1st Day 2006 The 6th Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival and Competitions (Taiwan)

1st of August, all of us was so exciting, because we are going to Taiwan for The 6th Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival and Competitions in Taiwan (Taipei). We took afternoon flight, 2.40pm.... That was so relax compare with last time morning flight... have to wake up early in the morning and is so rush......

We are at the KLIA airport, all the blue shirt people were taking part in the competitions.... The one who have ugly smile and curly maggie mee hair is my Ex girl friend.... I didn't notice they taking picture at me, when I turn my face, the picture took... no emotion at my face hahaha......

Of course, before we went into the departure gate, have to get a big family picture...

This picture was taken at the Burger King restaurant, that is the aeroplane we were going to sit in later....

Because all of them were trap in the lift for more than half hour... hahaha.......

Is so beautiful, it look like heaven........


This picture was taken during the sunlight was very bright...... it is totally different compare with the above pictures......

He is our tour guild Mr. Black Pearl........ (Ming Chek) although he almost never play harmonica, but he still very active in harmonica event....... He is bass player during my Japan trip in 2002...




The sunset was so beautiful, I have using more than 3 types of camera to take this scene, this is the best result and very close to what I saw during my flight...... We almost reach Taiwan when we saw this sunset scenery.........





All of this pictures were taking in the airport..... they have a lot of big poster there for advertisement.....

That was our tour bus... It is double decker bus, is not very spaces inside, but is comfortable.....

That is our 1st dinner at Taiwan..... everybody was so exciting. The foods there is very nice.... especially their rice...... very very very soft......

After dinner, we were going back to our Hotel...... This pictures was taken when the bus stop at the traffice light.....

This is a helmet shop, they have a lot of different design and different style of helmet......... This is our 1st day trip.......

Long time I didn't update here.....

Hi.... almost 1 month I didn't update my blog, I have been busy on my work..... and just settel down with it....

I have select some of the Taiwan photo and going to post it soon. Mostly next week will going to post the 1st day we went to Taiwan. I think is more than 20 photos I have selected.

Wish all of you have a nice weekend and enjoy your weekend :D

Music + Harmonica???? It change my life.......

Today, I am going to write something that I think about in my heart..... Actually, I never think of being a musician when I was child. I still remember when I was study in primary school, teacher asked all of us : " What is your ambition in your future ? ". At that moment, I just think of being lawyer, doctor or policeman. Hahaha..... it never have musician or harmonica player in my head.

In our primary school, all of the student have to learn recorder, and I never enjoy it at all.... because the teacher is so fierce.... hehehe.... But.... I remember that all of us have a good sweet memory about playing recorder, that was the only time that the whole classes is so happy and all of us were so enjoy to play recorder. All of us were playing one of the pop song sing by Andy Lau. The title of the song call " 一起走過的日子 " in english mean " The days we have been going through together ". Not even our class were playing this song, almost the whole school were playing this song. That was the only time I enjoy playing recorder. Beside practice song from song book, we also need to practice skill. The most frustrated things that border me is the music theory. I really don't understand and can not remember what is quaver note, what is crotchet and so on..... by that time, I swear to myself " I don't want to learn music anymore"....

But things happen to me when I was study in my secondary school...... I never think of picking up harmonica at all, and I don't even know there is a harmonica band in my school. The harmonica band perform in the afternoon after the assembly just wana get new member to join in. I was impressed by the harmonica band, but I still didn't join the band. But my friend, who want to learned it and asked me to accompany him.... I refuse to do so.... becasue I really don't intrested to learn it at all. Until that day, my friend still working hard to persuade me, and finally I join the harmonica band..... But you wouldn't believe that, less than 3 month my friend who persuade me to join the harmonic a band and he quick already. That's how I get into harmonica world.......

