Short semester: The 'Minor Instrument' stuff

There are so many things to talk about my short semester and thus, I decided to break it into few parts...

                                       Books, understanding, notes and memorizing 

Honestly, I never know why my university have this super short semester. Okay..actually the main purpose is for internship..but seriously, 14 weeks of syllabus compressed to only 7 weeks is quite insane especially if your subject is quite heavy!!!! ('World Music', I'm looking at you). Nonetheless, I learnt so many things in just 1 1/2 months..

         No worries..I can still (kinda) play the violin but not Vivaldi. That's too tough for me..

Previously, I took violin as my minor instrument because of three reasons : First, I perceived that as a classical major you cannot have a contemporary minor. Second, It looks cool carrying the instrument around (I know so childish). Third, I initially thought that knowing how to play the violin can land me a spot in an orchestra in case my pianist career is a failure because I know that to be a classical pianist..it is a really tough competition especially when China itself have 300 million piano majors (their talent is limitless!!!) and I am not really a great classical pianist either. However, I soon found out that my main aim is not to specialize in classical but I want to learn both classical and contemporary as I hope in the future I can major in Jazz..(*surprise). To be really honest, I never really want to be a classical pianist because it is really just not me..I major in classical so that I can understand the basic rules so that it is easier for me to pick up contemporary music which is very true!! It helps a lot!!! My violin playing is not that bad either..just that I felt that I'm slow and you will laugh but I find guitar super hard to learn!!! I can never understand how some people can learn how to play guitar without a teacher!!!!! Me + string instruments = Hopeless..

* Random note : When my violin lecturer added me on Facebook, I found out that she studied in BBGS !!!! omgosh !!! That means she IS my SENIOR !!!! SMALL WORLD !!!

After putting much thought into 'Should I switch my minor from violin to contemporary piano', I decided to go for it. I was quite apprehensive at first because many people are switching to contemporary Piano but I soon realized.. 'Heck..why should I care about that?' 

                                                        Ahhhhhhhhhh...Jazz.. 

I was assigned to Mr.W who is coincidentally my friend's major instrument lecturer. (On a random note, it was super funny because my another friend got her minor instrument lecturer). My friend did warned me before that W is really good but it took her really long to finally get into W's 'channel' and W have problems with punctuality etc. Before my first class with W, W asked me to booked a room for lesson (which is odd because for lessons, lecturers does the booking). But I did and the admin looked at me and said "I guess your lecturer is W huh..sanfu you". Adding on to that, the time I booked he took it wrongly and said "You see, in my schedule it's blah blah"..but in reality, he asked us to book the time by writing on the notice board...and he kept changing my time which is quite irritating and he also double book the room.

However, excluding those above problems, W is really a good lecturer. The first lesson he wrote down those numbers which I do not understand (contemporary chords such as ninths and thirteens) but I picked it up by ear so it is fine. I was excited because this is what I've wanted to learn and I truly enjoyed the classes!!! His improvisations were awesome. However, for 3 lessons..he taught me just..chords...and he never explained to me what are the numbers etc. so I adapt to it by hearing. For three lessons he didn't teach me any songs which was quite bland. I was thinking perhaps I am new and not good enough yet that's why he didn't teach me songs. Also, he always have this odd sweet smelling thing which we all suspected was marijuana (open secret actually).I found out from my contempt. friends that they don't understand what he taught in theory class and because he's always late (no really a prob because he gives me extra time) but I am always late for World Music class because of that. Thank God my World Music lecturer understands!!

                                                 MY PHONE RANG IN CLASS!!!

One day, my phone rang during Theory class!! I normally put it on silent mood but I forgot that day. Usually I do not answer any calls during class, but since it is from an unknown number, I answered (thank God the class haven't really started yet). Turned out that it was from the admin. office and he said the Head of music wants to see me regarding my lecturer. I was flabbergasted because I didn't know what should I say. Then it makes sense that I received an odd text message two days prior. It stated "If my superior asked anything about you, please just tell him goods things about me, I thank you in advance". Later, I went to met the Head of music dept. in the office but the lecturers are so adorable !! They are like "Chermaine, he's going to that classroom fast! fast!" lols!!

