natasha liu bordizzo & they/them / non binary ‷ watch out , addison liu has crash-landed into roswell !! they look twenty seven years old and celebrate their birthday on february 24th. they are from roswell, new mexico, reside in aurora apartments and are currently working as a graphic designer. one thing you should know about them is they embroider little designs onto most of their clothes‷ ( em, she/they, 25, gmt )

biography

if you’re going to do something, be the best at it. that’s what addie had always been taught, especially when they showed an interest in the arts from a very young age. their father was predominantly focused on putting pressure on their older brother, so addison was lucky to be granted more freedom to pursue their interests and find something they were passionate about. the only caveat was that whatever they chose to pursue had to be lucrative, something they would succeed at.

it was hard to excel, however, when addie just couldn’t settle on a single interest. they first picked up an instrument when they were eight, a cello that was definitely too big for them. and as soon as that interest was expressed, her parents set out and bought them a correctly sized instrument, enrolling them in lessons with the best teacher they could find. they then picked up the piano about two years later, at the insistence of their cello teacher who stated that it would help with her understanding of music theory. 

the majority of their high school years were passed away in the art rooms, covered in paint, blistered fingers from endless hours pressed into cello strings now wrapped around paintbrushes and charcoal. they struggled to find a medium they really liked, mostly just enjoying experimenting with whatever materials they could get her hands on. they were never timid or shy, despite an almost reclusive nature, they just enjoyed their own space to create.

going to university wasn’t a question, so they chose to study fine art, leaving roswell for the first time to head to chicago. it was there that their eyes were opened, out of the bubble they’d grown up in they were exposed to a whole manner of social issues and people who were passionate about fixing them. they became quite an activist, learning as much as they could about multiple causes, enthusiastically turning up for as many protests as they could and developing a loyal friendship group of similarly minded people.

they wanted to continue as they were forever, making art and fighting for what they believed in, but there were bills to be paid and parents to placate, so they got a job as a freelance graphic designer when they returned to roswell. they aren’t particularly enthused about their job, but it allows them to work remotely and to dedicate all of their spare time to creating art that they actually are passionate about without getting burnt out by pressure to make money from it.

miscellaneous

identifies as a lesbian and is demisexual.

was born in singapore, but they moved to roswell not long after they were born, so it is the only home addie remembers.

obsessed with animals, especially dogs, ducks, frogs and sheep. they have three dogs, a golden retriever called bentley, a dalmatian called pebbles, and a german shepherd called jasper. they are their babies, they all have matching friendship bracelets and addie takes them everywhere they’re allowed to go.

their apartment is full of plants.

loves video games, if they’re not on their computer for work they’re often still on it to play the latest game they’re obsessed with.

they don’t play cello or piano very often anymore, but have transferred those skills into the bass guitar and keyboard. though they never ever perform in front of anyone.

potential connections

friends !! childhood friends they’ve known almost all of their life, or new friends they’ve met maybe at a protest or through a mutual hobby. addison makes friends very easily and loves to be around people.

gaming squad !! people they can play multiplayer games with, either squished together in addie’s living room or over voice chats late at night when they’re trying to keep the noise down but just enjoy each other’s company.

crushes !!  basically if you’re hot, nice to them and not a man they’re gonna have heart eyes.

Benefits of Cello Lessons of Singapore for Kids

While learning the cello is a difficult process, it is said that this instrument is the most beautiful piece of instrument that has been created. When it comes to cello lessons of Singapore, you know that you are going some of the great and versatile teachers. It is critical that parents need to find benefits when they are searching for perfect cello classes for their kids. Let’s see the benefit. 

Education of the Instrument in a Generalized Way 

When it comes to the cello lessons of Singapore, your kid must get a generalized understanding of the instrument. When it comes to the cello, it sounds like a specter of the human voice. When your kid goes to learn the instrument, the teacher will give them a generalized outlook of the instrument, so that there are no problems when the kid starts to learn the instrument properly. 

Increasing in Communication skills 

It will take time to enter the cellist community after your child starts to learn the instrument. As the kids start to learn the instrument, it becomes easy for them to develop communication skills. It will help the very shy kids. Since the community revolves around the beautiful instrument and classical music, the cello can help your kid to go towards the perfect path of life. 

