You Play A What?

On this episode we speak about the relationship between the mind and the body. The effects of Placebo and Nocebo and how it affects our ability to get into peak performance mode.

Does chicken essence make you feel more alert and energetic for your exams? Does a $200 bottle of wine taste better than a $20 bottle?

Apologies on the delay this week, but there is going to be an episode!!

From last week's episode with @cokohnut where we spoke briefly about career burnout, made me think about "serious" hobbies or a side hustle and how it can help us with our primary pursuit.

On this episode we will talk about what is considered a serious hobby, the difference in mentality between an Athlete and a Nerd, and how the choice of hobby can help us do our primary job better.

Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of the podcast! You can get in touch with me through https://www.youplayawhat.com . Subscribe and share this podcast with your friends if you enjoyed the episode. Feel free to leave a rating and review on which ever platform you choose to listen to your podcast!

In this episode of YPAW I spoke with Singapore Chinese Orchestra's 阮 (Ruan) musician, Koh Min Hui. One would argue that Min Hui's career trajectory is as smooth as it can be, winning her job with the orchestra at the age of 21, straight out of her Bachelors degree course at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. Apart from her work with the orchestra, Min Hui is also a passionate teacher that works with students of various age groups and is a tutor for the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra.

We spoke about:
1. Some of the non-music related skillset required for one to survive a job in the orchestra
2. Her thoughts and observation regarding suffering from burnout as a professional musician
3. The advice she will give to a student looking to pursue a career in music
4. What it means to be part of a generation of exception Chinese Music Instrumentalist

To find out more about Min Hui's work, you can find her information below:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cokohnut/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minhuiuhnim

Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of the podcast! You can get in touch with me through https://www.youplayawhat.com . Subscribe and share this podcast with your friends if you enjoyed the episode. Feel free to leave a rating and review on which ever platform you choose to listen to your podcast!

It is the event that keeps my job relevant, the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation just around the corner, I have decided to dedicate this episode of YPAW to all my students who are participating in SYF AP 2021. Due to the pandemic, the SYF this year is unlike any of the previous SYF, and I hope to share with all participants that it is usually unlike it this year.

In this episode, I spoke about the changes that I have observed in the Singapore Youth Festival over the years, my personal experiences of participating in the Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging and finally some tips to prepare for these final few weeks of SYF!

Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of the podcast! You can get in touch with me through https://www.youplayawhat.com . Subscribe and share this podcast with your friends if you enjoyed the episode. Feel free to leave a rating and review on which ever platform you choose to listen to your podcast!

My guest today is indeed the man that puts on his pink uniform every morning and delivers your favourite bubbletea or McGriddles. Yes, it’s the Famous Amos, the man himself, Amos Chiya (probably enough food items for now).

Prior to his return to Singapore in the late 2020 due to the ongoing pandemic, Amos was living in Russia and was working as a guest conductor with several orchestras in the region. Having spent a good number of years away from Singapore, he has found it challenging to navigate a volatile arts scene and has started working as a food deliveryman. His video and article on TODAY has been shared across many countries and by many. But it seems like his days as a food deliveryman are numbered, as he has confirmed his trip to Japan to work with Maestro Riccardo Muti and a return to Russia for some conducting work.

On this episode, we talked about his time living in Russia, his thoughts about conducting symphonic repertoire, operas and ballet. We also spoke about the frustrations that a young music graduate might face in Singapore, his pep talk for a young person planning to pursue music professionally, and his intended outcome behind his article. This has been a great conversation that took me by surprise!

Website: https://amoschiya.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amoschiya/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqMUjhqNDJFVDeBiXVrBvJA
His Article: https://www.todayonline.com/gen-y-speaks/gen-y-speaks-i-was-conductor-opera-houses-around-world-till-covid-19-hit-now-i-deliver

Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of the podcast! You can get in touch with me through https://www.youplayawhat.com . Subscribe and share this podcast with your friends if you enjoyed the episode. Feel free to leave a rating and review on which ever platform you choose to listen to your podcast!

This is yet another rant, and today it is regarding the recent announcement pertaining to the formation of the first ever Singapore university of the arts. In this episode, I am not discussing what sort of curriculum will benefit the students because I feel like at this point in my life I am still figuring this out.

What I would address in this episode is how we react to negativity that surrounds our work, such as internet trolls, people with conflicting ideologies to you, people who do not understand what is it that you do and why you do what you do. Having a new university centred around the arts is fantastic, but it is important for students to not treat this university as a career centre for arts. That if you enrolled into the school you are guaranteed to get a job and be successful.

