Time have come to an end of this month. I can't help to look back and ask myself.
What have you done back in this month?
Have you utilize every second of your precious time? Did you archive any goal that you set for yourself for the month? Have you practice enough for your major? How much effort have you put into it? Did you do your best?
All these questions kept on popping up from my head. I guess its a good thing when I do that. At least my self conscious is still working. Giving me warning every time I fail to do something right.
Jury is coming again soon, and I mean REAL soon!!! To give a figure on how soon it is, take it as about 3 weeks?
So in 3 weeks time I have to get ready the following stuffs:
1. 3 repertoire of different style. (bossanova, blues and gospel pop) 2. Scales and arpeggios of all keys. (including major 7, minor 7, dominant 7 and etc) 3. Sight reading skills in contemporary style
I will go crazy real soon if I don't make full use of my time to archive all these aspect. The time is ticking, and I got to be ready!
How did you celebrate Lunar festival(also known as the moon cake festival)?
Chinese usually spent their time with their family on this special day. It is the day when the moon hangs up high in sky at its fullest moment. The Chinese have a saying, when the moon is at its fullest, people will reunite(usually refers to family members).
Well since I'm far away from my own family and there is no way I can get back to them at all, people like me came out with a Brilliant plan. *light bulb shines brightly*
Since there are so many of us who are in the same situation. We can't go back to our own family, we then shall come together and have a gathering of our own. Sounds like a plan. With the location decided and things prepared, its gona be a fun night.
Two days ago, we all went to Chin Ni's house and since it's pasar malam(night market) night over here, foods are found everywhere, there was no worry about food. Some bought food to share and of cause there is the specialties of the day, Moon cake, specially brought by Ching Ting. Thank you Ching Ting, they are delicious, only that its a little too sweet. lol..
[The sweet moon cakes]
This following picture is too cute. I JUST HAVE TO SHARE IT WITH YOU GUYS!!!
[Cute Ching Ting]
Maybe the moon cake its a little bit too sweet. How bout spicing it up a little?!
[Chili anyone?!]
Moon cake is something that can't be miss from the celebration, another thing that is a MUST on this festival is to go out on the street with a whole school of children(yes, we are NEVER too old for this), with a lantern in hand and go around the neighbor and have fun.
And so did we.
[everyone preparing their own lantern]
Actually, I have no idea who bought the lantern. Can someone tell me?
[beautiful lanterns]
And off we go. All the way down the street. Making noises as we passed by houses. Everyone was having the time of their life. We even ask the children off the the street to join us. Of cause they do not dare to walk with us.
Who would ever wants to join a bunch of psycho?! lol
[The psychos]
The parade did not lasted long, it was about a candle moment(some of us reach back just in time before the candle went out). So that's why I called it a candle moment.
We went back inside the house. We spent most of our remaining time chatting, talking and gossiping. lol..
[A moment where everyone minds their own stuffs]
There is something special about music students. That is, music follows them everywhere. We jammed on the piano, we sang in parts(choir members), we did all sorts of funny thing too. Like cam whoring. I know some one had been taking pictures all night long.
[Wen Jiun]
She is the one who took most of the pictures all night. Well she aint gona stay long in Malaysia anymore, since she is going to UK to continue her piano degree VERY soon. Lucky her!!! All the best for her further studies. XD
The night gathering was partial for her farewell too. She took pictures with almost everyone, she hugs, she kiss, she touches(just exaggerating). hahahaha......
[Me, Wen Jiun and Alex]
Wen Jiun just LOVE Alex.
[Evidence!!!]
The younger one always would have to show their respect to the ELDERS. By doing so...
[Serving tea would be just perfect!]
Some people just dint like the attention.
[No place to hide Sze Ern]
Of cause attention seekers are unavoidable.
[Kun Ming surrounded with Vs]
[What is wrong with your head Kun Ming?]
This is what happens when too much attention were given.
[LOL]
Finally the BIG psycho family photo.
[Looks normal to me]
[Guess not]
Let me finish up this post with a song that is made famous by Teresa Teng(邓丽君). This is a cover made by Khalil Fong(方大同). A jazz version of this famous song, The moon represents my heart(月亮代表我的心). I enjoyed listening to his cover. Hope you like it too.
I had just came back from a very hectic schedule from Friday night till this morning. I'm drain out of energy. We had a performance down at Melaka on a wedding dinner. It was fun, but tired for sure.
