(1426) MUSIC AND ME (July 20, 2017) MY STYLE IN TEACHING MUSIC AND CHESS

MY STYLE IN TEACHING

MUSIC AND CHESS

AS I WAS taught by Loving, Celerina, Marcela and Pablo of Dionisio family on how to play guitar, marimba and bamboo flute, my teaching style is totally different from their teaching styles. The casual style of teaching is also taught to me by my cousin Wilfredo “Ka Boy” Hernandez, who plays the French horn in a marching band. I remember him teaching me the minor 7^th chords and how he remembers the tune and chords of Barry Manilow’s song “Ships”.

Ka Loving’s fingers are short but he has a way to make chords sound like it is being played by a guitarist who has long fingers. My rapid progress in guitar playing is due to his teaching me to accompany him while playing the bamboo flute. He was many times regional champion of pan flute, pipe and recorder in instrumental competitions in the northern part of Philippines.

Celerina “Ka Rina” has a good ears for chords that if I missed to play the right chords, she’s not letting go that I will resume playing without correcting the chords that I’ve missed. Two years ago, she did the same thing when I missed the G chord while jamming with her husband Rading. They’ve been to Japan 17 times as duo in the same hotel. I’ve taught their 2 daughters Cessa and Kathlyn piano in early 1990’s while they are in Japan for 6-month performance contract.

My style in teaching for kids is by musical notes because they still have long time to learn gradually. When I think it’s time for them to learn by ear, then I will combine by notes and by ears or “oido” as they say it in Filipino language. It is also the style of teaching that I always do to my adult students.

I have taught 3 kids of a Filipino-Chinese Electone organ in 1986 prior to my 2 years and 3 months contract in Bahrain to play keyboard at Khayam Taverna (Greek Restaurant). The kids became very good after a few months that their dad get jealous and he asked me to teach him also at a special day and time (mostly Saturdays) where the kids are not home as he is ashamed to the kids that he is taking also music lessons from me. I taught him by ear as adults learn faster with this style. I remember I came with my 1-year-old daughter Karen because nobody will take care of her while I’m teaching him. He can request to me what kind of songs he would like to learn like “Spanish Eyes” by Engelbert Humperdinck, Mona Lisa, Green Green Grass of Home and more songs from the 1950’s and 1960’s.

My girl student (Michelle) in 1990 is full of potential that her mom, who works in Hong Kong as domestic helper, bought her an expensive Yamaha keyboard. She’s so inspired to learn more due to the advanced features of the keyboard. Her house is just across the road where I, my wife Flor and daughter Karen reside. I stopped teaching her when I work in Palau in 1992. My wife and Karen joined me in Palau in June 17, 1995 and when my mom passed away in 1997, we have a vacation in Philippines to attend her funeral. One time, I rode in a tricycle and I didn’t recognize the driver. He said, “You don’t recognize me, Mr. Robert? I am the brother of your former student Michelle.” I said sorry for not recognizing him as he grown up so fast. I ask,” How is Michelle doing now?”  And he proudly said she is now teaching music!

! I also taught 3 sisters piano about 20 meters from my home. Their doctor mother who always request to me the instrumental “La Decadance” by Richard Clayderman. When one of her daughter and my student got married, the future bride requested me to play at the church/reception 4 songs—Somewhere in Time, Looking Through The Eyes of Love, Endless Love and the 4^th one, I forgot. Her lone brother asked me one time to teach him the song “Ever Since the World Begun” by Survivor.

