My fourteen-year old son finished his ABRSM Grade 8 (both piano and violin) in 2011 and recently sat for his ATCL (piano) on November 5th,2012. Since then, we have been awaiting the results anxiously.
This evening, his piano teacher, Dr. Jason Tye, called me and shared the good news.
My son, Nicholas, passed the ATCL Diploma exam with distinction!!!!!
Well done, young man!!! Press on now for the next hurdle: ATCL (violin) and LTCL (piano). I just pray that he will win a scholarship to study music in a conservatory or university in the future or better still, for his high school.
I am sorry I do not have the $$$ to buy you a grand piano but I just want you to know that I love you and that each time you play the piano, it sounds as though you ARE playing on a grand piano.
Thanks to all his previous music teachers who taught him including Dr. Jason Tye and his lovely wife Dr. Yumi Yoshioka, Miss Catherine Lee, ATCL, FTCL, LTCL, Miss Helen Ong and Miss Chum. Each of you has been so important in developing and nurturing Nicholas' gift. Thank you for inspiring him to be more than where he is now and for your guidance, encouragement and lessons not just in music, but in life.
Here's Nicholas playing one of his exam pieces at a recital ...
Here are some pics of Nick...
Nick performing with his schoolmates @ USM
Nick representing his school in Surabaya last year
@ Straits Quay with Musika Smfonietta
Nick with Musika Simfoneitta - Rehearsal @ Dewan Sri Pinang for Peter and the Wolf
CLICK HERE for a video of both my boys doing blues violin improvisation.
Thank you God, for the gift of music in the lives of my sons....
Starmandala Nick certainly has TREMENDOUS potential as an all-round musician. Has he ever heard Joe Zawinul - who started off as a classical piano prodigy in Austria and won a scholarship to study at Berklee, where after one semester his instructor suggested he form a combo and go pro? Zawinul played with some of the best jazz players in history and subsequently hit his peak with Weather Report.