Music and Art Classes for Rachel

One of the weekends in January, my little darling told me that she wanted to learn music. I was happy as well as shocked. I remembered one year ago, I brought her to Yamaha Music School and asked if she wanted to learn Music. Her answer then was a straight and firm NO! Yet, now she herself told me that she wanted to learn. So that very afternoon, both of us went down to Yamaha Music School at Jurong West to find out more about the course. We were told then that the course already started in January 2008, but there will be another class in April 2008 and we could registered our name under their waiting list for April's class. Rachel was quite disappointed then that she couldn't start immediately.

The next day, which was a Sunday, we went down to Jurong West Street 51 where most of the enrichment, tuition centres were, to check out the Music schools and courses there. We went to Cristofori Music School. Rachel wanted to learn Electone Organ but I told her no. Firstly, we must have the Organ at home in order for her to practice, and there was the cost factor to consider. Secondly, she was too short to step on the pedal with her left leg and control the volume with her right leg if she were to be seated on the stool. :P. Learning piano seemed quite okay for me except that I got to get the piano, and for Rachel she may have to exert lot of strength to play the key. 2 down and left with Electronic Keyboard. Cheap to get the Keyboard and also just right for Rachel. There was a time slot for Sunday, 3pm - 3.30pm and it was an individual course. Rachel was very interested then and wanted to start the lesson immediately. I registered her for the course then and told her the lesson will start only in February.

We got a 61-key keyboard through my sister's boyfriend who's working in a toy warehouse. Cheap and free! It cost only $20 as it was a display set with a little crack at the back (which was not noticeable), and was a gift from him to Rachel. :) So far, she has started the lesson for 1 month and starting to play with both hands. :)

As for the Art Class, it is held at the CC which is less than 10 mins walk from my house. 4 of her friends are in the class and she wanted to join them too. She had her first lesson last night. Guess what? They were told to draw a Python! Nearly faint when I went to fetch her after her class. Of all animals why must the teacher teach them to draw that????? And guess what? My dear girl, anxious to go home, did not finish coloring the background. Teacher rejected her work of cos and she had to finish coloring the background as well as to draw the outline. At the end of the whole thing, her Python to me looked more like a duck. Ha ha ha ! :D

She showed her teacher her artwork and when the teacher was commenting on her work, she was very disappointed. Teacher showed her again how to draw the Python and as it was only her first lesson, she was given a B for the coloring and effort. :) After that, we went to Mac for snack. She was still very grumpy and disappointed as it was shown all over her face. I asked if she enjoyed the art class, she said: No Lah! Teacher don't know how to draw snake! I don't want to join already. Ha ha ha. Then I realised that her little pride was hurt by the teacher's comments. Told her it's alright, as it was only her first art lesson. Next time, listen to teacher's instructions carefully. If don't know, ask teacher again. At the end, bought her a Mac ice-cream cone and she cheered up again. Sigh...

Today, she is practising at home, learning to draw that Python to show to her teacher that she can draw. Ha ha ha