Thursday 28 March 2013

My Childhood Care Bears


"Please fasten your seat belts and prepare for landing," the pilot announced as the Penang-bound flight began its descend. I looked out of the window into the blue sky dotted with fluffy clouds. 

Care Bears used to dance and play amongst the clouds. I would see Wish Bear throwing soft floss at Cheer Bear and laughing, having great fun with their plushy friends. As a nine-year-old, my face would light up and smile at those animated visions playing over and over again in my memories. But, soon after, the reel would stop, and I'm back to reality,"小蔡, 你回来了 (Xiao Cai, you are back)!"

I began my Guangzhou, China training stints when I was in Primary 4, making trips to the mainland every school holidays, at times spending the entire year in the country. Training was intensive and tough, most dark and lonely nights were spent crying and singing ("The Rainbow Connection" - scroll down for self-made music video) myself to sleep as my growing body and blistering hands would hurt. But, I took it all in my stride as I chose to train there, and my parents have invested so much in me, both financially and emotionally, that I could not afford to let them down. 



My coach, Chen Bai Jian & I at the Tian He Sports Complex in Guangzhou, China


We have read about the systematic training development of gymnasts in China; after careful selection from the provincial teams, as young as six, they are torn from their families and friends, and sent for centralised training with the best athletes from all parts the country.  For those who lived in the poor faraway villages, the annual Chinese New Year celebration was the only time they were able to see their relatives, enjoy the comforting hugs of their parents and warmth of their own homes. They lived a very different life from the commoners, with a hope that they can bring better lives to their families when they reach the top spot in the international sporting arena. Coaches are pivotal to their success, and they become their best friend, guardian, confidant, like the role of a parent.



Left: Stopped for a breather - image taken after the completion of a satisfactory routine on the Balance Beam. 
Right: My coach and I celebrating our win - a bronze medal at the 16th SEA Games in Manila, Philippines


My China coaches, in all my three sports, Gymnastics, Track & Field and Diving, showed me how important a coach was to the lives of athletes. Responsibilities of teaching technical skills to their young ones do not end there, but the care for their physiological development, emotional well-being and life skills, made them a complete coach. 

As a child away from home, I felt the care and concern of my coaches. They treated me like one of their athletes, scolded, yelled at and punished, I had it all. However, they were always there for us when we needed them. In 1991, I fell from one of the gymnastic apparatuses, the Uneven Bars and fractured my elbow. Upon assessment, the sports doctor on duty suggested for an x-ray and further checks to be done at the hospital as my arm didn't look that good. Without hesitation, my coach, Chen Bai Jian, cycled me to the nearest hospital, paid for my medical bills and kept me in sight till we were back at the hostel-an act of generosity, sincerity and genuine concern for my well-being. (info: there were more than one coach at all times in the gymnasium hence other coaches could help look after his gymnasts while he was at the hospital)


My injured arm immobilized with a sling


Coaches, mentors, teachers have one thing in common, learnings by their students or athletes, young or old, lie in their life teachings. Everyone lives a different life-some are born with a silver spoon in their mouth, some struggle their way to success, some are contented with what they already have. No matter who you are or where you come from, close friends may or would have made an impact in your life, like how my coach showed me the way to generous giving. As educators, we aim to make the subject that we teach a way of life, something that will become part of us and exude its beauty through our daily interaction with people and activities that we do.



My young violin students when I was teaching part-time in 2001


Just like how the Care Bear Stares (Belly magic) can influence love, care and joy on their friends, an educator affects eternity to good life skills.

Here's a short "Rainbow Connection" music video (1min 40 sec), a compilation of childhood gymnastic training and competition in China, Philippines and Singapore. Music rearranged using electronic instrumentation and vocals. Enjoy!
http://youtu.be/pF1pmoW_V7o




For violin lesson information, please click below:

For violin lessons, please contact me:
+65 9396 5354
eileen@e-alternatif.net

Thank you.