Helps in character building

When your kid plays the cello instrument, it develops a sense of self-confidence. There can be the development of a professional career if the kid is serious about the lessons. These musical instrument teachings also help in the development of the character in the child. 

Since the world is moving very fast day by day, it is necessary to develop a good character for the child. The child will be very active in a social way, and self-confidence in the child will grow. 

Physical advantages of such lessons 

Often when your kid plays an instrument, the child develops coordination with brain and hand. There will be good synchronization of the hands, and the kid’s hand movements will become smooth. Such movements will easier if the child is playing the instrument from a very tender age.  

The muscles will become more flexible, as the hands will tend to move fast. The hands will work speedily since your kid needs to play the instrument with both hands. Such synchronization is very important for the physical development of the child. 

Improvement of Brain Functions And Skills

When it comes to cello lessons, the child develops a lot of skills and brain functions at the same time. There will be better functions of nerves of the brain, as the child needs to think about how to play the next tune. The brain nerves get very active, as the child learns the instrument. 

There is also the development of motor skills, and learning the cello is done in a precise and scientific way. It is necessary that the child needs to play the tunes in the mind and henceforth the motor skills and brain of the child develops rapidly. There is also the development of emotional functions among the child. The child gets attached to the tunes and chords they are playing, emotionally.

Music School Bukit Timah

We are focused on developing practical skills to help you start making the most of your instrument, We are Praise Music School Bukit Timah, we have extensive knowledge of pianos, guitar, keyboard or many more touching the lives of people around the world with Music, Passion, and Life. Our aim is to give confidence in each student’s involvement in a range of musical activities and enhance natural enjoyment and understanding of music.

Lean Cello that is good in New World Music Centre Singapore

The New World Music Center at Singapore provides music classes in various instruments. The expert teachers offer the classes to the learners comprising adult and young. Musical instruments include keyboard or piano, guitar, violin, drums and voice or vocal. The teachers in the music academy help the pupil to learn music through various exciting activities. The fun activities make the children more inclined to find out the audio quicker and excel. Piano or keyboard is one of the most beautiful Musical instruments that may supplement every tune. Hence, the music center at Singapore offers piano courses for beginners and to people knowing. Piano Alexandra or keyboard is an excellent instrument for kids and starters. Learning the instrument can begin from as early as 4 decades. Young minds have the capability to learn concepts easily and therefore are fresh. The teachers at the centre guide the students to master the fundamentals. To gather extra information on piano lessons for beginners singapore please look at rebrand.ly/f16b0. The new music center in Singapore offers Guitar as an important instrument. The academy's solid curriculum makes the skill of the student's development possible. Classes like ukulele, electric and acoustic guitar include in the training. Drums are accessible in the training classes. The seasoned instructor teaches the students in various practices. These techniques will help the drummer with the abilities to perform with any song. You can confidently depend on the brand new world music center towards your own perfection. The courses of the Singapore music center teach Violin guarantees the student learn to play musical genres. Musical genres include pop music classical music, rock music, and Broadway themes. Students may learn several types of learning courses having the zeal and interest to understand. In due course of the teaching, the learners will develop proficiency and skill in playing the musical instrument.

Online Music Store Singapore

Ensemble Music is one of the preferred online music stores in Singapore. We are a wholesaler-retailer of various high-quality music instrument and accessories such as Violin, guitar, Piano, etc. We have an online music book store, featuring books for education, exam material, performance material, etc for music teachers, professionals, and students.

We also run a music school named as EMusic Studio in Upper Thomson Area for kids where we offer music lessons for Violin, Piano, Guitar, Cello, Cajon, Kalimba along some vocal lessons.   

Playing the Cello Can Be For You

I dropped music from my life for 47 years, while I taught English and raised my family. Although I missed music intensely, I said, like many other people, that I had no time for music making. What I really meant was, "I don't have time to practice enough. I can't play as beautifully as I would like to. So I am quitting this field totally." Only in my 60's, after I retired from my job as a teacher of English, did I go back to studying and playing the cello.

 Hearing that I've gone back to playing music, people often say, "Oh, I love the sound of a cello! I wish I could do that. But I KNOW I can't." Music is absent from their lives.

