Chew Yu Xiang

A189694

5th of July until 11th of July

2. How is your progress?

After practicing the first song introduced by my instructor over and over again in week 1, i feel like i can now switch chords faster and more accurate. During my face-to-face lesson with my instructor, he introduced a new song to practice as he noticed my hands are slow. The genre of the song is more towards rock and metal, which is called Highway Star by Deep Purple (the video uploaded is me first time playing Highway Star). Although i rarely play or listen to rock music, getting to know different genres of songs makes my guitar learning journey more interesting. My instructor gave me this song to practice as he thought it will be a good finger exercise for me since the song is mostly fast pace and requires different skills, for instance, power chords, bends, and a lot of hammer-on, not to mention the quick downpickings. My instructor advised me to play the song everyday saying that if i can master the that song, i would be able to play any song. Therefore i did as he told and it did improved my speed a lot.

3. Points to remember from week 2!

i. consistency is key

i find that regular practice is the cornerstone in improving guitar. Even short daily practice sessions are more effective than long, infrequent ones, that's why i set to practice at least an hour everyday. Besides, its really helpful to set realistic goals, breaking down my learning into achievable steps makes progression easier.

ii. Find my motivation

I find songs i love to play after i have done playing my practice song as learning to play my favourite tunes is rewarding. I also set performance goals which is to play for my family as it is a powerful motivator.

4. Your feelings & thoughts

It can be frustrating at times when things don't click or my progress seems slow. However, once i see tangible improvement in my playing, it is very satisfying. Besides, ''i wish i could play like some famous guitarists that i came across on the internet'' is one of the thoughts i have in this learning journey. Having these inspiration is great, but i know i have to focus on my own journey.

5. ONE good thing from what you did that you can practice now!

Being consistent is one good thing i have done so far and i think it is a good habit to incorporate it into everything i do in my academic as well as my everyday life.

6. Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope?

One of the challenges i faced is self-doubting as sometimes i feel like i'll never improve when i reach certain point. To cope with that, i celebrate small victories, compare myself to my past self, and remember everyone starts somewhere. Moreover, rhythm and timing is another difficulty i encountered. Since keeping a steady beat can be challenging, i've came up with the solution of using a metronome to practice. Start slowly and gradually increase the tempo as most guitarists stated ''to be able to play fast, first you have to be able to play slow''.

7. Your plan for next week (Week 3)

- I will keep working on my playing speed by practicing the songs given by my instructor, meanwhile, i will also learn music theories on Youtube, which is also crucial in my guitar progress.

A187863

04/ 08/ 2024 - 10/ 08/ 2024

How is your progress?

This week, I’ve been on learning to master both the D and G chords which are essential building blocks for many songs. Alongside chord practice, I’ve also delved into various strumming patterns, particularly those that are well-suited for folk, country, and medium tempo songs, following my plan for week two. This exploration has not only broadened my understanding of rhythm but also added complexity to my playing, making it more dynamic. Then, my tutor taught me how to integrate all the chords I've learned so far into a simple yet beautiful song called "Lemon Tree." I've been practicing this song, which perfectly utilizes the only four chords I've learned. It has been satisfying because it ties together everything I’ve been working on yet I still faced challenges during chord switching.

Points to remember from week 2!

During the second week of playing guitar, I've come to appreciate the saying that practice truly makes perfect. While my progress has been gradual, the consistent effort I’ve put in is starting to pay off, and I can see noticeable improvements in my playing. I've also realized how much fun playing the guitar can be. It is amazing how just a few simple chords, when combined in the right way, can produce a harmonious song. This realization has made my learning process not only rewarding but also a lot of fun.

Your feelings & thoughts

As I move into the second week of my guitar learning journey, my excitement has not waned, in fact, it is just as strong as it was in the first week. Another good thing is I started to feel less pain while pressing the string, along with the thrill of learning and the feeling of accomplishment that comes with each new chord continue to drive me.  I'm eager to learn more chords so I’m one step close to playing a variety of songs.

ONE good thing from what you did that you can practice now!

I’m confident that by practicing "Lemon Tree" more frequently, even during my leisure time, I can reinforce the skills I’ve acquired and steadily improve my overall playing. Incorporating extra practice sessions whenever I have a moment allows me to solidify my technique and gain more fluency with the chords.

Any difficulties/ concerns? How did you cope?