When I worked in Palau in 1992, I only have very few music students. Chess didn’t get started since 10 years later and my weekly chess articles in Tia Belau started in Dec. 29, 2002 with this 1^st edition…http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/01/first-issue-of-chessmate-by-roberto.html

          This lately, I have 3 new students --Cole Abellera, chess every Saturday 11:00 am-12:00 noon. My practice teaching to him is with Samantha Tsao, his cousin, and my piano/guitar student on Fri. 2:30-3:30pm.
          Jake Abellera, Shane and Cole's older brother, piano from 10:00-11:00 am. I tried to teach him guitar 3 weeks ago but I see no potential in him and he will get bore with steel stringed guitar and may feel pain in his fingers. So I shifted from guitar to keyboard.
          Kai is also planning guitar lessons but his fingers are so small yet and I see that potential problem with guitar so I shifted also to keyboard. I taught him for 2 Sat. morning session at Sam's place. His mom wanted to hold it in the MH Dental Clinic where I taught Hanson Campbell for more than a year. I brought the keyboard I am using at Palau Royal Resort but he has also a Yamaha keyboard (61 keys) that uses 6 size D batteries. The plug for the adapter is inside in. I started to teach Kai keyboard on Fri. from 1:30-2:30 pm.
          This Wed., Oct. 04, 2017, I will teach Nicholas Nehez 1 hour piano and 1 hour chess in their house in Airai. I have to charge extra for gas--$15.00/hr. Their 88-key keyboard is coming from America at the end of Oct.


Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               December 29, 2002 -- September 25, 2017

               Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
               The Beginning of Chess in Palau
               By Roberto Hernandez
               Soon to be published as a book

              Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
              Tia Belau Newspaper
              March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
              http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
              April 25, 2013 -- September 25, 2017

              The History of Chess in Palau
              By Roberto Hernandez
              June 09, 2002 -- September 25, 2017

(1249) MUSIC AND ME (June 09, 2016) TAIWANESE COUPLE SINGING LIVE KARAOKE

A WEEK AT PALAU ROYAL RESORT
    This young Taiwanese couple stayed at Palau Royal Resort for a week mostly surfing the internet. The guy sung a very popular Taiwanese song one night and sung another one the next night.



        TAIWANESE COUPLE SINGING 
                     LIVE KARAOKE
 On May 25, 2016, there's a young Taiwanese couple who are always dining at Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort and resume their night at Breeze Bar where Roberto Hernandez, PRR resident musician, is both playing music at those places.

That night at Breeze Bar, there is a group of Filipinos selecting their songs for live karaoke and have a photo with Roberto...

When they proceed to their table, the Taiwanese couple sat near Roberto and started to look at his Taiwanese songs songbook. He chose a song that was sung by Mika Tsuji when she is just starting to work at PRR as Guest Relations Manager. Mika can speak Japanese, English, Korean, Spanish and French.

Roberto asked her to sing "Far Away" many times so that he can be familiarize with the melody of that song...

When the Taiwanese guy sung it, the melody becomes more familiar to me. He is following the Chinese characters of the music score sheet while Roberto is looking at the chords and timing of that song.

The Filipino group didn't have a chance anymore to sing as they are intimidated by the guy who sings without mic and singing unfamiliar song to them.

After finishing the song, Roberto asked him if he can translate the title into "English" or "Romaji" in Japan so that Roberto can understand.

He said "Chen Li Tsu Wai" or "Far Away" in English.

The next day, they come again at Breeze Bar...

 and he sung "Tong Hua" or "Children Stories"...

Although I didn't receive any tips from them, it's a good feeling to have an additional Taiwanese/Chinese songs to my repertoire.




Sources: Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
                The Beginning of Chess in Palau
                By Roberto Hernandez
                To be published as a book in the future

                Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
                Tia Belau Newspaper
                March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
                http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
                April 25, 2013 -- June 09, 2016 

   

 

(536) MUSIC AND ME (Aug. 01, 2013) International Night at Bethlehem Park

REGULAR PALAUAN BAND AT INTERNATIONAL NIGHT
     The group of Albino Adachi (lead guitar), Willy dela Cruz (drums), Glen Seid (keyboard) and Edward Ongrung (Bass/Vocals) are performing at Bethlehem Park.                            (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)




      INTERNATIONAL NIGHT AT 
            BETHLEHEM PARK
  
EVERY first Friday of the month (Government payday), an international night that is sponsored by Palau Visitors Authority, is being held with live band performing.

On May 03, 2013, Roberto Hernandez and Mr. Yoshiharu Kurata, a senior JICA Volunteer, performed at Bethlehem Park for 15 minutes.

