Learning Opportunities Through Failures

Cheng Pei Yun,
​Social Worker

Cheng Pei Yun performing on the Double Bass

WHO I am

I practice as a social worker in one of the voluntary welfare organisations in Singapore. In the course of my work, I have the privilege to work with families experiencing financial challenges and/or many other life challenges. I have learnt a lot about human resilience and strength from most of the people from these families.

​WHAT I do

Aside from the time practising as a social worker, I also set aside time to play the double bass in a two orchestras, namely the NUS Symphony Orchestra and the M'Ode Orchestra. I also maintain two personal blogs and have written pretty extensively on various heritage places in Singapore. In addition, I maintain a blog that seeks to provide news and resources for double bass enthusiasts in Singapore.
 
I look up to Leonardo da Vinci from the Renaissance period. He was multi-talented and if he were required to indicate his occupations, he will have a pretty long list to write. He was a polymath, painter, sculptor, architect, musician, mathematician, engineer, anatomist and so forth. 
 
I aspire to be multi-talented, like Leonardo da Vinci. Other than serving as a social worker, I would like to serve the community at large as an artist, a double bassist, a heritage blogger, a museum enthusiast, a travel-writer, a barista, a pizza chef, a novice webpage designer and so forth. 
 
At this stage of my life, I am still exploring what are the avenues that would allow me to best express myself and to serve.
 
Blog sites:
http://oceanskies79places.blogspot.sg
http://oceanskies79.blogspot.sg
http://dbassists.blogspot.sg
 
Teach a Life, for Life Project
When my friend, Eileen, approached me to collaborate in the Teach a Life, for Life Project, I wondered how would an ordinary person like myself have anything worthwhile to share. I was of the opinion that there were a lot more people out there who were in much better position to share their life-lessons to benefit others. 
 
One thing for sure, in the course of my work, I have met many clients who have inspired me with their resilience and strength of character. Most of them are not well-known personalities yet every one of them live extraordinary lives. They will have a lot more worthwhile life lessons to share than I do!
 
Somehow, perhaps in a spark of ingenuity, it came to my realization that every seemingly ordinary person actually lives an extraordinary life that is special in his or her own ways. Even in an extraordinary ordinary life, we will each have some meaningful and inspiring stories to share with the rest of humanity.
 
Special thanks to Eileen for her constant coaxing and affirmations. In support of her vision to encourage people from all walks of life to share our stories and pass forward our life lessons learned to better the lives of others. I shall start by sharing a mere snippet of my life lessons that is related to promoting music for the double bass ensemble in Singapore.

 
WHY I do
Significant moments
 
The power of inspirations:
During my undergraduate years, during one of the events of the Singapore Arts Festival 2000, I have had the opportunity to attend a masterclass and a concert by the French double bass ensemble, L'Orchestre de Contrebasses. This French double bass ensemble inspired me deeply with their soulful music, acrobatic showmanship, choreographed stage-light effects and creative programming.  I was totally fascinated to experience first-hand the various possibilities that a double bass ensemble could achieve. The experience had also made me more aware of the versatility and virtuosity of the double bass.
 
After that brief yet significant acquaintance with L'Orchestre de Contrebasses, I found myself even more inspired to improve on my playing of the double bass. I started having aspirations to form my own double bass ensemble to promote music for the double bass in Singapore.
​

L'Orchestre de Contrebasses in Singapore in the year 2000

​Good mentors matter:
Thanks to the guidance and vision of the then double bass tutor of the NUS Symphony Orchestra, Mr Guennadi Mouzyka, I collaborated with some of my sectional mates from the NUS Symphony Orchestra and started performing music scored for the double bass ensemble. It was fun and engaging. We gave ourselves the challenge and performed I. Berlin's Ragtime (arranged by Guennadi Mouzyka) scored for a double bass quartet in the year 2001 at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Theatrette (LT13). We probably were one of the first double bass ensembles to have performed in the campus grounds of National University of Singapore!
 
The quest for mastery:
In the hope to perform music that demonstrates the versatility and virtuosity of the double bass, as an individual, I have been seeking to improve on musicality and music performance on the double bass.
 
In the year 2006, I started taking private double bass lessons from Mr Jacek Mirucki.  
 
Experiencing hard-knocks:
The quest to improve on musicality and music performance on the double bass was bounded with occasional challenges. In the year 2007, I sat for a music examination known as the Diploma of the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music, Music Performance, Double Bass and did not pass. Although I had practiced extensively for the music diploma examination that year, I had failed in it.
 
Although I was aware I did not perform well in the sight-reading component, I thought I could at least manage to score a pass. Just the year before, in the year of 2006, I passed the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music's Grade 8 Double Bass Practical Exams with a distinction. I learnt that scoring a distinction in the Grade 8 practical exams did not guarantee that I would pass the subsequent music diploma examination. 
 
