Music Demands

"Prayer is when you talk to God. Meditation is when you listen for God. Music lets you do both."

I don't know who said that, but I do know that there is some truth in that saying.


[Side note: Yes, that --> is a picture of my flute. Photo taken with a friend partner during a photography class. ^^]



It had been a particularly stressful day, due to my Panel Audition for the piano. This is the top advanced category of MTAC's Certificate of Merit (CM), compared to the "regular" 10 levels.


Last year I miraculously passed for the first level, and this year, I aimed to pass the second "grade" (obviously). In all, I think there are four levels total, with the ever-shrinking number of students allowed to pass. In short, the possibility of passing is pretty slim.


However, God, in His great mercy, granted me favor from the judges, who gave me the thumbs up to proceed to the next level. This year, I was again faced with that same anxiety, needless to say, since the competition only gets harder as you get higher. Thank God again for giving me the favor of getting fairly "nice/friendly" judges, which really helps qualm my jittery nerves. I'm not sure if I passed or not, since the results won't come out until after a week or so...but the suspense!



On another note, I've given up the results up to God. If He sees fit that I pass, then He'll make a way. But until then, I shall be diligently studying for my piano theory (written test) on Thursday. *sigh* This is my third time taking it. And no, I didn't fail on any one of the two. I'm much too Asian for that. xD I passed on both, but my piano teacher wants me to get a higher score, so I can be exempt from the test altogether. If I pass (that's a big IF right there), then I won't have to take the theory ever again!


We shall see.


The studious Asian musician who should be studying instead of writing this post,

A Coming-of-Age Ceremony

I attended the Bat Mitzvah of a good friend yesterday--a very close friend. How close? As close as our names can be! In other words, we have the same name. That sure gives me an inkling of kindred comrade. I'll call her as "Star" here.


For those who don't know what a Bat Mitzvah is, let me describe it for you.

Bat Mitzvah literally means "daughter of commandment". The word "bat" means "daughter" in Aramaic, which was the commonly spoken language of the Jewish people (and much of the Middle East) from about 500 B.C.E. to 400 C.E. The word "mitzvah" is Hebrew for "commandment".


The term "Bat Mitzvah" refers to two things: When a girl reaches twelve-years-old, she becomes a "bat mitzvah" and is recognized by Jewish tradition as having the same rights as an adult. She is now morally and ethically responsible for her decisions and actions. The term "Bat Mitzvah" also refers to a religious ceremony that accompanies a girl becoming a Bat Mitzvah. Often, a celebratory party will follow the ceremony. That party is also called a bat mitzvah.

[For boys, they would have a Bar Mitvah at the age of thirteen.]

If you want to know the history of the Bat Mitzvah, read more about it here. The quote above was also taken from that site.


The ceremony was beautifully orchestrated--I wasn't the only one moved. And for those who know me in real life, I'm not the kind of person who easily shows deep emotions. Star showed her achievement of her parents' challenge--to memorize the entire chapters of Matthew 5, 6, and 7! I wasn't the only one impressed, I can tell you that.


It was an outdoor ceremony. In their backyard, to be specific. They put up a canopy, and set dozens of portable chairs on the lawn. They even got a jumper for the younger attendees! The theme: Disney's "Frozen". Quaint, but cute.


Star's parents each told on how my friend had been such a positive influence and blessing in their lives. Her older sister sang a Chinese song, dedicated for her. Her younger sister did an adorable version of Frozen's "Let It Go". Tears were freely shown, I might add. [Hey, we have the right to be more relaxed among our friends!] The purity necklace that she got was beautiful (as well as economical, she later told me). It was a gold-plated circle with a heart in the middle. As her mom said, "exactly what she thought a purity necklace should look like."

The fathers, representing their families, laid hands on Star and prayed their individual blessing on her. All of us (her friends), read our blessing cards to her. We laughed and cried together, especially at the end, when my same-name friend read her thank-you speech. I'm not ashamed to admit that I broke down (inwardly) when she did (outwardly).


The food that followed was just as amazing as the ceremony itself. I was told that her mom got up at four in the morning to prepare all that food! The rest of the day was spent in sweet fellowship (the formal word for 'socializing'). xD


All in all, I am again reminded just how much we have to be thankful for. Life may hold dread for some, but for the rest of us, we can rest assured that our Heavenly Father has planned out amazing things to happen in each of our lives.

The Lord is good!

School, SAT, and Stress

I've been so busy recently with much school-related studying, especially with my SAT coming up. Yes, it's my first time taking it, and no, I didn't take the PSAT--which makes me really nervous, obviously.I'd need a lot of prayer for that, especially since I also have music commitments.

I have my annual piano competition/test a week before my SAT testing date, and after that, a flute recital. Yes, those three events are causing me a lot of stress and worry. If I survive the next few months, it'll be a miracle in itself! However, I have to remember that "with God, nothing is impossible". Nonetheless, I shall do my best. But until then, I'd really appreciate your support and prayer. Thank you! <3

[See Post a Prayer Request, my other blog.]

Student in progress...

Life is a Miracle

On this Saturday morning, I was rudely woken up by the phone. I groaned. My brother had just changed the ring tone the day before, and it was not a pleasant sound to wake up to. Stumbling out my warm, comfy bed, I ambled down the stairs, just in time to pick up the phone before the ringing stopped.

I glanced at the caller ID. Oh, it's Dad. I knew that my dad was going to drive my mom over to her weekend writing retreat early in the morning, and was calling to make sure I was awake. "Hello, Dad?" I rubbed my eyes, still groggy.

"You up yet, hon?"

"Just did." I yawned.

"How about the boys?"

"No. I'm the only one awake right now." I looked at the clock and groaned. 8:45.

"Well, I'm around twenty minutes away from home."

"Okay."

"Oh, and Auntie S. gave birth today."

Now I was wide awake. "Really?! That's great!" I peppered him with questions. "Is it a boy or girl? When was the birth? How much did it weight? Is Auntie S. all right?"

He laughed at my excitement. "Yes, she's all right! It's a boy, and from what Mom said, he weights around 5 pounds, 12 ounces. I don't know any other details."

"So Uncle M. and Auntie S. hasn't chosen a name for him yet?"

"Not that I know of. I'll be home soon, and Isaac and Titus might be coming over, so make sure the house is ready." [Isaac and Titus are our young cousins, Uncle M. and Auntie S.'s sons.]

"Okay, Dad. Drive safely!"

So that was basically how the conversation went, to the best of my memory. I trotted upstairs to jot the big news down while it was still fresh in my mind.

It was later on, when my uncle dropped Isaac and Titus off at noon, did I get all the details I wanted. Apparently, they were planning to name the baby boy Calvin; which, otherwise, if it had been a girl, would've been an Eleanor. 

So here I am, sitting next to my sleeping toddler cousin and writing this little story.
As Albert Einstein once said: "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." And I agree with George Bernard Shaw when he said: "Miracles, in the sense of phenomena we cannot explain, surround us on every hand: life itself is the miracle of miracles."

Once again, I am struck by just how great our God is. Truly, He is the sole Giver of life, and nothing else can do what He does: ex nihilo. [Latin: from nothing] 

Soli Deo gloria! [Latin: to God alone be the glory!]