Music lesson in Singapore

Listening to their sad voices, I feel very sorry for them and very frustrated. Why are people so afraid of trying to play music? So sure that they can't? Without ever trying, they've denied themselves this opportunity. Sometimes it's because they never had any musical instruction in childhood and simply assume that all musical training is formidably difficult. Unfortunately, many music teachers and self-styled experts perpetuate this myth, by repeating how difficult it is to learn any instrument, how much practice it takes, and so on. Sometimes they add that the cello is among the most difficult of all. Other adults were forced to take piano or violin lessons as children and didn't like practicing, so they decided at the time that they had no musical talent. Or a school teacher said they couldn't sing in tune, so they shut their voices down forever. Or, worse yet, a demanding "old school" music teacher completely discouraged them. Unfortunately, such stories are far too common.

 But that's such a pity! Playing music is one of life's most glorious experiences. Nobody should be deprived of it, especially through an unwarranted fear of any personal inadequacies or music's difficulties.

 I'm not promising that learning to play an instrument doesn't require practice and repetition. It certainly does. Nor do I promise that older beginners will learn to play complicated pieces beautifully enough to perform in a concert. But that's not what counts. If their goals are modest, they can learn to play well enough to bring real pleasure to themselves and, possibly, to fellow amateur players in their circle.

 "Well enough." What does that mean? People should decide that for themselves. For example, Noah Adams, a commentator for NPR radio, decided that he would be a successful musician if he could perform Schumann's Traumerie in a private concert just for his wife. His book, Piano Lessons, describes his experiences achieving that goal.

 I studied music and the cello as a child. Along with the lessons came the unspoken rule that studying music was a sacred obligation like becoming a nun: all or nothing. I managed until college. Then, challenged to succeed in my college classes, I quit both my music lessons and my playing. All or nothing? It had to be nothing.

 It took me forty-seven years to realize how wrong that notion was. Amateurs who play bridge, golf, contact sports or even the guitar are not derided for being less skillful than professionals. They play as well as they can, for their own pleasure, not for paying audiences, that's all. Why shouldn't the same standards apply to amateur chamber musicians?

 They do, once you find a congenial group. And now, after a 47 year gap, and sixteen years of being an amateur and a senior citizen, I can declare myself blessed, playing for the love of it, happy.

 Why is that? First of all, you can't be "retired" when you're playing a musical instrument. You are as physically involved as an athlete during a game. Your heart is pumping hard, your juices are flowing. Second, you are not using language, that deceptive, tarnished medium, to communicate with your fellow players. You are passing musical lines of dialog back and forth among you, and your lines were written by geniuses. That dialog is irresistible.

Violin lesson in Singapore

There is a joy in the exactness of the music's timing and dynamics (getting louder and softer), as your part fits in with the others. You experience the sense of team work producing an invisible yet beautiful object. When the music calls for a slowing down and then a sudden pick up to the previous speed, you all do that together. This can happen only if the players are listening very carefully to each other. How often do your companions listen to you and echo you so closely that you are sure you have been thoroughly heard? That seldom happens except when playing music. There, the literal and figurative harmony of the moment is truly exhilarating.

Resource

Dan Nainan

Dan Nainan was born in Bloomington, Indiana on May 4, 1981. He graduated from Bethesda Chevy Chase High School in 1999.

As a senior engineer with Intel Corporation, Dan Nainan designed and presented highly technical demonstrations on stage with Intel Chairman Andy Grove at high-profile events all over the world. He took a comedy class to help get over the fear of public speaking at these events, at which the audiences numbered in the thousands, or sometimes in the millions on television.

The “final exam” for the comedy class was a performance at the Punchline Comedy Club in San Francisco, a performance which was a resounding success. Dan’s Intel coworkers, upon viewing the videotape, invited him to perform at a team dinner for 200 employees at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Upon seeing that performance, the organizers of Intel’s annual sales conference asked Dan to perform for 2,500 salespeople from around the world. His dead-on impressions of Andy Grove and American presidents had the audience rolling in the aisles at 8 a.m. on a Monday morning. Many in the audience thought that he had been hired as a professional comedian, in what was only his third comedy performance ever.

