(1472) MUSIC AND ME (Nov. 09, 2017) SAMANTHA TSAO--WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO? -Guitar, Piano, Chess, Vocalizing and now Ukulele

USING UKULELE AS VIOLIN
     I've been teaching Samantha Tsao guitar, piano, chess, vocalizing and now ukulele since 2015. This photo was taken in March 11, 2016 where she pretends to play a violin using a ukulele and my pointing stick. I never thought that ukulele will be added to the list of musical instruments that I can play and teach. IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO LEARN NEW THINGS...


                   SAMANTHA TSAO --
              WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO?
          Guitar, Piano, Chess, Vocalizing,
                      and now Ukulele

In December 2016, I was about to write Noel Tsao, the mother of my guitar, piano, chess and now ukulele student Samantha Tsao, this...
    "Dear Noel, Sam never ceases to amaze me every time I teach her. Although she is not focus most of the time, the talent in her is oozing in every category.
     My latest discovery of her talent is about harmonizing with Christmas songs. It will take time for ordinary kid or even adults to sing the 2nd voice of a song or harmonize for short.
    When we are singing a Christmas song, I sang the 2nd voice and she sang the main or first voice. Then I try to push her if she can sing 2nd voice. AND SHE DID!
    Very few kids/adults can do voicing or harmonizing up to 3rd voice. I can sing 3rd voice if I can hear the 1st and 2nd voice of a song. This time, because Sam can sing the 2nd voice, I was able to sing the 3rd voice of that Christmas song. 
    I was amazed by the talent in Sam. What else can she do? 
    IF I AM LUCKY TO HAVE SHANE ABELLERA AS MY BEST GUITAR STUDENT, I AM MORE LUCKY TO HAVE SAM AS MY MOST MULTI-TALENTED STUDENT!"

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2016/12/1311-music-and-me-sept-08-2016-lucky-to.html

     Unfortunately, I was not able to write this letter and still I continue to discover more talents in Sam.
     She is the only music student of mine that I can teach songs that I never thought would be learned by a young student like Sam. She can play "Hopelessly Devoted To You, Open Arms, La Isla Bonita, Joy To The World by Three Dog Night, Hawaiian Medly of Baby Blue, Pearly Shells, Blue Hawaii and Tiny Bubbles; Swing Medley of Around The World, All of Me, More, Paper Roses and Hello Dolly.
    Lately this month, Black is Black, Hotel California in Bm (in guitar, I'm teaching her in Am for easier strumming), 

When I started to teach Cole Abellera chess, I always have Sam as his training partner. Sam has talent also in chess! I used to test their skills by solving chess puzzles (mate in 3 moves). They are equal with solving chess puzzles. Sometimes Cole is better, the next time it's Sam. I tried to convince them to try joining the regular chess tournaments of Palau Chess Federation whether in Standard, Rapid or Blitz time control but they are still shy and don't like to explore/play with other players (young and old, men or women or juniors) with varying chess skills. 

I started to teach Arthur Surangel ukulele in Jan. 13, 2018. He's got a new ukulele with a manual that indicates that tune of the 4 strings of it -- G C E A and the chords C, C7, F, G, A, Am, A7, etc.

Actually, I don't know how to play ukulele yet at the first time that I'm teaching Arthur. Thanks to the manual. It's not hard to learn like guitar or piano.

It became one of the extra source of income to me now. I suggested to Mommy Keiko, Sam's grandma, that I will teach Sam 45 minutes piano and 15 minutes ukulele.

I borrowed Sam's ukulele and it's the one I am using when teaching Arthur, Ngederong and their girl relative when I taught them last Friday, Jan. 12 from 3:45 pm.


Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               December 29, 2002 -- January 22, 2018

               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 -- January 22, 2018

               The History of Chess in Palau 
               By Roberto Hernandez
               June 09, 2002-- January 22, 2018

(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

(1311) MUSIC AND ME (Sept. 15, 2016) LUCKY TO HAVE SHANE ABELLERA --My Best Guitar Student!

WE BOTH LIKE CLASSIC AND OLD SONGS
     I've never had a guitar student as talented and well-educated, with music of the 60's, 70's and 80's as Shane Abellera. I learned more from him than all my guitar students combined! I'm very lucky to have a student like him.
                              (Photo by Shane Abellera)



LUCKY TO HAVE SHANE ABELLERA-
          My Best Guitar Student!

