Listening ability and SSO concerts (11/01/2001)

Dear Readers,

Very often, when Joe and I tried our best to improve a system for an audiophile, then at the end of the day, the answer could be, ‘are there any differences?’. The answer could be discouraging, and also does not speak too well of the audiophile’s ability. This is not uncommon. Joe sometimes could not help but asked, ‘why are so many people behave as if they are deaf ?’

We are not putting these audiophiles down. Listening is indeed a skill, something that needs sharpening over time. Joe is a very good pianist. I am a qualified violin teacher. Our ears were well trained.

When I was a kid, I saw from the B&W TV, many Japanese children playing the violin. They were playing ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’. The program was showing the Suzuki violin teaching method. One guru (Suzuki himself) played the violin, the kids just followed. I was so interested, and wanted so much to play the violin. My parents were very happy, and they enrolled me for the violin lesson in my primary school.

I did not know that it was the beginning of hell for me. Learning the violin ruined my childhood.

Learning the violin was very difficult. Stiff shoulders, stiff neck, painful fingers, swollen chin, and a fear that the violin teacher will shout again if I did not play the tunes properly. I was not very gifted in playing the violin. Many times I tried to escape the violin lessons, and was badly punished. Most of the time my parents canned me was because of the music lessons.

As time went by, I realized I finished my grade 5 violin playing exam at one stage. I then become more interested in studying music, and nearly wanted to be a full time music worker. I started going to SSO concerts very often. When I was 14, I joined the SYO, which was the Singapore Youth Orchestra. I was playing the second violin, and later was playing the first violin. It was a very time consuming devotion. Not only I had to practise for my own lessons, I had to join the weekly practise help in Victoria Concert hall. On top of these, I had to keep up with the studies in school.

I remember we gave a concert on Tchaikovsky’s Piano concerto. I dropped my bow during the performance, which was a bit embarrassing.

Later, due to O levels and school work, I found little time to devote to music. While my friends were dating pretty girls and playing remote control cars, I had to practise for my violin exams or concerts. It was not a happy time for me. Classical music is fixed, and requires one to reproduce precisely what the composer wanted. As a young kid, how could I know what the hell the composers were thinking? I am also a person who lacks discipline. It was hard for me. But nevertheless, it sharpened my hearing.

When I was in college, I by chance joined the Chinese orchestra. While others were struggling with the strings instrument, I simply played the Chinese Er Hu like a violin placed on my lap. Easy job. So soon I found myself in a big concert. That was so long ago, in Singapore Conference Hall. I think my parents were so happy that night.

Anyway, when National Service came, and following university education, I spent less and less time on my violin. I played in Leicester Symphony Orchestra when I was in UK for one year, and performed in a local concert Loughborough. But since 1997, when my son was born, I hardly touched the violin again.

The other day I read the news of Dr. Yu Yuan Chun doing charity CD after returning from USA. I feel very proud of him. Dr. Yu is about two years my senior in Maris Stella High School. Since young I knew he is a very talented person in playing the violin. Most of the people I knew when I learned music, all took up music as their career, such as Mr. Foo Say Ming, Mr. Tu Chan Boon. I really salute them as It is not easy to pursue in the field of Arts in Singapore. I have, nevertheless, went totally tangent and became an engineer in electronics and computing. I have become a machine?

Recently I decided to attend SSO concerts again. They have a great program installed:

Lan Shui conductor, Yuuki Wong violin
Feb 1 (Thu) MASTERS SERIES, SSO Plays Tcherepnin and Yardumian

Lan Shui conductor, Noriko Ogawa piano, Alexandr Bulov violin, Nancy Maultsby mezzo-soprano

http://www.sso.org.sg/home4.cfm

Nothing is more enjoyable than attending a concert. Remember to turn off your mobile phone please.

Listen to the high quality performances. Compare with your HiFi set again. Forget about loud disco or live rock concerts, they simply damage your listening ability.

If classical music is not your cup of tea, and JAZZ is, then I would highly recommend the Sommerset’s Bar in Raffles City. I go there very often. Barcadi Coke and some beer really makes an even wonderful. Even when work is so stressed up and tiring, either a SSO concert or live Jazz would be useful.

Happy listening!

Jon Wong