I still remember the 1st kiss with harmonica. It's hard to express it in words, but when I know how to play DO, Re , Mi..... I am so happy and surprising that harmonica is so easy to pick up, and it's sounds so nice...... That day, teacher has teach us 3 songs, but after that, when I'm back to home, I'm not only practice that 3 song, I also played pop song by using ears to transcript it out..... Hahahaha... all I can say is, I really enjoy it when I play my harmonica, I can feel happiness and exciting when I play it..... and this miracle touch change my life...........

I join harmonica in 1994, that time our harmonica band still have 30 over member and I was hoping to joining senior in the ensemble group. But unfortunetely, I don't have a chance to join the ensemble, because in 1995, our school was taken part in The 4th National Harmonica Competitons in Kuala Lumpur..... but our school was totally lost in this competitions, not even get a prizes, but before that, they won a fews champion in The 3rd National Harmonica competitions festival. I can feel everybody was very dissapointed and sad, and I also have took part in solo category....

I became the team leader of the harmonica band in 1996, at the same time, my friend Mr. Oscar Tan Choon Siang, he also join our harmonica band, and we also form our harmonica band as " Nonpareil Harmonica Ensemble " . 5 of us use to played harmonica after school, and the 1st competitions that we took part in 1996 is " The Pesta Seni Rama competitions (Instrument category) ". We were so lucky, we won champion in this competitions and we were qualify to represent our school to continue took part in the stage level. Finally, we also won gold metal in the stage level. All of us are very happy and exciting....

After the competitions, we also performed in many event. In 1997, we took part in The 5th National competitions again, and that was organized by Mr. Chong Ah Kow. We won 2 champions, one first runner up and one 2nd runner up in this competitions. Our harmonica band getting a lot of member also, and it was more than 40 members. I couldn't imagine, how harmonica change my life..... but it bring me back to music again.....

In 1998, Mr. Chong was organized The 2nd Asia Pacific Harmonica Competitions and Festival in Petaling Jaya. We were so exciting and I still remember I have took part in 6 categories...... Becasue I afraid that I don't have chances to take part in such big event in the future........ This is the first time, I saw so many people around asia country come over here for this harmonica festival.... We makes friends around, I am so happy that can have oversea friends in this event. Beside that, me and Oscar was performed in the 100 people ensemble group in the opening ceremory. Actually you also can see all the photos in my blog http://owenharmonica.blogspot.com/2006/05/myself-in-1998.html#links . It was a very beautiful experience in my life.......

After that, I also went to Korea for The 3rd Asia Harmonica Festival and competitions in the years of 2000. You can check out my Korea trip here http://owenharmonica.blogspot.com/2006/05/korea-2000.html#links . I never think of I can participate again in this event. Thanks god that let me continue my harmonica journey in my life. In the same time, I was studied music in Seday College and now it upgraded to UCSI college (http://www.ucsi.edu.my/uni_bio_ho_chee_kin.html). I am so lucky that I can continue to develop my music skills and theory. I really enjoy my college life and I have learned a lot of music knowledge in college. I have discover a lot of things that actually we could do it in harmonica and I also explored a lot in musical style. I major in compositions, and minor in piano. I studied my piano at the age of 19. It never be a sweet memory when I start my piano lesson. The teacher is very nice and all I am worry about is my finger. I have put a lot of time to practice my finger and let them can co-ordinate with each other. After 3 month practicing, I can slowly play some simple song... hehehe... After that, I have a new idea, that is left hand playing my piano and right hand playing my harmonica. The first piece that I choose to practice is a jazz standard "As Times Goes By". As you can see a short clip in here http://owenharmonica.blogspot.com/2006/06/2002-japan-4th-asia-pacifi_114984201732134750.html#links .

I join 3 ensemble in college. Vocal ensemble, string ensemble and modern band..... and I have learned a lot of things and having fun with my college friends...... The others lucky things that happen to me is, I received the full schoolarships after I won my " Overall Winner For The New Millennium" in England Bouremouth. I will never forget when I heard John Walton announced my name as the Overall Winner for the New Millennium and I received the awards from Mr. John Walton http://owenharmonica.blogspot.com/2006/05/england-2000-my-first-world-champion.html .It is my sweet, exciting, happy memorable day...... Beside that, I also very enjoyed the enviroment over there....

