I mentioned the piano in my Health Problems Issue, didn't I? Haa... me and music, we go a long way back.
Let's see. I started playing the piano at the age of 6 as I apparently insisted on it. My grandmother taught me the basics; it was fun and lighthearted. My parents soon got me a music teacher, and that was the beginning of our journey.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOelgTcmwv4
It's the same story, After... around grade 3 (piano grade 3), I no longer enjoyed playing. Pieces were gradually getting more difficult, and my practice hours were getting longer and longer. My parents would set fixed hours for me to play the piano.
Grade 5. I wanted to quit, but I was told I couldn't until I passed 8th Grade. In preparation for exams, I would have to practice against my will for at least 4 hours... or pretend to practice for 4 hours. Early in the morning, after school, evening. I was hit for not playing well when I was young, so I never went against my parents. It's not an uncommon story; I know people who practice for more than 8 hours - I don’t know how they managed to do it.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEREwJQcJg
My worst memories were at the cramped soundproof rental music practice rooms in China. Even on holiday, I could never catch a break. Sometimes my father would sit beside me to judge my playing, and other times I would just be left alone in the practice room, listening to the 7 other studious pianists play. I hated it. It was lonely, and all I could do was to sit there waiting for the hours to end. So it's unsurprising why piano would be associated with low mood.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsYvaR2Z8m
The second I passed 8th Grade, I never touched the piano again, unless coerced to for choir practice by my grandma. What a waste of hard work, huh? Maybe I'll regret it in the future, but I can't see myself learning a song on the piano for a long time.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnw5aw7JtzX
I also played the bassoon... although it was pretty casual. It was pretty fun aside from the exams, and participating in the school orchestra was a blast. After... the accident, I missed my grade 8 exam and never went to another lesson again. They came at a hefty price an hour, so I apologise for wasting so much money. But again, what else was I supposed to do? I don't think I'm qualified to teach or ever will be.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUMzElgJEG
I guess I'm just not disciplined enough to learn an instrument. Hah.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMdYaYCdrB
Finally, singing. As I've mentioned before, I greatly believe in the power of musical arrangements and lyrics accompanied by visuals to convey a message. When sung right, a song can touch your heart. I want to reach out, convey my feelings and touch people's hearts through song. But I sound like a disabled frog.
This isn't an exaggeration. Sure, I've had a few vocal classes at the age of 6, but. My friend who had perfect pitch straight out told me how crap I was. In primary school, our choir teacher assigned us groups based on our singing level, and I was put in the lowest group along with one other. When I sung in school assemblies, people would visibly move away or even go out of their way to change seats. Yeah, I practice sometimes, but I honestly draw more than I sing, and that's saying something! I'll pay for a vocal coach someday.
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3dTvPEhF3
If I could, I want to make a living out of art and music, but I can't. I don't have the skill and the persistence. And even then, going viral and making enough to live on is a risky gamble. Impractical. I'll end up starving, busking on the streets with people barely sparing me a second glance.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZAZCOJYjO
274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkXQciQqAB
...and that's why I gave up on music.
