Right after I stepped into my big (relative to my small apartment in KL) house in Ipoh, I throw my baggage on the floor, headed for the piano, opened the piano cover, and started banging to simply any tune. It started on with some familiar chords which (suddenly!) led to a favourite praise and worship song I sometimes play on church cell group meets. The song, I think, was called "Shepherd of My Soul'. I dunno how my fingers just suddenly end up playing the whole song (you know, I barely could remember the tune), but I couldn't stop my hands from playing it! Like some 'autopilot'.
I remembered my dad and mum spending half of their savings on me for piano lessons. I finished my Grade 8 when I was Form 4 (parents were sooo 'terribly' happy), then continue to Diploma level after form 6, but my diploma in piano pursues were over after I got a place at UPM. I loved to sing/play all those church songs that I actually asked my diploma piano teacher, who was a Christian, to teach me nice new worship songs and their chords. I love piano, but I knew I was never talented in music. I think hard work paid off the I actually passed all 8 exams. I could never play by ear, which was the saddest thing in my 'piano life' (if that's what you call it). I envy those kids in Yamaha lessons, whereby they weren't soo good at reading the tauge notes, but could play the entire song by just listening to it twice! I also envy many of my friends - Chris, Kevin (I've seen him play), Shereen, Jamie, Praveen, my ex-roommate in UPM, etc. I am not gifted. I am just hardworking. That's all.
I ran upstairs to my bedroom. From my cupboard, I pulled up all my certs from Grade 1 til Grade 8, both theory and practical. Some already turned yellow. .....dated since 1990. Checking back, my happiest piano moments were in Grade 7, where I did extremely well with a merit, 2 marks to a distinction. Worst was Grade 8 where I managed only a pass, almost near the border line. The kwai-low examiner asked me about some composers during viva, whereby I just gazed at him without a word. I almost died during oral test too. My 3 pieces and scales were good, actually. I am a pro in reading the tauge notes...hahahahahhaa.
My mum always tell me that she would never let her grandchildren play piano, or any musical instrument, ever! Because, it's bloody expensive, or useless after we've all grown up. Nobody uses music in their life (?!). Especially piano. Worst come to worst, play a guitar (because of its mobility).
I have a different thinking all together. We need to appreciate music. When we play the piano, we are inducing some kind of thinking, using our emotions, trying to come out with good tunes, planing out the whole song, and we are praising/worshiping God! I never regreted having to know the piano, as an instrument to worship Him.
SHEPHERD OF MY SOUL (D key):
Shepherd of my soul, I give You full control
Wherever You may lead I will follow
I have made the choice to listen for Your voice
Wherever You may lead I will go
Be it in a quiet pasture or by a gentle stream
The Shepherd of my soul is by my side
Should I face a mighty mountain or a valley dark and deep
The Shepherd of my soul will be my guide