Academically wise, I have never failed in major examinations, be it Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE), GCE "O" levels or GCE "A" levels or at university level. Having to fail in the music diploma examinations was a very humbling experience. Through this failure, I have learnt to practice the art of failing gracefully.

 
LESSONS LEARNT
Failures are learning opportunities:

Thankfully, looking back, while I have received a 'fail' grade in the music diploma examination back in the year 2007, I have come to learn that this does not mean that I am a failure in life. I am aware that I have had the good support of family, friends and tutors. I have learnt the value of encouragements and positive support.
 
Remember to count our blessings:
​
One of my friends who have so generously played the piano accompaniment for my music diploma examinations in the year 2007 gave encouraging words and morale support. Another friend made the time to lend me morale support to continue to pursue my endeavours in music. There were many other friends who gave their encouragements. I am thankful for the generous support and encouragements that these friends and many others have given me unconditionally. They reminded me of my goals and to take steps to achieve my goals despite the setbacks.
 
Although 2007 was the year I have received my first 'fail' grade in a major examination, it was a year with many wonderful opportunities to be thankful for. In the preceding year of 2006, I have had the privilege to form a new double bass ensemble called d'Bassists with a few of my fellow friends who play the double bass. On 10 Jan 2007, we performed I. Berlin's Ragtime (arranged by Guennadi Mouzyka) scored for a double bass quartet at the NUS Theatrette (LT13). That concert felt like a deja vu experience. Memories of performing in a double bass quartet at the same venue several years ago flashed back in my mind. I was reminded of my aspirations to form a Singapore-based double bass ensemble so as to promote music for the double bass in Singapore.
 
On 30 and 31 May 2007, thanks to the invitation of the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, Singapore's performing arts centre, d'Bassists performed at the Esplanade Presents: At the Concourse: Basso Bravo! To prepare for the concert, d’Bassists received guidance from Mr Guennadi Mouuzyka.

d’Bassists performing Tony Osborne’s Blues-Style on 31 May 2007:
http://dbassists.blogspot.sg/2007/06/tony-osbornes-blues-style-1981.html
 
Blog site:
http://dbassists.blogspot.sg

Basso Bravo! Concert at the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay

Persevere and continue to take steps to reach our goals:
​
To work towards my goals of improving musicality and music performance on the double bass, I set aside time to practice on a regular basis. I took up music theory classes and continued to attend as many double bass related recitals or concerts that are held in Singapore.
 
My efforts paid off, in the year 2009, I earned a pass in and obtained the Diploma of the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music, Music Performance, Double Bass. There is possibly no short-cut in making good music. To make good music, it is essential to have good practice, good practice and more good practice.
 
In 2013, I have formed another double bass ensemble named BASSically with a few of my friends.
 
BASSically performing Kurt Weill’s Youkali Tango, arranged by Ben Faes for double bass trio, performed in 2014:
http://youtu.be/C7orGm9XZE4
 

Words of Wisdom
I would like to quote the words of Winston Churchill, "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
 
In life, there will be ups and downs. When we encounter obstacles or failures in our life, let us choose to embrace these obstacles or failures. There is a quote by Friedrich Nietzsche that goes "That which does not kill us makes us stronger".
 
Today, even though I have humbly scored a 'fail' in a major music examination, I have also gained a lot of opportunities to perform many works written for the double bass. I continue to strive to be better in playing music and spreading the joy of music with each passing day.
 
Concluding, perhaps achievement is not solely measured by what we have gained or obtained in our lives. Achievement could also be measured by the choices that we have decided to make even when we seem to have lost almost everything or have failed.
 
The next time we know of a loved one or friend who has failed or have seemed to lose, remember the value of our encouragements and support too.

d’Bassists, a local double bass ensemble, making its first debut on 10 Jan 2007
in Journey Through Time, one of the ExxonMobil Campus Concerts production
​held at the NUS Theatrette

MUSIC
 
Dreamer's Mind
Lyrics by Eileen Chai & Ben Kranen
Music by Eileen Chai
 
Verse 1
Look inside, I’m ordinary
But is this me & you, we can change lives
Everyone, run for tomorrow
We are all special, now tell the others
 
Verse 2
Aspirations, create a new way
Beat to the ragtime, saves the day
Rhyming sounds of double basso
It’s time we take the stage
 
Chorus
Take your chances, make that first step
This is your life, be all you can be
Winds are changing, new beginnings
We are angels with dreamer's mind
 
Verse 3
Footsteps disappear
We find our way back, humbling heart
Yellow birds, sing our songs
We’re dancing up the sun
 
Verse 4
Silver rain, kissing softly
We touch the sky, with trembling hand
Summer comes, smells of dandelions
We breathe, we run & sing
 
Chorus
Take your chances, make that first step
This is your life, be all you can be
Winds are changing, new beginnings
We are the angels with dreamer's mind