2008 年 4 月 7 日 星期一 【晴】

I worked for Microsoft tonight. One of the client... its first name is Donald and last name is Tsang. I dialled his number, and I was figuring out if he is the Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The dial tone rang...

"You have rung the office of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region...... "

I hung off that call, actually I don't know how to continue the call if someone answered the phone! At that time, my supervisor was sitting next to me, she asked me to just hung off, the Chef Executive won't be answering our survey anyway.

------ // ------

>>April 8, 2008 at 11:44:31 AM GMT+8

2008 年 4 月 2 日 星期三 【晴】

Was it worth? This week... I lost 5 students due to my work with Cartier. There was a briefing session on Wednesday & a test job today, if I ever miss them, I will not have the opportunity to work on this project. So I cancelled all the piano lessons, on the other side, the parents either told me that they can't drop their kids on another weekday for lesson or they'll take a break. I wonder, if Heavenly Father knows that it's too much for me?

I finish work at 11pm last night. And this morning, the utilisation study was cancelled. My supervisor told me that the study will have to start ALL OVER AGAIN next week. Coz the data needs to be collected continuously for the whole week. So I've got 4 hours compensation for myself. With my job tonight starting at 7:30pm, I actually have a lot of free time today! It's good for me to finish off some other commitment!

>>April 3, 2008 at 5:39:01 AM GMT+8

2008 年 3 月 31 日 星期一 【晴】

Second day of the utilisation study in Caulfield Campus - I met one of the call centre colleague this afternoon. He asked how much I earn from teaching. I wasn't sure how he feels after he heard my reply. Oh well, although I worked for an hour and earned $45 bulks, I pay $70 to my driving instructor this afternoon.

See? money just go in and out of your pocket...

Truly I am thankful that I was SAFE this morning. I met the mom & her kids. I prepared to teach the violin but not knowing that the mom expected me to teach 30 min to the girl and 30 min to the boy. I taught the little girl a song, she is 6.5 years old, and guess what, she commented that I am teaching "BABY STUFF" to her. On the other hand, her brother, 8 years old, loved to play the piano with 1 finger. I played "Ballade Pour Adeline" & challenged him to play with 1 finger. Of course, he can't make it. But it was fun to challenge him (guys love that?).

If the mom hires me, I would need to spend some more time & wisdom to prepare for the girl. At first, I thought she will be more quieter & "nicer" than her brother. But it turned out that her brother has more patience. The girl, I would consider, as those "smart" type of person.

I freely told the mom what I think and how I will adjust myself to approach them.

By the way, the mom looks like the cartoon character Edna Mode in Incredibles!!! Similar hair style & big big eye glasses.
http://www.disney.fr/FilmsDisney/lesindestructibles/main.html

I have done my best for this lesson! See how God leads!

>>April 1, 2008 at 8:25:06 AM GMT+8

2008 年 3 月 30 日 星期日 【晴】

I am going to a student house tomorrow, I will be teaching a little girl & his brother. It starts at 9:30pm, and after my teaching, I am heading to Caulfield for another job as well.

The mom hasn't really decided on a teacher. Two piano teacher offer free trial lesson to her. But I don't. The only thing I am in advantage is that, I offer to teach a combination of piano & violin. This attracts the mom. She told me that the 3 of us charge nearly the same. I am glad that I know the string instruments!

I will try my best to relate to these kids.

< May God provide safety as I enter to this stranger's house >

>>March 31, 2008 at 11:07:57 AM GMT+8

2008 年 3 月 30 日 星期日 【晴】

Looking forward for June ^.^ ~

>>March 31, 2008 at 4:48:55 AM GMT+8

2008 年 3 月 20 日 星期四 【晴】

Last night, the mom called me and told me his son wants a lesson today. His son keeps playing that Ballade Pour Adeline when they returned home. I am glad that he initiated to have the piano lesson and it's my first time feeling a bit of satisfaction in teaching! << Thanks Jesus >>

It's GOOD FRIDAY, I am still teaching today and the venue will be in the city. I would like to teach that kid today, but I am someone who needs to prepare first before I teach. I need to brainstorm the whole lesson plan beforehand. Furthermore, I don't want to spend another $9 travelling to Box Hill, so I will only see him next week.

I was browsing on the internet for rental piano last night. If I were to have piano students, I can't afford to give them my digital piano. Acoustic piano is a MUST, at least, it's what I think. Still, I want a car which can let me travel to different schools to teach strings. I have done a bit of research on piano price and stuff... << Seek Him >>

>>March 20, 2008 at 11:42:07 PM GMT+8

2008 年 3 月 19 日 星期三 【晴】

By 5pm, it was dark & cold and looked like raining. I wanted to stay in Box Hill for another night, I suddenly find myself wanting to befriend with the piano, huh? (my viola won't be jealous?)

