Transcript of interview with Hannah (conducted by Amanda Lee), 13 January 2017, 6.30 pm, Skype.
Hannah is a 13-year old female Chinese Singaporean who is a student at the School of the Arts. Hannah likes English pop music singers like Christina Aguilera for her strong voice, and Iselin Solheim for her light and calming voice. Hannah likes Disney songs and musicals as they sing and teach values. She thinks that Disney songs help her express herself but does not think that pop music does so. Hannah likes music by Mozart as it is calming and light-hearted, and she enjoys music by Beethoven as she finds it rich and it has stronger emotions. Hannah thinks that Beethoven’s music is still relevant as she is inspired by his story of perseverance. Hannah thinks that Western classical music is global culture as it is heard everywhere. Hannah thinks that Chinese pop rock music is more meaningful than English pop music. She does not think it expresses her identity as she speaks, thinks and expresses herself in English. Hannah hears traditional Chinese music playing during lunchtime concerts in school. She thinks it is an interesting and refreshing change of style of music since it is very different from Western music. She does not think that it helps her to connect with her Chinese friends since most of them do not listen to traditional Chinese music. Hannah likes Chinese crossover music as they incorporated Chinese instruments into a Western pop song. Hannah found experimental Chinese music quite interesting as it imitated the sounds of nature. Hannah has heard music by Sam Willows, Kit Chan and Stefanie Sun. She does not think that there is a Singaporean musical style as most of the pop music is Western-influenced. Hannah likes some National Day songs, specifically the ones which are calming and can evoke emotions. Hannah plays the violin and used to play the piano. In addition to that, she also teaches herself to play the guitar and the ukulele. Hannah likes that her teachers make music classes fun and interactive so that they are engaged during the lesson. She thinks it is good if Singaporean students could learn more about music as it is all around us. Hannah thinks that teachers can provide more interactive exercises in class instead of teaching theory like music notes so that it will be more interesting for students.
“There are some [English pop] singers that I like – I really like the songs that they sing. But there are some other singers that I admire their voice quality. Like, er, for example, Christina Aguilera. Like her – her voice is very powerful and strong.”
“My favorite, um, kind of pop songs are Disney songs. Ya, so, um, those kind of songs they really teach you stuff like giving – like not giving up, and to – like care for, um, other creatures, and care for nature, and not just think of ourselves and be selfish.”
“For Beethoven his music is more rich. It has stronger kind of – kind of emotions. And ... so, um, basically his – his kind of music is the kind that, er, help me like relieve stress more easily. And – but I find Mozart’s music more calming. It’s a lighter – it’s more light-hearted.”
“Western classical music is, er, nowadays it’s heard everywhere. It has influenced a lot of music and it has gotten influence from other countries as well.”
“I feel that, um, Chinese pop music has like more meaning, and they are more meaningful than English pop music. Because for Chinese they really put in their feelings – all the meaning – into the songs.”
“I have heard a few and I do listen to some during – like I – I do listen to the Chinese music during lunchtime concerts, but I – I – I do not specially go and search up Chinese traditional music. But like during Chinese New Year, all those Chinese folk songs will play on the radio everywhere.”
“Because my Chinese friends like most – most of them are Singaporeans. But those that aren’t Singaporean, um, they don’t listen to Chinese like – they don’t listen to Chinese traditional music either. They listen to more of Chinese pop.”
“It’s an interesting and refreshing change of style of music. Because we are usually very used to hearing like the Western scale, and the Western kind of music. And when we hear those [traditional Chinese] music, it’s refreshing to the ears.”
“I think it’s, um, really – really amazing how they can use those Chinese instruments to like bring out this – like bring out the – the Western kind of pop music even though they’re using the Chinese traditional instruments.”
“I don’t really find [experimental Chinese music] bad or good. It’s, er, it’s very different from any type of music that I’ve ever heard. It’s quite interesting. So, er, and it’s not really the melodic kind of music. But for me I am used to listening to music with melody, bass, and harmony, so I find this quite interesting.”
“I’ve heard some songs by Sam Willows and some songs by Kit Chan and Stefanie Sun before. And I think – I think it – the kind of songs I hear is English pop. It’s – it’s sort of like Western pop music. It has the influence of Western pop music.”
“In a Heartbeat (2011) [is] an easier song to sing along to, but I like those kind of songs that are more calming and can really evoke, um, emotions ... that are not just like happy and like celebrative kind of songs.”
“I like how the teachers always make an effort to make it fun and interesting and engage us in the lesson. And make it interactive such that we can all have a chance to participate in the lesson, and learn new things at the same time.”
“I think it’s good for Singaporean students to learn a bit more about music. Especially because music is all around us. It’s about whether you interpret it as music or not.”
“Involve students more in the lesson, rather than explaining about music notes. Like, maybe we can get students to try them out, or give some ideas so that they can participate more in the lesson and – you know – it will be more interesting for the student.”
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