#Random
Madly in love with this song covered by Abby: Xu Zhe Pei - Feng Zi.
She got me hooked on this song because she sang it so well!
It's one of the most difficult mando-songs in the world!
Crazily hard to sing I'd say.
We moved on to our next song genre: Power-pack Songs
Ocean Butterflies Vocal Ambassador Lesson 5: 大氣歌曲
Song Title: 張惠妹- 知道
Zhi Dao, by Zhang Hui Mei A-mei
This song was chosen by Liu Zhi Wen vocal instructor for us to go back and learn in the next 2 weeks.
Thereafter, he will give individual feedback as to where we can improve while tackling the song. Usually in class, the individual will sing the song once more, taking in the feedbacks and thus, following his guide.
I am never a power-packed singer so when Zhi Wen Lao Shi first told us to go back and learn A-mei's song, I felt so stressed. Nevertheless I gave my best shot and pluck up courage to tackle it. It felt good after that although it wasn't well done. Most importantly I overcame the mental barrier and took up this challenge. At the end of the day, I learnt something new!
It's a happy thing taking up vocal classes because your confidence will be gradually built up and that at least we know now which genre of songs are more suitable for ourselves; easier to choose songs for future singing competitions.
I've done my 2 takes. Here they are:
Zhi Wen Lao Shi comments during my first take to improve on these:
1. I should try to smoothen and round my high pitches so that they don't sound so sharp.
2. Release and sing out my feelings because I'm not bringing my vocals out and forward, hence it doesn't sound that 'power-pack'.
3. Words in the bridge can be emphasized to have more 'punch' on the song.
After that I was asked to tackle the song again.
Zhi Wen Lao Shi in the background giving me tips & everyone else practising on the song.
Sharp enough to spot any improvement in my 2nd try?
Heh-heh.
Practice makes perfect and I'll keep practising.
加油！
Thank you Zhiwen Lao Shi for your guidance.
With Love from the classmates:
Fenny
Yitian holding to a box of cookies baked by Rachell!
The beautiful Rachell, Pxdkitty who baked yummy cookies for us!
Abby, our goddess who sings beautifully.
Ending this post with the original MV songs we've just covered.
Enjoy!
In terms of arts (music, dance, drawing, acting)
A term only less than 1% of the world really understands.
One has to take so much courage to give up and fight for everything they are passionate for.
Unless you're extremely close to this person(maybe even not) or the person himself, you'll never know how much this person is going through...
99% of my entertainer friends out there DO NOT seek to become someone famous.
All we dream for is for our passion and talent to be recognised and feel appreciated; just like any other job out there (I'm sure you like to complimented and recognised in your trade as well). Also, they would like to express and share their love in a more... I would say, unconventional way.
I chose freelance singing and hosting because I realise I really love doing these more than selling clothes at Bugis Street, more than giving tuition everyday, more than an office job and doors are open for me; Even if these doors are very small ones, I was willing to give it a shot. It really feels good that there are friends out there who are supportive of what I'm doing and credit me for it.
"Mint, your facebook timeline seems like you're doing so many fun things, enjoying your life out there." "You no need to work de hor, everyday like doing nothing but playing." "Get a life. Please go get a PROPER JOB..."
Aren't doing hosting and singing gigs proper jobs?
So what is considered a 'proper job' to you?
Who says I'm playing all the time?
I simply choose to share all the happy moments more than the struggling ones.
My Singing Journey
I started my singing/hosting CAREER at a relatively later age, 26.
Till now I can't believe that I threw myself in without any prior knowledge in music NOR hosting but after I heard true stories from seniors regretting not chasing their dreams, I decided to give it a shot anyway.
From the day I remember, whenever I knew a friend or a neighbour was moody, I'd sing a song I learnt from listening to the radio/casette tape to cheer him/her up.
Even as a kid, I was already humming my own tunes in the bathroom, at the kitchen window, on my bed, on my way home from school... It's more like turning my thoughts and feelings into a catchy tune. When I realise I can easily churn out lyrics and new melodies, I wrote my first 'official' song in my first diary book. I was 11 then and I haven't stop since. My family couldn't afford any music classes for me so I joined my primary school choir to learn how to sing.
I joined my first singing competitions at the age of 10 and 12, recommended by my choir teacher and mum's best friend respectively. Both times, I got into the finals but didn't win anything. I was disheartened and thought that my singing wasn't good enough. Family members would then nagged at me, saying that it was a waste of their money buying tickets to come support my singing contest. When I first entered secondary school, my new peers commented that my singing was very 'opera' and that singing wasn't my forte. I suffered even more heartbreaks when I couldn't pass extra-curriculum-activity singing auditions.
My confidence in singing was shattered and I decided to give up entirely even though I saw singing as a crucial part of my life.