Initially I found it struggling to integrate the chords into a song, especially when it came to switching between them quickly and smoothly. This was very annoying as it ruined the flow and rhythm of the music. To overcome this, I've dedicated extra time to practicing chord switching, repeating the transitions multiple times throughout the week. This focused practice helped me to develop better muscle memory and improve my speed and accuracy in changing chords.

Your plan for next week (Week 3)

Next week, I plan to expand my guitar skills by learning two new chords: A minor and D minor. I’ll also keep on practicing on the previous chords that I’ve learnt and chord transition to enhance my playing, making it more fluent and natural.

NICHOLAS OUN ZHUO KAI

A187902

7.8.2024

How is your progress? 

I have learned how to play both the D chords and G chords on the guitar this week and have been practicing to perfect myself playing both of these chords. Besides, I have finally asked for guidance from my tutor to try out one of the songs I have wanted to play the most, Love Story from Taylor Swift. Since I am still a beginner, my tutor taught me how to play only a short verse of the song, but this has been exciting enough to see myself finally being able to try out one of my favourite songs. I have also tried out some other songs such as 'Country Road'.

Points to remember from week 2! 

From the second week of playing the guitar, I have discovered the importance of consistency in guitar practice. Due to my slow progress in mastering the chords that I have been learning and still encountering difficulty in switching chords, I have set goals to practice for at least a few minutes on my chords daily. This really helped me to recall the chords that I have played and finally I can be able to play E minor, C, D and G chords without running out of tune. The practice in second week indeed taught me that consistency in practice is the only way to perfection.

Besides, I have also realized the importance of resilience in practicing the guitar. Although a profound and complex song like 'Love Story' may not be suitable for a beginner like me, I have learned that only by not giving up and breaking down a complex song into small verses to practice separately, would I be able to master every parts of the song. This really helped me prevent myself from being overwhelmed by complex songs.

Your feelings & thoughts  

I feel excited to have been able to try out even just a first few verses of 'Love Story'. I am very thankful to have a helpful guitar tutor who willingly taught me few verses of 'Love Story' even though it is indeed a complex song. I am also feeling more confident through overcoming the difficulties that I have faced in learning the guitar. It taught me some of the methods to resolve my problems in life and to never give up.

ONE good thing from what you did that you can practice now! 

I believe that it'd be essential for me to practice the chords that I have learned from these two weeks daily and set goals to practice them for a few minutes in a day. Although the 'Love Story' song is complex, it'd be essential to try out the next few verses to allow me to integrate my chords that I have learned into a song and master my chord switching ability with the chords that I have learned. Hopefully I can finally master chord switching with the chords that I have learned and play a simpler and complete song.

Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope? 

I believe one of the difficulties I have faced is my struggling chord switching ability with the few chords that I have learned. I would fumble whenever it comes to playing different chords consecutively. Fortunately, I worked it out with my guitar tutor who advised me more on finger positioning which is best for chord switching. I have also tried practicing my chord switching ability by trying out very short verses of songs including 'Love Story', 'Country Road' and also other songs. It really helped me to master chord switching although I cannot seem to finish the entire song because playing verses of songs requires me to switch the chords fast enough to fit the tempo and rhythm of the song. Hopefully, all these shall help me to play a complete song I prefer.

Your plan for next week (Week 3) 

Next week I plan to learn two more chords which are the A minor and F chords, and the plucking technique on guitar.

A189533

AUGUST 8th, 2024

How Is My Progress ?

For Week 2, I could say that I have definitely become better at recognizing notes on the music score. I admit that it was cutthroat at first but taking things piece by piece really has helped me to absorb all the needed knowledge and skills. That being said, I was still a bit slow to play along precisely and smoothly with the music score because all along, I have always played my favourite songs through ear-training. Maybe you could be questioning, was it really that hard ? Well, for a self-taught pianist to go back to the basic of things we might not be used to previously, it can be a tad challenging, at least for me. Nevertheless, I am so happy when my tutor, Sir Izul said that I have improved tremendously and continued giving me encouragement.

What Points Should I Take Home ?

