Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

 

Many children I know started to learn how to play the piano since young.

Like, before they’re 6yo?

It’s a little different for our case though, because Anya, our firstborn, had her first ever piano lesson only after we’ve moved to Jakarta.

When she was 8.5 yo.

…

Now. Why ‘not earlier’, some may wonder.

I remember a friend asking me about this last year:

Wasn’t she interested in learning how to play when she was younger?

She was. Actually she asked and asked about WHEN she could have piano lessons since she’s around … 6yo.

Then why didn’t she have any piano lessons at the time, when she’s still in Singapore?

Mmm. I’ll be totally honest. Because we couldn’t afford it.

…

I assume everyone agrees with me if I say, piano lessons are not ‘cheap’.

Here’s one simple comparison:

Swimming lessons, 4x a month (one hour each lesson) = $50

One 45-min piano lesson = $40

Also, to learn the piano, you usually have one lesson a week.

Plus, you need to practice everyday, at home. Which means you’d need to own one at home too.

AND, once you start, it’s a continuous journey for many, MANY years (With extra expenses too, like exam fees, books, etc)

The reality was, given our limited financial resources, we had to prioritise ‘more urgent expenses’So for us at the time, as much as we would LOVE to give her piano lessons, and as much as most people probably wouldn’t believe it, … we couldn’t afford it just yet.

(I am being blatantly open about this)

The reality was, given our limited financial resources, we had to prioritise ‘more urgent expenses’.

Family’s daily meals, school-related fees, monthly home-related bills/payments, were more ‘urgent’, than … piano or tennis lessons (which to us were ‘extras’, ie. Not ‘basic necessities’).

*I felt sad actually, not being able to let her have lessons*

Anyway.

If it’s something that you’d need, it’s impossible for God NOT to give it to youSo, every time she asked about ‘when she could start having piano lessons’, I shared the above thoughts with her, and also this: 

Let us pray about it? God knows what’s best for you, and for our family.

And, sometimes we just need to learn to … wait.

If it is something you need and we could give it to you, it is impossible for us NOT to support and give it to you.

If it’s something that you’d need, it’s impossible for God NOT to give it to you.

Let’s learn to pray and tell God our wishes.

Learn to wait and see the plans God has for you.

 

 

Anya and I had such conversations many, MANY times.

Naturally, it wasn’t easy for a 6 – 8 year old to wait and not know if it’ll ever happen, but well … life is not about getting whatever we want, whenever we want, right?

…

To cut the story short, she finally could start her first piano lesson at the end of 2012!

After some 2.5 years of waiting, wishing and hoping.

Private one-to-one lessons. Once a week.

And I am glad we found a dedicated music educator who believes in exploring a child’s talent and passion for music, instead of simply ‘getting the certificates’ and passing the piano exams (which totally is NOT our philosophy when it comes to learning music, or learning anything, really)

And you know what?

All that waiting, not getting what she wanted ‘immediately‘, and praying and countless conversations … it allowed her to better appreciate her opportunity when it finally came.

 

Supporting her comes with a cost and sacrifice by othersTill today,  I still share with her these thoughts and values:

… Not everyone has the opportunities that she has.

… Not everyone has the privilege to have a family, to learn this and that, etc.

… As the parents, we’ll work hard to support her, in exploring her talents. Just as long as she is responsible in practicing at home, and doing her best.

… If she is not serious about learning (I need to force / scream at her to practice, etc), then we do need to consider not continuing with the lessons, because we could allocate the expenses to other family needs.

… Basically, we’ll do our part willingly, and she needs to learn to do her part responsibly.

(She does know and can very much see how we the parents have to juggle everything and work hard to support her, ie. Supporting her comes with a cost and sacrifice by others)

…

All I know is, it is a God-given opportunity. She is willing to be committed. And, we are willing to support her all the way as long as she is serious about it.So far, it’s been close to 2 years since she last had her first piano lesson.

And thank God, she has been committed and responsible so far.

Will she be consistent and continue with her piano journey for many years to come?

I don’t know.

All I know is, it is a God-given opportunity. She is willing to be committed so far. And, we are willing to support her all the way as long as she is serious about it.

So I guess, it is a journey, not just for her, but also for us her parents.

 

 

ANYWAY.

Anya had her second piano concert performance last weekend.

She performed at Erasmus Huis with other students of Miss Jelia, her piano teacher (There were a few other performers too)

It was a nice late afternoon spent together by our family of five.

 

 

Am anyway very thankful too that through the concert experience, she learned a lot.

Remembering her notes. Facing her fear of being watched by the crowd. Managing the stress and pressure prior and during the performance. Managing her emotions when she made mistakes. Managing her post-performance feelings.

All the above, to us, means so much more than just ‘delivering a great performance’.

Thank God for life’s lessons learned by our little family.