Mr. Kurata showcased his talents in playing saxophone, flute, ocarina, guitar, keyboard, quena and Palauan record (bamboo flute). 

The duo's 1st song is "Amazing Grace" followed by "Besame Mucho" in which Willy dela Cruz, the band's drummer, was asked to accompany them to that song.

Willy has been to Palau for more than 25 years and played with Roberto Hernandez with "The Tropical Depression Band" in Feb. 04, 1992.

When the band disbanded in July, Willy joined the duo of Roberto and lead guitarist Wilson Prima playing at Image Restaurant from July 30, 1992 until he found a job as butcher at Surangel's Grocery and Department Store. 

  

(478) MUSIC AND ME (May 23, 2013) DRUMS LESSONS FOR MIKA TSUJI

MY SECOND DRUMS STUDENT IN PALAU

I taught 2 drums student in Palau -- Miguel, the son of Dodie Pineda and Mika Tsuji, right, the new Guest Relation Manager of Palau Royal Resort. Her first lesson was held at Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch) Palau Locale with the help of Bro. Gilbert Navarro, left, who let us use the church's drums set for tutoring.
(Photo by Mika Tsuji)



DRUMS LESSONS FOR MIKA TSUJI

Mika Tsuji is just a little over 1 month working at Palau Royal Resort as Guest Relations Manager when I noticed her potential in singing. She harmonized with me one night to the song "Oribia O Kikinagara" and a couple of more Japanese songs.

She can speak 5 languages --Japanese, Chinese, Korean, English and French, where the top 3 in that order are the main visitors/guests of Palau in the last decade.

What surprises me more is her ability to read Chinese characters when she sung a Chinese song (English title "Far Away") where I asked her to sing it 3 times so that I can familiarize with that popular song.

After practicing "live" with a couple of American songs, I teach her the melody of "Stardust", a song written in 1929 and sung by Artie Shaw in 1941 and Billy Woods & Dominoes in 1957.

She was able to play the melody of it using my music score! What else can she do? This talented lady might be an asset to PRR if she will stay here longer.

She loves music but there's not much to choose here in Palau. She contracted me verbally to have a keyboard lessons when the keyboard that I lend to Chris Johnson, my Swedish student, is returned.

When it was returned, she confirmed to me that she wants to have a lesson but with drums and not keyboard.

The first thing that comes to my mind is teaching her at Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ 4th Watch (Palau Locale) after the prayer meeting on Friday evening. And it's also my day off.

The PMCC has a drums set, 2 electric guitars, 1 bass guitar, a Yamaha electronic piano (the one I used to play at Teppan Dragon) and 5 accoustic guitars.

We agreed on a $15.00/hour payment in which I will donate the $5.00 from it to the church for using their drums set.

It's also a way of getting her close to God because she will attend the prayer meeting before I teach her. The service is mostly in Tagalog so I sit close to her and translate the sentences that are being spoken in Tagalog, where she is trying to learn by greeting every Filipino she talks to in their native tongue-- like "Paalam" -Goodbye, "Magandang Gabi" --Good Evening and "Salamat Po"-- Thank you (with respect).

Her first drums lesson is not fruitful as Bro. Gilbert Navarro interfered with my teaching-- taking about half hour which confuses Mika more.

The second lessons is very fruitful as I did it by myself upon his request that Bro. Gilbert will not interfere anymore.

Her full potential was discovered. To give her more live exposure, I suggest that she will do the drumming when we sing the song "Purify Your People" next week.

She did very well performing live. Later, I teach her "Close To You" by Carpenters which is one of her favorite songs.

On May 03, 2013, I arranged a 15-minute performance of me and another Japanese student, Mr. Yoshiharu Kurata, a senior Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) volunteer to perform at International Night Market by Palau Visitors Authority.

I asked Mika to come so that she can see live performance of Palauan band and by Mr. Kurata and me at the keyboard and him playing saxophone, flute, ocarina and Palauan record (Bamboo flute) and quena. We also sing (duet) "Besame Mucho".