Wednesday 20 March 2013

Cherry Fruit?



 Hanapiah encouraged me to return to 
hurdling after 9 years hiatus from sports

"Ta-Dadada, Ta-Dadada, Ta-Dadada," my track & field coach, Mohamad Hanapiah Nasir, then the top regional decathlete and now an International Association of Athletics Federations lecturer, boomed across the track as I rhythmically sprinted through the hurdles.

After nine years hiatus from sports, I returned to athletics in 2004. In the early stages of my return to hurdling, I trained at the Maybank Training Centre at Bangi, Selangor. During the months that I was back in Singapore, I would make overseas call to my coach (S$500 phone bill each month) and explain to him how I feel during the training session-floating lead leg, heel-landing, off-rhythm-so that he could prescribe the appropriate drills, plyometrics and give proper technical advise to help me improve. 

Such self-coaching, I had to heighten my awareness of every bit of my body movement to achieve the best hurdling technique, even if it requires finding alternative training methods to enhance my progress, from visualisation, recovery to focussing on what I was good at (as opposed to strengthening my weakness). Many times, my mom was my second pair of eyes to help spot mistakes, which she became pretty good at. :D



My mom all decked out for athletics action at the Serangoon Stadium

As a child athlete, we tend to rely alot on our coaches. As a four-year-old happy-go-lucky young gymnast, I listened to my coaches through a 'top-down' approach-listen and do. As the years past, my strength improved, so did my proprioception (internal sense) and kinesthetic (external sense) awareness. Maturity came earlier than expected, and I knew how and what I wanted to achieve. I was in control of my mind, body and soul-in 2005, Singapore's 30-year 100m hurdles record was broken at the 16th Asian Athletics Championships in South Korea.


Chasing after my goal, the National Record

To fulfil our dreams, we know we are bound to face obstacles and challenges. But we also know, even in our daily lives, we can find alternative ways to manage situations, seal project deals and communicate with an opposing voice to find a common ground. 

Same applies to teaching. All students are different in their preference for music, level of motivation and responses to lessons. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to all students. We need to discover what makes the student tick and stay engaged-some respond better through imagination and tactility, while others do better to visuals and audio stimuli. We continue to discover, and realise the full potential of the student.



Cherry fruit in my cycling messenger bag

One of my students has just returned from a conference in China. She brought back and shared with me the inherent goodness of a pack of cherries-miniature wonders, they have been credited with an array of health advantages, from fighting off cancers and gout arthritis pain, to the regulation of heart rate and blood pressure. Old wive's tale? Sometimes, old wives do know best-cherries are certainly better alternatives than fast food.

Alternatif (sic) ways, they exist for us to find and create goodness in every challenges we face.



Thursday 14 March 2013

Never knew I could fall in love again



Cycle to teach, with my violin


"Would you like me to recommend a shrink for you?" The General Practitioner (GP) was concerned for my psychological well-being. Sitting in a clinical chair, body shaking, I was trying to fight back my tears.


Our Teachers


Teachers care for our students’ education, development and life skills. We come from all walks of life, from new graduates to mid-career professionals. Educators with different backgrounds and experiences will bring something new to school lessons, motivate the young ones and inspire them to dream. As teachers, in my opinion, we have a sense of responsibility for our students-we aim to help students realise their potential by recognising that learning is a connection of assuming responsibility, social communication and self-reflection.



Fell out of love


We've all heard about the full workload of teachers in school, is nothing new, and is real. I believe what I'm going to write are sentiments and experiences shared by many teachers. 


I was a music, physical education and a form class teacher; teacher-in-charge and coach for the track & field, and gymnastic teams. Besides those responsibilities, there were activities to be organised for the school as well.

Daily, I would reach school before 6.00am to set up sports equipment to prepare morning technical drills for my athletes and gymnasts; evenings were training sessions of the two co-curricular sporting activities, and the day didn't end after the workouts as there were uncompleted administrative work, and curriculum, camping trip and enrichment programme planning; weekends were also filled up with coaching sessions and the dealing of school-matters.