Frankly, when I was a child, I cursed "Fur Elise" & "Beethoven" to death. I didn't like the piece, it is everywhere! You can hear it in music box, on TV, on anywhere featuring someone playing the piano, you recognize it when you heard the first few notes. And you would meet many who don't play the piano but can play the first few notes of the piece. I found it difficult and that I can't play perfectly, so I hated it.

Anyway, I stayed at Box Hill for another hour. I was dropping down some reflections on my teaching and watching a movie. However, before the movie ended, I return to the piano and practice for next week. There were many things in my mind. First, I remember that my grandma loves "The butterfly lovers" and dad would play it to her. And when I first learned the guitar, I played "Really loves you"/ (Beyond) to my mom & my boyfriend. Isn't that cool when you enjoy something and you share with someone you love.

Besides the touching moments...

I regret that I didn't know how to bring out the potential ability of a student. I taught Ivan last year, he has good ears. (When you can play by ears, it means that you heard a song/piece, and you can play it with your instrument easily.) However, we also need to read music notes. As for the students in Grade 1 & 2, trying to play a piece of Grade 5+, they learn by ear. Of course, there are some guide notes to follow. It tells me that I do no need to limit their ability to Grade 1 and 2! If they are smart, if they have that gene, push them forward a bit... really!

>>March 20, 2008 at 10:27:35 AM GMT+8

2008 年 3 月 19 日 星期三 【晴】

This afternoon, when I opened the door for the student, he was holding 2 rabbits, one is for me and the other is for his original teacher. (I feel so sweet ^.^ )

His dear little sister was asleep and his mom waited for us in the car, normally she would sit inside the house. When his mom was gone, he ran around the house like having a physical education lesson. It took me awhile to settle him down and begin our lesson. I can see him not enjoying, he doesn't like the Bach piece that I taught him. (I choose to teach him Bach because it was easy to teach, not that I like it, hahaha).

In the last 15 minutes, I asked if he would like to try a new piece. I played, and he recognized that his mom likes it. I taught him the first few lines, and I can see his enthusiasm and satisfaction towards playing it. 15 minutes later, I asked him to go and get his mom so he could perform for her.

His mom came in and concern to pay me, didn't know what we have prepared. I told her to sit down and listen. His son played for him this piece Ballade pour Adeline, a piece for Grade 5 + and he is only grade 2. After that, he played it many many many times, the lesson extended 25 minutes and during this 25 minutes, he keeps getting back to the piano and play the piece for his mom.

He stopped and asked to have another lesson tomorrow. (His mom concerned that I am not teaching everyday, but indeed, if he comes, I earn, right?) I am very glad that Jesus let me meet this little child. He is a primary 2 student, and his heart is so pure and he so loves his mom. It's very touching to see him showing his love to his mom. Last week I told his mom that it's impossible for him to learn the piece now, but it happened that he is learning the piece this week!

This child is dead when he played my Bach's, yet he is very much passionate for the piano when he played Ballade Pour Adeline.

>>March 20, 2008 at 10:00:02 AM GMT+8

2008 年 3 月 19 日 星期三 【晴】

I finished teaching at 8:24pm yesterday. After my dinner & some movie time, I went to bed. Moreover, I wasn't able to sleep and my mind keeps thinking about the following lesson plans. Two students heard the piece "Fur Elise", they can play the first bar by ear and their mom suggested me to teach them the piece.

The piece is graded as Grade 5 in the Australia Music Examination Syllabus. And these students are in grade 1.

It was 1am, I left the bed and went over to the music sheet shelves. Last week, I played a piece "Ballade pour Adeline" before I have lesson. A mom happened to heard me play the piano while she parked the car. She came in and said she likes the piece. She asked if her son can learn it and when.

This piece, I bet... most likely Grade 5 plus... around 6 or 7 would be better...

Mid-night... lying on the double bed, reading the music, I tried to think what can I do for the kids. If there were no one at home, I would go to the piano and make some noise. Indeed, I can just think over in my mind what to do.

......

>>March 20, 2008 at 9:30:21 AM GMT+8

2008 年 3 月 18 日 星期二 【晴】

Stupid... at a temperature of 39 C, I caught a cold the other day. When the temperature has fallen down, and it's quite cool last night, I had a low grade fever.

>>March 18, 2008 at 11:03:13 PM GMT+8