The Sound of Music

A lack of formal music background didn’t deter Tan Ou Wen from learning to play the piano by ear and performing at his school’s lunchtime concerts.

As a Primary Six student, Tan Ou Wen wasn’t interested in playing games during recess, unlike many of his friends. Instead, he would grab a quick bite at the canteen before heading to the music room, where a teacher would be demonstrating how to play the piano. He was curious about the instrument as he didn’t have one at home.

These informal music sessions were held daily and open to anyone interested. As the teacher played the piano, Ou Wen would observe and memorise her finger positioning on the keys.

“After school, I would try playing the piano in the school hall,” Ou Wen says. “I knew when I had made a mistake as the note wouldn’t sound right.”

He stuck to this routine and in two weeks, he taught himself to play his first piece, “Canon in D” by German composer Johann Pachelbel. His teacher was surprised when he played it for her; she didn’t realise he could play. She got him to perform for the entire class during music lesson.   

Playing by ear seemed to work well for Ou Wen and he didn’t feel the need to take up formal piano lessons.

The Chong Boon Secondary student bought a digital keyboard about a year ago and has been practising every day. It’s part of his daily routine, he says, and he finds it relaxing. 

Ou Wen has expanded his repertoire to include a wide variety of songs – from R&B to rock music to popular Chinese hits. When he hears a song that he likes, he scours the internet for free video tutorials. Ou Wen also gets some tips from his music teacher.

What’s more, he has found friends who share his passion in music. They formed a six-member band called The Order of the Sixes, with Ou Wen on keyboard. The band has performed at the school’s monthly lunchtime concerts and Teachers’ Day celebrations – covering popular radio hits each time. They’ve won a few fans among the school crowd, who would record their performances to share on group messaging apps.

Even though Ou Wen can’t read a piano score, he’s managed to master challenging pieces such as Coldplay’s chart-topping “Viva la Vida”. His music teacher says that with some guidance Ou Wen will be able to pick up theory knowledge quickly. Ou Wen plans to pursue music after secondary school and has his heart set on becoming a music teacher so that he can share his love for the piano with others.

Want to play the piano but don’t know where to start? Ou Wen has some tips for you.

#1: Know the song well

Familiarise yourself with the song. This means knowing the tune so well that you can tell immediately when you hit the wrong note.

#2: Don’t just memorise the finger positions

I have taught friends who play the piano solely by memorising the finger positions on the keys. But I notice they tend to forget which note comes next after a while. You should listen for chord patterns to understand the structure of the song.                      

#3: Coordinate both hands

Most beginners find it hard to play the piano because they can’t coordinate the movements of both hands. Keep practising with your weaker hand. Start off slow and focus on playing accurately without having to stop and correct a mistake.