Recalled the first day of the new school year, as the National Anthem played through the cold morning mist across the school field, I was physically and mentally drained. I asked myself if I could last through the year again-one day I broke down in front of my GP.


Sometimes, we lose sight of what we want to achieve for our students, but yet we find no handbrakes to take a step back, and breathe. 



Fall in love, again


I've since left the Ministry of Education and vowed never to teach again, but little did I know, a surprising hand of destiny reached out to me-give teaching a second chance. Five years later, I decided to face the truth about my life and braved myself to teach. Step-by-step, little-by-little, I found back my love for teaching. 


Teaching a life, for life.



Wednesday 13 March 2013

Acoustic & Electric Violin Lessons for Kids & Adults


There is no hard and fast rule to learning, honing and mastering a skill. Kids and adults, it's about discovering your needs and motivation, and the use of alternative ways to pursue your musical growth.

The world of effects for different soundscapes - discover your musical dreams.


ABOUT VIOLIN LESSONS 
STUDIO:
3 Bideford Road (behind Paragon)
Near to Somerset & Orchard (90% sheltered route) MRT stations


AGES:
6 years old to adults


CLASS SIZE:
1 to 2 students


CURRICULUM:
A] Programmes
i) Freestyle (customized sessions for both acoustic & electric 
violin),
ii) Suzuki & Fiddle Time (repertoire), or
iii) ABRSM (exams) 
         iv) Improvisation
v) Trial lesson

B] Levels
i) Beginners,
ii) Intermediate,
iii) Advanced


FEES:
A] Freestyle programme & Beginner level (Suzuki Book 1-3 & Grades 1-4)
- S$240 for 4 lessons
- 45min per lesson

B] Intermediate and Advanced
- Kindly contact for fees

C] Trial lesson
- S$40 for 45min 
- Violin will be provided for the one-time trial lesson only


INFORMATION:
A] Fees Payment
- First payment: Fees to be collected on the 1st of the four         
lessons          
- Subsequent payment: Fees to be collected on the 4th lesson for the following four lessons

B] Replacement Class
- To be scheduled within three months from the date of 
missed class
- Fees non-refundable
- Fees non-deductible

C] Public Holidays
            - No lessons on Public Holidays
- No lessons on last two weeks of December
- Fees will not be charged for the abovementioned holidays

D] Violins for sale
- Acoustic violin: Beginner & Advanced violins available
- Electric violin: Player’s kit available
- Kindly contact for prices


PROFILE:


TESTIMONIALS:
"Despite never taken any violin lessons, you were patient in your teaching, and planned your lessons carefully to fit my specific needs. You've managed to teach me the correct way of playing the violin in our first lesson and was able to point out all my mistakes, with follow-up exercises to practice at home. By my second lesson, I was able to play a simple song. This is incredible! You are a very good teacher." - Allan, 52-year-old, Hawker

"With your guidance and encouragement, my son has improved tremendously." - Parent of an 8-year-old student


"I find time to practice cos I love my violin!" -  Licia, 26-year-old, Accountant

"Thanks for the comments on the violin practice videos I've sent." - Debby, 30-year-old, Photojournalist

"Thank you for spending time clearing my queries. I'll practice what you have taught today." - Darshin, 24-year-old, Early Childhood Educator

"Lessons are enjoyable, motivational & non-intimidating, especially for an adult beginner like myself. Eileen's coaching is personalised, her explanation is comprehensive so you understand where your weakness is, coupled with patient & positive reinforcement of the correct, foundational techniques to round it up. She has interesting & effective ways to enhance & encourage your learning. Really can't ask for more, except to practice diligently. Thank you, Eileen." - Esther, 39-year-old, Researcher/Academic

For more violin blogs, go to http://microviola.blogspot.com


Violin lessons, kindly contact me:
+65 9396 5354
eileen@e-alternatif.net

Thank you.