Early Years: A Moment of Gratitude

Music has not existed in the Family Tree as long as anyone can remember. And why should it have? As stereotypical as it may sound, the Asian Culture was (and is still) focused on having a 9-5 job at a reputable company which brought home a stable income. The Arts was a form of pleasure, not a job. And even then, it was deemed a frivolous affair.

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My career as a musician has never fully been understood by my extended family and it probably never will. The idea of me not being part of a company, a system or a predictable day only sends shivers down their spines. And I do not blame them, it sounds terrifying. But I have always been someone who takes each day as it comes. My motto in life is to not make plans and to leave things to chance. I also believe in destiny, but that is another story for another day...

 

Regardless of the fact that I am the odd one out, my relations silently accept the life I have chosen and they do try to support me in their own way, as best as they can. And I am appreciative of that. Truly.

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So how did I end up on this course of path?

 

First of all, ​I have been extremely fortunate to have been brought up by parents who have presented me with so many experiences from a very young age. My first flight was to Japan when I was four months old; basically a lump wrapped up in blankets. But it is nice to think that perhaps my training as a musician had already begun then.... 

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​Around the age of three, my family and I moved from one part of London to another. It was here where I became good friends with one of my classmates and so did our parents. The mother turned out to be a Piano Teacher who was looking for children who might be interested in taking lessons. She had a strong belief in sharing her love for music and letting children experience it first hand, so much so that she offered free lessons to anyone who wanted to take part. My parents agreed to let me have these lessons and thank goodness they did as I definitely did not have a clue as to what I was being asked to sign up for. ​

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The lessons consisted of rhythm practices, singing, music theory, lots of cake and of course, the piano. I was having the time of my (barely begun) life and fell in love with music very quickly. I took up the cello a year later.

 

The start to my journey as a cellist was quite an amusing one. A local cello teacher had spread word to my school that she had a spare slot in her timetable and was looking to take on one other student privately.Three children, including myself were interested. But there was only space for one, so the parents Rock, Paper, Scissored it...! And here I am now, paving my way through life as a cellist. Unbelievable, I know. 

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My musical journey started by a stroke of luck of the universe and it has continued to bless me with with wonderful experiences and people.

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But my first piano teacher's generosity and kindness is what has brought me to where I am now and there are no words to describe how grateful I am to her.

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To this day, her family and mine have remained close. We have shared many holidays and countless of memories together. 

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Unfortunately due to a terrible incident, she fell into a coma and then a vegetative state for two years.

 

The final time I saw her, I played her a recording of Chopin's "Raindrop" Prelude as that was the only thing I had downloaded on my phone. 

 

She had small tears coming out of the corners of her eyes.

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Music ran through her right till the very end.

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​​​               Thank you for giving me the gift of music. x