Was watching 焦点 on Channel 8 earlier on. This week, they featured the local Chinese Orchestra music scene, and what is being done to improve its waning popularity in Sg. Oh gawd...when I was watching those musicians playing their Chinese instruments, HOW I SO ENVY THEM MAN!!! I've always favoured Chinese Orchestra music to the English classical symphonies (even though I was brought on playing the latter on piano). Somehow, I'm always so impressed with how CO music can touched me so deeply everytime I hear it.

My all-time favourite instrument is the Chinese flute. The sound that it produces is so crisp and clear, I can get goose bumps whenever I hear someone performing on it. Still remember in my Uni hostel days, there was this guy called Roger staying in my block who played the flute in the NTU Chinese Orchestra. Whenever he practices his instrument, all of us would just stop our tasks and 沉醉在他那感人笛声中. The entire block can hear each and every note he plays... goes to show how powerful this simple and small instrument is. And I will never forget how he played the Titanic theme song 'My Heart will go on' on the flute.....DAMN IMPRESSIVE OK!!!!

I had actually tried learning the Chinese flute before, but because the class size was too big, it was quite difficult for the teacher to really concentrate on helping every student improve. I later gave it up to learn the violin instead (also with dire results actually). I guess for any instrument, it is definitely still better to learn it from young, where one is like a sponge waiting to soak up any new skills that are being taught. Once we reach our teenage years, school work and other mundane stuffs will get in the way, and before one knows it, one is too old liaoz.....

I wouldn't say that I regretted learning the piano though.....its just that I wished I had the intelligence to take up another instrument when I was younger. Right now, its just too tough to even contemplate learning to play another musical toy.......the amount of time and dedication required is really out of my current capabilities. But its still nice to wish and dream.....