Over the next two years, Dan was tapped to perform at various Intel functions. At the company’s holiday party, he was introduced by Dr. Grove himself, whereupon he proceeded to mimic the Chairman’s distinctive accent and abrupt manner to the point where Mrs. Grove was crying from laughing so hard. Dan was promoted to Strategic Relations Manager for the East Coast, enabling him to move from Silicon Valley to New York City. Restless in his stationary new job and anxious to use his creative talents, he left Intel to pursue standup comedy full time.

In only his second year doing comedy, Dan won a comedy contest at the Washington, DC Improv and the chance to open for noted HBO comedian Robert Schimmel. He convinced Robert to let him perform in Robert’s Hawaii shows. Dan flew to Honolulu at his own expense, and Robert was impressed enough with Dan’s performance to invite the young comedian to tour with him as his feature act for a year. As a result, Dan performed at some of the country’s top comedy clubs, and Robert took him under his wing to teach him about the finer points of the business.

Dan was fortunate enough to be at the New York Improv (now the Broadway Comedy Club) when Canadian comic sensation Russell Peters headlined. After Russell’s performance, there was extra time available, so Dan begged to perform. Because of that one performance, Russell subsequently asked Dan to tour with him as his opening act. Dan and Russell toured the world together, performing in theaters and arenas. Dan both produced and performed in Russell’s show at the Apollo Theater in New York City.

Dan continues to tour with Russell, and the exposure has allowed Dan to headline his own shows. A 100% clean comedian, Dan has performed at charity events, corporate functions, weddings, private parties, colleges, casinos, cruise ships and at the top comedy clubs in the country. He performed for President Obama at a gala in Washington, and the president called him “Hilarious”. Dan has also performed for Hillary Clinton, Michael Bloomberg, Steve Wozniak, CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Howard Dean, Tony Blair’s wife Cherie, Antonio Villaraigosa, John Tesh, Connie Sellecca, Yoko Ono, Phylicia Rashad and for many other celebrities. He has performed with noted comedians such as Jerry Seinfeld, Bob Saget, Brad Garrett, Tim Conway, Jim Gaffigan, and Garry Shandling.

Dan Nainan has performed all over the United States, as well as in Aruba, Canada, England, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Qatar, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and of course on multiple tours of India. He even performed on a jet chartered by Intel for the press, from Las Vegas to San Jose, during the Consumer Electronics Show.

Dan attended the 2009 inauguration of President Obama as a guest of US Congressman Mike Honda, and he also performed at three inaugural events in Washington. At one of the inaugural events, the president’s sister told him she thought his act was excellent. He also performed at the first TED conference in India, and he recently performed on the Muscular Dystrophy Association Labor Day Telethon live from Las Vegas along with Carrot Top and Penn and Teller. Dan also performed at the 2008 and 2012 Democratic National Conventions in Denver and Charlotte. Dan has been seen on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing”, the MDA Telethon, on A&E, Nickelodeon and on various television commercials. Dan also does character voices on radio stations all over America and is best known for his Bill Clinton impression. He had a small role in “The Last Airbender” alongside “Slumdog Millionaire” star Dev Patel and Daily Show correspondent Aasif Mandvi. The movie was directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Dan also starred in his first national commercial for Apple Computer, one in the “Get a Mac” series with Justin Long and John Hodgman. The son of a South Asian nuclear physicist and an East Asian child psychologist, Dan is an accomplished musician who started piano lessons at the age of two. He sings and plays piano/keyboards, guitar, bass, drums, and cello, and played the cello in “The Hoax”, a 2007 movie with Richard Gere. A former touring musician, he is also working on an album of original music.

A world traveler and adventurer, Dan Nainan enjoys learning languages and extreme sports such as bungee jumping, scuba diving, skiing rollerblading and skydiving. He was recently profiled in the New York Times, and a major literary agent in New York saw the article and signed him to a book deal about his transition from Intel to stand up comedy. An early riser, Dan avoids the bar scene, preferring to focus on languages, music, and reading, as well as on creative and athletic pursuits.

Dan is also a published author, with a book and a DVD available on Amazon, and with another book forthcoming.