As so many things come to me, and suddenly I really no idea what should I do after I came back from England. I just keep work hard on my studied and keep on explored on music..... But after this competitions, our Nonpareil ensemble were seldom get practice together. Because everyone goes back to their studied and hard to meet each others also. Until 2002, the 4th Asia Pacific Harmonica festival are getting close. Actually all of us never think of will participate in this event, Because as we know, the expenses in Japan is very high. But luckly, Mr. Chong has organized a harmonica concert for us and try to get some money for us. Finally, 4 of us decided to take part in the competitions. But for me, I am not worry about, because I always play my harmonica, but for 3 of them is very hard to catch up. Because they never touch harmonica for almost 2 years..... hai..... I have to think of a short progressive training program for them to catch up all the skills..... Actually is very challenging, because I just have less than 2 month to train them. But we have the same target and achievement. That's the miracle come true...... we make it at the competitions. http://owenharmonica.blogspot.com/2006/06/2002-japan-4th-asia-pacifi_114984201732134750.html#links. The gala dinner at Japan, I will never forget it..... everybody were having fun with us and dancing on the floor...... But finally, we won our Gold Metal in 4 to 6 person ensemble open category..... http://owenharmonica.blogspot.com/2006/07/2002-japan-4th-asia-pacific-harmonica_17.html#links. Our time and hard work is worthwhile......

Times going very fast..... until 2002, I already spend 8 years with my harmonica...... Actually in 2004, our Nonpareil harmonica trio has been invited to China (Hang Zhou) for performance, and then at the same year in august. Hong Kong was organized the 5th Asia Pacific harmonica festival and Hong Kong harmonica Association invited me to perform in Asian Rising Power concert at (Yuen Long Theatre hall). Actually I feel very lucky that I can play my harmonica and travel around. I never think of harmonica changes my life so much. Beside that, I also met a lot of friends from others country, and my life become colorful......

Music + Harmonica = Journey of Live, this is my tag and is happen to me..... I always think of how long I still can play with my harmonica???? for life???? I really don't know how long I can play with my harmonica..... of course.... if let me choose, I will choose until the day I die...... Becasue I love this instrument very much...... Think back to my life, so many things happen to me, is that a sign that let me know I have something to do with it???? As you know I never think of going into music anymore..... but finally, because of harmonica I back to music..... and what should I do next??? Am I in the right way now??? Sometimes I am so confusing on it..... maybe I think too much.... hahahahaha.....

I really hope that, I can share my music to the world..... I am planing to make my album, and hope everything can finish by end of this year..... I don't know how's the result will be..... Becasue nobody know also..... But I really hope that my music can make people happy, exciting, warm, and comfortable...... Because I believe that MUSIC is the international language, no matter where you are, and who you are, when you listen to music, you always can feel the mood in your heart....... and I always believe, good music, can touch your heart...... I hope I can finish it on time and share to all of you and let everybody know that harmonica is a very good instrument and everybody can play it no matter how old are you........

I will combine my music knowledge with my harmonica...... I love classical music, but I also love modern music..... I will combine them together and present it to all of you....... Thanks for reading my journey...... I will keep update with my progress.....

6th Asia Pacific Harmonica competitions and festival Chromatic Final video...

This is the chromatic open category final round video that we took on the spot. You can have a look on it.... hahaha.....




This is the Champion in chromatic open categry. His name is Inagawa Arinori from Japan.



This is the 1st runner up in chromatic open category. His name is HIGA SACHITO, also from Japan.



This is me, myself. I was playing the "Roumanian Fantasy" by Francis Chagrin, and this song is specially dedicated to Mr. Larry Alder, he is the chromatic harmonica legend in the world. I choose this song, is to show my respectations and memorable for him... and I love this song so much....

Hi.... I am back from Taiwan.....