Emma's article: https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/features/juilliard-modernize-classical-music-education-1134208/?fbclid=IwAR0sHfby9ieZeBxm5bdQh8xBjfIC0BYokhkUMp5UxESkMS2zsSntWx9lVXI
Will's Facebook Post: https://www.facebook.com/WilliamFed/posts/10158617398236154
The Entrepreneurial Musician: https://open.spotify.com/show/0nIrJVCNKtsdFnMYjcQ8bH?si=zur3cUNQQj6mwPuJr_A-cw
Crushing Classical (with Brian O'Neill): https://open.spotify.com/episode/1P0gMyIpLjtr4bvCQvMJ7r?si=0BVXx_98RLqYaA9BngRKOQ

Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of the podcast! You can get in touch with me through https://www.youplayawhat.com . Subscribe and share this podcast with your friends if you enjoyed the episode. Feel free to leave a rating and review on which ever platform you choose to listen to your podcast! 

This week on YPAW, I am joined by long time friend Clement Lim who is currently based in Berlin, Germany. The relationship between Clement and I haven't always been cordial, he have had our differences when we were a few years younger. But I would say it is mostly me who took offense to his words and actions...

Fast forward a couple of years, loads has happened and we continued to stay in touch whenever we can. Clement has spent the last 6-7 years in Germany, living in Hannover, Nurnberg, Essen and recently relocated to Berlin. In this episode we spoke about his year trips to Taiwan, the decision to move to another city in the middle of his Bachelor's Degree course and his mindset shift on approaching music and work after living abroad for a few years and the reason why he started his 100 days challenge....

Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of the podcast! You can get in touch with me through https://www.youplayawhat.com . Subscribe and share this podcast with your friends if you enjoyed the episode. Feel free to leave a rating and review on which ever platform you choose to listen to your podcast!

This week on YPAW I am joined by long time friend, Lim An Chun. A larger than life character that seems to draw people to him, An Chun possess fantastic rapport with most people. He might even bump into a friend in London, that is how far his network would stretch. 

An Chun has had a really interesting musical journey that is full of ups and downs, but for those who know him well, one thing is for sure, and that is he is not one to give up easily. He has suffered plenty of setbacks, but I am happy to say that things seems to be on the upward trajectory except that he was tested positive for Covid-19 towards the end of 2020 but I am happy to say that he is close to 100% now and all seems well!

On this episode, we spoke about his experience and the recovery process after being tested positive for Covid-19, spending Chinese New Year abroad, the difficulties he faced when auditioning for music college, the key mentors in his life and some of his pedagogical concepts. 

Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of the podcast! You can get in touch with me through https://www.youplayawhat.com . Subscribe and share this podcast with your friends if you enjoyed the episode. Feel free to leave a rating and review on which ever platform you choose to listen to your podcast!

On this episode, I talk about the topic of regarding Fear of Failure in students that we interact with on a regular basis. How did this mindset of fear (in general, not just in failure) manage to get instilled into us? As CCA instructors and coaches, what can we do to add value into the student's lives and allow them to explore these other skill sets that are not always required in the world that judges student on individual performance in an exam? Happy to hear from my fellow coaches and instructors!

Stop Stealing Dreams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXpbONjV1Jc&t=499s
Report on Fear of Failure from PISA: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/2f9d3124-en.pdf?expires=1612312397&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=D870756E3E2641547D0E084FAA357F02
Seth's Book: https://seths.blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/stop-stealing-dreams6print.pdf

Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of the podcast! You can get in touch with me through https://www.youplayawhat.com . Subscribe and share this podcast with your friends if you enjoyed the episode. Feel free to leave a rating and review on which ever platform you choose to listen to your podcast!

Welcome back to the continuation of my interview with Nicholas Ong and Terrence Wong, co-host of the Crafting Musical Lives Podcast. In the previous episode, we spoke about the the living situation in the UK and how it has affected the arts and their day to day life. They also shared their musical journeys and the difference between university and conservatory education.

On this episode we spoke about detaching ourselves from our work, how they conceived Crafting Musical Lives and the work that goes on behind each episode, interacting with experts in a subject matter. Finally, can music be deemed as a universal language? Tune in the find out!

Do check out their podcast below:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2UXIZR4BBD3Vg9jbMHtylR?si=4KiJilbOQbKb12EQqtT6iQ
Website: https://www.craftingmusicallives.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftingmusicallives/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CraftingMLives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craftingmlives/

Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of the podcast! You can get in touch with me through https://www.youplayawhat.com . Subscribe and share this podcast with your friends if you enjoyed the episode. Feel free to leave a rating and review on which ever platform you choose to listen to your podcast!