Little Music Girl

The names Mariya ︴Teacher/Artist Mega Cat Lover ︴Music Taste: Pop, Rap, Hip hop, Indie, RnB & Escape Room

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On the 25th of august, I attended a company outing that turned out to be a really fun experience. We enjoyed a buffet and played a variety of board games together. This was my second time attending a work event like this, and it was great to meet colleagues I hadn’t met before, as we all work at different times and on different days.

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Here are some examples of notes I create for my students. I find it helpful to highlight things that they often forget even after multiple practices.

When I first started teaching, I wasn’t sure what notes to write or if the pointers I gave my students were helpful and understandable. However, I’m glad I learned over time through many trials and errors how to provide better tips and I knew they were effective because my students showed improvement in their skills in the next lesson.

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Here you go <3

The hospital encouraged us to dress up as much as possible to create a special atmosphere for the patients, making it feel less like an ordinary day. The venue was spacious, but the sound system could have been improved as we struggled to hear the music while singing at times. Understandably, The nurses were concerned that the speakers might be too loud for the patients. So we made do with what we had.

We also prepared flowers to give to the patients as gifts, aiming to engage with them and brighten their day❃

Overall, the performance went better than i had expected. I was worried about fitting in with the other fellow singers , many of whom had much more experience than I did, and I was so nervous before the performance started that my legs wouldn’t stop shaking. However, once the performance began, everything seemed to fly by. I made an effort to incorporate some traditional Malay dance moves while I sang. During a break in my song, I had to invite everyone in the room to join in the dancing. To my surprise, the other singers stood up and began dancing with the patients, nurses, and family members. From my perspective, it was a beautiful sight to see everyone joyfully participating and enjoying the moment. What touched me the most was when an elderly Malay lady cried during my performance, clearly reminiscing about the past. That moment will remain in my heart, and I now have a renewed sense of purpose for my future performances.

The End

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Side Projects

In addition to teaching, I volunteered at a small concert for dementia patients at the Ng Teng Fong Community Hospital, invited by one of my lecturers. This was my first experience preparing materials alone, and I didn’t know anyone else there except for my lecturer. It was a truly unique experience that will forever hold a special place in my heart. I needed to choose a song that would evoke nostalgia for the elderly dementia patients. Although I don’t often sing in Malay, I decided to select a classic song from the iconic artist P. Ramlee. In the end, I selected 'Getaran Jiwa.'

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This is one of my practice recordings of the song

I faced some challenges in finding the right key for my voice and using the appropriate techniques for the song. In my early practices, I tended to push out too much air and didn’t allow myself enough places to breathe. However, after seeking advice from my lecturer, I realized that I didn’t need to use so much air. This insight allowed me to sing the song comfortably and even incorporate some embellishments.

Wait till you see my outfit for the performance :)

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22nd of September

My oldest student recently took a music exam at their school, performing a piece we had previously learned called 'Marzuka in G Minor' (Homage to Chopin) by N. Faber. They chose it themselves, and I believe it was an excellent choice, as it showcases their ability to handle more advanced piano techniques. Additionally, the piece has a beautiful quality that I think the examiner will enjoy. At present, we are learning 2 new songs. This is the progress of one of them,

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On the first day, we skimmed through two entire songs, ensuring that all the notes were played correctly. I’ve now tasked them to focus on the details of each piece on their own till our next lesson, and hopefully they will be able to play each section fairly well. I want to encourage them to pay attention to the musical details in each piece and to explore how to approach it on their own before I step in to offer corrections. This way, they will be able to learn a song independently, without needing me to constantly remind them of specific articulations or expressions that enhance the texture of the melody.

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Fireflies

This student has come a long way. In the beginning, they couldn't identify the difference between each note and would often apologize for any mistakes. Besides struggling to differentiate the pitch of the notes, they had difficulty memorizing the song, which led them to play each measure separately and pausing after each of them. Now, they have improved greatly, and I am very pleased to witness their journey up to this point.

Different Perspectives

Their parents had some concerns about the progress of the lessons. They wanted me to prepare their child for an exam as soon as possible, feeling that it had already taken too long. They expressed frustration when comparing their child's progress to that of other children. For me, though, I felt that the time taken to learn each song was essential as their child has already skipped a book before tackling graded pieces. They still faced challenges with reading notes accurately, which requires additional time for the child to fully grasp the concepts.

We agreed that the student would need to practice significantly more, and that I would be more proactive in my encouragement when teaching.

We also created a list after each lesson to help them make the most of their practice time when I’m not with.

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Difficulties

There are many times where teaching can be quite challenging, particularly when it comes to keeping the attention of young children. In the next recording, this student has a shorter attentiveness then the rest of my students. They get distracted easily, but this is one of the rare moments I truly value, as they begin to focus and absorb the knowledge I share. It’s moments like these that remind me why I've come to love teaching.

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Another challenge is making the lessons entertaining while teaching the correct techniques to my students. This next student already plays the piano quite well and learns songs quickly. However, whenever they tackle something new, they often feel as though they can’t succeed. A quote from them is, "It's Impossible!" Which I will always reply, "It's not impossible, you haven't even try yet!" This is another one of my method of teaching, is to encourage them to Just Try.

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A week later, En successfully played the entire song, with only a few slips, but I could see that they were focused on the piece and actively trying to address the issues themselves. This is a significant improvement compared to the past. My goal was to help them become more aware of the details of the piece, regardless of any speed changes or pauses they might make. Over the years of teaching, I’ve learned that instead of having students replay a challenging section repeatedly—which can lead to stress or frustration—I prefer to encourage them to first identify and fix the issues, ensuring they can play it correctly.

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On the 3rd of August,

One of my students, whom I’ll refer to as En for privacy, was having some difficulty learning a piece. They would tend to memorize and play at a rushing speed which I’m still trying to understand why. In the Beginning, En would learn the piece well with a slow, steady tempo, but once they have learned a significant portion, they would start to rush. I often joke with them, "Where are your fingers trying to go?"

Rather than focusing on her speed as I often do in our lessons, this time I made a point to emphasise playing the correct notes in the audio above.

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The Formula

My current teaching approach focuses on creating a pressure-free environment for my students when they make mistakes. From my own experience learning piano, I faced constant criticism for my errors, which often left me feeling discouraged and unmotivated to practice. Which i would never want my students to feel.

Second, making mistakes is not a bad thing. I feel that it can serve as a valuable learning tool and a catalyst for creativity. While it may not align with traditional teaching methods, those mistakes can sometimes lead to sounds that resonate with the students, inspire their imagination and enhance their enthusiasm for learning piano.

One of my students enjoys adding her own twist to the pieces she learns and she proudly performs her unique version at the school’s annual recital.

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Humble Beginnings

To start of, This journey of mine began quite a while ago, in 2020, when I applied for a music teaching job for the first time after graduation. And of course, there were many ups and downs after i got accepted. Some vivid memories that will always be in my mind of being nervous and stuttering while teaching my very first student, arriving late for a lesson, trying to appear professional in front of my boss, and attempting to calm an upset parent. I am truly grateful for every obstacle I've faced through the years. Since then I've learned to always look on the brighter side and learn from every situation i am presented with. I’m proud to say that I have gained more confidence and skills since then, but I know there’s still much more to learn.

Here is a little snippet of me playing a cover of my favourite song, "Heartful Cry" by Shoji Meguro

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Welcome to the start of my musical travels✨