Wednesday 23 April 2008

From Malaysia Hall to Albert Hall?



When I read that Adik, Mak Andeh’s youngest wanted a piano, I immediately thought of my youngest. My Taufiq must have been about Adik’s age when he was introduced to the keyboard. He never showed any interest in music, only books, books and books. But at that time, we were always at Malaysia Hall – his siblings were either clearing tables or serving at the counter while he joined some students in the room at the back of the canteen of the old Malaysia Hall where they had an old keyboard.

I didn’t know that he had it in him – this interest in music. But Reza certainly knew how to teach him and within a few months, my little boy could produce this piece of beautiful music.

He made his debut in the hall when we had a jumble sale. In those days, there were a lot of activities going on. We persuaded Taufiq to play. He was quite nervous but as I watched his chubby little fingers dancing effortlessly across the keyboard, producing those lovely sounds, I must admit I cried a bit.

So, I got him a second hand keyboard. He never played it again seriously. And the keyboard is now somewhere behind the bed. But if I never get to see him play again, I am very thankful for this beautiful piece of music. Even if it is not perfect it is beautiful to the ears of his mama. Even if he didn’t make it to Albert Hall, he did it beautifully in Malaysia Hall.

So, MA, think about it.

35 comments:

MA said...

Kak Tehhhh....it's so beautiful that brings tears to my eyes! Aisehman, does that mean my Adik can also play beautiful pieces like this ??

Sayang Taufik tak pursue lagi ke piano tu - he plays it so well!

OK, am going to the music school this weekend!

Kak Teh said...

MA, hehe - he trained in the backroom of malaysia hall and that's the only piece yang dia tahu. Tak apalah - bila dia nibat kagi, he will take it up again.
Ya, take adik to the music school.

Kak Teh said...

ish, i mean minat lagi.

Unknown said...

Wah, good play! Like Coldplay some more :)

Kak Teh said...

psssst, akmal, what is Coldplay? or who?

wanshana said...

Kak Teh,

He played it so beautifully!!! And to think that he didn't have any formal lessons, and he could produce THAT! Just think what he could do if he were to take up piano lessons! Richard Clayderman pun sure berpeluh...

Was this at Bryanston Square? I never knew there was a piano there. Not that it would have made any difference to me, though. I don't play the instrument anyway :)

BRAVO to Taufik!

Anonymous said...

Kak Teh, Thumbs up for Taufik! Sedap dengar dia bermain piano. Ya, I agree with you Kak Teh, bila dengar anak-anak kita memainkan lagu di piano tu, air mata berlinang secara tiba-tiba. I supposed it a mother's thing kot.

From Newcastle with love.

Anonymous said...

Kak Teh, Thumbs up for Taufik! Sedap dengar dia bermain piano. Ya, I agree with you Kak Teh, bila dengar anak-anak kita memainkan lagu di piano tu, air mata berlinang secara tiba-tiba. I supposed it a mother's thing kot.

From Newcastle with love.

Madam Tai Tai Again said...

Kak Teh,

You must be proud of your gifted Taufiq.

My kids are not musically-oriented, just like their parents. We are a bit tone deaf, actually.

I know that Malaysia Hall at Bryanston Sq dah lama tak de. Is there a new one in replacement?

As a student many many years ago, I always longed to go to Malaysia Hall to get the cheapest set meal in the UK (tapi too poor to afford the train tickets). Sedap tak sedap is another matter..but the food almost always tasted great for someone deprived of her mum's cooking.

Pak Tuo said...

Salam Kak Teh,

hmmm...Royal School of Music kanke dibelakang Malaysian Hall,Maryborne Rd next to Madam Tusseau.
Very near wat?
still not latekan?

Remember, that out of tune ole'piano at Bryanston Sq.I think the key board is much recent added and the 50 pence meals before Halim's took over the cafe and an apples after dinner and melepak kat stage listining someone play a tune of two to wind up for the day.
Penniless,down home sick and hungry.
hmmm.....but HAPPY.

Mama Rock said...

oh kak teh, that is so sweet. when freddy started palying his guitar, he practiced the theme song from Friends sitcom as that's my favorite show. and one day i came back from work, he said "ma, listen up". played to the Friends tune, and that had me singing and dancing in the kitchen :)

Kak Teh said...

wanshana, i think Taufiq plunged dinto it - not knowing any musical notes. And suffice to say - that's the only piece of music he knows. Ya, i think he shd continue - we'll have to set up the keyboard again...but right now he is busy with exams.

Hi anon from Newcastle, thanks for dropping by. A few weeks ago - my other daughter surprised me with a short piece on Eric Clapton's - Do you know my name - i think that's the title...and i thought that was beautiful too.

Kak Teh said...

madam tai tai, malaysia hall dah pindah ke Queensborough terrace - in bayswater - it is much much smaller then the old one.I do miss the old one and the atmosphere there.

oh wanshana, abt the piano. It was a piano owned by the son of the friend who ran the canteen. There was an occassion when a piano/keyboard was required - so they brought it over and it remined there for sometime.

Kak Teh said...

Pak tu - hahaha a- yes, kalau macam tu - yes, malaysia hall right across the park from Albert hall - I really can't remember the old piano during Halim's time because I hardly went there at that time.

Mama Rock, oh the tune from friends - wow! that must be good. My daughter is now doing drums - african drums and can you imagine the noise??

MrsNordin said...

Seeing him play makes me want to start playing the piano again. Tapi itu lah, jari2 ni dah keras, K.Teh oii... Tengok jari si Taufik tu, senang je dia main. Effortlessly!

You know what's my dream? To play the piano like P.Ramlee in Getaran Jiwa. So when guests come over, I'll entertain them while they all gather around me. That'll be the day...!

