Monday, February 20, 2006

Today is the day where all of us in the Teaching course have to perform a piece during Piano Performance Class. Why Piano Performance Class you may ask. Because all of us had, since day one, listed down Piano as our Major instrument for practical. And so, for the past few weeks leading up to today, all of us, well, mostly all of us, have been practising like crazy. Actually, I am not too sure about the others, whether they did practise like crazy, but I am sure that I did, to a point that I am going to take a break from that piece; Beethoven's "Light Sonata" Opus 49. No. 2, and focus on Mendelssohn's "Songs Without Words" Opus 19. No. 4. Ha ha ha!

All of us who were performing today had spent at least an hour in our practise room. And there I was, in my little practise room, going through so many rounds of the same old song that I got bored and restless, and sleepy. So, away I went, walking around, peeking at what the others were doing through the windows before finding the pink lecture room empty. In I went to practise on the Yamaha grand piano. Then in came two of my seniors who are also from the Teaching course. They wanted to find a place to sit down to do their work and asked me whether I mind them being there. Of course I told them that I did not mind as I wanted some people to pay attention to my playing so that I would feel some sort of nervousness. And along came this guy, unfortuntely I did not know his name but only by sight, and he gave me a "crash-course" on some technicalities for the piece I was to perform. Well, I was rather in a dilemma, wondering how to incorporate both his and Ms Lim's (my teacher) styles together.

I was still wondering how to go about doing it while waiting for my turn. Thus, I decided to throw all caution to the winds and perform what I felt was right. My heart was beating quite quickly minutes before I sat there but it was rather calm while I was playing. (By the way, I was the second from the Year 1 Teaching Course to play. The first one from the Teaching Course was Enx. The first two and the one who played before me were from the Year 2 Teaching Course, also known as the Seniors.) Yes, I did play with expressions. Nearly banged the piano down. Haha! Unfortunately, I made a few slips here and there and even had to stop for a second to correct my mistake before moving on. *Horrers!!! When I finished, my nerves were acting on their on accord, to the extent of making my two index fingers shake, vertically, for about a minute. I guess it is something very natural with me as this has ever happen before, with practical examinations and the likes.

The moment of truth had finally arrived. Mrs Phua, who is the Head of Keyboard Studies, commented on each of our playing. While she was commenting on those people who performed before I did, I was telling Enx that she would probably pick on my playing of the scalic movements. When she got to me, she said," Your playing is charming. I like it." And I assure you, my good readers, that I was equally shocked as you are right now. The only words I could say was, "What the hell...". Not very appropriate. Nonetheless, I said it while Mrs Phua was still looking at me. I was totally shocked, and there I was being very sure that she would "pick on" me. I wonder how am I going to explain to Ms Lim what "charming" is all about. That will be difficult. All of us played well today. It is a good sign.

So, I must remember the way I performed that piece and improve on it so that I will get good grades for the practical exam which will be in another 2-3 months later.

On Sunday, 19th Feb., I had a surprise. It was neither pleasant nor horrid. It was about my relationship with Char. She called me at home in the afternoon and said that my aunt wanted to speak with me. Naturally, I was wondering how on earth did she know my aunt, which aunt was it and was she pulling my leg. Unfortunately, she was not. When my aunt was put on the phone, I could hardly believe my ears. It was my mother's eldest sister! How in the whole wide world did they know each other??? Char told me. However, I did not quite catch what she said, so I sent her an SMS to get more details. Turned out that the event they were attending was the third death anniversary of Char's "father's aunt". The relationship status my aunt holds in the family is that of "father's aunt's husband's brother's wife". Basically, it means that my aunt is Char's Grandaunt's brother-in-law's wife. Complicating? To the uninitiated, it is. Not that I am blaming you. Anyway, we are now calling each other Distant Cousin, even though I like to add in the two extra words "By Marriage", which causes her to be a little irritated. Muahahaha!!! What a small world indeed.

Alright then. Nothing else of interest to add in here. Good night! :)