Transcript of interview with Maxine Beak (conducted by Amanda Lee), 5 February 2017, 4 pm, Skype.
Maxine is a 15-year old female Chinese Singaporean who is a student at CHIJ Saint Nicholas Girls’ School. Maxine likes listening to English pop rock music by artistes like Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, and Charlie Puth. She does not think that it expresses her as some of the content in the music is mature. Maxine thinks that there is some sort of cultural connection between Singaporeans and other countries through English pop music. Maxine likes listening to Western classical music, and likes composers like Haydn, Scarlatti, and Beethoven. She thinks Western classical music is part of global culture, and is increasingly part of Singaporean culture as more people are aware of classical music now. Maxine does not listen to Chinese pop rock music as she is not very interested in it. However, she is neutral towards it. Maxine used to listen to Hokkien music as her parents would play it, but she finds that it is hard for her to appreciate it as she does not understand it. Maxine thinks that there is a cultural connection for the older generation of Singaporeans for Chinese pop rock music as not many young Singaporeans listen to it. Maxine does not listen to traditional Chinese music unless it is played during music lessons in school. She is not used to the sound and does not know how to appreciate it. Maxine is not sure if traditional Chinese music expresses a cultural connection with her. Maxine liked Chinese crossover music as it is unique because the musicians combined English pop music with Chinese instruments. She thinks that there is an equal mix of Chinese and Western influence. Maxine does not think that experimental Chinese music was good or bad music. She thinks it is unique but she does not know what to make of it. Maxine does not listen to Singaporean music by local artistes and bands as she is not interested. Maxine finds that National Day songs can get a bit boring since they are played every year. She finds that she is prouder of Singapore when she learns about its history and achievements instead of when she sings the National Day songs. Maxine plays the piano, the recorder, the ukulele, and the flute. She is presently enrolled in her secondary school’s Music Elective Program. She started playing the piano when she was in primary three. Maxine had always wanted to learn it since she was in kindergarten. Maxine enjoys playing the piano and learning new pieces. She enjoys her lessons and finds playing the piano to be a way for her to de-stress. Her lessons are one hour to one hour and fifteen minutes. Maxine has the opportunity to play pieces that she is interested in during the class. Maxine learned to play the recorder and the ukulele in primary school. They were taught the basic foundations of music like how to read notes, and count the beats and rhythm. Maxine has Music Elective Program lessons once a week for three hours each time. There, they learn about composing, harmony, history of music, and world music. They have hands-on activities where they have to play piano pieces for their teacher and take turns doing peer-critiquing. Maxine’s favorite part about the MEP is piano critique as she enjoys listening to her classmates play as well as learning from them too. Maxine is in her secondary school band as well. She has rehearsals thrice a week for three hours each time. Two of the days are a full band rehearsal with their conductor and the remaining day is used for sectionals. Maxine enjoys playing in a band as she likes playing with different people in a big group. She enjoys listening to the different parts play in the band as well. Maxine feels that playing in a band helps her to develop a sense of responsibility, self-discipline, and helps her work together with others. Maxine hopes to be able to take up flute lessons and study at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in the future. Maxine thinks that music lessons are quite necessary for all Singaporean students as it is interesting. Maxine thinks that one way to make music lessons more fun is to give students the chance to play and learn about the different musical instruments.
“Favorite artiste? Um, Charlie Puth and then, er, like Little Mix, Ed Sheeran ... mm, wait ... I’m thinking ah, what else. Taylor Swift, One Direction, um, The Chainsmokers, is it? Ah – ya. And like Drake. Justin Bieber, a bit. Ya, like that.”
“[Be]cause some of the [English pop music] lyrics are a bit like mature. Like do you get what I mean, it’s like ... Ya. So it’s not really relevant [to me] But it’s like catchy, so ...”
“Mm ... sort of [expresses a cultural connection]. As in like ... if you listen to the same [English pop music] so there’s like a connecting – some like connecting factor. Ya ... other than that, I don’t really ... know.”
“Some Brandenburg’s concerto. [Be]cause, er, I have to do that for school. It’s like a set piece, so like I listen to it. And then ... when I go for concerts and then – ya, then I’ll listen also. And composers like Haydn, Scarlatti, Beethoven.”
“Global [culture]. [Be]cause ... I mean like a lot of countries appreciate classical music. Ya. I think like in recent years like more people are more like increasingly aware of classical music. So like people ... more people listen to it. And now like Singapore also emphasize more on arts now.”
“Um, maybe [be]cause like ... like not really that interested [in Chinese pop rock music]. And ... it’s like also not a lot of people listen to it. Like once in a while I’ll listen, but not that often. It’s more of English [pop music].”
“But last time my parents used to play like – not Cantonese but Hokkien music. Like they’ll buy the CDs to play so I’ll listen if I’m there, lah. But when I’m on my own I won’t like go and listen to it myself.”
“Actually [expresses a cultural connection more for] the older generation. [Be]cause now for the younger generation like not a lot of people listen [to Chinese pop]. And like not a lot of them can understand. So – that’s why it’s not so popular in Singapore. But for the older generation they understand, so there’s like more connection with other countries. Ya.”
“Mm, not really except in like music class. Actually we learn about [traditional Chinese music] ... but I’ve never ever like listen to it on my own. It’s more of like the teacher play, then – okay, I’ll listen to it.”