Wow.... is so fast.... the 6th Asia Pacific Harmonica festival and competitions is over already.....

I am so happy that I can attend this event, because I met up with all my friends.... I will post up this event as soon as possible, and I will collect all the photo from my student and post up to let you read it....

I have go to others place as well, just for shoppping and try out their food.... Their food is very nice, and I have took a fews photos.....

Beside that, I have to congratualate to all of the Yu Hua student...... Because they have won 3 champions in this event...... I hope the next coming event will have more student from Malaysia to take part...... The 7th Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival and competitions is in China "Hang Zhou" 2008..... I think is going to be very crowded, because 2008 China also organizing the Olympic game.....

Starting from now, need to prepare for the next event..... I am looking forward to China "Hang Zhou".....

We are very close to Taiwan........

Wow...... I couldn't imagine that not more than 1 week, next tuesday we will go to Taiwan for the 6th Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival and Competitions.... I have been very busy on preparing all the things that need to bring before I leave here..... That's why I didn't update my blog very frequence......

I heard that, this coming festival got a lot of people take part in competitions as well as visitor.... last time in Hong Kong 2004 is around 1300 to 1500 people all together. But this time, the organizer guess that will have 2000 to 2500 people coming for this festival..... is so many people.......

I have 3 video file that took in the 6th National Harmonica competitons in YMCA. That is the open ceremory performance..... Thanks to Penang harmonica friends that provide me this video file...... and I can share to everybody who don't have chance to come to the event....

The first video is I am playing Chromatic harmonica...... I will explain more in the future about all type of harmonica.... and now just let you have some idea about Chromatic harmonica..... The song that i played was composed by George Gerhswin. He was a great piano player and he composed a lot of great work such as "Rhapsody in Blue" , "I got Rhythm" , "Summer Time" and so on...... The song that I played is his greatest work as well, call "An American In Paris" it is an orchestra work and I re - arrange it into Jazz band work to play it...... I love this song very very much.... I hope you enjoy it also.....




The second song that I play is a country pop song. "Cotton Eye Joe" this is also a very nice piece that can show harmonica can play a lot of variety song.I use diatonic harmonica to play this song.... The new suzuki diatonic harmonica Pure Harp and Fire harp is so excellent and airtight.I counldn't imagine a wood harp can be so powerfull and the tone is amazing..... When you play it, you can easily doing any technicque on it and you alwasy have your full control on this Suzuki diatonic harp... I have re - arrange the song into disco dance style, very energytic and powerfull.....



The last video is my partner and I playing "Two Guitars" this is a very nice pieces and it played by the world greatest trio in Israel.... Their group name is Adler Trio.... You can see it there is 3 differnt harmonica together. There is a Bass harmonica, Chord harmonica and myslef is a chromatic harmonica. The one who play Bass harmonica is Mr. Oscar Tan, very talented harmonica player, the one who play chord harmonica also very good player, Mr. Patrick Koh.... We use to perform around Malaysia and evnet oversea like China and Singapore.....Last time they went to Japan also, unfortunetely I can not go with them......but this time they can not go to Taiwan.... hai...... all is because of "Working" hhahahaha..... hope you enjoy it....

2002 Japan 4th Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival Last Day

Nothing to do when we go to the airport..... When we pack our luggage, we really feel don't want to come back to Malaysia at that time......... One week we stay in Japan, but I didn't feel enough at all.... Don't know why..... everytime when the festival come to the end, I always feel that I want to stay longer or spend more times on that place....

One week, you can say it is long and also can say it is short.... but for me... I hope it can be 1 month.... at least I can have more time to go others place for sight seeing...... I think in the future, I will go to Japan again.... just for travel..... then maybe I will feel enough...... Because I didn't go to Tokyo, Disneyland, and others famous attractive place....

