One of the most common misconceptions of singing is that those who can sing must have been "born with it". There are many people out there who believe that singing can't be learnt. In other words, you either have it or you don't. Though I come from a long line of musicians and singers and had started singing at a young age, I never considered myself as being someone who was "born" a singer. In fact, singing was never something that came easily or naturally to me. By the time I was 20 years old, I had become so frustrated with my voice that I gave up on singing entirely. Although my mother (and voice teacher) never stopped encouraging me, I couldn't help but think that I would never be as good as I wanted to be and that it was better to quit and leave singing to those who were really gifted at it.
I realise now that that particular moment in my life had been my first lesson in teaching: you cannot teach someone who has given up on learning. I left Hong Kong and spent the next several years studying other arts subjects of interest. I even spent those few years abroad telling everyone that I couldn't sing. It wasn't until I had graduated from college, moved back to Hong Kong and gotten a full-time job at a film production company that I realised there was something missing in my life.
Being around music and music-lovers again made me realise just how much I had missed out on in those few years. I immediately threw myself back into singing. I started training again and rediscovered my passion for music. I even started performing in local music productions just so I could practice singing on stage again. I had to work extra-hard to get my voice back in shape because I had stopped training for such a long time. During that time, I also started assisting and observing my mother in her singing classes. I was so inspired by what she was doing and by the differences she was making in people's lives that I decided to pursue a certificate in teaching singing as well.
Although I know I will never get back those several years where I had stopped training, I feel truly blessed that I can share my struggles and experiences with those who are also frustrated with their voices. I hope I will always be lucky enough to have the opportunity to inspire others in the way that I have been inspired by those I call my teachers.
On continuing the theme of "Something's Missing", I also had an epiphany just about 2 years ago.
ReplyDeleteI was alway fond of singing and unlike Krystal, I thought "I've GOT IT". Singing to Jacky Cheung's songs and doing Michael Jackson's "Moonwalk". When I moved to the states at the age of 13, I became fascinated with the guitar and the weekends that came after always involved some sort of jamming sessions with my cousins or classmates. Maybe I was too young, but I didn't do it to get the chicks.
Then at the age of 18, I thought that money can buy you happiness. I didn't go the investment banking route but I chose to climb up the corporate ladder in a record company. Looking back, I was successful at times, but overall I was not happy. I felt that I was living off paycheck to paycheck. "Something" was missing.
It took about 10 years for the epiphany to set in. It took a moment of solitude during a business trip in Auckland, New Zealand to realize that I wanted to communicate my feeling through songs. I then decided to pick up the (rusty) guitar and singing again. Depend on how you look at it, the past 2 years involved not just learning, but also un-learing in the art of singing / guitar playing / songwriting. (For bad habits, just ask Krystal)
At time of writing, I have written over 10+ songs and have started playing in local venues in Hong Kong. I have a long way to go but I have a newfound commitment to refine my craft on an almost daily basis (yes we need to rest our voice / fingers / mind from time to time!). It brings me joy to play music, to learn music and the mystery of it all is that you will never "graduate". Learning is eternal.
There are so many teachers to thank (and that includes Krystal) so I won't ramble on but yes I am grateful for my teachers for helping me to shape my sound.
If you're still reading this, either you have found your element or that you are about to. If you have, congratulations. If not, then listen to your heart.
- Eric Tan
Thanks so much for sharing Eric! It truly is amazing to see how much music can change a person's life. "Learning is eternal" - absolutely love and agree with that! Don't ask me why, but I can totally imagine a mini-you doing the Moonwalk, hahahah! Keep up the awesome work, Eric!
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