National Piano and Violin Competition

It's the time for the biennial national piano and violin competition again.

This time round i managed to catch the junior and intermediate violin performances from the semi finals to finals and the quarter finals for the artist category

Well i can say that i've enjoyed myself a great deal, as i sat alone in the recital hall in Esplanade while Yan accompanied our beloved child at home or in the near by shopping malls. As a beginning violin student myself, I am greatly encouraged by the performances particularly that in the artist category where the china PRs who play alike are of a higher standard than the locals. The better violinists were able to engage the audience right from the very first note.

In these 2 days of competition, I was given a foretaste of what it is like to be a part of this exciting event. During break time where teachers and parents mingle one can easily tap into their conversations and learn much:

One parent was shocked when her child told her he wanted to take part in the competition. She discouraged him as she feared her child may embarrass her. It was the violin teacher who had to persuade the parent for a week before she finally agreed that the competition exposure will do more good than harm. Another parent was sharing loudly how her child was practising with the metronome past mid night into competition day and she had butterflies in her stomach and broke out in cold sweat when her child's turn to perform came.

Yet another very proud mom of 5 boasted of her child's talent and how her family "invested" more than $1000 monthly on both piano and violin lessons monthly for 2 of her kids.

The teachers too had their time comparing notes-teaching notes in particular. One was happily sharing that the contestant a very young girl was her student since 2 years old. Another pointed out 2 excellent players - a boy and a girl whose performances were well above the others who had only NAFA standards?????

Any way, so much for "tuning in" to those who spoke quite loudly near me, I personally had nothing against sending children for competition. I think where music and arts are concerned, exposure is a very inspiring and stimulating part of one's continual learning. As a serious musician, one should always seek to improve one's art and competition is one platform where the performing standard can be easily gauaged. This is especially important if one aspires to develop professionally as a musician.

Well. Rachel is starting violin lessons next month when she turns 3. As a parent and violin student myself, I realise the importance of starting very young especially where violin is concerned. I know she will do well in music since the environment she was born into and surrounded with is always a very musical one. In our house, music cds, dvds are played daily and she understands that her daddy teaches others kids and teenagers how to play the piano better.

Since she was a baby, Rachel's interest in music was evident since she started playing with all sorts of musical toys. Already she sings disney princess songs like Reflection and A Whole New World, her pronounciation may not be there yet but her "sings" in tune and with the correct rhythm much to our delight. If i were to reminisce my pregnancy days, oh yes! , she did move a great deal when i sing whether praise and worship songs or karaoke. She seemed to be "dancing" when i attend SSO concerts and watches performances on the DVD.

Now, I cant wait to catch the finals for the artist - both piano and violin next week. The funny thing is I do not feel weird attending concerts alone. Yan will be baby sitting Rachel since her ad hoc nanny charges $10 per hour and this money can be better off "invested" into music lessons and materials. I am hoping to attend the master class as well as a observer to learn a thing or two. After having watched Itzhak Perlman conduct a masterclass on you tube, I am hooked by the "magic improvement" in the participants playing when corrected by a extraordinary teacher. My busy schedule permits me to attend just one masterclass and i've chosen that of Natalie Boyarsky whose teacher was a student of Leopold Auer, celebrated as a legendary violin teacher. Hopefully, the tickets are still available. Pls LORD...........

Finally, our family's collection of music cds, dvds and rachel's collection of cartoon, vcds and dvds are screaming out for storage space. Besides, I recently started my collection of violin books adding that to yan's vast collection of scores and piano books. I am now dreaming of a whole wall of shelves for books and cds etc in our next place of abode. Again, my God provides........i believe He sure will. Thank you Jesus!!!