OUR STUDENTS (Chun Ying, a third-year National University of Singapore law student, speaks of her love affair with music and song composition.)
I’ve always wondered what studying law is like. Do you already specialize in a specific area of law while in school?
Actually no. What we cover in school is barely sufficient for real legal practice. Lawyers-to-be really learn the main bulk of their craft when they’ve
started working. So there’re plenty of things yet to learn even after graduation, and also a lot of flexibility when it comes to specialization. Like myself, I’
m currently reading quite a few modules on corporate law. But what I eventually specialize in could be something very different, like criminal law or
family law.
It’s amazing to know that you performed your very own original composition in Play by Ear’s year-end concert.
How did this come to pass?
Well, before starting lessons at Play by Ear, I had finished grade 8 for classical piano. But that was way back when I was in secondary 2. Thereafter I
Actually no. What we cover in school is barely sufficient for real legal practice. Lawyers-to-be really learn the main bulk of their craft when they’ve
started working. So there’re plenty of things yet to learn even after graduation, and also a lot of flexibility when it comes to specialization. Like myself, I’
m currently reading quite a few modules on corporate law. But what I eventually specialize in could be something very different, like criminal law or
family law.
It’s amazing to know that you performed your very own original composition in Play by Ear’s year-end concert.
How did this come to pass?
Well, before starting lessons at Play by Ear, I had finished grade 8 for classical piano. But that was way back when I was in secondary 2. Thereafter I
That’s when you discovered Play by Ear.
That’s right. And that’s when I discovered there were so many improvisational techniques available to a musician. I learnt different scales & modes and how they could be applied to
soloing. My knowledge of chords and progressions grew. There were also lessons on musical phrasing and melody composition tailor-made to cater to my interest in song-writing.
Also my left hand no longer plays rigid, predictable broken patterns. I can now play walking bass and the stride piano style, with the latter using upper structure voicings. Preparing
for the concert also pushed my abilities further. I had never been able to memorize songs previously. But the concert forced me to and now I can.
I remember you said couldn’t quite play in a band setting. Is there any progress on that front?
I haven’t had a chance to play with a live band yet and I believe my rhythm and listening skills still need to improve. But I have, with my instructor’s guidance, played with some backing
tracks with considerable success.
That’s cool! With your growing confidence as an independent musician, have you ever thought of becoming a full-time musician?
I don’t think I would have the courage to abandon my full-time occupation as a legal professional. But I definitely aim to improve more and I do yearn to be able to play in front of an
audience. But I think in an ideal world, I would be spending some evenings churning off some tunes in a quaint, little jazz pub after a long day’s work in the office. Yes, that would be
a dream come true.
That’s right. And that’s when I discovered there were so many improvisational techniques available to a musician. I learnt different scales & modes and how they could be applied to
soloing. My knowledge of chords and progressions grew. There were also lessons on musical phrasing and melody composition tailor-made to cater to my interest in song-writing.
Also my left hand no longer plays rigid, predictable broken patterns. I can now play walking bass and the stride piano style, with the latter using upper structure voicings. Preparing
for the concert also pushed my abilities further. I had never been able to memorize songs previously. But the concert forced me to and now I can.
I remember you said couldn’t quite play in a band setting. Is there any progress on that front?
I haven’t had a chance to play with a live band yet and I believe my rhythm and listening skills still need to improve. But I have, with my instructor’s guidance, played with some backing
tracks with considerable success.
That’s cool! With your growing confidence as an independent musician, have you ever thought of becoming a full-time musician?
I don’t think I would have the courage to abandon my full-time occupation as a legal professional. But I definitely aim to improve more and I do yearn to be able to play in front of an
audience. But I think in an ideal world, I would be spending some evenings churning off some tunes in a quaint, little jazz pub after a long day’s work in the office. Yes, that would be
a dream come true.
played the piano only infrequently.Then when I was waiting for my A level results, I got very bored and decided to write some songs mainly to entertain myself. But I got such a kick
from writing songs that I joined “INSPIRE”, a song-writing CCA group in my Hall of Residence in university, and one filled with many musically inclined individuals. I learnt quite a bit
about my musical capabilities there. Apparently I had some talent in song-writing as one of my songs was played during one of our concerts. But I also realized I couldn’t really play in
a band. I found my harmonization, song-writing and arrangement skills still very limited. So I finally got myself a keyboard during this time and decided to pick up on the playing side of
music.
from writing songs that I joined “INSPIRE”, a song-writing CCA group in my Hall of Residence in university, and one filled with many musically inclined individuals. I learnt quite a bit
about my musical capabilities there. Apparently I had some talent in song-writing as one of my songs was played during one of our concerts. But I also realized I couldn’t really play in
a band. I found my harmonization, song-writing and arrangement skills still very limited. So I finally got myself a keyboard during this time and decided to pick up on the playing side of
music.
PLAY BY EAR MUSIC SCHOOL (SINGAPORE) - SPECIALISING IN POP PIANO & JAZZ PIANO IMPROVISATION COURSES FOR ADULTS
ADDRESS: 245A / 245B VICTORIA STREET, BUGIS VILLAGE, SINGAPORE (188032) | TEL: 63387939 | EMAIL: INFO@PLAY-BY-EAR.NET
ADDRESS: 245A / 245B VICTORIA STREET, BUGIS VILLAGE, SINGAPORE (188032) | TEL: 63387939 | EMAIL: INFO@PLAY-BY-EAR.NET