I'll update you guys more next time when I have some pictures in hand and all. But to tell you guys one thing for sure,
When I saw the video Shong loong shared on his facebook page, I remembered posting up the same thing on my old blog, just that it is in written form. So I decided to dig it up, refine it again, and share it with you guys. It is really something.
Science and God
'Let me explain the problem science has with Jesus Christ.' The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.
'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'
'Yes sir,' the student says.
'So you believe in God?'
'Absolutely.'
'Is God good?'
'Sure! God's good.'
'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'
'Yes.'
'Are you good or evil?'
'The Bible says I'm evil.'
The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible!' He considers for a moment.
'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'
'Yes sir, I would.'
'So you're good...!'
'I wouldn't say that.'
'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'
The student does not answer, so the professor continues. 'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?'
The student remains silent.
'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.
'Let's start again, young fella Is God good?'
'Er...yes,' the student says.
'Is Satan good?'
The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'
'Then where does Satan come from?'
The student : 'From...God...'
'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?'
'Yes.'
'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'
Without allowing the student to answer, the professor continues: 'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?'
The student: 'Yes.'
'So who created them?'
The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. 'Who created them? There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized.
'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?'
The student's voice is confident: 'Yes, professor, I do.'
The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'
'No sir. I've never seen Him'
'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'
'No, sir, I have not.'
'Have you ever actually felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'
'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'
'Yet you still believe in him?'
'Yes.'
'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?'
'Nothing,' the student replies. 'I only have my faith.'
'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'
The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own. 'Professor, is there such thing as heat?'
'Yes,' the professor replies. 'There's heat.'
'And is there such a thing as cold?'
'Yes, son, there's cold too.'
'No sir, there isn't.'
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain.
'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.'
Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.
'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'
'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night if it isn't darkness?'
'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have Nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'
The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?'
'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'
The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. 'Flawed? Can you explain how?'
'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.'
'Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?'
'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do'
'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'
The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.
'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?'
The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the Commotion has subsided.
'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.'
The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out into laughter.
'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelled the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?'
Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.
Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. 'I guess you'll have to take them on faith.'
'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'
Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'
To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God.
God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.
The professor sat down.
I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.
- C. S. Lewis
This is the video Shong Loong had shared. Its kinda the short version of what I've got here, but it is the main point of the whole article.
Tension engulf my major lesson today. All reasons trace back to myself, more specifically my laziness. I have not been practicing much this week, probably because its just the start of the semester. I know its not a reason, and I would not defend myself for my own shortcoming.
I still have time to work on the part that I'm left behind tomorrow, since it's a public holiday, 1 Malaysia Day. So much for my 1st 1 Malaysia holiday. I have work to be done by Friday!!!
"I know, nothing comes easy, I know, I must sweat for it, I know, it requires a lot of hard work and perseverance, in addition to determination. I promise myself to get it done despite all the challenges lying ahead."
-Louis Liong Wei Wei
I just saw this status of Louis from his facebook page, and it is exactly what I need for my mindset. Determination for success and perfection.
My all-time-favorite contemporary pianist. She plays the piano like a toy in a child's hand, she perfects every aspect of technical work, flawless in running notes, making the hardest part seems like effortless.
It's TOTAL craziness!!!!
She is someone I look up to. My aim. My goal.
Hiromi- Choux a la Creme:
This is one of my favorite piece from her, Choux a la Creme, from her latest album Place To Be. There are more pieces of her's that will take your breath away.
Try typing Hiromi Uehara - The Tom and Jerry Show on youtube and you may begin from there. Don't say I din't warn you about her craziness. XD
[the world is so small...~] quoted by Chiong Wei Ling
On the same day visiting Tanjung Sepat, I heard a voice calling out my name, not far; in fact, in front. I look forward and saw three faces that seems strangely familiar. I was stunned for a few second before I could pull myself back together. Isn't that someone I knew back from Miri? OMG!!! It is really Wei Ling, Hui Ling and Gong Yuan. 3 person from Miri I knew, standing right in front of me. I was overwhelmed!!! Luckily tears did not flew out. =p
I chatted with them for a few moment, catching up with each other life. I was surprise to find out that they are also on their church trip to the SAME place, on the SAME day, at the SAME time. I was on my church holiday trip too. Coincident? Maybe.
