Solo

There are many activities that are conducted in a group setting - basketball, dance, tuition etc...

But - why is it that piano lessons are still largely conducted in a 1-to-1 setting?

Occasionally, there are buddy, parent-child and ensemble classes. But for the sake of this blog, let's limit piano lessons to 1-teacher + 1-student setting.

1 or 2 parent (s) may observe the class - and this is rather common for schooling kids while there will definitely be 1 parent sitting in for kids below 12. Meanwhile, both parents sit their butts in for kids below 7/8. Personally, I love it when parents sit in, I feel like its more fun and there's this we-are-together vibe going on. Yay!

Leaving the parent conversation aside, I believe the reason that piano lessons must be conducted in a solo setting is truly because of one main reason - Correction of Technique.

Imagine with me - everything can be achieved in a pair/trio/group setting. Play right hand, left hand, by-parts playing, both hands, rhythm training, theorical knowledge etc...

But I can n.e.v.e.r correct your technique (the 'how' to play), and even if there are brief mentions of certain general techniques, I can almost n.e.v.e.r check & double-check that you did your correction properly. Simply because, technique is designed to be watched upon in individual classes.

And to leave the joke to the joker, this bloody technique, is the most important factor that may kill or heighten your musical ability/interest.

Years of successful piano lessons should produce a pianist-student whom is able to place his/her hands on the piano in a relaxed-curved shape. He/she should sit slightly away from the piano, keeping their elbows loose, but not drooping. We all should find the notes on the keyboard relatively fast after just a glance at the score sheet. There should be absolutely no shaking/searching/unsure moments on the keyboard. if. technique. is. focused. on. throughout. our. lovely. piano. journeys.

Grade 8, Dip, LR, FR & Beyond.

Many of us reached Grade 8 in our primary instrument - whether it's piano, violin or vocal.

Personally, I find Grade 8 hard to teach - but not hard to play. Grade 8 is easy to perform - but not easy to excel. In fact, even among my best students, I don't see anyone shine at G8. Everyone look as if they are digging the piano soil or transforming the piano into a Roblox.

I spent 2 - 3 years on my own Grade 8 actually, achieving a well-deserved Distinction 2 - 3 years after my Grade 7 exam.

My actual memories in my piano route start from Grade 8, DipAB, LR & FR. To say the truth, I could hardly remember much from my pre-G8 journey, other than my lovely thoughts of my first teacher from Shanghai.

DipAB was pretty breezy for me, probably because I spent almost 3 years on G8, that certain repertoires I played were almost Dip! Probably that was a power play from my teacher - ensuring I played Dip pieces even before I attempted G8 exam. Once again, yours truly, a stupid pig, scored Distinction for the Recital component of DipAB.

LR was almost suffocating because there is such a huge jump from Dip to LR, in terms of depth, length and technique of the pieces. I passed, of course. But - no Distinction for me from LR and onwards. Safe passes... still.

FRSM (cover of this blog) - I shined. I know I did well, I matured, I 开窍 - even if my results do not reflect how I feel. I just know, from FR and onwards, I nailed my performance. I don't feel that piano is difficult anymore. I can relax both my mind and fingers on the piano. My wrist did hurt a little, but now it is recovered.

....

Most importantly, FR made me love Classical. God damn it but e.v.e.n in LR, I stiilll reach for pops. Obviously everyone reach for pops every now and then. But I truly feel, pops should not be in our default setting. If I can change something, probably I would make every piano student start from Classical training. I mean it.

FR also removed my ego filter, and made me see/hear my music in 4K. You know how sometimes you think you performed well because of musical endorphins, but when you truly removed your ego filter, you find yourself rushing the tempo, playing the accompaniment part too loudly, not shaping the melody, accenting at places you shouldn't be accenting etc... ?

I am glad I removed my filter. But I think I would still go for fillers..

High and/or Wide in Music

When I first started learning piano, my teacher from China geared me to go high. Never was I taught anything else other than techniques, exam pieces and surviving stage performance. No singing, no solfege, no theory even! Still, I trusted my teacher because I knew she wanted me to go high.

Years later, I truly enjoyed going wide in my music journey - completion of Grade 8 theory, singing in choirs, even going for courses on Music Production in town!

Of course - everyone wants to bake the cake, eat the cake, sell the cake for money, and shit the cake out. Me too! I am a greedy pig and I want to go both high & wide for my music journey. I want to earn the money, teach all the Raffles students, perform for concerts and be FUCKING FAMOUS!

I am a shallow bitch, I know that, I admit that, I manage that, I try to improve. Done.

But, if I have a choice to start over my life again (I mean I also have choices now) - I will still choose to go high. Not wide.

I want to play only Classical pieces. I will practice. I will be boring. I won't fool around. I won't be an idiot. I. will. focus my ass off.

Because - I know the value of going high. Life is completely different when you aim high. All of us can go wide at any time, you just need exposure. As we age, wisdom and experience will naturally come. But to go high - you need to start damn young, you need time to play it out, you need excellent guidance & mentorship, and you need to be very focused, even on Day One.

Ladies and gentlemen of my humble blog - we go high ok? :) See you all up there! I will get there before you anyway ney ney ney!!!