Uncle said...

That reminds me of my second son Yuya. Nak sangat suruh beli goalkeeper gloves. Lepas beli the next day dah tak nak pakai!

I was in KL for 3 weeks, one day at KESAS highway ternampak satu kereta with Trengganu plate number advertising the GUIT kat cermin kereta! I am reading one now!

Kak Teh said...

Mrs Nordin, oh you can play the piano? wow! I can only play the CD! yes, Getaran Jiwa is beautiful - so haunting. The day my Taufiq can play that!
and when you do play Getaran Jowa, I want to be one of those standinga round your piano watching you play.


Uncle, well I have a list of things bought and now in the stsoreroom. Taufiq wanted a punch bag. I ordered one and now it is hanging outside in rain, shine and snow. goalkeeper gloves there's a plenty.
car advertising GUiT? I think I know who!

Happy reading GUiT unlce!

LifeBloom said...

K Teh: Its a beautiful piece...melancholy and haunting gitu. I remembered rushing through Old King Wenceslas at my first recital! I recently bought an electric piano - wanted to take up where I left off - menyesal did not pursue habis2xan dulu....at least until reached a respectable piano grade :-D

on a side issue - K Teh do you know K Azmi Talib? I just knew by chance that she has CA through her blog. I took a writing course with her in 2006. just wanted to know how she is.

You can e-mail me at tmti74@yahoo.com if u r not comfortable responding here. Thanks very much K Teh.

Anonymous said...

baca kak teh punya blog da mcm rutin!
haha =) seronok baca. how's everything in london?

Kak Teh said...

lifebloom, you are so talented! Boleh nyanyi, boleh main piano. So, do go on and get that grade!

On Azmi, yes I will email you. I met her briefly when i went back two years ago. I dont really know much more than what is written in the blog. I hope she is okay.

Kak Teh said...

haha, azizul menjelma lagi. London? well, London is gloomy. Two days ago I was in Brighton - it was like summer - ramai orang berjemur di pantai. Yesterday I was in Bath Spa - hmmmm cantik dan cuaca pun macam summer. London is looking better, but could be a lot better.

ms hart said...

Kak Teh, aaah the pride...what's new huh? It IS a mother thingy!!! I pun rasa nak nangis, Kak Teh!!

D said...

wonderful! Kalau dah 'sayang mama' - memang semuanya menyentuh kalbu... am i not right?

Kak Teh said...

ms hart, sometimes we mothers embarrass our children. Have you seen how parents behave at their children's concerts? Mak pak yang lebih2! haha!

D, ish macam mana nak kata...segalanya walaupun pincang dan sumbang, seperti halwa di telinga!

A Mature Student said...

You must be so proud of him. I know the feeling.

I hope he will start playing again after reading your post here. :)

Mustafa Şenalp said...

çok güzel bir site. :)

Kak Teh said...

clockwise, since I discovered the clip , i have been listening to it again and again. I will let him finish his exams first before persuading him to give another go.

mustafa, i dont know what it means, but thanks for the visit.

NorAiniJ said...

Salam Kak Teh, it’s been a while since I kaypochiing in the blogland, so what better place to rejuvenate myself than at this famous blog of yours..hehe

Ah so, Taufik does play piano beautifully as well…how sweet. Kak Teh, now that you had publicly exposed that masterpiece, make sure Taufik quickly seals it as his intellectual property. Just in case some smart aleck ciplak his IP and claims as his/hers pulak.

And please do share Taufik’s other masterpiece again after this ya.. Go Taufik Go!

Kak Teh said...

nj, kaypohiing or not, I did notice your absence. I too have been struggling with entries. and juggling with work.

I think that was Taufiq's first and last performance. And I don't even know what the piece is called and who the composer is. Does anyone know?

Lee said...

Hello Kak Teh, saya minta ma'af not inviting you for the dinner*wink*...I of course remember you and we did have a date before.
But this time I only copied the names from my past 3 postings only.
Will certainly invite you next dinner date and will present you a YSL or a Versace or Dior dress and Jimmy Choo court shoes. Howszat? Ha ha.
You stay easy and have a nice day, best regards, Lee.

Kak Teh said...

Lee, what a gentleman you are! You are here within seconds I came a knocking at your door. Dont worry abt Jimmy Choo shoes, I have enough of those but a Dior dress will be fine. Meantime I will diet to fit in whatever dress you get for me.

Unknown said...

Helloooo K Teh,

Aduhai, lama nya tak singgah. I have been occupied with a number of things and I pun macam you not as regular as before.

Wow! What talent that!! They say people who are musically oriented are good in maths..he he. But from what I read in your previous entries, Taufiq is quite an all rounder.

I love that name..Taufiq. What a beautiful name. One day I will tell you why...he he.

You keep well sweetheart.

P/s ketawa I baca comments between you and U Lee. Bagi lah Lee chan with cewet2 lain pula..he he.

Another thing I met JT in Malaysia. Fun.

Tunku Halim said...

Your son is very talented . . . it comes so naturally from him. Perhaps he doesn't need music school . . . just be self-taught like so many famous rock stars are!

Anonymous said...

Kak Teh,

My lil one also wants to take up piano lesson (and her god-grand father told me to find the finest school for her). The problem is, mummy dearest is too lazy to use the weekends to chauffer her here and there (rather spend time together at the library/book store like we always do).

But I know it is time I learn to let her grow...and go...

Kak Teh said...

ruby, before you commented, i was just thinking abt you.wondering where you are.
Ya, tell me abt your taufiq!
I am not sure my taufiq likes maths. He got by, that's all.

Tunku, perhaps i really shd get him interested again. He says he wants jazz now!

ms istanbul, so what are you waiting for - the best is out there and you have to start her now.