I have currently reached my quota for 'house-call' students (lessons at the student's home). I still have a limited number of timeslots available for those interested in commuting to my location.
Parents looking to enrol their children under my tutelege will still be able to sit-in for free during their lessons. I have plenty of classical guitars in my teaching hall.
I have regular-sized classical guitars and children's sized classical guitars. Rest assured that classical guitars will be provided to both parent and child during lessons at my location.
My timeslots are running out and I will be adjusting my prices in the new year. My current students will have their prices 'fixed' till December 31st 2010.
If you want to capatalize on my extremely competitive prices, now's the best time to do it.
For more information about my classical guitar lessons, click here.
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Friday, October 9, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Johnny Can See: a new Singaporean children's book
Recently I was head-hunted by a local author to create a website for her upcoming book. The book in question is titled "Johnny Can See".
"Johnny Can See" is an educational book that details a young boy's problem with his vision and the whimsical adverture his imagination takes him on as he visits an eye doctor for the first time.
This book has garnered praise from educators, including Julia Gabirel and is an entertaining and interesting teaching resource that parents can use to teach their children.
Visitors can purchase an autographed copy online, making it very personal and highly collectable.
For more information, visit Johnny Can See!
If some of my loyal readers are wondering why a Ninja Master, Classical Guitar teacher is creating commissioned websites, I should mention that my previous employment history (at Ogilvy, Mentis Marketing, Fat Pixel and MINDEF Public Affairs) has created a demand for my services as a marketing communications specialist.
I occasionally accept these jobs. Sometimes I blog about them, sometimes I don't. The latter situation is firmly put into effect when a client specifically ask for confidentiality.
My classical guitar students should not worry. I am extremely content teaching classical guitar by day and being a ninja at night.
Enjoy the website and don't forget to purchase your very own personalised autograph copy here!
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Thursday, October 1, 2009
Get a FREE private classical guitar lesson this December
This December, to celebrate my 1-year anniversary of returning to the classical guitar scene, I am giving away free, 1-hour private lessons (worth $30).
My students and the classical guitar community have both been kind to me over the last year. This Christmas I intend to give something back to the community.
This offer is strictly limited to one-per-person. These lessons are completely obligation- free. No sales pitch or aggressive selling after the lesson.
Current students will automatically receive a one-time $30 discount on any services consumed during December. This deduction will automatically be applied to any bill paid in December.
For new students, please note that places for these free private lessons are extremely limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you’ve always wanted to learn the classical guitar, or if you've always wanted to discover if the classical guitar can provide you with the musical voice you've been searching for, here's you chance to act!
Note: I am currently at full capacity for ‘out-call’ students. As such, new students will be unable to use this offer for ‘out-call’ lessons. This offer is only applicable to lessons conducted at my location at Jalan Hock Chye.
Places are limited. E-mail me and book your free lesson now!
For more information on my private classical guitar lessons, click here.
Read more
My students and the classical guitar community have both been kind to me over the last year. This Christmas I intend to give something back to the community.
This offer is strictly limited to one-per-person. These lessons are completely obligation- free. No sales pitch or aggressive selling after the lesson.
Current students will automatically receive a one-time $30 discount on any services consumed during December. This deduction will automatically be applied to any bill paid in December.
For new students, please note that places for these free private lessons are extremely limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you’ve always wanted to learn the classical guitar, or if you've always wanted to discover if the classical guitar can provide you with the musical voice you've been searching for, here's you chance to act!
Note: I am currently at full capacity for ‘out-call’ students. As such, new students will be unable to use this offer for ‘out-call’ lessons. This offer is only applicable to lessons conducted at my location at Jalan Hock Chye.
Places are limited. E-mail me and book your free lesson now!
For more information on my private classical guitar lessons, click here.
Read more
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
One -man Michael Jackson A capella Medley
What an awesome tribute to the King of Pop.
The arrangement of the medley is really impressive too. Read more
Monday, September 21, 2009
Killing time with an Esteve Adalid
“Can I help you?” The middle-aged Chinese man asked.
“Yeah. Do you have any handmade classical guitars?” I responded, anxious to cut to the chase.
I was at Ranking Sports, a sports store cum music store located at Bras Basah Complex. The store’s highly contrasting inventory made it an oddity of sorts. But I had been purchasing strings from them for years and I knew that they carried a decent range of classical guitars.
I was waiting for SMa to photocopy some notes for me. I was told to return in half an hour. I knew that testing guitars would be the best way for me to kill time.
The man led me to the back.
“What kind of price range do you have?” I asked
“From $1100 onwards,” he replied.
“That’s too low. My current guitar cost $2000.”
I was referring to my teaching guitar, an Asturias Standard. I did not want to tell him that my primary instrument, a Menkevich La Donna, originally retailed at $7500.
“Our top model is $5000” he said as he moved some guitars around, searching for the correct guitar case.
I placed my black sling bag and an empty SMa folder on the floor, as I sat on a musician’s seat.
“Here it is,” he said as he pulled out a noticeably larger-than-normal classical guitar.
“Why is it so big?” I enquired with a furrowed brow, “Isn’t that a bass guitar?”
My last remark was less of a question and more of a statement. I was previously an assistant conductor to Alex Abisheganaden, the man who pioneered Niibori instruments in Singapore. I was also the person who was in-charge of purchasing Niibori instruments for Ngee Ann Polytechnic Strings. I knew what a bass guitar looked like.
