Dear Iman,18th August was your 15th birthday but only today I got the time to jot this. We had a very delightful 'buka puasa' with 2 tables spread with what-you-can-name-it, thanks to your very generous Mum and Dad. And I did notice the rare, wide grin on your face when you showed me the brand new guitar, a present from your Mummy, at last!
I want to share here with you my experience with the musical instruments. It started with the ukelele (sort of like a baby guitar, used to strum along Hawaiian style). I first got attracted to it when I saw my classmate in Form 6 playing it during a concert. Now, I thought, that was not so hard. Then when I was studying in Australia, during the summer vacation, I worked for a week as a 'Nanny' like Nanny Fine you saw on TV. When I got my pay, the first thing I bought was the Ukelele. It was so funny, tried as hard as I could, I couldn't get the correct chords. I could only strum the chords for 'You are my sunshine'. So I gave the ukelele away to a friend. After several years of working, I received a 'bonus' for my pay. Again, the first thing I bought was a musical instrument - larger than the ukelel - the Piano. I had always wanted a piano since I was young but my Mother, your Moyang, couldn't afford it then. So now I had a piano but again I could not play it because the Piano was home in Melaka and I then was transferred to K.L. So it was left to your Mum, she was in her Primary school, to make full use of the piano. I didn't think she liked it but she was 'forced' and lasted till Grade 6, if I'm not mistaken. Then when she moved to the Resedential School in Seremban, she gave a big sigh of relief - no time to practice the piano, she said. In the mean time, I managed to teach myself simple tunes like 'Home on the Range', 'Mega Mendong'. Before long, the piano ended being infested with white ants, thus ended its history.
Then in K.L. I bought the guitar. I took classes at Yamaha Music School where I learnt classical guitar. I could strum several basic chords, but the strings hurt my fingers, So the guitar was put to rest in a corner, later given to cousin Ridzwan. My greatest wish and dream is to be able to play a musical instrument, but I guess I can only dream.
You too Iman, I remember had several encounters with the musical instruments when you were very young. Remember Mrs Janet Yong coming to the house to coach you at the piano. Was it easy then? You gave up, remember. Then later was it me who bought you the violin when you were at Miss Avoynne's kinddy. Then you stopped because your baby sister, Amal, broke one of the heads. That was a good reason to stop, eh? So it was not easy to master the musical instrument. I hope this time you'll be real serious with your brand new guitar and one day will perform for us, accompanying your beautiful soprano voice.
I want to share here with you my experience with the musical instruments. It started with the ukelele (sort of like a baby guitar, used to strum along Hawaiian style). I first got attracted to it when I saw my classmate in Form 6 playing it during a concert. Now, I thought, that was not so hard. Then when I was studying in Australia, during the summer vacation, I worked for a week as a 'Nanny' like Nanny Fine you saw on TV. When I got my pay, the first thing I bought was the Ukelele. It was so funny, tried as hard as I could, I couldn't get the correct chords. I could only strum the chords for 'You are my sunshine'. So I gave the ukelele away to a friend. After several years of working, I received a 'bonus' for my pay. Again, the first thing I bought was a musical instrument - larger than the ukelel - the Piano. I had always wanted a piano since I was young but my Mother, your Moyang, couldn't afford it then. So now I had a piano but again I could not play it because the Piano was home in Melaka and I then was transferred to K.L. So it was left to your Mum, she was in her Primary school, to make full use of the piano. I didn't think she liked it but she was 'forced' and lasted till Grade 6, if I'm not mistaken. Then when she moved to the Resedential School in Seremban, she gave a big sigh of relief - no time to practice the piano, she said. In the mean time, I managed to teach myself simple tunes like 'Home on the Range', 'Mega Mendong'. Before long, the piano ended being infested with white ants, thus ended its history.
Then in K.L. I bought the guitar. I took classes at Yamaha Music School where I learnt classical guitar. I could strum several basic chords, but the strings hurt my fingers, So the guitar was put to rest in a corner, later given to cousin Ridzwan. My greatest wish and dream is to be able to play a musical instrument, but I guess I can only dream.
You too Iman, I remember had several encounters with the musical instruments when you were very young. Remember Mrs Janet Yong coming to the house to coach you at the piano. Was it easy then? You gave up, remember. Then later was it me who bought you the violin when you were at Miss Avoynne's kinddy. Then you stopped because your baby sister, Amal, broke one of the heads. That was a good reason to stop, eh? So it was not easy to master the musical instrument. I hope this time you'll be real serious with your brand new guitar and one day will perform for us, accompanying your beautiful soprano voice.
All the best wishes. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Love from Nek Ngah.
4 comments:
Alamak...pecah rahsia mummy's 'love and hate' relationship with the piano! I think it's the all-year-long exam pieces that spoilt the whole spirit! I excelled in the theory part though...hehehe..especially the vocal part! huhuuu..!!!;-)
Anyway, correction - guitar is from good ole daddy and mummy (very minor 'shareholding' there!!;-)) Thanks Nek Ngah for this candid entry!
Hey there Nazli, that was a great narrative of your musical journey or sort of your journey with music. Like you I had alway wanted to play the musical instrument but did not get very far but my grand kids all five of them could now play the piano and Lin our yongest dauther play the Guiter. Well music sort of run in the family and for that I cannot live without listening to music.
Well, it look this kids in your family is going to be the new 'musical' kid on the block.
Have a nice day and take carel
Dear T,
I think you could be playing "Getaran Jiwa" just like Saadiah in Ibu Mertuaku, if you just persevere a little bit more. Or maybe if you had had a teacher like the P.Ramlee character in the film lah. Ah well. . .
Pak Idrus,
Don't you envy those people (plus kids) who could play effortlessly on the instruments? I watched this Chinese guy, 23 tahun, on Youtube - he got no arms, yet he could play beautifully with his toes! And then another orang putih in a Variety Show, played the piano with his pointed nose and sometimes upside down! Cam mana tu?
Thanks for visiting and Selamat Berpuasa1
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