Transcript of interview with Valerie (conducted by Amanda Lee), 26 March 2017, 12 am, Skype.
Valerie is a 28-year old female British Chinese who is a piano teacher. Valerie enjoys listening to English pop music by bands like Westlife. She listens more to pop music from the 90s and early 2000s instead of contemporary pop as she finds it repetitive. She is not too sure if the music that she listens to expresses a cultural connection but thinks that it depends on the specific songs themselves. Valerie listens to Western classical music and likes the works from the romantic and classical period. She thinks that classical music is part of global culture as people from all over the world listen to it. She thinks that it should be preserved even though it is hundreds of years old, as there is still a unique beauty to it that one cannot find in pop or rock music. Valerie listens to Chinese and Cantonese pop rock music and prefers the older songs from the late 90s and early 2000s. She likes English and Chinese pop equally and does not prefer one over the other. Valerie thinks that Chinese and Cantonese pop rock music expresses a language connection. Valerie is neutral about the extract of traditional Chinese music and finds that it reminds her of the Chinese orchestra that used to play in her secondary school. Valerie thinks that this music should be preserved as it speaks of the Chinese culture. She thinks that it expresses a cultural connection as she was reminded of the Chinese period dramas that she watches when she listened to the extract. Valerie did not mind watching the entire extract of Chinese crossover music and thought that it was not too bad. Valerie is neutral about experimental Chinese music. She thinks that it sounds very Chinese but it sounded a little bit Western at the same time. Valerie thinks that experimental Chinese music expresses contemporary culture as it showcases what Chinese instruments can do. Valerie knows of the local band 53A and other bands that play at pubs and restaurants. She does not know much about Singaporean music beyond that as she does not have much exposure to it. Valerie thinks that the Singaporean musical style would be difficult to identify since local composers and artistes have different musical styles. She thinks that Singlish comedy songs can represent Singapore on the global stage as Singlish is unique to Singapore. Valerie thinks that the older National Day songs create an authentic feeling of group belonging but does not find that same connection with the newer songs. Valerie started learning the piano when she was six. Valerie came from a musical background – her father plays the violin and a bit of the piano, her mother sings, and her brother plays the drums and guitar. Valerie enjoyed playing the piano when she was younger as her father would play it with her whenever she had to practice. Valerie saw piano-playing as a fun activity rather than one that was exam-oriented. Valerie studied business management at university and worked in the business sector for roughly three years before switching to teaching the piano. She regrets not going to the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts or LASALLE to study music instead since that would have helped her more in her career as a piano teacher now. Valerie has decided that her approach to teaching should not be exam-oriented and should instead be focused on the students’ learning and discovery of music. Valerie thinks that students should be able to gain an appreciation of classical music through learning the piano. Valerie enjoys teaching the piano as she can see her students grow and progress. She prefers teaching children to adults as they are cute but thinks that it requires a lot of patience. Valerie thinks that some parents send their children to piano lessons because everyone else around them is doing it as well. Or some parents send their children to lessons as they want them to develop their hand-eye coordination and be more agile with their hands.
“Mm, ya, sometimes I do listen [to English pop music] but it’s more of the ... 90s pop – that kind. Ya, my favorite is, er, Westlife.”
“Mm, I don’t really listen to it much [to English pop music] because I think it’s pretty different as compared to the – the past. Like the way the ... the – the – it’s quite repetitive, I would say. I mean like it’s, um, some people will like it lah, but I’m more to the okay, neutral kind.”
“Mm, favorite [Western classical music] composer, er, it varies, lah. Because it depends on like what I’m working on currently. And then I discover more about it, so – like, I will like it more in the sense. But generally I prefer – I prefer the classical, romantic period. Ya.”
“Mm, Western classical music? I would think it’s more like a global culture. Because, er, because, um, there – there are different people who listens to it. Like maybe – example, in the states or UK – or even in China – I’m sure some people do listen to classical music as well. Mm.”
“Is, um, even though [Western classical music is] like hundreds of years old, but there’s still a beauty in it that is – that I feel you can’t find that in, er, pop or rock music. Ya.”