“Mm ... I’m not really used to the [traditional Chinese music] sound and like ... the Chinese instruments, and all that. Ya. So it’s more like I don’t know how to appreciate.”
“Ya, I liked [Chinese crossover music], lah. [Be]cause – and I actually heard of that example before. Just that I didn’t have time to listen to it. But I think it’s quite unique and it’s quite interesting. So like, I might actually like listen to it one day. Ya.”
“It’s like the combination of English pop music, and like how they use Chinese instruments and Western instruments like how they form the example. Ya, that’s why [Chinese crossover music] unique.”
“Oh ... mm ... I think [experimental Chinese music is] quite unique I guess. Er ... Mm ... not really don’t – not really like, but I don’t like not like it either. Ya. No, er, I – I also don’t really know ... like what to say.”
“Mm ... I don’t really think there’s bad music, so ... er, good music. Depends on the listener, I guess.”
“I don’t listen to Singapore music at all. Mm ... not really interested.”
“Just a bit [proud of Singapore when I hear the National Day songs] Mm ... I don’t know. [Be]cause like, um, it’s more like when I learn about the history of Singapore, and like the achievements then like I feel proud. But songs – not really.”
“The first one was piano. That one was like since young I wanted to learn already. Like when I see people playing. So like I got interested to pick it up. And then ... the second one is like recorder – but that one is like not really serious, lah. [Be]cause it’s – we had compulsory music lessons to like learn how to play the recorder. And then the third one is flute. [Be]cause ... er, I ... joined band when I was in [primary] four, so I picked it up from there and I really liked it so I continued.”
“I really enjoy [playing the piano]. Like, unlike a lot of people because their parents force them to learn. But it’s like I enjoy playing, and I really like learning new pieces. Like ... is a form – is a way to de – de-stress, and like I really like the lessons and my teacher also. She’s really nice and then like she’ll teach me all the techniques I need for the different pieces.”
“I had to like sight-sing – or like the [piano] teacher will play one short melody. Like maybe four bar, eight bars, then I have to, er, like sort of like remember it, and then like sing it out. So at first I was really self-conscious. So the first lesson that she tried to make me sing, I didn’t sing at all. Like I just stood there staring at her. Ya. Then after that I just like got used to it.”
“Like [my piano teacher will] ask for my preference – like whether I’m interested to learn anything. Then she’ll ask me to like just bring it to her. And then she’ll like help me with it.”
“[Learning the recorder] was in primary school. And ... we were taught like basic foundations of music. Like how to read notes, how to count like beats, and how to count rhythm. And then we also – other than recorder, we also got to play the ukulele. And then we had a class performance.”
“Oh, secondary school one is a bit different [be]cause I joined the – my school’s Music Elective Program, MEP. So it’s like – now it’s like three hour per lesson on – every Tuesday after school. And we will learn about like composing, harmony, history of music. Like the different periods and genres of music, and ... world music.”
“We’ll play piano pieces individually during classes for teacher. And then ... like the teacher and the class will critique. Because we also have practical exam. It’s usually at the end of the lesson, like around fifteen minutes. Then the teacher will – like two students will play, and the teacher will critique and give us like critiques.”
“Er, except that the [MEP] lesson hours are a bit long, but other than that it’s fine. Because it’s quite interesting. Like our – it’s like no one ever falls asleep, so ... ya.”
“Mm ... usually critique [is my favorite part of MEP]. [Be]cause it’s more like hands-on – I don’t know. Ya, but ... it’s like I like to listen to different people play also. And it’s like you can learn from ... I can learn from my peers, ya.”
“I like like playing together with different people, like in a big group. So you can hear like different parts and like, um, it’s like – then there will be melody, counter-melody, then like accompaniment. Then it’s like really nice to like – it’s like ... when you piece it together, Ya – sort of. And then like ...listening to all the chords and harmonies.”
“Like I learn like self-discipline [playing in a band], and like working with people and like – ya, working with different people. And it’s like ... having a responsibility to like learn your own part well so that you don’t like, um, so you don’t like affect other people.”
“It was actually when I went back to my primary school to like play with the primary school kids. And ... is memorable because like ... mm, like my conductor is really nice to the kids. And like the kids are also like really cute. And then they’re also like quite passionate. And then they put in a lot of effort ... to play well, ya.”
“If possible I would want to take up flute lessons and ... see whether I can get into Yong Siew Toh [Conservatory of Music]. But like the standards are quite high. So ... ya. I really hope I can get in, lah.”
“Music lessons are quite necessary. And like as for now we – we also make it compulsory to have music lessons. And ... actually it’s also quite interesting. And like a lot of people also enjoy it, so ... ya.”
“We can like have more schools like the – like for example Singapore have like the School of the Arts, and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. But it’s like only these few schools. And maybe they can have more of these schools. And it’s also quite hard to get in. So people might – like if they cannot get, they might decide to drop it. Like they will decide not to – like, ya. Then they might like give up on it.”
“Learn musical instruments. [Be]cause, er, ya – [be]cause it’s like very popular like – for like kids and like – because it’s like hands-on. And like, they’ll be like curious, so ... ya. So they’ll be interested [in music].”
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