These are some of the points to keep in mind from Week 2 : 

i. Resilience

I know that learning piano is not easy, let alone playing it. For someone who is familiar with complex things, having to start from scratch can be exhausting at times hence why resilience plays such a crucial role to help me keep going. I continued whispering to myself that a difficult journey can only be gone through steadfastness no matter how challenging it can be.

ii. Gratitude

Maybe I was always taking things for granted, I always thought that being self-taught makes me so-called an “unstoppable force”. Yet after moving on to Week 2, I have realised that there are so many more things that my knowledge is still far behind. Thus, I am so grateful to be having this opportunity to learn the piano properly with guidance from a highly esteemed teacher who is always patient and ready to provide me with everything that I need.

What Was I Feeling ? Any Thoughts ?

I was actually feeling a bit anxious to go on to Week 2 because the thoughts of having high expectations from my tutor worried me. “What if he expected me to be better this week with zero mistakes ?” “What if I messed up and drove him up the wall ?”. These what ifs made me lose a bit of confidence but I kept on convincing myself that I came here as a student. Making mistakes is inevitable but the spirit to bounce back and keep on going is what matters the most !

A Good Thing That I Can Practise Right Away !

I think the openness to ask questions and admitting things that we don’t know is my highlight to this question. Throughout the session, there were things that I definitely had heard for the first time especially pertaining to the concept of Music Theory. Well you know each living soul possesses something called an “ego”. Thinking that I'm self-taught, I could simply look things up myself the way I've always been doing all along. But then what is the point of coming to the class if I would act omniscient, right ? Thus, I put away every last bit of ego I had and proposed all my wonders to Sir Izul. Fortunately, he was very happy to help me out and answered all my questions the best he could. I could say that I had never been so enlightened !

Were There Any Difficulties ? How Did I Handle Them ?

I did not face any vivid or detrimental turmoil because the lesson was fairly still simple and straightforward. However, as aforementioned, I did face some setbacks in playing through the music score in a precise and smooth manner. The way I coped was by asking Sir Izul whether it is okay for me to read the notes out loud while playing so he can correct me straight away if I was being off tune besides helping me to remember them better. He told me it was perfectly fine with that and it really added an exponential of smoothness to the lesson.

My Plan For The Upcoming Lesson !

For Week 3, my plan is to keep on practising all the songs that he taught in class with my keyboard at home so I can train my dexterity well. Besides, I too plan to learn some new songs on my own and present it to him for opinions and comments. I think this is an effective way to test my skills while giving more opportunities to discover new knowledge regarding the piano and music theory. As usual, practice makes perfect !

AZREZAL AFIZAM AFIQ BIN ABD AZIZ

A189533

AUGUST 8th, 2024

How is your progress?

In my first week, I had difficulty in adapting myself with guitar but now in the second week I managed to feel comfortable with picking the guitar. My early practice sessions were marked by frustration as I struggled with finger placements and strumming techniques. However, now I am able to produce the correct sound and can move my fingers comfortably. I also manage to tolerate the pain on my fingers as I tried to practice every day. However, it still can be improved and my tutor advised me to keep practicing as it involved muscle memory. In the second week, I managed to learn 4 basic chords which were C, Am, G and also F. My tutor explained that chords are combinations of several notes that are played simultaneously, creating a harmonic structure that supports melodies. So, it is very important to press specific strings in a specific fret to produce the correct sound. By using these 4 chords, my tutor taught me to play a simple song which is Stand By Me by Ben E.King. My tutor picked this song as it is an easy song to learn as a beginner. I learned about the beats and tempo of this song in order to help me to strum at the correct beat. 

Points to remember from week 2!

1. Discipline and routine- in order to learn guitar requires regular practice, instilling discipline and the importance of establishing a routine. I can feel very awkward if I do not manage to practice for some time and feel like I’m being back to zero. So it is very important to keep practicing even for a short session just to build muscle memory and familiarize yourself. It is also important to be very focused and concentrate when playing the guitar as it involves changing a lot of chords and pressing different strings. Discipline also helps as guitar playing requires attention to detail, from finger placement to timing, which can translate into carefulness and precision.

2. Self-confidence- Playing guitar requires high self-confidence. How people play guitar can resemble their level of confidence and how well they manage their mindset. I believe self-confidence is very important in learning guitar as a confident mindset helps to take mistakes positively, using it to grow rather than getting discouraged. Poor self-confidence can affect the whole performance in playing guitar as well as lower down my motivation to play guitar. 