The 5 songs that we performed are "Amazing Grace", "Donna, Donna", Besame Mucho, "Love Me Tender" and "Lambada", in which Mr. Kurata sung in between playing the flute.

Mr. Kurata can speak French also aside from Spanish.

Before we perform, the Palauan band is already playing and Willie dela Cruz, a member of Tropical Depression Band in 1992 with me, Elena Sutton, Romana, Wilhelm Elbelau, Henry Takeshi, Greg (Filipino drummer) and lead guitarist Wilson Prima, is playing the drums so smoothly that Mika is inspired to learn more with playing drums.

I introduced Mika to Willy's daughter which is a friend of my daughter Karen when she's in Palau (June 17, 1995-May 28, 2004). When the band plays the song "Stand By Me", a Palauan old lady asked Mika to dance with me to the song.

It comes to my mind that one day, I will ask Willy to teach Mika so that she can experienced learning from a real and experienced drummer. The band also plays "House of The Rising Sun" by Animals.

After our 15-minute performance, we proceed to the PMCC for prayer meeting. Before the start of the meeting, I arrange to the emcee that I will sing "Amazing Grace" and Mika will do the drumming to expose her more to crowd.

We practiced for a few minutes and later, she gives chocolates to the breathren, who appreciates her generosity.

She's very confident when doing the drumming. She don't have stage fright which many beginners have hard time to overcome.

After the prayer meeting, one of the prayer request that we prayed together was the coming operation (bypass) of Mika's father in Japan.
Prayer is very powerful especially if being done together (corporate prayer).

Mika recorded our drums session to her cellphone: "Amazing Grace", "Close To You", "Stand By Me".

After one hour of drums lessons, she gave me an envelope with the payment in there and she said, "My drums teacher, thank you very much. I'm going back to Japan the day after tomorrow."

I WAS SHOCKED BY HER UNEXPECTED ANNOUNCEMENT.

She said the Taiwanese Rooms Director Dennis Tsai didn't passed her probation (3 months) and Nina, another Taiwanese Front Desk Manager wants the higher position that she feels insecure with Mika's talents and maybe afraid to be overshadowed.

She hugged me while crying for a few minutes. Now that she is enjoying Palau because of music, then this obstacle occurs.

WHEN I ADVISE HER A PART OF WHAT MY BEST FRIEND JOSELITO MARCOS HAVE TOLD ME A MONTH AGO, SHE SETTLED AND WAS AMAZED BY THESE SIMPLE WORDS:

"If a door closes, another one will open." "If the door at PRR closes for you, another one will open. Maybe in some other places."

She said goodbye to Bro. Gilbert Navarro and Bro. Ryan Carandang. She uses the church laptop to log in at Facebook and added me, Bro. Gilbert, Bro. Ryan and Bro. Alex Lumawon to her friends' list.

Later, Bro. Gilbert showed him the PMCC Churches in Japan, who is headed by Pastor Maya Cruz, who can speak fluent Japanese.

We are hoping that someday, she can attend to one of PMCC churches there and maybe found another teacher (drums and guitar). She told me that if she's good already at drums, she will ask me to teach her guitar next.

Inside the car in going back to PRR, I told her that she is a fast learner and she's got a lot of potential to be a good musician. She has plan to join me and Mr. Kurata to form an international band someday.

She hugged me for the last time at the entrance of Dormitory 1 of PRR. In my room, I read her notes in the envelope with $50.00 in it:
"Dear My Teacher!! Thank you very much for everything that you have done for me since I came here. Unfortunately, I have to leave. I had a tough time here, but I think that I was very lucky because I have met you. I found how fantastic music is. I will continue learning music whenever I will be, all over the world."
2013.5.11 MIKA TSUJI
on FB ... Mika Tsuji (Palau Koror)
email...shimihwa@gmail.com

I keep the letter and the $50.00 in my wallet. I don't intend to spend it.

She said she will come back to Palau as a tourist and maybe resume our drums lessons on every day that she is staying.

MATTA NE!


Source: Chess and Music
The Beginning of Chess In Palau
(To be published as a book in the future)