1st Day of SWOT Vac

I had my last piano lesson (or maybe 2nd last lesson depending on whether there is an additional lesson before my practical). Well, seriously, I have come thus far in piano, improved tremendously under the guidance of Caroline Almonte. She agreed that I have improved A LOT ever since I started lesson with her. She is a great teacher after all, one of the best piano teachers I ever had.

There are only 4 teachers in my entire music life that has impact on my piano study. She is really one of the few piano teachers that I have improved tremendously under and the most in terms of techincal work.

1) Ms Kelly Tay (whom I had my basic 8 grades of ABRSM under... though I think towards the end of my last two grades, I dropped ...), but nevertheless, I managed to get 3 distinctions for ABRSM for grade 3, 5 and 6 (skipped 2 and 4, and grade 1 isnt under her but I only got a merit then) under her guidance.
2) Mr Timothy Ku- Although I admit that I have not really gone well during my one year with him, I guess his iron fist and disciplined methodology did change me alot in the way I practised the piano and the use of metronome as a companion.
3) Ms Sylvia Ng- A VERY encouraging piano teacher who brought back my confidence in playing the piano. A good opposite end of Mr Ku.
4) Ms Caroline Almonte- A mother and a teacher in piano. She can be quite impatient at times, but she pushes me alot technically and corrected my fingers movements and believes in making a student feels better about him or herself (not by nice words) but by their own playing where she is the key figure to it.

Had a small Caroline's students piano class today, to play through our exam pieces. Well, I guess Caroline was being encouraging when she said 'Bravo' after my performance for performing first time infront of the rest, though I know I was nervous, and my etude is in a total mess. Hopefully, through this exposure, I wont get so nervous when examined by two intimidating professors and teachers, Ian Holtham and Mark McGee.

Well, my first resolution for year 2009 is- to perform more in piano class and concert class!

Back to books now! =)