highly subsidised upgrading project, I've been having knee pains. In no small part due to the climbing and squatting and kneeling associated with cleaning a house.

This seems to have gotten slightly better in that some days I wake up with almost no pain at all. Careful balancing of weight and keeping a good posture in mind seems to help.

But because my body INSISTS on letting me know that I'm not a spring chicken anymore, it has decided that since I've sussed out the knee problem, I should have a new one.

As I straightened up after leaning forward to type something on the laptop last night, my back began to protest. Uh-oh! I suspect it's a herniated disc. So it looks like I'ma gonna have to go see my doctor soon. In the meantime, I'm going to be lying down as much as I can to give it a chance to heal.

The family has been discussing the possibility of getting some live-in help to see to mum and dad and assist them in getting around etc. and right now this option is looking better and better.

*Ouch*

One More Time

I know this part

It's the part where I say thank you and move on

But I can't.

It's the part where my sense of self-preservation should kick in

But it doesn't.

So I run.

I run towards the pain. And wonder why I cannot find a way out.

Why I cannot accept it for what it is.

Because I'm stubborn. And headstrong. And all those other things that make me ME.

And the very things that make me strong, now make me weak.

Tastes like Chicken

I wanted some greasy, commercial-tasting, PMS-relieving, comfort food. So i traipsed over to KFC after work to buy my $5-coupon-get-able 2 piece meal.

There's a lady in front of me who looks like she's kinda smart- educated, speaks well- so I figure it shouldn't take too long.

I was wrong.

Dear lady, when u ask if it's a meal and the girl says it isn't - that means no drink, no sides, no nothin'!

When u ask if it's a la carte n she says yes, that means no meal. It doesn't mean u only get 1 piece of chicken. Especially when she tells u there are 3 drumlets in every box.

When she says there are no "original" drumsticks it means u can either choose crispy drumsticks or original other bits. Or u can wait- 10 minutes like she says. You do NOT get to yell about how your husband doesn't eat crispy nor does he eat any other chicken part. Really? Chicken is chicken. If he can't eat any other part, then wait. If u can't wait then get the crispy and peel off the skin. It's that simple. This is KFC. Quit making a fuss. It's dinner time and they are allowed to run out of parts.

What is bloody wrong with people?

Earlier in school a parent came in asking for a new guitar bag for a guitar he purchased last week. Because the zip had fallen off the one he has. There's nothing wrong with the guitar. Nor the function of the zip. The metal bit had fallen off. That's all. So go put a freaking paper clip on it. It'll still work. Or tie a piece of string. Or something. Surely, sir, you can't be THAT useless?

Oh what did you say? You paid a whole 50 bucks for the instrument? It's not a 20-dollar purchase? Really? That's your argument?

Sir, this isn't LV. You dont get a one-to-one exchange on a guitar bag that came with your 50-dollar purchase. By the way- it was $49. And you know, we sell bags. They're called accessories. For when your old one tears or breaks or gets lost. We don't keep them lying around just to hand them out to people like you who can't handle the fact that you 1) manhandled it enough to break it (we don't have complaints about the zip) OR 2) just happened to be unlucky enough that you got a lemon. But hey the zipping mechanism works, the guitar is fine, you checked it yourself when you bought it a week ago. So what's the f***ing problem here? You. That's what.

I'm going home now. To eat my chicken and watch TV. At least the idiots in movies always get their comeuppance!

Batman Kosong

That's what it felt like. No condensed milk. No evaporated milk. No sugar. Plain. 

OK I suppose some people will say it follows the Dark Knight graphic novels quite closely ( I don't know, I don't follow the comics, but that's what I read...) but as far as I'm concerned, if I'm going to watch a superhero movie, I'd like to see more Splat, Bangs and Kapows!

The Dark Knight didn't Rise to my expectations tho. Not enough gadgets, not enough high speed chases, not enough sexual tension between the Bat and the Cat, I DID however like Hathaway's tush on the too-big-wheels motorbike canon thingamajiggy. (The scene where she's blasting a hole in the tunnel...the movie was worth watching JUST FOR THAT!)

There was just too much psycho stuff, emo stuff and what happened to the confident, almost-arrogant, "zai" batman? I suppose I will be criticised for saying so, but I think I prefer the Tim Burton / Joel Schumacher series. 

There is an obvious sequel to this installment of the Dark Knight series - and I'm hoping it'll be better than the current movie. In order not to give away too much, I'm just gonna say this: I might enjoy watching Joseph Gordon-Levitt a little more than Christian Bale the next time around.

Enjoy this spoofy poster. Get it?

Batman : The Dark Knight...........................                     ...........................The Dark Knight Rises

Bits and Pieces

It's late.

Mum and dad are at my place this week. And sometimes they go in to bed early but wake up hungry again around 2am. Like babies.

Teen Wolf Season 2 Promo

So the mother and I have been sitting around watching Teen Wolf. She raises an eyebrow at me when I tell her I actually like the series. Her reply is "And that show about the Vampires too I suppose... what diary? something diary..."

She's referring to Vampire Diaries. Well. She's not wrong. I LIKE that  A LOT.

Ian Somerhalder

Ian Somerhalder... what's there not to like? So you know they say he's slated to be cast as Christian Grey in the movie version of 50 Shades. And speaking of that I'm actually reading that now. It has its moments. But I'm not going to start recommending it to anyone or anything like that.

Matt Bomer

Oh, Matt Bomer was/is in the running for the lead too... I'm not sure he'd make a good Grey tho. But  he sure is hot.