When I teach guitar to Brandon Kyle Lagmay Soriano, I was recommended by the mother of one of my girl keyboard  students. I charge him the same as that girl -- $8.00/hour if it is twice a week.

Kyle's parents, Bruce and Violet Soriano, then recommended me to teach Shane Abellera and his cousin Samantha Tsao.

When I talk to her mom, Noel, about the day and time of their music lessons, she said, "You're a very busy man." It's because I told her my hectic schedule from Monday-Saturday with Japanese, Filipinos, Palauans, Taiwanese - including the Minister of Taiwan Embassy Joseph Ma.

We agreed on teaching Shane and Sam at Shane's house on Friday-- 2:30-3:30 for Sam and 3:30-4:30 to Shane and then I will proceed to teach Kyle guitar at 5-6pm.

On the next day, Saturday morning, one hour each again for Sam - 8-9am and Shane 9-10am.

I tried teaching Sam guitar on Fridays and keyboard on Sat. and it works well. Sam has learned guitar earlier so she's much better than Kyle.

When I teach Shane keyboard, the result is discouraging. He's really not for keyboard or piano. I also discovered that Shane is a Beatles fanatic. He's got a thick book with all Beatles songs and the years of those songs. I have many hand-write songs of the Beatles -- about 67, and many of those, I don't know the years that those are written.



  





One of the most interesting story I've learned from Shane is this epic story of Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sounds of Silence". 

  

 

HERE ARE SOME OF SHANE'S REPERTOIRE:

1. American Pie (Don McClean)
2. Across The Universe (Beatles)
3. A Day In The Life (Beatles)
4. Act Naturally (Beatles)
5. A Little Help from my Friends (Beatles)
6. Jambalaya (Carpenters, Hank Williams)
7. The Lady Wants To Know (Michael Franks)
8. Uptown Girl (Billy Joel)
9. Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da (Beatles)
10. Two of Us (Beatles)
11. Rocky Racoon (Beatles)
12. Golden Slumbers (Beatles)
13. Rock N Roll Music (Beatles)
14. A Little Help From my Friends (Beatles)
15. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Beatles)
16. Hotel California (Eagles)
17. I'm A Believer (The Monkeys)
18. Lost in Love (Air Supply)
19. Free Fallin'
20. Mud on the Tire (Bradley Pease)
21. Surfin' USA (Beach Boys)
22. California Girls (Beach Boys)
23. Don't Be Cruel (Elvis Presley)
24. Take Me Home, Country Roads (John Denver)
25. Oh Carol (Neil Sedaka)
26. Live and Let Die (Paul McCartney and Wings)
27. Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Queen)
28. We Are The Champions (Queen)
29. I Can't Get No Satisfaction (Rolling Stones)
30. Black Magic Woman (Santana)
31. Top of The World (Carpenters)
32. Everyday (Buddy Holly and the Crickets)
33. In My Life (Beatles)
34. Crocodile Rock (Elton John)
35. Hound Dog (Elvis Presley)
36. Daydream Believer (The Monkeys)
37. Always on my Mind (Willie Nelson)
38. It's Nice to be With You (The Monkeys) 
39. I Wanna Be Free (The Monkeys)
40.Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond)
41. Love on the Rocks (Neil Diamond)
42. Day Tripper (Beatles)
43. Help (Beatles)
44. Annie's Song (John Denver)
45. Sunshine on my Shoulder (John Denver)
46. Ben (Michael Jackson)
47. The Gambler (Kenny Rogers)
48. Coward of the County (Kenny Rogers)
49. Woman (John Lennon)
50. Jailhouse Rock (Elvis Presley)
51. Proud Mary (Creedence Clearwater Revivial)
52. Homeward Bound (Simon and Garfunkel)
53. Wonderful Christmastime
54. Pipes of Peace (Paul McCartney)
55. Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash)
56. Let It Be (Beatles)
57. Yesterday (Beatles)
58. Oh My Love (John Lennon)
59. Nowhere Man (Beatles)
60. Stray Heart (Green Day)
61. Good Riddance (Time of your Life) (Green Day)
62. Dahil sa Iyo (Filipino song)
63. Happy Christmas (War is Over) John Lennon
64. Last Christmas (Wham!)
65. Ghost Riders in the Sky (Johnny Cash)       




Sources: 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 -- December 11, 2016