Originally Posted:- http://www.danielnainan.com/about/

ABRSM Results

Whether you have an upcoming ABRSM examination our team of skilled teachers prepares students for each exam. We are Praise Music School; we help students to develop their confidence in themselves and their aptitude through practicing walking into a room and setting up to perform, as these are often the most nerve-wracking moments before the exam. Our students always get good ABRSM results.

NY Mysteries February 14, 2020

A word of warning: don’t eat popcorn in bed. In my endless quest to lose weight I embraced popcorn. Unfortunately, in my ardor the bag burst and popcorn flooded the bed, under the bed, on the floor. You get the picture. 

A friend and I went to Phaeton Piano Trio, part of the Frick concert series. The German trio, Friedemann Eichhorn, Peter Horr, and Florian Uhlig, play violin, cello and piano. On Sunday evening we were treated to both Beethoven’s and Mendelssohn’s  Piano Trio in D Major as well as Dvořák’s Piano Trio No 4 in E Minor. The enthusiastic audience welcomed a Beethoven encore. For supper we went to Via Quadronno. My friend regaled me with her hike from Brooklyn to the upper west side of Manhattan to feed her newborn. Oh, yes. It was on 9/11.

On Thursday afternoon a friend and I went to a Vintage Posters auction at Swann auction galleries. The auctioneer is a face you would recognize on Antiques Roadshow. He stood at his podium, identified each poster and waited for bids from the floor and from the phone. The room in which the auction was conducted was layered in the posters that were for sale. It was glorious.  

Swann Auction Galleries

Swann Auction Galleries

Swann Auction Galleries

Swann Auction Galleries

                  Now for a stern note. Governor Cuomo wants third parties to increase their number of votes if they’re to remain on the ballot. I belong to the Green Party and received this disturbing letter from the Green Party. Howie Hawkins, our presidential nominee, is quoted. 

Swann Auction Galleries

Last week in an open letter, Noam Chomsky, Barbara Ehrenreich, and other progressive luminaries insisted that Howie Hawkins and the Green Party vote Democrat for president in battleground states.

They condescendingly describe Green votes as a self-indulgent “feel-good activity” as if Green votes are not votes for urgent climate action, real social and economic justice policies, and peace policies.

Don’t they see that the Democrats have joined the Republicans in supporting pro-corporate economic policies and pro-war foreign policies that have generated growing inequality at home and endless wars abroad?

As Howie said, “The left cannot outsource fighting the right to the Democrats.”

Howie points out that the Democrats have helped to normalize Trump by joining with him to overwhelmingly support military budget increases, the US Mexico Canada Trade Agreement (NAFTA 2.0), and the prosecution of Julian Assange and persecution of Chelsea Manning.

    Graphic Lessons: What do a thirty-four-year old, a nine-year-old and an eighteen-year-old have in common? Murder. 

Millie Fitzgerald applies for a Windsor School teaching job, faints on a  dying man in the school kitchen, deals with a troubled nine-year-old and with the eighteen-year-old niece of the murdered man.

Graphic Lessons: Nine-year-old Dana is the only witness who overhears a person fighting with George Lopez, the soon to be stabbed Windsor School kitchen worker. Who can she tell? Her mother who  accuses her of lying? Her father who’s fled to Singapore? She tells Millie. 

Graphic Lessons: NYPD Detective Steve Kulchek is assigned the murder case at the prestigious Windsor School. What’s bugging him? His partner was stabbed. He feels remorse over screwing up an important case. His corrupt boss is a trustee of the Windsor School. His girlfriend married his boss. And his daughter quit college. 

Cello lessons singapore

newworldmusiccentre.com is a leading website for Alexandra Singapore established music institute, New World Music Centre. It supplies a wide selection of music classes. To receive additional information on good cello class lessons in singapore please go to rebrand.ly/f16b0

Playing the Cello Can Be For You

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvGYl8SQBJ0

 Myth - Music lessons are a painful, stressful process.

 Your music lessons can be a negative experience, if you take lessons from someone who is not a true music teacher. However, having said that, it is, in reality, not the music lessons that are at fault. Several elements come into play here. The first element is the teacher.

