OUR STUDENTS (A casual chitchat with Sandra Yu, a geography/music teacher)
I hear it’s tough and stressful being a teacher. Is it really so for you?
Yeah, it’s tough having to wake up at 5 plus in the morning and then knocking off only about 5 in the afternoon. It’s a long job. There’s a lot of
preparation involved as well. Teachers have to constantly be creative in their teaching methods to capture their students’ attention. Students make a
great difference to my day. My day turns for the worse when my students are terrible but when they come by to talk and say that they understand
what I’m teaching, that really makes my day.
Yeah, it’s tough having to wake up at 5 plus in the morning and then knocking off only about 5 in the afternoon. It’s a long job. There’s a lot of
preparation involved as well. Teachers have to constantly be creative in their teaching methods to capture their students’ attention. Students make a
great difference to my day. My day turns for the worse when my students are terrible but when they come by to talk and say that they understand
what I’m teaching, that really makes my day.
What kind of music are you into of late?
I’m a pretty mellow person, so I go for that kind of music. Slow, soothing jazz suits my taste and I especially like Corrine May.
Have your lessons at Play by Ear nudged you closer to your goal of being a church musician and being able to play the music you like?
Hmmm, I practise very little ‘cos I’m very lazy. But at least I know a little of what to do with a chord sheet. And I did just play for my church service for
the very first time as the regular keyboardist was away. It was great, even though I was filling in for someone else. I’m also more grounded with
concepts like harmonization, progressions and phrasings. I can improvise a little, and I’ve even started learning the blues – the scales and the scales of
the different chords. And learning different things is good, ‘cos I do get bored quite easily.
I’m a pretty mellow person, so I go for that kind of music. Slow, soothing jazz suits my taste and I especially like Corrine May.
Have your lessons at Play by Ear nudged you closer to your goal of being a church musician and being able to play the music you like?
Hmmm, I practise very little ‘cos I’m very lazy. But at least I know a little of what to do with a chord sheet. And I did just play for my church service for
the very first time as the regular keyboardist was away. It was great, even though I was filling in for someone else. I’m also more grounded with
concepts like harmonization, progressions and phrasings. I can improvise a little, and I’ve even started learning the blues – the scales and the scales of
the different chords. And learning different things is good, ‘cos I do get bored quite easily.
So how has that affected the pursuit of your musical interests?
Well, I was a classically-trained pianist. I got a diploma in performance from LCM (London College of Music) about 3 years ago then I stopped playing altogether. Like most other
youngsters, I found classical music boring. Learning music then was all about handling exams. It wasn’t fun at all. Every year you master 3 pieces, see the examiner and the whole
cycle starts again. Then recently, I started learning the guitar. It was more fun and a lot easier. I was learning the guitar with Believer Music for 4 terms until I decided to go back to
the piano and explore how I could put my skills to good use. My ultimate aim of learning music now is so that I can play in church. Classical music binds a person pretty tightly because
you’re trained to read notes all the time, you do not know what to do without scores. Also you’re fed so much theory during your classical music education, but you do not know how
that should be applied. There was hardly any room for experimentation.
Well, I was a classically-trained pianist. I got a diploma in performance from LCM (London College of Music) about 3 years ago then I stopped playing altogether. Like most other
youngsters, I found classical music boring. Learning music then was all about handling exams. It wasn’t fun at all. Every year you master 3 pieces, see the examiner and the whole
cycle starts again. Then recently, I started learning the guitar. It was more fun and a lot easier. I was learning the guitar with Believer Music for 4 terms until I decided to go back to
the piano and explore how I could put my skills to good use. My ultimate aim of learning music now is so that I can play in church. Classical music binds a person pretty tightly because
you’re trained to read notes all the time, you do not know what to do without scores. Also you’re fed so much theory during your classical music education, but you do not know how
that should be applied. There was hardly any room for experimentation.
Yes, you’ve mentioned that already. (Laughs) So is a teacher’s job really for you? Or do you have a dream job in mind?
I do find teaching rather boring, even though it’s already one of the more interesting jobs out there. But if I could choose, I’d rather be working for National Geographic, or becoming a
tour guide or even working as a missionary in Japan. That’s because I really like Japan and still remember some of the elementary Japanese I learnt while I was in university.
One last question for the record. What are the biggest influences in your life?
Christian principles guide my life. I would also have to say that my family has given me a great deal in life. My father pampers me a lot, but he is often out of town as he works
overseas. So I’m very close with my mum, who is a very strict mum, by the way. But she has instilled very strong principles in me, so that I can distinguish between what’s proper
and what’s not. And she also prevents me from becoming too lazy. She likes to wake me up at 7 plus when I’m not working, to get me started on my jogging.
I do find teaching rather boring, even though it’s already one of the more interesting jobs out there. But if I could choose, I’d rather be working for National Geographic, or becoming a
tour guide or even working as a missionary in Japan. That’s because I really like Japan and still remember some of the elementary Japanese I learnt while I was in university.
One last question for the record. What are the biggest influences in your life?
Christian principles guide my life. I would also have to say that my family has given me a great deal in life. My father pampers me a lot, but he is often out of town as he works
overseas. So I’m very close with my mum, who is a very strict mum, by the way. But she has instilled very strong principles in me, so that I can distinguish between what’s proper
and what’s not. And she also prevents me from becoming too lazy. She likes to wake me up at 7 plus when I’m not working, to get me started on my jogging.
Teachers seem to have pretty stereotypical personalities. Do you conform to that stereotype?
Not really, I guess. I’m weird. I like to walk around in the office barefooted. I’m a very tactile person. Even when learning music, I’m not into the heady
theoretical details. I prefer to get a feel of the keys and the chords I’m playing. (Laughs) And I get bored easily.
Not really, I guess. I’m weird. I like to walk around in the office barefooted. I’m a very tactile person. Even when learning music, I’m not into the heady
theoretical details. I prefer to get a feel of the keys and the chords I’m playing. (Laughs) And I get bored easily.
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