“Oh yeah,” the man replied, somewhat embarrassed. He returned the instrument to its case and continued his search.
“Here it is,” he said again as he pulled out another case.
“This is the Esteve Adalid, their top model.” He said as he handed me the instrument.
I took a look at the construction before I tuned it. It was very pretty and cleanly constructed. Unfortunately, the tuners looked to be Rubner tuners. I hate Rubner tuners. I think they look awful.
I started with my warm-up standards, a chromatic scale and some technical drills before playing my warm-up piece, Canarios by Gaspar Sanz. Playability was decent. There was nothing remarkable about the playability.
After the piece I peered inside the sound hole. It appeared to be made in 2006.
I played El Marabino by Antonio Lauro next. I love that piece. The strings sounded slightly ‘dead’. I was not impressed thus far.
Finally, I decided to play a recent favorite of mine, Gran Vals by Tarrega. I sometimes refer to it as the ‘Nokia Song’ since Nokia blatantly stole 4 bars from the Gran Vals to use as their trademark ringtone.
As I played, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a young man in a long-sleeved shirt and pants walking towards the store. He entered and watched as I played.
Though I dislike having people watch me when I test a guitar, it’s something I’ve grown accustom to. After visiting the Kohno factory during the winter and testing guitars in front of Masaki Sakurai with my hands nearly frozen, I wasn’t shaken easily anymore.
I loss myself in the music and built up to a climax before definitively ending the piece.
“Wow that sounds great,” the new comer remarked to me.
“It’s okay,” I replied, decidedly less impressed about the guitar’s performance and my own. The man looked to be in his twenties. He was wearing a shirt and tie. He was probably an office worker on his break.
The sales person seemed excited now.
“It retails for $5500, but we can give you around 10% off so it’ll be $4800.” He said.
“I’ll think about it,“ I said as I returned the guitar to him. My notes were probably printed by now. Besides, I also had to go to Takashimaya and get my glasses fixed.
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“Yeah. Do you have any handmade classical guitars?” I responded, anxious to cut to the chase.
I was at Ranking Sports, a sports store cum music store located at Bras Basah Complex. The store’s highly contrasting inventory made it an oddity of sorts. But I had been purchasing strings from them for years and I knew that they carried a decent range of classical guitars.
I was waiting for SMa to photocopy some notes for me. I was told to return in half an hour. I knew that testing guitars would be the best way for me to kill time.
The man led me to the back.
“What kind of price range do you have?” I asked
“From $1100 onwards,” he replied.
“That’s too low. My current guitar cost $2000.”
I was referring to my teaching guitar, an Asturias Standard. I did not want to tell him that my primary instrument, a Menkevich La Donna, originally retailed at $7500.
“Our top model is $5000” he said as he moved some guitars around, searching for the correct guitar case.
I placed my black sling bag and an empty SMa folder on the floor, as I sat on a musician’s seat.
“Here it is,” he said as he pulled out a noticeably larger-than-normal classical guitar.
“Why is it so big?” I enquired with a furrowed brow, “Isn’t that a bass guitar?”
My last remark was less of a question and more of a statement. I was previously an assistant conductor to Alex Abisheganaden, the man who pioneered Niibori instruments in Singapore. I was also the person who was in-charge of purchasing Niibori instruments for Ngee Ann Polytechnic Strings. I knew what a bass guitar looked like.
“Oh yeah,” the man replied, somewhat embarrassed. He returned the instrument to its case and continued his search.
“Here it is,” he said again as he pulled out another case.
“This is the Esteve Adalid, their top model.” He said as he handed me the instrument.
I took a look at the construction before I tuned it. It was very pretty and cleanly constructed. Unfortunately, the tuners looked to be Rubner tuners. I hate Rubner tuners. I think they look awful.
I started with my warm-up standards, a chromatic scale and some technical drills before playing my warm-up piece, Canarios by Gaspar Sanz. Playability was decent. There was nothing remarkable about the playability.
After the piece I peered inside the sound hole. It appeared to be made in 2006.
I played El Marabino by Antonio Lauro next. I love that piece. The strings sounded slightly ‘dead’. I was not impressed thus far.
Finally, I decided to play a recent favorite of mine, Gran Vals by Tarrega. I sometimes refer to it as the ‘Nokia Song’ since Nokia blatantly stole 4 bars from the Gran Vals to use as their trademark ringtone.
As I played, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a young man in a long-sleeved shirt and pants walking towards the store. He entered and watched as I played.
Though I dislike having people watch me when I test a guitar, it’s something I’ve grown accustom to. After visiting the Kohno factory during the winter and testing guitars in front of Masaki Sakurai with my hands nearly frozen, I wasn’t shaken easily anymore.
I loss myself in the music and built up to a climax before definitively ending the piece.
“Wow that sounds great,” the new comer remarked to me.
“It’s okay,” I replied, decidedly less impressed about the guitar’s performance and my own. The man looked to be in his twenties. He was wearing a shirt and tie. He was probably an office worker on his break.
The sales person seemed excited now.
“It retails for $5500, but we can give you around 10% off so it’ll be $4800.” He said.
“I’ll think about it,“ I said as I returned the guitar to him. My notes were probably printed by now. Besides, I also had to go to Takashimaya and get my glasses fixed.
Read more
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