Violin teacher in Singapore

I firmly believe that genuine music teachers are born not necessarily created through an educational system or grand performance experience. In the educational system, music students are offered two career tracts - performance or education. I'm sure you heard it said, "those who can't... teach." Well, in reality those who perform well are not necessarily good teachers. Just because a person finds their way through a path to musical proficiency does not mean that they are capable, or even willing to show others how to get there. One of the biggest components of a musician, especially a talented or trained musician, is their ego. Studies have been done adnauseam pertaining to the musicians' need to receive positive feedback from others to carry on. Applause, hand shakes, high fives, etc. all support and fuel the often fragile ego of a musician. Why do most musicians perform? Think about it. Some might say it is to express themselves or just to create music, however, in an audience free void many musicians would cease from making music. Whether it is performing in a stadium filled to capacity or YouTube, there is a gratification or a high from performing. The teaching musician on the other hand appears to have a more altruistic approach to music. The feedback that strokes the true music teacher's ego comes in the form of training someone else to become proficient in music. Sharing the gift of music with a student and then enabling that student to perform or play music well is the ultimate high for the true music teacher. When your students perform or go on to become teachers themselves, the teacher's "rocking the stadium." This is not to say that there aren't plenty of teachers who shouldn't be teaching or performers who don't do a great job teaching. The fact is neither of these two career tracts guarantee the production of a true music teacher.

 A person who is a true music teacher is someone who has the ability to explain the subject matter in a vast amount of differing styles and ways, "Differentiated Instruction." For example, it is a known fact that people learn in different ways. Not all people learn from the same train of thought or stimulus. Some people learn from auditory stimulus or simply put... by hearing. Others learn best from seeing or watching and still others by kinesthetics or by doing. A genuine teachers has to be able to discern the student's learning style and provide the correct action for teaching the student. In addition, a teacher must be able to explain the subject matter in ways which the student can relate to within each one of these three learning styles. The personality traits of a born teacher are a genuine desire to teach for the betterment of the student, the advancement of the craft, the ability to effectively communicate the subject matter, vast problem solving skills, creativity, adaptability, and proficient knowledge.

 The second element in the music lesson experience is the student. Many times I wished I could have the power to magically transform a student into a proficient musician without them having to put in the effort and drive to succeed. Unfortunately, rarely does a student succeed without performing the repetitions necessary to be able to play an instrument. Inherent in learning to play music is the need to fine tune muscle memory and fine motor skills which means practice. A student may be able to rely on sheer natural ability to get by, but if you are not one of those gifted with an abundance of natural ability, it won't be long before practice is the only path to gaining skills. Students should expect practice to be a huge portion of their learning experience. This concept eludes a lot of folks when it comes to music, especially singing. Many people get the wrong impression when they see accomplished musicians perform. They make it look so easy! Rarely do they realize the thousands of hours of practice that went into a particular performance. The blame is partially on the concept of "Show Business." The idea is to present the slight illusion that a masterful performance doesn't include struggle and hard work. The artist wants the audience to feel comfortable and relaxed.

 The reality is that if you are just starting music lessons, practice is not a part of your life. You have to make room for practicing in your daily life. For kids, this means you have 24hrs. in a day and you cannot take time away from your eating, sleeping, or education. However, there is one area in which practice can fit - free or recreational time. This is the space practice resides in. Do you talk on the phone, play video games, chat with friends, watch TV, surf the internet? This is the time and space in which practice needs to reside. For adults starting music lessons, the responsibilities of life fill in a good deal of time, but as most people know if practice is a priority of sorts, you will find the time.

 Now, what happens when you don't practice? Is there stress? Perhaps a bit. If you do not perform the necessary repetitions to gain skills, then how can you progress in your lessons? Some folks believe that they should not insist that their child practice if they don't feel like it. Let's look at that concept for a moment. Does your child do their "chores" on a regular basis without being asked? Do they make their bed every day without being asked? Take out the trash? Do they do their homework without being told? Then why would you expect them to instantaneously have the self-discipline to practice on their own? But music should be fun, right? Yeh, music is great fun, once you understand the dynamics involved. Built into the process of music lessons are the entities of practice, challenge, a very small bit of discomfort, as well as gratification, pride, self-esteem, and great joy. If music lessons do not challenge you, they are failing you.Visit https://www.praisemusicschool.com/

 Resource

Online Music store Singapore

Ensemble Music is a Singapore based wholesaler and retailer of music instruments and accessories such as Piano, Violin, Guitar, Cello, etc. We have a music book store in Singapore where different books such as education, classical, exam materials, etc are available for kids and professionals. We run a music school named as EMusic Studio in Upper Thomson area. There we provide different music lessons such as Violin, guitar, cello, etc to kids. For detailed information feel free to visit our website or contact us at 6456 9096.

