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So good to see her get Ready to fly!

25/9/2020

Every year I send year 12 kids off in term 2 (if they don’t do music for HSC), some in term 3 (if they are the music 1 or music 2 kids).

By then almost 100% of them will all have been with me for a very a very long period of time.

Millie hasn’t been with me long but she has accomplished so much in the past 15 months. I see her so often during the pandemic that I only need to have one look at her on zoom I will know it’s a hooray day or an OH OH time. I post her so often to Taiwanese community I honestly think she will get recognized in Chatswood or Taiwan.

Some kids I delete their numbers as soon as they are out of my door. But some kids numbers stay on my phone for 10 or 20 years...(that’s many of you on my Instagram)

Unless she forgot her good old teacher I will have her number on my phone making sure she is happy and well in life.

It’s so good to see kids looking happy and pretty and ready to fly!

most nerve racking HSC day in my life

9/9/2020

. Today is the HSC performance day. I am nervous.

I did 3 units Music for HSC at my time and I rocked it. Wasn't nervous.

I send kids for HSC music every year and I was never this nervous either.

In the past all my HSC kids have been with me for a very long time by the time they are in year 12 they are ready to rock it. Take next year for example, by the time I send Lucy, Gretel, Brandon or Hannah for HSC, they would have been with me for 12 years. The entire childhood in this studio. Their technique will be so strong and their performance experience should be so solid by then.

I always said to all the kids, I will only want to teach you till the 3rd term of year 12. Even if you want to come back I will never take you because it's time to move on. And no need to be sad because NO ONE IS DEAD. Our work has done but our relationship and love is not ended.

Millie hasn't been with me very long and this Quarantine year makes things very difficult too. No matter how good the teacher is, one thing that we can't teach you is the performing experience. By doing a lot of performing you learn how to deal with performing anxiety, build up stage presence and powerful self talk. Because of the quarantine all the performing opportunities are gone. This is precisely the reason why I am nervous.

This morning 1 hour before the exam at school she sent me a sentimental thank you and love you susie blablabla text. I was like, YOU GET ON ZOOM RIGHT NOW. (Sometimes I wonder why a logical person like me can be in business like this.)

One hour before you get on that stage, You need tp smile and have fun. Always remember why you are singing For HSC. It’s because YOU LOVE SINGING.

I feel as if just sent a daughter sitting for HSC.

Every single year I said I am retiring but I can never stop because it’s so addictive you have no idea. (I am a lot older than all the kids and parents think thanks to the asian gene). At least I need to do it till Emma finishes HSC in 5 years time.

Time to celebrate. Good job Millie. We did it.

HSC and Butterfly Hug technique

3/9/2020

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I never take more than 2 HSC students at the same time. Not only there is a lot of technical and musical components to deal with, there is also a lot of emotional and confidence issues that needs constant reinforcement and reassurance.

2021 is probably the year I will have with 4 HSC Music students. These kids all have been with me since young, I am anticipating the full on musical mother year to send these kids on their HSC journey.

Every Sep I notice HSC kids anxiety and stress level is going up to the roof. I was teaching Millie this yesterday called Butterfly Hug Technique-reduce Emotional stress and lower heart rate.

Butterfly Hug technique:

You wrap your arms around yourself so that each hand touches the opposite upper arm or shoulder . Then you move your hands like the wings of a butterfly to tap your arms/shoulders in an alternating rhythm . Breathing in at the same time, do it as long as you feel you need.

It’s an immediate stress reducing technique and something you can do now to decrease anxiety.

I do this if I have trouble sleeping, before getting on stage or just anytime you feel stress or anxious.

This is the technique that you once learn, you will go back to it for the rest of your life.

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