Transcript of interview with Ignatius Teo (conducted by Amanda Lee), 26 January 2017, 6pm, Serangoon Library.
Ignatius is a 15-year old male Chinese Singaporean who is a secondary three student at Maris Stella High School. Ignatius likes English pop rock music by artistes like The Chainsmokers and Alan Walker. He finds that English pop music can be inspirational. He thinks that it is relevant to him as he understands the lyrics and he can relate to it. Ignatius thinks that English pop music expresses a global cultural connection as the songs are popular all across the world. Ignatius listens to Western classical music once in a while and likes pieces that are upbeat and catchy. He finds classical music relaxing and helpful to help calm him down when he is stressed. Ignatius thinks that it is global culture as most people would have heard it before. Ignatius thinks that Chinese pop rock music is nice but does not listen to it as he does not understand the lyrics. He thinks that there is some sort of cultural connection for Chinese Singaporeans because they are of the same ethnicity as the mainland Chinese. Ignatius does not listen to traditional Chinese music. He finds it irritating and repetitive. Ignatius has heard his school’s Chinese orchestra play and finds it annoying as the sounds are piercing. However, Ignatius thinks that traditional Chinese music should still be preserved as it is historical and ancient. Ignatius thinks that it expresses him as a Chinese person as he still celebrates the traditions with his family. He does not think that it helps him to connect with his other Chinese friends as they speak English together. Ignatius thinks that it expresses a cultural connection of Chinese Singaporeans to a small extent as Singapore’s young history is not as rich or developed as mainland China. Ignatius liked Chinese crossover music and found the sound of the Chinese instruments nice. He thought the music was more Western as the Chinese instruments sounded similar to Western instruments. Ignatius did not like experimental Chinese music as he is confused by it. However, he thinks that it is good music as someone else might enjoy it. Ignatius does not know much about Singaporean composers and musical acts. Ignatius has heard of xinyao as he had to play it for a concert. He found the songs positive, upbeat and a challenge to play. Ignatius thinks that the National Anthem could represent Singapore authentically since Malay is the national language of Singapore. Ignatius thinks that English pop music expresses his identity most authentically, and traditional Chinese music expresses it least authentically. Ignatius has played the piano, recorder, clarinet, flugelhorn, cornet, and trumpet. He started learning the piano as his mother wanted him to. He did not enjoy it as he found it boring and challenging as he could not reach all the notes on the piano. Ignatius played the recorder during music lessons in primary school. He did not enjoy learning it and found it difficult to pitch the notes properly. Ignatius was in the primary school’s brass band CCA. There, he learned to play the flugelhorn and the cornet. He was assigned to play both instruments and had memorable experiences playing them at the Singapore Youth Festival in 2012 and 2014. He felt special as he was the only one in the band who could play the flugelhorn. Ignatius did not think that his music lessons in secondary school helped him to develop a love for music. He thought that the lessons were useless as the students mainly studied to pass a test and would forget everything they had learnt after that. Ignatius plays the trumpet in the band in secondary school. He has band practice three times a week and finds it time-consuming and tiring. Ignatius would like to go back to playing the flugelhorn in the future. Ignatius does not think that music lessons are necessary for all Singaporean students as their passion might not lie with music. While he thinks that music is a good skill to have, he thinks that it should not be forced on the students.
“The [English pop] lyrics. They are quite nice. Alone (2016) and Faded (2015) by Alan Walker.”
“I think [English pop music is] relevant to me because I understand the lyrics, and it explains what’s going on in my head.”
“Generally I think [English pop music culturally connects] whole world. So – yes. Because the songs are popular.”
“Can-can [Orpheus in the Underworld] (1858) and Jupiter (1919). I like the – the tune. And the ... the feel of the music. [Be]cause it’s upbeat ... and it’s quite catchy also.”
“[Western classical music] – some of them are quite relaxing, so if I’m stressed I just listen to them to help calm me down. Ya.”
“I don’t really like musicals because I – I used to watch them as a kid, and I think it was very like loud. So I – I didn’t really like them.”
“I think [Chinese pop rock music is] nice but my – my Chinese isn’t very good. So I don’t really understand what it’s trying to say.”
“[Chinese pop rock does] not really [expresses me as a Chinese person] since I can’t speak Chinese. Ya, I can’t relate to it.”
“Er, yes, [there is a cultural connection] because Singaporeans are mostly Chinese so there’s some sort of connection between China and Singapore.”
“Not really, I find [traditional Chinese music] very irritating. Especially the ones that come on – come on during Chinese New Year.”
“Because [traditional Chinese music is] really like piercing and ... ya. Even if they play it softly it’s – you still can hear them.”
“I think [[traditional Chinese music] should be preserved because it’s very historical and ancient. Ya. Ya, because different people like different things. Some people just like Chinese stuff.”
“Er, yes, [traditional Chinese music expresses you as a Chinese person] because we celebrate Chinese New Year. Ya. And we still do the traditions and cult – the traditions that we do.”
“Er, a bit [of a cultural connection]. Because in mainland China they have all the Chinese accents and different sub-groups and all. In Singapore, it’s just one small community. Because Singapore’s very small so our cult – our history is not that rich yet. While China has like a very rich history ... of Chinese things.”
“I liked [Chinese crossover music]. The Chinese instruments are quite nice in this video.”
“I think [Chinese crossover music] is good music because this is played by professionals and they know what they’re doing. I didn’t – I didn’t find it annoying because they used the right instruments that sounded like what it’ll be played by Western instruments. So it sounded quite okay.”
“I don’t really like it because I don’t understand what experimental [Chinese] music is.”
“Er, I think [experimental Chinese music is] good but is ... not really something I enjoy. Maybe for others – yes.”
“[Xinyao] sounds nice. It’s quite, um, positive ... and upbeat and it’s quite fast. So it’s ... some of a challenge to play.”
“Ya, like the National Anthem [would represent Singapore authentically]. Ya. Because Malay is the – is the national language. Ya.”
“Must I list all? Er, I played the piano, recorder, clarinet, flugelhorn, cornet, trumpet.”
“No, my mom just force me to learn [the piano]. I always complain during lessons. Er, I found it very boring. My hands were too small, then I – I cannot reach all the notes.”
“Ya, I was from the brass band [in primary school]. I was just assigned [the flugelhorn and cornet]. I liked it. Er, I like playing the flugelhorn because I like the sound and the tone. And because my – I was the only one capable of playing it so I felt special.”
“Because the flugelhorn, it’s – it has a warmer and darker sound. More mellow compared to the cornet and the trumpet. So ... for the [Singapore Youth Festival] 2012, I played that. Because we had – we already had cornet players, ya. And then for 2014 SYF, I switched to the cornet because that was one of the main parts, and no one else could play that part.”
“The [music] lesson [in secondary school] was mainly theory, so we didn’t do much. Ya. We – we didn’t do a lot of anything. I think it’s useless. Because it’s like we take the test, we pass it, then we forget everything.”
“[Full] band [in secondary school] is normally around four – at least four hours. So we ... on Wednesdays we have full band for one and a half hours, then we have sectionals ... until band ends. On Saturdays, we have sectionals first then we have full band until band ends. It’s very time-consuming and tiring. So normally when I get home, I just eat my dinner and sleep.”
“I’m thinking of picking up flugelhorn again [be]cause I really – I really like the sound.”
“[Music lessons are] not really [necessary for all Singaporean students] because if their passion is something else, then they wouldn’t really have to learn music. I mean it’s a good skill to have but it shouldn’t be forced. Ya.”
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