                                                              Relieved !!!

In the classroom, I was thanking God again because I am not alone but with 10 other students of W. Found out that W was sacked because students complained about him and we are assigned to new lecturers. The head apologized and he gave us a privilege of choosing any lecturers we like for Jan 2012 semester. It was then I realized that my dreams of being under Mr. E is near!!! (Mr. E is my dream lecturer haha..). I was thinking 'Maybe I am fated to have Mr. E teach me lols!!!' omgosh..it was super stupid and funny!

So for the second half of the semester, I was assigned to Mr.S. It was quite rushy and scary because I left only three classes with the new lecturer. On the first lesson, we mostly talked and he asked me what I wanted to learn, what goals, how much I understand about jazz etc, do I know lots of chords? etc.. I showed him the list of chords that Mr. W gave me and he said ' Wow...first lesson with Mr. W and he gave you this? This is super hard!!' and I confessed that I know how to play the chords but I don't understand it because it was too advance for me. He gave me a few things to research about and tell him on the 2nd day of class (which to my horror...IN BETWEEN FINALS!!!) so yeah...it was tough but he was really busy and he's only available on Wednesday so die.. For the second lesson, I told him about the things I've researched about and I found out he was very knowledgeable in many areas!!! I also found out that he's a Berkeley graduate (OMGOSH MY DREAM UNI AHHHH !!!!)..I played my sloppy version of Mas Que Nada by ear to him which he said " You never played any jazz before right?" I said " Yeah....it was bad isn't it?" and he said " Everyone have to start from somewhere..when I was learning jazz, I can't even play like that" Honestly...I was kinda flattered when he said that haha XD... On that day itself, he gave me Bossanova and Samba rhythm patterns and asked me to prepare 'The Girl From Ipanema' and 'Mas Que Nada' (Lead sheet + proper version) for the 3rd lesson... DIE DIE

                                                     It's actually quite simple .....

'TGFI' was amazingly simple to play except the legato part which he emphasized that I should bring out that feel and touch. He added that not many people play like that actually...and many play Bossanova as if it's Samba!! Turned out to be so true because I googled for covers and they all play like samba =.= 'Mas Que Nada' on the other hand was tough...I'm not used to the comping rhythm and the chords and @.@ but when he explained to me during the 3rd lesson, it became easier for me.

3rd lesson was exam already!! Super fast!! because I only had 1 1/2 hours of lessons with the lecturer prior to the exam.. Thank God he's super understanding!! He calmed me down by rehearsing with me once and make me feel the Bossa vibe and he tested me after that.. I got 42/50 for the song part which was okay laa.. He lowered one grade (A+ to A) because I anticipated some notes at certain parts. Chords was quite bad.. I got 3 mistakes out of 10 so 35% only ...so bye bye A and I got a B+ (it would be better if I didn't mistake the F aug7 as F# aug7) *sighs..

After the exam, he gave me the evaluation paper (lols! I am feeling the jury heat already) and I noticed it's been so long since I last had an evaluation paper!! (The last was after a piano competition 4 years back)

In conclusion, even though it was quite a rushy and scary semester, It definitely challenged me to realized that wow !!! I can learn so much in only few lessons !!! Though I'm quite sad that I was re-evaluated (since previous lecturer kena sacked and marks not valid anymore), but at least, this lecturer is really good!! I felt especially honored when he offered to teach me saying that he don't usually offer that unless he thinks you are good and have potential 0.0 Might take jazz classes with him after I complete my minor instrument subject in university since 2 semesters is not enough for me to learn all the contemporary stuff!!

I really thank God for this lecturer...everything that had happened is definitely a blessing in disguise !!