It wasn't until when I was 20 years old that I plucked up enough courage to join another singing competition. My buddy, who died in a tragic bike accident that same year (I wrote about our friendship here). He had been persuading me for the longest time to pick up singing again.
I kept trying but never made it pass the 2nd round.
I still felt lousy and those bad encounters in the past continued to haunt me.
I was truly impressed by the F&N Singapore Dance Delight Vol 4 Crews who danced so confidently and shone on the dance floor at the prelims and finals even when they are faced with 1000+++ audience and international judges (whom they know are judging and grading them)!
I kept screaming and cheering for every single one of the dancers because they have my FULL respect for the courage and for doing their best.
Here's a video showing the highlights of all 22 FNNSDD4 finalists who shone that night, done by MinutemanSG:
How did they do it?
Aren't they scared?
How did they overcome this?
After interviewing 2 of the teams, Roosevelt and Decada, I found my answer and inspiration:
It's the DREAM that they possess to dance with one another, to be recognised and feel appreciated, to love and do something they really love to and share the passion.
I knew this answer all along...
Kind Souls
Along my singing journey, in the year 2009, I met 2 very good friends through a friend name Wenwei. These 2 very good friends are Evan from Flutter Music and Desmond Wong. They continued to help me grow in music with jamming sessions. Thank you very much, Nave and Silly Big Guy!
Evan also introduced me to All About Eve Bar in 2010, where I met the bar owner, Won, who allowed me to perform at his bar weekly even though I had ZERO performing experience. He even gave me pointers on how I can further improve my vocals.
"Everyone has to start somewhere. Don't worry so much and just enjoy yourself here."
Won (Long Papa) is my very first music instructor, so to say, he still is. :)
Struggling between work and music, very few people believed I could come this far except for a few closest friends of mine and my mum.
One day, a friend on Facebook saw my Youtube covers and approach me to sing for his wedding. He urged me to give it a try since it's a simple affair and that I knew most of his guests. KENDI, I am really thankful to you for inviting me to sing at your wedding.
THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN MY SINGING, BRO.
Year 2011 and 2012 was a great year for me where more doors were tapped.
Thanks to Gim, I was invited to co-host a LIVE mandarin talkshow online with him: Liveomusic. My first hosting experience and it was very encouraging. He gave me A LOT OF courage to speak up in front of the camera. Thanks Gim, for always remembering me and give me chances to grow with you.
A few months later, I was invited to host my very first public event, Crocs Fashion Show. Thank you Kaye, for giving me this golden opportunity!
So you see, I really wouldn't be where I am without these friends and kind souls who gave me a chance. My experience couldn't have widen without them.
As the opportunities grew, I couldn't cope with my full tuition assignments and gigs at the same time. I have to focus on one and decided on doing purely gigs to gain more exposure.
V-Singer Singing Contest
Finally last year, I took part in the V-Singer singing contest organised and held by Ocean Butterflies.
Imagine how elated I was when I was one of the lucky selected candidates to go through their intensive V-singer music course after failing so many so many times!
A performance with my V singer classmate + V singer bestie, Soki Goh.
My eyes hurt for the next 2 days from crying too much when I received my graduation certificate -- My first vocal course in a music school and AT THE AGE OF 26.
Never too late!
At this point, I miss my classmates so badly!!!
From there, I was opened to even more opportunities strongly supported by Ocean Butterflies Music Forest and this very wonderful girl name Ginny.
I was invited to join the V-singer Elite Shiseido make-up class where I learnt how to do BASIC stage makeup. Honestly, I'm not a very make-up person. Even to date, I don't know how to apply my eyeshadow and whether I am applying it right.
Agar-agar.
The instructor did half of my face and I'm supposed to follow what she did with my other half.
HALF DONE~
Guys need to look groom too!
The final product, here:
Practice makes perfect:
Then on another day, they got me into the BASIC Hairstyling class where I learnt how to do up some BASIC styles for show:
I recently joined their OB Vocal Ambassador pProgramme and Hanrey was one of them too.
In addition, I've signed up for their song writing course (WDA Music Career Programme) as well as keyboard classes.
EVERY SINGLE THING is new to me, from reading a note to using a music software.
As I'm writing this post, I'm crying because I feel too fortunate; I'm able to to do what I love to do.
I'm crying also because at entry level, I am struggling with my music assignments, keyboard class assignments, vocal class assignments and blog assignments in between my preparation for my host scripts and upcoming artiste campaign.
It's tough.
I know it is but I'm enjoying every bit of it and I've never felt that I want to learn so much in my life.
But isn't that how it is supposed to be like at entry level?
Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger.
I'm going to overcome these challenges.
I have to work harder and catch up!
I've been taking vocal classes at Ocean Butterflies Music Forest since my first exposure with the school during the V Singer 2012 singing contest. That was November last year
Coming to think of it, I've been taking proper vocal classes for 6 months already!