“Mm, I still prefer the older [Chinese pop] songs, lor. Like – maybe because I’m also quite outdated with the current – the current pop scene, lah. So ... ya, so the current – the newer songs don’t really speak much to me as compared to the older ones.”
“Mm, ya, I think [Chinese pop] does [express a cultural connection]. Because like it’s in the – I mean the – some songs are in Chinese-speaking countries, ya, so definitely it will – it will speak to them.”
“Okay. Oh, so it’s – traditional Chinese music means that like, um, played with those Chinese instruments, right? Okay, ya, then I can relate to it a bit.”
“[Traditional Chinese music is] okay, lah. To me, it’s okay. Ya. It just reminds me of like last time those, um, school – Chinese orchestra concerts.”
“Because, um, [traditional] Chinese music, it speaks of the Chinese culture. And – ya, even though there may not be that many people who listen to it, I think it – it should still be preserved lah, as part of Chinese culture. Ya.”
“Mm, ya, [traditional Chinese music] probably will [express a cultural connection]. Just now when I listen to the music, I thought of those, um, those, er, guzheng xi, then they play this kind of music. Ya. That is like, um, you know those like Chinese drama but the – they dress in the traditional costumes in the Chinese palace, that kind of drama. Ya.”
“[Chinese crossover music is] not bad. I think it’s quite unique. Mm, I don’t – I mean, I don’t mind watching it to the end of the video.”
“I think there are two ways to look at [Chinese crossover music], lah. Because, er, it’s played by Chinese instruments mainly. So I mean the – the tune-wise may not sound that traditional kind of Chinese music. But the ... instruments do bring that Chinese part into it. Ya.”
“Neutral lah, I think. [Experimental Chinese music] still sounds quite Chinese. Ya. It still sounds quite, er, Chinese. Mm ... ya. I don’t know what to say about this. Chinese instruments. Mm. Ya, so it sounded like – like a bit Western, a bit Chinese also.”
“Mm, ya, I think [experimental Chinese music] does in a sense that like it showcases what Chinese instruments can do. And what kind of sound it brings when you have an orchestra that is playing in that way.”
“Mm ... local one I only know 53A. And ... ya, those that they play live at, er, at Timbre or Switch [by Timbre], ya.”
“Mm, quite difficult to tell [if there is a Singaporean musical style] I think. Because, er, er, I think each composer or each artiste is different. So unless you’re really very sure of what’s their style like, lah. But for me I wouldn’t know because I don’t listen much to local music.”
“Ya, I think [National Day songs creates a feeling of group belonging] especially the – the older – the older songs like Home (1998), that kind.”
“Wait ah, traditional Chinese, crossover, experimental, and pop, right? Mm ... I will think Chinese pop but more specifically is the Canto pop because I’m from Hong Kong, lah. So – ya, having a Cantonese lyrics speaks to me more than the others. Ya.”
“Before learning the piano I was actually learning ballet. But, um, it was my – my mom who said that – you know, er, ballet there’s a – a life – like how to say, ah? Like, when you’re older you can’t really be dancing that much, lah. But for piano you can still – as long as you can use your hands, you can play it.”
“And it’s also because I came from a musical background. So that actually influences me to learn it I think. Ya. I was about maybe six when I first started learning the piano. Um, my dad plays the violin, then my mom sings. My brother plays the drums and guitar.”
“I remember last time like, er, when I first started, my dad will practice together with me. So he made it more like a – like a fun activity rather than exam-oriented, er, learning kind of style, lah. Mm. Mm, last time – because he knows a bit of the piano, so he will like practice together with me. But if you’re talking about now, then – ya, he will play the – I mean, he would play the violin, and then I would play the piano, lor. So I would do like those, er, violin piano sonata that kind of thing.”
“I learned it in Hong Kong then I started about six then I moved here at nine – when I was nine. So, er, ya, I did continue lessons until about seventeen. Then I stopped. Because like A Levels all that – very busy. So I didn’t have time to practice and all that. And then I resumed my lesson, er, er, about maybe four – three, four years ago.”
