Been busy-musically

I've been really busy these few weeks. Baby Corrine, my latest niece was born on 11 Nov and I had a really fun time that day dashing to assemble our baby hamper. Its good that rachel did not feel a tinge of jealousy but enjoyed picking the baby items and also surprise gifts (princess stationery sets) for Baby Corrine's sisters and herself. Time to have another baby????? PLEASE!!!!! NO WAY!!!!! ONE IS ENOUGH!!!!!!! I NEED MORE TIME TO PRACTISE VIOLIN

Even as I sneaked some time to update my blog, Rachel is whining about me not helping her with the beados!!!! Argh......as usual I will be a living sacrifice 24/7 for my darling!!!

Well...I'm back after taking 5 mins to complete her beados!!!! Now she went on to practice her violin when we are supposed to practise together in the afternoon. In case one should think I neglect her, well I am now listening to her "jingle bells" and advising her bowing at the same time, half bow, full bow etc.

In fact, another reason why we are so busy is our teacher want us to perform at her annual student's concert. This year, the concert had a Christmas theme. The adults after playing several items will perform with the kids jingle bells, with the scores of kids, mine youngest at 4 playing the chorus of Jingle Bells.

Now, rachel went on to practise her usual Twinkle twinkle little stars, Mary had a little Lamb etc with very little supervision. She's a great kid. Sometimes she is so self-motivated I think she surpassed me in my childhood!!!!! Oh... its Beguine now, her first violin piece involving all 4 strings!!!! Its sounded ok though her 1/16 size violin had cracks from a nasty accidental fall.

Yesterday I brought her to the NAFA concert series 09/10, its serious stuff ALL ABOUT PIANOS from Scriabin to Schmann to Rachmaninov. I just wanted to see how much she can take and whether she is listening etc. To my amazement she sat through 5 items citing her favourite as LIZST Hungarian Rhapsody No 12 in C#minor followed by CHOPIN Fantasie in F minor, Op 49.

We left early since I promised her a surprised toy from Seiyu, OH its BHG now and we need to get there before the shops closed. Any way its a very long programme and the last piece is something that I had just started to learn from Yan. BEETHOVEN, Sonata in D minor Op 31 no 2 "Tempest".

"I think I want to play piano now!!", Rachel just said after 15 minutes of practising her violin. Of course there will be another session later today when I go through the songs with her. She had just lifted the piano cover, I am on the computer next to her piano. This is our family's favourite room, the MUSIC room. OMG, she started to joule the piano "Mary had a little Lamb" again!!!! This is one song I get to hear a lot....and she is aptly named Rachel meaning "little lamb!!"

Last night, holding her CHOMP, a cute little toy triceratops from the cartoon Dinosaur King, she told me she will perform on the piano publicly first but violin when she is older. Indeed it great that she already have some plans about her future.

Told you, she is mature beyong her 4 years though sometimes she still have the tantrums. (much less now). The picture of a 5 year old Anne Sophie Mutter playing her violin in her violin case is motivation enough, though the plenty of dvds we watched as a family sure fuels her interest in music and performing.

Awaiting Good News

As i write this, our family is awaiting good news. Lots of good news ahead!!!!

Baby (Clara) or whatever her name is going to be will be born anytime this week!!!! She is my brother Leslie's third girl after Cheryl and Celine. It seemed like yesterday when I was all excited about the birth of Cheryl, the first grandchild to my hyper-excited parents who were going to be grandparents for the first time. YES!!!! We all cherish our first times, one way or another.

So there I was cradling baby Cheryl newly born, all wrinkled and pink and I prayed that God will bless me with a baby soon. I was single, not seeing anyone in particular, having some idea of the man that I will love- handsome, gifted in music (not rock guitarist or drummers pls), artisitic, sentimental, highly educated, God-loving and loving kids etc.

Now, Rachel is almost 5 and had long started on the violin (a day before she was 3) and piano too!! She told me she loves music and her favourite instrument is the violin that she is begining to play tunes she love. She is committed to practising and prefers the daddy to supervise her when she plays. Our beloved darling is all grown up!!!!

Something in me tells me that God blesses this child. She will do well musically and impact the world for her love of music and God. Perhaps the greatest reason why we choose to home-school her and help nurture her growing talents in everything art and music. I believe with God, nothing is impossible.

Thank you Jesus for giving us abundant life, health, wealth, happiness, peace and love and many other gifts including the gift of music.