Your feelings & thoughts 

Initially, I felt a bit overwhelmed while learning guitar as I kept making mistakes but with my tutor's guidance, I managed to overcome it slowly. Now, after I managed to play one song even with simple chords, I felt happy and kind of rewarding as I can feel the progression in myself. I also felt enthusiastic to learn more in playing guitar and happy to explore new knowledge, chords and strumming patterns. I also think that I underestimate people who are playing guitar as at first, I thought it would be easy to learn and play it but now I realized it is so difficult to play guitar well and I have respect for people who can play this instrument really well.

ONE good thing from what you did that you can practice now!

I can practice the song that I learned with my tutor as I still have room for improvement and try to play it smoothly without any hiccups or hurdles. The most important part is to practice transitioning from one chord to the other chord. 

Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope?

My difficulty for this session is I’m having difficulty in transitioning from one chord to the other chords as it involves some finger coordination and movement. I am also having difficulty in staying in beat as it is very important to know which beat to strum. In order to cope with these problems, I just take my time to practice my finger movement and make myself comfortable to change the chords. To stay in beat, I tried to discipline myself to count the beat so that I’m aware which beat to strum, and I also tried to practice with the music to familiarize myself with the beat. 

Your plan for next week (Week 3)

My plan for next week is to smooth my play of guitar with the song that I learned and master it properly. I also plan to learn more chords and my tutor also asked me to choose one song that I want to learn so that he can help me with it.

A189130

8/9/2024

How is your progress?

For week 2 , I feel thats I got better at reading musical sheets. I could read outload from the music sheets and play basic notes and I am better at it than last months . But I feel struggle to press keys simultaneously for my right and left hand. If doing it separately its easier but playing both hands at the same time I could feel its becoming harder .Also I could hear that my playing is not coherence enough and its does not sounds like a music , it is just string of notes play together . However my hands kind of accustomed to playing piano and pressing the piano keys .

Points to remember from week 2?

1. Perseverance

• I need to have perseverance to continue learning piano , and to be fair this does not apply only to piano . We could apply this thing to many things in our life.

2. Fun

• Learning can also be fun if we use the right method and study the right thing .

What was I feeling ? any thoughts ?

I just feel excited to continue learning and I feel thankful I have been given this opportunity and time frame by the faculty . Now I could read the basic notes and play the basic keys better than last week , I feel exhilarating . Its important for me to know my progress so I knows which part of it I need to improve

Any difficulties/concerns?

I feel not comfortable with my hands and my arms while playing piano . I feel I need more practice so my arms will be more accustomed to the posture of playing piano .

Your plan for next week ( week 3)

I plan to learn about how long do I need to press for the certain keys and how to read it on music sheets. Also I could learn also how to use a pedal . Attached is the pictures of me with my pianos teacher

A189451

8/8/2024 (Week 2)

How is your progress?

I have learned to synchronize my hands while reading the piano sheet from a slow pace to an intermediate pace. I learned the right way in playing the classic jingle bells with a mixture of forte and piano. This particular masterpiece relieved a tremendous amount of memories where my great grandfather would always have gifts ready during christmas time. A very popular French children’s song called Brother John was a sheer pleasure to listen to especially during night times. There is an involvement of a minim rest where it rests for two counts and this sign resembles a hat. I also learned about dotted minim that gets three counts. It is crucial to follow the rhythm.

Points to remember from week 2?

In the famous classical song called merrily we roll along, there are notes on the same line or space joined with a curved line. We called them tied notes. The key is held down for the combined values of both notes. This song was particularly tricky as the right hand is playing mezzoforte while the left hand is playing piano. It requires a numerous amount of practice to mold it into perfection. 

Your feelings & thoughts

I can confidently say that my feelings are always in ecstasy when it comes to playing piano. Perhaps starting to play a foreign piano sheet is difficult at first but after multiple times of practice, it’ll instantly become my favorite tune and I can play it for weeks. It brings me pure happiness to play a masterpiece that was carved beautifully by genius masterminds.

ONE good thing from what you did that you can practice now!

I can practice piano sheets that involve minim rest and dotted minim very well now and I am willing to absorb more knowledge in the future.

Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope?

I had difficulties in understanding new notes that were introduced in a short period of time such as alignments of minim rest, full rest, and pause but with a tremendous amount of practice, I could understand it better and played it beautifully now.

Your plan for next week (Week 3)

I'm planning to introduce myself to sharp signs where it means to play the next key to the right, whether it’s black or white. The sharp sign will be in the masterpiece called Money Can’t Buy Ev’rything!