Classically Trained

After a few of my last posts online about soundtracks and music, some of you have asked what my experience is in the musical area. I thought it would be best to describe it here then just refer people to read it this way, instead of trying to explain it individually.


I started playing the piano when I was in third grade. As I practiced playing each night, I'd look at the shadow box hanging over my piano which contained my great grandfather's old violin. I begged my parents to start violin lessons, and by fifth grade they let me. (On a cheap violin, not on my grandfather's. "Once you're good enough", my dad said, "Then we will fix it and you can play that one.")


I started the violin in school, and picked it up incredibly fast. So fast, that my elementary school teacher wanted to do a duet with me for my last concert in sixth grade.
In seventh and eighth grade, I was in a summer music conservatory, Strolling Strings, Honor Orchestra, and played in my school orchestra. All of these lasted two years, and it was a steady competition between me and two other friends for first chair in school the entire two years. I also had the privilege of doing Magic Music Days, where we got to play in Disneyland. (My first backstage experience, that I remember to this day!)

I started private lessons in sixth grade, and continued until about two years ago.

My freshman year in high school I was in my school orchestra, The Bakersfield Youth Symphony, Honor Orchestra, and Solo Ensemble (Where you play a solo with a piano accompaniment for a judge.)

Sophomore, Junior, and Senior year was the same routine. School, Youth Symphony, Honor, and Solo Ensemble.

My Junior year, I was offered a full scholarship to Cal State Long Beach for music performance. I decided to turn it down for several reasons, and looking back now, it was the right choice.

Throughout my musical career, I had the amazing privilege to work with one of the finest conductors in California, to perform with Barrage,  to play for several weddings, parties, and funerals, to coach and teach younger kids, and to meet some truly great people all around the world.

What now? I haven't played much since I've moved to Southern California, and I decided not to pursue a career in music. But this won't keep me from continuing my passion. I plan on joining an orchestra down the road, continue teaching on the side and playing for weddings/parties. And who knows, maybe some day down the road, I'll be conducting or writing music for something. It definitely crosses my mind pretty often.

Oh, and when was I "Good Enough" to play my great-grandfather's violin? That would be in eighth grade.

Carrying On The Tradition of Music

Music has been a major factor in my life since the third grade. From that point, up until graduating high school and even after, I have grown musically through playing in different orchestras, competing in Solo Ensemble, playing in the school orchestra and school plays, taking private lessons, playing for weddings and parties, and just getting together to play in quartets with friends.

Although I play violin and piano, for some reason I really excelled in violin, and it became my instrument of choice. I love everything about music and playing, but my senior year of high school I had to make a pretty tough decision. Music wasn't something I was going to major in. I can tell you why, but that's a whole other story. Basically I turned down a scholarship offer, and realized one can not make a career in music.

I wasn't really sure what I was going to do from there music-wise, until my dad came to me and said that his friend's wife opened up a music store in town, and are looking for private teachers. I thought that this could be kinda fun, so I told them I'm interested, and before I knew it, I was hired as a Violin Instructor for the Family Music Center, which taught Kindermusik.

Become a violin teacher for kids? How easy! (So I thought.)

After a few weeks of advertising and trying to get the word out, I had someone interested in taking lessons. So we got a day and time set up, and I was ready to begin teaching with my first student- A 5 year old Asian girl. I was nervous. I have a little experience with teaching violin, but to my age group, not to a little girl who's never picked up an instrument before in her life. So I did what my teachers in the past have done to me, and I followed the same teaching habits I remember that helped me, and it wasn't a month later before we were a quarter way through the first book.

In the musical world (And world in general...), Asians are stereotyped for being "Smart" and "Dedicated". I have come to the conclusion that this is so. This girl, Rene, absolutely spoiled me. She actually practiced, she cared, and she was a typical little girl who always interrupted me to ask who my favorite princess was. (Cinderella!). We absolutely flew through the steps to playing the violin, and she was playing decent songs before the end, when they decided to take a break.

My next few students to come weren't nearly as dedicated. In fact, since Rene, I haven't had a kid who picked it up that fast. (Since Rene, I haven't taught an Asian...).
Some students came and went, some stayed. It didn't matter though, I loved every bit of it.

Me, teaching one of my older students.

If you would have asked me two years ago if I wanted, or even liked kids, I would tell you no. But through this experience, through being around them more, and with the help of my past two other jobs, I have learned to really adore these little crib midgets. As it turns out, they really aren't that bad.

Right now, I'm looking into other music stores in So Cal. I found that I really do enjoy teaching, and of course I'll continue playing. Music is me, it's a passion, and I will never let it go.

A picture of me playing in high school.

I owe a huge thanks to Carolyn. Not only for bringing music into the younger generation, but to give me this incredible opportunity which has taught me so much more.

John, Carolyn, and Fam- If your in my area, let me know. A Disney trip ever 8+ years is unacceptable, and you have connections through me. Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you all again very soon.



If your interested in lessons from the Family Music Center, check out their website:

The Family Music Center






"I like symphonic music. A good concert, if you're kind of relaxed, it can do something to you. It's sort of an emotional break you get by listening to the music." -Walt Disney

Super 8 and Mr. Giacchino

I saw Super 8 last Sunday night, and I have to say it passed my expectations. A nice film that should have been more popular. But one thing was better than the film, and that's the score.





Michael Giacchino has done many movies before, but he is probably known for his Pixar scores. From Cars, Up, the Incredibles, Ratatouille, to Mission Impossible 3, Cloverfield, 50/50, and Monte Carlo. Mr. Giacchino has some serious musical talent.

He isn't as popular as Hans, Danny, or a couple other composers. But at the rate that he is going, and what he has created so far, he will quickly become just as good, or better.

In the Super 8 soundtrack, which I highly recommend to those who love soundtracks, Michael Giacchino creates a love melody, and a suspense melody, and merges them. His transitions into each are incredible. Every composer has a trademark, they have something their good at. If the audience listens hard enough, or has musical experience, they can usually tell what their strong points are. For Michael, his strength is creating incredible melodies. You can see this in Up, Super 8, and in a few of his songs for the TV shows he has done.
A composer like John Powell is good at creating rhythms. It just varies between the individual.



So, I hope you get to see the movie, and buy the soundtrack. I promise you'll love it! Now, here's a Youtube video of one of my favorite songs that I think shows off his talent.