Can it ever be too late to give it a try, to give it a whirl, to take your best shot and see where it takes you?

This post was written by Yvonne Jong, just another Utar Chinese Orchestra member who begins her rhythm journey only after she hit 21. She dedicates this post to those out there that has a heart for music but still doubts on self-ability and talent. Hear her thoughts and voice, with the hope that her story will clear your doubts, thus giving you the driving force to hit the road by travelling down your very own rhythm road.

I always love music, from before I can remember. Yet, I read no musical sheet nor do I understand any musical note.

I envy those that can and they never failed to grasp my attention even if all they did was just holding up an instrument in their hands.

I would stop and listen to the blind violinist who performed for money in the street of whom was being blatantly ignored by most passersby.

I found myself slowing down my pace whenever I walked past a house where melody emerged.

So you see, all this while I always watched and starred at those who played music and never give a second thought about trying it out myself. Despite my age, I firmly believe that it was simply TOO LATE for me to learn (That’s what people always tell us anyway) where in fact it is never too late to learn.

Once, I went to a piano fair and there was this absolutely stunning lady (not really, I’m just trying to be nice) who offered to teach me music when she spotted me jamming my itchy fingers on one of the piano. I rejected anyhow. Reasons? 

No time

No money

No transport

Needed parent’s permission

Embarrass to learn at such age

No money to buy instrument

My friends will laugh at me

Afraid that I’m not destined to learn music

No talent….

the list goes on....

All these reasons kept me away from doing the one thing I always wanted to do. Being able to play, understand and learn music. Little did I know that all the reason I’d been giving myself are all nothing but only significant to one thing, excuses… I’ve been giving myself all sorts of excuses simply because I lack the courage and confidence.

In order to learn music, all you need is just a little bit of chance, enthusiasm and a burning will of determination plus a key of persistence. That is! That’s all you need! Forget about talent and forget about what other may think of you. Once you get over with your worries, your fear of failures and you’ll be surprised how easy it is to start learning music. I wish i could have realized this earlier.

I joined Chinese Orchestra on the first week of my degree. It was lunch hour that day and as usual I went foods hunting at Block C. After few minutes walk from Block E and a torturing 3 hours lecture, I was exhausted. I reached Block C just the right time when that there was a recruitment drive held there. I spotted ‘MUSIC CLUB’ and ‘CHINESE ORCHESTRA’ while waiting in line for my order.

Few minute later, I found myself pondered on the thoughts of giving music a try. When will be the best time to learn if is not now? I’m tired of saying ‘It's too late’. I'd been using this reason as an excuse. Since it's too late, there's no sense doing it and so i don't. The next 'best time' to learn is right now!!

Having this in mind, I walked up to the orchestra booth(I'm more into traditional music). My approach seems to be an awkward one because none of them spoke when I asked them to tell me more about their club. A guy finally stood up and cleared my doubts. He seems be a person who has a great passion for his orchestra to me. I felt invited. So, I grabbed his offer and signed up my name.

Times flies and soon mid-autumn was approaching, yet I’m still not involved in anything related with the orchestra until one day they finally broke the silent spell and pasted a notice on the board, asking for orchestra members to attend a meeting. On the day of the meeting, I skipped my class and I patiently sat there

and waited……

20 minutes later~~~

and i'm still waiting....

35 minutes later

Just when I’m about to leave, a girl finally walked up to the front and informed everyone the purpose of the meeting and the upcoming events in November. Sadly, it’s not the news I want to hear. A semester passed by and I ventured into my second semester, but I didn’t hear a word from the orchestra anymore until one day I met an old friend.

She: ‘Hey! How are you? Why I didn’t see you at the orchestra?’
Me: ‘Huh? I thought is a sleeping club?’
She: ‘No. I went for the practice every Wednesday.’

Okay~~~~ so now I see the truth. I’m the one who’d been sleeping all this while.
Since then, I started going for the weekly practices and I never failed to attend week after week of practices. How was my first lesson? One word to sums it all up. Terrible.

The senior almost whacked me with the instrument he’s trying to teach me. My tempo was out and I kept repeating the same mistakes over and over again. I felt sorry for wasting his time. Both he and I were frustrated, but on top of all that I’m determined to get it right. Finally, when New Year is just around the corner, I see a bit of improvement. Now I can assure you that talent is not something one is born with, but is the results of hard work built upon deliberate and focused practices.

Then came year 2010 and this time I found myself drawing on the board of Chinese Orchestra recruitment drive booth. Most of my friends surprised me by signing themselves up that day.

That's the board i'm talking about here.

After one year in the orchestra, my rhythm journey began to blossom.

I got my first ever instrument.

The instrument picking it master.....

Got very frustrated with myself (again and again)

and regain the strength to carry on

Met lot of people. Made lot of new friends.

Had fun during practices.

Slowly taming my flute (Though I still failed to do it once in a blue moon)

Practices from day to night with the rest.

Like I said, all we need is just a little bit of chance and this chance I’m talking about here doesn’t just come knocking on the door itself. You will need to grab it yourself. I’d made the effort to involve further despite the daily routine a typical university student has to go through. Well you know~~ stuffs like meeting deadline for reports, assignments and endless tests marathons. All these can really get in the way sometimes but for me, I would look at it from another angle. I prefer taking an hour break to do things I love the most rather than skipping practices to do things that’s so going to kill millions of my brain cells.

Magic happens when preparation meets opportunity.

The magic moment~~~(Our beautiful conductor, Vicky)

Our '大师兄' anxiously watching behind the stage. Spot him?

I started out much slower than the rest but I know I’m slowly gaining speed. 

Everything begins from zero and the first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.

A group photo with the master of flute. Thank you for everything.

I'm glad that i'd taken my first step in and stopped being a sleeping member of the club. 

Chinese Orchestra always opens its door for you. All you need to do is to take that first step to walk in for you to begin your very own rhythm journey. If you are still hesitating, at least have a thought about it today…

Future conductors????

or future lovebird???? Hahahahahaha~~~~

Last, i wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

See you guys on Jan 11, 2011. 

^_________^