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 7th 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 4th 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 1st 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