In March, It was to my delight when I was invited to sit in one of Ocean Butterflies' vocal class with their grooming artistes, Irwin, HuiXian and Vee!
The guy in a black tee is none other than our vocal instructor, Liu Zhi Wen.
Zhi Wen Lao Shi has composed songs for international singer-celebrities like Na Ying, Sun Yan Zi, Rong Zu-er & Jolin Tsai.
Listen to two of the songs which he has composed for Mandarin Pop-singers, Na Ying and Jolin Tsai. Na Ying's mandarin song, Yi Xiao Er Guo, is still a hit popularly sang at KTVs by mandopop lovers.
Alright back to vocal class!
Diligent students should prepare these when you attend classes.
Hui Xian has set a role example..
#1 PLAIN water.
Not sweetened water but PLAIN room temperature water.
I don't know about you but honey water, herbal tea etc actually makes my throat even more hoarse due to its sweetened content. I don't mind having it to soothe my throat once in a while but during my singing classes and performances, I'll strictly stick to drinking plain room temperature water to avoid my throat from 'getting stuck'.
#2 Voice recorder.
Yes, all phones have this function, the voice recorder.
Be it record your own voice, teacher's voice, your classmate's voice...
Record and play back the clips to remind yourself what u've learnt during class.
In my opinion, I think recording YOUR voice and then later evaluate it, you'll be able to to gauge how your vocal fare and where to improve. You may not know how to correct a mistake but at least by listening, you'll know instinctively whether you're singing your chosen song with the right vibes and feel or whether the song is suitable for you.
Some of my friends are afraid to listen to their own vocals but you have to!
It's a good way of improving and feel more confident of your singing.
We kickstart the class with some vocal warm up exercises(videos below!) and then move on to learning how to read a song sheet like this:
*Instructor Zhi Wen has handwritten this song sheet himself.
I was always telling Zhi Wen Lao Shi how his '不' character looks like the digit '5' and his 7 looks like an arrow pointing to the right ->.
Warm up exercises : Lip Drill & Pitching warm up.
This is the first time I've heard of the song titled "Cheng Ren" but Instructor Zhi Wen's song sheet definitely makes the learning much easier. Hanrey helped recorded my 2nd try on the song. More importantly, you should take note of Zhi Wen Lao Shi's SINGING in the next video!
He's damn good can;
singing the song in a female's original key yet still able to interpret the song so well by putting the right emotions & techniques into the song.
有唱到点.
I really hope to be able to sing well on stage in future and I am extremely thankful to Zhi Wen Lao Shi for his guidance to correct more of my bad vocal habits.
I'm impressed at how even though there were 5 students in class, Zhi Wen Lao Shi can immediately spot & correct each individual's singing habits. I like how encouraging he is towards his students and how he can make us feel more confident of our vocals.
I'm seriously not bootlicking him.
I REALLY LIKE HIM as my vocal instructor.
REALLY REALLY LIKE HIM.
That was the only one time I sat in for the Artistes-grooming vocal class.
Right now I'm going through my 4th fortnightly-vocal lesson with the Vocal Ambassadors and this is even cooler because all my classmates come from different woks of life yet everyone is learning how to sing in the same class because we possess the same passion in music. :):
Left to right: Yitian, Abby, Me, Silver, Hanrey, Jacqualine, Fenny & Rachel.
Hanrey, being the only male ambassador in class, has to sing all the female songs but he's handling it really well!
The class is much bigger now as compare to 5 in the other class. The warm up practices remains similar to those done at the artiste-grooming classes but this time round, the lessons are more focus. They are broken down into sessions where we learnt how to handle different genres of songs from slow ballads to rock songs.
Zhiwen laoshi, being the best as he always has been, is STILL able to point out & correct our mistakes despite us all singing at the same time!
During our 2nd lesson, we had to perform and sing a song of our choice so that Zhi Wen Lao Shi can understand our vocals a little better at the same time, know what kind of songs we usually like to sing.
This was Hanrey's choice of song that day and I must say that I was so impressed with him! As compared to the auditions and videos he did during V Singer 2012, he has become a PRO~
Shots taken during our warm up:
Hanrey's signature rooster call practice during warm up sessions never fail to make the girls laugh like madness:
I'll be back with more youtube videos & updates on our vocal classes, it's so much FUN I tell you!
So much laughter and passion filled up the classroom, taking away all my Monday Blues.
I'm so excited going to class EVERYTIME.
Please be patient and most importantly, be here to grow up with me as I make baby steps in music.
I'm really new to all these even though I'm already 27. I've always dreamt to be taking vocal classes, to be able to sing and perform for people, to write songs, to meet like-minded friends who are supportive.
I can't believe I'm living in this dream right now.
Life's never been so fulfilling: The vocal classes, keyboard lesson, song writing course...
I'm so happy to be learning music, learning how to sing and make music.