Yesterday, a public holiday, a day spent at Tanjug Sepat. Went with a group of enthusiastic church members touring around the small fishermen's village. After a whole day walking, a cup of freshly blend dragon fruit refreshes the hot day. ^^
I hope I'm making this announcing LOUD & CLEAR!!!! It had been a rough road to get to this day. Some may know I had a choose a different path before but I had never regret the decision I'd made back then. It's because of that decision what made me who I am today.
I'm totally new in this area. Although I had took up contemporary piano last semester in university as my minor, but there is so much more that I need to pick up. I'm now back to the starting point and start all over again. Its like I'm back to my first piano lesson, like a child who had never touched a piano, full of curiosity and marveled by the beauty that the piano generates. Wonders of music filled my word instantly.
I had my 1st contemporary piano MAJOR today. It's a 2 hours class, only for today. It's long. I know. Class stars with Simon going trough some policy of his class, it's cool to clear things up on the 1st lesson. Then he asked for 2 best song I have now to show him. He wants to know where I stands, so he didn't mention about preparing any piece in our previous schedule conversation. I was a little nervous while playing. Infect the whole lesson I was feeling a little nervous.
Why the heck NERVOUS?!
I have COMPLETELY no idea!!!!
CRAZY I guess....
And by the way, this semester is going to be crazy for me too. To prepare JURY in 8 weeks time (7 weeks to be precise). Need to decide on repertoire FAST!!!!! There are so may things to catch up. For the 1st lesson, we just covered the basic and that would be enough for me to keep me busy the whole week. phew....
WHO SAYS STUDYING MUSIC IS EASY!!!!!!
Learning is something that never ends and I am willing to learn all that I can. Starting from now.
Don't know why I have been singing this song all over and over again these days (song name: Don't know why). Norah Jones's sexy voice just kept on ringing in my head. It is a total hook up!!!! LOL
[Norah Jones]
I kept on repeating "don't know why, I din't come.. don't know why, I din't come......." again and again. Be it be in class or walking down the road. Who knows how long will this gona last? Who knows why I'm addicted to it?
I don't know why.
Here is a video of Norah Jones singing Don't know why:
Thanks to Simmy who tagged me on this other video (on facebook days ago) which is a very cool version of the song Don't know why. I fell in love with it almost immediately. You guys should check it out too!!! ^^
I personaly LOVE the pianist improvisation. He is THEFAMOUS jazz pianist, Tey Cher Siang. He is also teaching in my school. How cool is that?!
On the 30th of August 2010, with no awareness of the result is out, I went and check on my result online and surprise surprise, the result is out. I had been nervous about the result since the day I had done badly for my piano jury. I wasn't expecting to pass it actually, but do you believe in MIRACLE? Well, one had just happened on me and that is I PASSED my major. And that means
I'M GOING TO DEGREE SEMESTER 1!!!!!!
With a whole heart of happiness and gratitude, I thank the Lord for His blessing. I could not imagine how things would turn up with out Him. There is one more person I need to thank and that is an angle who had help me out a lot during the difficult time. with out her patient teaching and endless encouragement I would never be in degree semester 1. With my whole heart I want to say thank you to you Sze Ern. You had put in effort beyond anyone else would had give in to help a useless guy like me.
Today, I'm back in school after a two week plus holiday in my hometown. This is the same place where I had been studying for the past 1 year and 4 months. Nothing changed much but the different is now I'm finally in the degree programe, after the difficult moment I had before, I'm ready to embrace the new challenge awaiting in front of me. Starting fresh is what I'm going to do.
On this 1st day of school awaiting me was a non-stop-combo-crazy-lesson-schedule. Starting from 11am until 3pm. No break in between, meaning not even lunch break. 3 subject one after another. theory 1, university reading and writing and midi. I'm starving after the long classes.
I'll be having classes everyday except Friday for now (if there is no changes in timetable). This will be an intensive semester where we would have to squeeze a whole syllabus into 8 weeks. Final on the 8th week and week one is almost coming to an end. =.="
Work and assignments will be palling up soon. Working hard is a must for this semester and I hope that I would not be lazy anymore. I can't even guarantee that. LOL
I've been putting thoughts about reviving my dead blog lately Vincent Choo's NORMAL Life and now I think I'm ready to start all over again. In term of life, studies, and blog. So here comes my whole new blog and I'll be back on blogging life again people. This blog will still need some more touch up to make it more homely. ^^
To update whoever is still reading my blog. I'm all fine and will be starting school tomorrow morning (technically later morning since its 12:25am now). LOL. That is all for now.
