Inside JMC book :) 

Creative music learning (JXC books) 

Music enhances creativity

To tell you the truth, I took up music lessons when I was 4. Started wt Yamaha group lesson (Junior Music Course) and continued until form 1.For individual music lessons (ABRSM)...I started later when I was 7.Usually, many will ask me why I learn both Yamaha and ABRSM practical; my answer is very simple. Both syllabus although is different but....actually it goes hand in hand. =)

I am sure most are familiar with the ABRSM system, so let me share with you about the Yamaha music education. Start with JMC(2 years), then JXC (Junior Extension Course...2 years) and finally JAC (Junior Advanced Course...4 years).The Yamaha Examination System is a bit different, starts wt Grade 9 then ends with Grade 6 (not including the senior music course..ideally for those planning to do music as a career).
Similarities wt ABRSM: Sight reading and repertoire piano playing
Differences: Improvisation and Melody Hearing

The approach used in teaching and learning differs greatly fr the passive style you experienced in individual lessons. For starters, lessons are conducted in a small group. We can play ensemble together on the organ/electone. This means that one can explore the wonders of the electone ( the best hi tech instrument I can say...strings,wind,brass instrument sound and pitch can be produced instantly; there's variety of programmed beats like chacha,swing,rock,pop,ballad) .

I gained alot from the melody hearing training.This helps me for my ABRSM oral test. We had group singing too.Parents(my mum for my case) will accompany, learn together and play their part at home until at a certain stage where we are supposed to learn independently.

For Improvisation, I can transpose from one key to another instantly thanks to Yamaha; play my favourite pop song without having the need to search for the music score :) can save some money; arrange any song according to my style...I have very short fingers (most original scores I can't play,got to improvise to suit my short fingers).This skill was applied during my primary and secondary school years as a pianist/keyboardist be it for choir, performance or major school functions esp when they do not have any music score but still needs someone to play it.:)

Most importantly, Yamaha music education has successfully instill the joy of music in my heart.

Contract wt my parents

Well, it's been quite some time I did not update my blog. Anyway, just receive news lately that the accommodation fee for catered hall is going to increase,oh is gonna soar up by $15 per week (ouch!!) for ororke. Checked it out on the web, oh no...it's confirmed.N the worse part is, the acknowledgement letter just came a few days ago telling me it's under a processing period. :( means it's not an easy process to change my choice again.
Asked all my kdu friends who are going to auckland, they too have applied for ororke. Looks like all of us are in the same boat. My plan is, stay in ororke for 1st year then move out to no. 14 or railway(self catered) for my 2nd year onwards. Since places in ororke are very limited for 2nd year students onwards, I would like to experience ororke life at least for a year. :) I might have to work for part time during breaks to earn a bit of money.
It has been a nuisance not able to borrow books fr kdu library anymore. This is what happens when any of us want to borrow books.

Librarian: Another case..!! OUTSTANDING ACCOUNT. Are u a jpa student?
I :Yes. July 04 intake for unsw foundation currently doing my LAN subjects.
Librarian:(took out a list of names) No....ur name is not in the list.
I :(glance through; hmm...juniors,where are our names?)
Librarian:(called the bursary) Hello...please check whether stu id xxxxx is registered as jpa stu
under unsw foundation studies? yadaa, yada, yadaaaaa.......
Put down the phone.
I am sorry you can't borrow any books from now onwards unless you top up your
account.

It could be: 1. JPA is not going to pay for our foundation course because we have completed it
in may,only for LAN and accommodation OR
2. late to pump in the money which I personally don't think is the reason.

Well, before I forget, to my friends who are already in the US and UK, those who are going to UK very soon, all the best and take care.

1st row fr left: Yingleong,Redzuan,Tim, Yazid,Shafiq,Munir,Khairi,Wee Chin,Raja; 2nd row fr left: Hannee,sakin, me, hsinyee, fran, vivi, shir, ain 

Active week =)

This whole week I went to KDU for meetings, photography session, JPA tea party and also to attend classes.

JPA Petronas tea party was fun, partly because I can get together with all my friends and also to know some of the juniors whom I have not spoken to since they came here. Not to mention I had a great time going out for dinner at Vietnamese Kitchen with Adrienne and Si Ying.

Shirli's birthday was on the 8th, we went out to mamakstall late at night with 7 other friends to celebrate. That was the 1st time I break the rule. :p I hope mum does not know about it. :) It is just across the hostel and that was also partly I do not want to make shirli feel sad. Anyway, both shirli and I went to Johny's Thai and Steamboat Restaurant on Friday to have a feast after Malaysian studies. At least I felt happier after class. The class is so huge, the students just love to answer back the lecturer with nonsense stuff till the point I think that Miss Yati got quite sick with them. I hope I might not be like them in future, because most of them are degree programme students.Haha, but it's fun cos they make the class livelier!!

Mr Warren's class is small, and most of us are pre-U students. 1st topic...not baik hati or "good heart" but about abortion.. :) Quite unlucky,I was called out to give a definition on incest,aiya...friends were laughing non stop. Anyway, time flies in moral studies as compared to malysian studies where we had to copy piles of notes. :(

Here's an interesting post from a senior in nz. View the wonderful pictures of places in nz south island ie Queenstown here. Enjoy.

New lessons

This is my 1st week of malaysian studies and moral studies.. Miss Yati is the lecturer for malaysian studies and Mr Warren is the moral studies lecturer. And....for malaysian studies, the class is so huge that the lecturer have difficulty in controlling us. Well, there are IT, Hotel tourism management students too. =)
For the past whole week, I have been to Berjaya Times Square, Sg. Wang Plaza, One Utama and Mid Valley Megamall. Tried the monorail and ktm too. :) The shopping centres were very crowded . Even in the public transports ie metro 99 bus, ktm train.
Shir and I even tried Thai food and Johny's steamboat at Berjaya and One Utama. Was rather costly compared to Malacca. :)
The Malay Cultural Society had organised a cultural night for the weekend. I did not attend because I am going back to my brother's house since his birthday is today..My parents are coming up to KL too. Managed to buy some foodstuffs to support my friends who are the organisers.
Anyway, happy belated 48th birthday to Malaysia! SELAMAT HARI MERDEKA.