“Ya. Ya in both primary, secondary, and [junior college], I joined the choir. Ya. It was really, really enjoyable, lah. Mm, ya like for example we go for, er, besides performing on the stage for those school concerts and all that, we did overseas trips as well. Like competition in – overseas. Like sec[ondary four], er, we went to Prague. Then in JC we went to, er, Czech Republic. Ya – ya – but around the same place. Primary school we didn’t go anywhere, but – ya, it was still enjoyable.”
“Because, um, those [music] lessons [in school] weren’t really ... classical focused. It’s more like a general music knowledge that kind. Ya, oh – I remember we learn about, er, like different culture, what kind of instruments they use, lah. Like Indian – Indian music what they use, Chinese music what do they use – that kind. Mm. Ya, correct. I think that’s – that’s more for secondary school.”
“But thinking back I would have gone to [Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts] or LASALLE [instead of studying business]. Ya. If I can go back in time lah, ya. That’s one of my regrets now, that I didn’t go and do that.”
“Mm ... I don’t really use it now except for maybe a bit of the marketing part, lah. And, er, and ... I think studying music back then would have helped me more, lah. Because like I get to read about the music history and all that instead of doing catch-up reading now. Ya. And also the playing skills will improve more lah – I mean, if I devote the three years studying.”
“What made you want to start teaching at the start? Er, because, um, my – my last job was, er, pretty bad in terms of pay and like the boss, all that. Then, er, so – I mean I did try to look for other jobs, lah. And – ya, I can’t find any so I thought like maybe I can try out piano. Mm, so – ya, from there then slowly, slowly then – ya, I – I decided to teach full-time, lor.”
“Mm ... that, um, [teaching] shouldn’t be exam-focused. I mean like exam-oriented. Er, but rather on ... the students learning and discovering music, and also being able to enjoy what they play. I mean, exam – like if let’s say they want to go for exam, ya, it’s fine with me, lah. Because, er, so that they will know where they stand and all that. But I feel that learning music shouldn’t just be all based on exam. Ya.”
“I mean like those that are not taking exam right, usually I ask them like, er, “Oh, what kind of music do you enjoy playing?” Then I’ll try to find something they can relate to. Like example there’s this girl, er, she’s also in choir so she – she told me that they are learning Colours of the Wind (1995) currently. So I printed out the Colours of the Wind piano score for her to learn. To like keep her interested, lah. And also I play duets with them. So it’s not – it’s not so boring lah, in a sense. Then they quite enjoy playing duets together with me.”
“It depends lah, I think. Depends on like maybe your background, whether are you interested or not. Some – some would, er, take up – pick up piano after they learn like maybe guitar or drums, then they want to learn how to read the notes, then – ya. That’s when they pick up piano. Ya. Some is, er, pure interest, some is parents ask them to learn.”
“Um, an appreciation for classical music because, er, um, because there – I feel there needs to be someone to expose them to this genre also. Apart from like, er, pop or pop rock that kind of music lah, that I’m sure they get exposed to quite often. And also, er, to just enjoy the – like, um, like maybe piano can be a form of, er, stress relief for them as they grow older. Mm.”
“There’s one boy who really takes every grade lah, because the mom wants him to do so. Which – I mean, I’m okay with it, but I would prefer them not to take every grade. So that like – there’s – there’s, um, there’s more time to expose them to different things. Like maybe duets or focus more on different techniques or – ya, rather than just the three pieces lah, for exams. And they may get bored also – playing the three pieces for one year.”
“What keeps me going is it? Okay, I enjoy most days when I see them progress, I see them grow up. And also sometimes the kids are really sweet, lah. Like, especially if you’re having a very bad day, or that day is extremely tiring. So sometimes by – by working with the kids then it gives me the energy to go – to keep going. Ya.”
“I teach both [children and adults] lah, actually. Ya. But I prefer – okay, I prefer kids because they are easy to teach. They are – they are very cute lah by their nature. Like five, six years old that kind quite cute, lah. Then – but it takes – it really takes a lot of patience. So from there I learn how to be patient with them, how to talk to them because every kid is different.”
“For adults is – is easier, you don’t need to tell them, “Oh, please come back and sit down on the bench.” Or – ya, they understand instructions – for adults. But for adults I feel the learning curve is – is, er, much steeper as compared to the kids, lah. Mm.”
Click on the link below for the full transcript