In other news, I haven't been shopping in forever. Well, not REAL shopping anyway. I DID go to TM on the Monday past to return my Hubstation power cable to Starhub. The fella kept asking me for the paper, the paper. What Paper lah? NO PAPER I tell him.

Then he says if I hadn't returned it I would have been charged for it in the next bill. What? Yeah. And I was supposed to have gotten a piece of paper instructing me to return the cable within 7 days. Well, no surprise there - Starhub CS kinda is da suck.

Then I go to M1 and the router I'm supposed to get is sold out. Only available in their Compass Point branch I'm told. Er, no thanks. I think I'll just go to Courts and get me another router. After all, Father of my Godson aka My Personal IT Hero says any router will do. Cheap and good is good enough. Don't need all that fancy shmancy stuff.

My Belkin router looks like one of these.

So I go. And get the router. And a stand fan- cos the parental units were coming over this week and their room fan died a while back but since they haven't been here I didn't get round to replacing it. So there I am, router and fan in tow. And I see The Body Shop having an up-to-70%-off sale in the atrium. So of course I lug my packages with me while I browse for bargains.

I end up buying $200 worth of stuff. For the awesome price of $96. You all know where your Christmas presents are coming from this year. Oh wait. So I guess I have been shopping. Hah. I feel cheated somehow. Like by-the-way shopping doesn't quite count.

*mutters*

For those of you who DO want to go REAL bargain hunting shopping at the expo, here's what's on right now. I have two words for you. Robinsons Sale.

Old School

I got on the bus. As usual the front portion was just terribly packed. Up the 2 steps to the back half of the bus, all seats were occupied but there was lots of standing room.

So I wove my way through er non-sweet-smelling school kids to go to the back.

An elderly man was just getting up to alight. And as he saw me coming, he took a couple of steps farther back to make space for me to get into his recently vacated seat. Only then did he continue on his way towards the exit door.

Now how many of u would just continue moving forward and then suffer the crossing over of one person behind the other? Cos I think I would have. *shame*

And this older uncle? I suspect he might be from the old school of gallantry, chivalry and good manners!

Mid Morning Rant

So someone I know is off on vacation. With the other half. Except I know they're not even faithful to the other half. But while the partner doesn't have their fidelity, they DO get the vacations, the presents, the jewellery...

My question and dilemma is this - would I be willing to settle down with someone who could give me material luxuries and comforts knowing that he is fully capable of cheating on me, and probably already is?

I suppose the answer to that would be no. But sometimes it just irritates me you know? Real Life. Yeah. It irritates me.

Love this tee shirt! LOL

So I hold out. Knowing full well that if I don't find the person whom I can give my all to, that I may very well never marry. And that's a choice I make. Given the situation and knowing what I know of myself. Do I have to be happy about that choice? Mostly I am. Unfortunately, once in a while I get irritated. 

Perhaps I'm feeling particularly sore about this because I've always felt like I've been cursed never to holiday with my significant other. Ever. Not a single one of them. (And no, going out of the country and coming back in the same day does NOT count - neither does travelling for a particular purpose - wedding/funeral/medical procedure.) 

On a Budget

Treble Clef Tote $5
Bright Purple Handbag $15
Shoes $10 each.

I'm an awesome shopper! 'Nuff said.

Magic Mushroom

So you HAVE to read this article about a sex-toy being mistaken for a mushroom. Like seriously?

Hilarious!

Unfixable

Sometimes things break down. You try and find a way to fix the problem and hope it'll be ok after that. But sometimes you can't figure out what the problem is. OR you THINK you've figured it out, only to realise a little but later on that that wasn't it.

My doorbell had been on the blitz. I changed the batteries in the receiver. Then it was ok for a couple of days. But it got wonky again. This time I changed the battery in the transmittor. It didnt look like that was it but lo and behold, by day 3 it was back to normal.

That was a few weeks ago. Today it died completely.

$10 and a short walk later, I had myself a new doorbell.

If I'da done that at the start I would have saved at least 5 bucks in batteries.

You know, come to think of it, thats what happened to my last few relationships too. Ah well. Now I know.

And the Amazon Commercial...

for 50 shades...er, I mean for Kindle. (capitalising on the 50 shades bandwagon)

enjoy :)

50 Shades of Grey

So apparently there's this book - 50 Shades of Grey. It's fan fiction. A term I only knew in passing till one of my besties (he'll kill me for using this word to describe him I'm sure) explained it to me last night, along with some of the terms / slang associated with it. Like "slash" which I find is kind of a cute way to associate the characters the author might want to throw together in a hot, steamy scene. The word itself brings to mind blades and bloodshed. But I digress.

Anyhow, I was reading some other blogs and sites on totally unrelated topics (not books, not fan fiction, not Twilight *groan*) and I came across a discussion on 50 shades. From what I read, this is the impression I have:

It's taking the world by storm;
Its audience is mainly (house/)wives;
There are explicit BDSM-related sex scenes in it;
AND IT'S STILL A BETTER LOVE STORY THAN TWILIGHT!

Mwahahaha.

Ok sorry, had to put that in.

Since I have a warped brain AND I enjoy books, I've gotten hold of the trilogy (yes there are 3 books!!) and will get to reading it soon.

Let's see if it really is all that it's cracked up to be.

You Asked!

So you ring and say you want to push back your class by half hour. I say ok because I happen to know the kid that takes up that slot is always eager to come in earlier.

So I go ahead and swop your class times. What does this mean? This means you don't get to call me 15 minutes before your original lesson time and say you'll be able to make it after all and you're on the way. Well, you can CALL. But I may not be able to accommodate you.

Sorry. That slot is no longer available to u. 'Cos I've given it away.