Playing the Cello Can Be For You

I dropped music from my life for 47 years, while I taught English and raised my family. Although I missed music intensely, I said, like many other people, that I had no time for music making. What I really meant was, "I don't have time to practice enough. I can't play as beautifully as I would like to. So I am quitting this field totally." Only in my 60's, after I retired from my job as a teacher of English, did I go back to studying and playing the cello.

 Hearing that I've gone back to playing music, people often say, "Oh, I love the sound of a cello! I wish I could do that. But I KNOW I can't." Music is absent from their lives.

Music lesson in Singapore

Listening to their sad voices, I feel very sorry for them and very frustrated. Why are people so afraid of trying to play music? So sure that they can't? Without ever trying, they've denied themselves this opportunity. Sometimes it's because they never had any musical instruction in childhood and simply assume that all musical training is formidably difficult. Unfortunately, many music teachers and self-styled experts perpetuate this myth, by repeating how difficult it is to learn any instrument, how much practice it takes, and so on. Sometimes they add that the cello is among the most difficult of all. Other adults were forced to take piano or violin lessons as children and didn't like practicing, so they decided at the time that they had no musical talent. Or a school teacher said they couldn't sing in tune, so they shut their voices down forever. Or, worse yet, a demanding "old school" music teacher completely discouraged them. Unfortunately, such stories are far too common.

 But that's such a pity! Playing music is one of life's most glorious experiences. Nobody should be deprived of it, especially through an unwarranted fear of any personal inadequacies or music's difficulties.

 I'm not promising that learning to play an instrument doesn't require practice and repetition. It certainly does. Nor do I promise that older beginners will learn to play complicated pieces beautifully enough to perform in a concert. But that's not what counts. If their goals are modest, they can learn to play well enough to bring real pleasure to themselves and, possibly, to fellow amateur players in their circle.

 "Well enough." What does that mean? People should decide that for themselves. For example, Noah Adams, a commentator for NPR radio, decided that he would be a successful musician if he could perform Schumann's Traumerie in a private concert just for his wife. His book, Piano Lessons, describes his experiences achieving that goal.

 I studied music and the cello as a child. Along with the lessons came the unspoken rule that studying music was a sacred obligation like becoming a nun: all or nothing. I managed until college. Then, challenged to succeed in my college classes, I quit both my music lessons and my playing. All or nothing? It had to be nothing.

 It took me forty-seven years to realize how wrong that notion was. Amateurs who play bridge, golf, contact sports or even the guitar are not derided for being less skillful than professionals. They play as well as they can, for their own pleasure, not for paying audiences, that's all. Why shouldn't the same standards apply to amateur chamber musicians?

 They do, once you find a congenial group. And now, after a 47 year gap, and sixteen years of being an amateur and a senior citizen, I can declare myself blessed, playing for the love of it, happy.

 Why is that? First of all, you can't be "retired" when you're playing a musical instrument. You are as physically involved as an athlete during a game. Your heart is pumping hard, your juices are flowing. Second, you are not using language, that deceptive, tarnished medium, to communicate with your fellow players. You are passing musical lines of dialog back and forth among you, and your lines were written by geniuses. That dialog is irresistible.

Violin lesson in Singapore

There is a joy in the exactness of the music's timing and dynamics (getting louder and softer), as your part fits in with the others. You experience the sense of team work producing an invisible yet beautiful object. When the music calls for a slowing down and then a sudden pick up to the previous speed, you all do that together. This can happen only if the players are listening very carefully to each other. How often do your companions listen to you and echo you so closely that you are sure you have been thoroughly heard? That seldom happens except when playing music. There, the literal and figurative harmony of the moment is truly exhilarating.

Resource