Major and minor

It’s like second nature to me now.

But I still remember the days when I had piano lessons every week starting from when I was 7. Around 10 years old I started prepping for the ABRSM exams. It was then, towards the end of each lesson, when my teacher would play a short snippet of a piece and ask me if it’s in minor or major. Back then…honestly, I had no idea. And I asked her how can you tell? I don’t remember her giving me a comprehensible answer, I mean I was still a child. So each time I just guessed and hoped I was right.

After more years with music, I began to hear the difference. I can now technically explain to you what differentiates major from minor. But still, you can’t explain such a concept or idea. There’s just something in the sound and melody of the song where you just feel it.

Then as I grew older and continued taking higher level exams..I had to start listening for the cadence of songs. I still have no idea. (I just remember that I’ll always say its plagal if it sounds like a song from church choir.) I wonder about the potential of music in my life if I had decided continued learning.

And I feel like I could ramble forever about this. But I remember the controversial book by Amy Chua that broke out this past year. To a certain extent, I agree with her point of view (although my view is probably biased). I do believe, to a certain extent, that in order to enjoy doing something, you need to be good at it. (If you’re not good at something, why would you want to continue doing it, except to get better?) If you can’t get past the point of mastery, you cannot fully understand and appreciate the height of the hobby, art, or sport. Like both Picasso and Alexander McQueen, they were masters of their respective art before they went against conventions and created their own personal style. Although I am very far from being a good pianist, I know that I wouldn’t be able to do any degree of improvisation had I not spent hours upon hours playing the same scales, arpeggios etc for years and years.

A lot of times I’ve taken granted and was spiteful towards my mom who always pushed me to keep going. I remember failing the last level of the exam after months of hard work and dedication. And all I did was just cry and said, I give up. But of course, my mom wouldn’t have allowed that. So I did it all over again and finally (but barely) passed.

Even now, whenever I am stressed or just need to get my mind off things, I go to the music room and play what I feel through improvisation. I think if my mom never pushed me to continue taking lessons throughout high school, I wouldn’t have this opportunity to express myself through music.

So mom, thank you for giving me ears  to hear the difference between major and minor. You somehow always seem to know what's best for my heart and soul.

Dearest Love,

I want you to know that I’ve been thinking about you. When I have a moment to spare and when I don’t, you are on my mind.

I haven’t even met you yet, but I just want you to know that I’ve been thinking of you. And I’m writing this so when I do finally meet you, you will know that I’ve known you to be true even before our encounter.

And I know you’re not here yet because I’m not ready to give you the best you deserve. Still scraping my knees and making silly mistakes. But don’t worry, when the time comes, I’ll be ready to share my stories with you. Some stories will make you laugh, and some may make your heart break. But I know that despite all of them, you will still be loving and understanding because by then, I’ll also be a better person. And both of us will truly learn to appreciate each other for our flaws and secrets.

P.S. I’m really excited to hear all your stories too.


Yours Truly,
Me

Goosebumps and harmony

It's 2:00am, and I'm wide awake (with the assistance of coffee) because I need to study for a midterm.
While I sit here in this quiet study lounge, I can't help but wish it were summer time and I was not in Boston. Rather I'll be in New York, Hong Kong, Paris...I don't know, anywhere but.

And while I study for this horrific class, I begin to wonder...how do you instill interest and passion into your students? How do you motivate people? Is there a difference between those who merely teach and those who are sharing a story and a part of themselves with us? And to widen the scope of this conversation, what separates those who lead and those who are leaders?

Although I'm sure there are so many answers to these questions, I know that personally, if you can leave with me a message that I will remember for many years to come...then as a leader, a mentor, or teacher, you have done your part. This leads me to a story about my chamber choir teacher, Ms. Hall, from high school. I know it's difficult to compare a chorus class with a math class but I think great teachers can inspire students no matter what medium they use.

I remember it was my junior year. The entire chamber choir was packed onto the stage of the auditorium for rehearsal. (Rehearsal is usually in a room unless a concert is coming up.) For those of you who don't know Ms. Hall, she is quite indescribable but she is the type of teacher who you fear but love just as dearly. So mid-song, she's screaming at us to breathe properly. Then she stops the song to point me out from the first row (why am I short?) as an example of how collectively we're screwing up completely. To fix my mistake, she makes me lie on my back on the stage in front of the entire class and tells me to breathe from my diaphragm. (If I'm doing it right, then my stomach will be moving and this will be obvious when you're lying down.)

It's been almost 4 years. I'll be lying if I said it wasn't embarrassing. But still, if I have to choose a class that has influenced me the greatest at Stuyvesant, it would be Chamber Choir (and Creative Non-Fiction with Mr. Weil comes a very close second). I really learned a mini-lesson that I still treasure and keep tucked away in the back of my mind. Like I mentioned above, I view most things in life as a medium. Sometimes, it's not really about what you're doing. It doesn't matter if you are a teacher, a business person, a doctor...what matters is what your message is. And whether you're a teacher or a doctor, your message can still be the same. Like art, you can use music, color, or film to share the exact same story. These things are universal.

Today I love singing just as much and times like these, I really miss singing with a group of people. It's strange but I long for the vibration of harmonizing, the spinning of air, and the goosebumps. These things sound so intangible but they're far from that. But aside from just singing, what I learned from Ms. Hall is just to...be. Put yourself in uncomfortable situations. Say what is on your mind. Just live -- be quirky if that's who you are. Who cares if you look like an idiot, "you only live once, but if you live it right...once is enough."

Now...back to studying the true intangibles. I must keep treading!

Sweet Reminders

 Today I went to Metlife to interview one of the assistant VP for my organizational behavior class. His name was Stephen and he was a sweet old man who seemed like he had a lot to share. My general goal was to get a feel of the company culture and his management style. It was an informative talk and he was open to answering a lot of questions. As the interview was coming to an end, I just really really wanted to know one irrelevant thing — “this isn’t part of the interview for the class, but I was just curious..after all your years of experience in life, what words of wisdom would you give to a college student?”

He proceeded to tell me a story about how his brother in law had a daughter who worked for a successful company. But then one day, she just decided to quit and leave with her boss to join a start up company. His brother asked Stephen to talk to his daughter and try to convince her to change her mind. When Stephen asked her why she was doing what she was doing, she merely said…I wake up in the morning, excited, to go to work and do my job.

Then Stephen just told her to go for it. When his brother in law asked Stephen what was he thinking to encourage her, he said..how many people go to bed at night feeling like they actually accomplished something and wasn’t doing something just because it’s their job?

“Whatever you do with your life, you’re going to have to work hard. And if you have to choose between happiness and money, always choose happiness.”

I loved his answer. And so unprofessional of me but I slipped out a Yay before I replied with a thank you so much.