Because of harmonica..... I really have a lot of exciting journey in my life..... Although this small little instrument is not so popular in the market..... but for sure, this little harmonica have given me a lot of colors.... not only in my life but also in music...... I hope that in the future, I can fully utilise this instrument to travel around the world.... make friends...... sight seeing... concert..... of course I also hope that I can have my own CD album....... I also wish that I can use this little instrument to help more people in this world......

The up coming journey is very close to me.... 1st of August..... we will go to Taiwan for the 6th Asia Pacific Harmonica festival and competitions event...... I think this time I will bring more information back from Taiwan....... But before that.... in 2004, The 5th Asia Pacific Harmonica festival is in Hong Kong.... I took a lot of photos in Hong Kong also..... I will post that event also...... Hope you can enjoy what I have write in my blog...... Thank you for you time.....

As you can see the Aeroplane wing Jal.... we are coming back from Japan........

This is the food that provided in the plane.... not bad also.... hehehehe......

2002 Japan 4th Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival 7th Day

After the firework, then we our tour in Japan almost come to the end already...... and today is closing ceremory. That means the harmonica festival is come to the end already. We will received the prizes today......

We won in the small ensemble open category.... I am so happy that we could won gold metal in this catergory.... and all the effort and hardwork that we have put in is return back to us.....

This video was taken after the award ceremory, they having a short performance to close this harmonica festival..... I am so upset that why the time going so fast.... I hope can stay longer and have fun with all the people around others country.....

Singapore Mr.Yew Hong Jen concert

On 30th on June, I went to Singapore to watched Mr. Yew Hong Jen harmonica concert... why I do so??? is because when I started playing harmonica, I listen to his album and what he recorded is so wonderful and fantanstic. I love his playing very well... He is not just master the harmonica technique but also his musical playing style... No matter what song he played, it is so touching and perfectly express with his golden harmonica... One of the famous pieces is Butterfly Lover, originaly written for violin. I never think of harmonica can play this song and sounds so nice..... I was so excited and hope to watch his live performance, and finally I have a chance to watch his live concert...

That is his solo concert, without any others guess performer.... he played a lot of master pieces such as L.V. Beethoven, Pablo de Sarasate, George Enesco and some of the chinese folk song.... I love the Jota Navarra by Pablo de Sarasate very much. Although song originaly written for violin, but when I heard he played this song, it's sounds like specially written for harmonica.... He played so well in double notes and this song almost 80% is double notes. It is a waltz dance song.... When I heard it, you really will feel like dancing..... I hope he can have more and more concert coming in the future... and can let more people know that harmonica is a very fantastic instrumnet......

I have took photos with him after his concert, he is very nice and honest person... I hope that in the future stil can listen to his Butterfly Lover in live concert......

That is Mr Yew, he is so nice and kindest.......

That is his daugther, Miss Yew Jia Ling. His daugther use to accompany him in all his album as well as live performance.... Her playing also very nice.... very musical.....

2002 Japan 4th Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival 6th Day

Come back to Japan trip again, I think I stop for fews week already.... now continue back to the 6th day of my Japan trip......

Today is a very special day, because at Atsugi, every year in August they will have a fireworks day.It is sponser by all the Japan company. It is 2 hours long nonstop. All the fireworks is so beautiful. Some of the fireworks have smilly face, star, love, mickey mouse, flower and so on..... you will never forget once you saw it there...... I have upload some of the photo and short video. You can have a look on it.



This is the hotel that I stay, "Park Royal" 5 star hotel, damn expensive.... because all the budget hotel and 3 star already fully book... then we have no choice.... On that day, there are a group of people playing that instrument infront of our hotel.. I don't know the instrument name, but it's look very cool and beautiful........



There is some painting on the instrument, all are not same... looks very beautiful.....



The we continue our trip walking towards the bridge......




A lot of Japanese girl wearing Yukata and there were a lot of people walking towards the bridge to watch the fireworks.....



This is the bridge that I mension just now.... as you can see in the photo, there were a lot of people going there......







Along the road, you can see there is a lot of different food and drinks selling......






A lot of people sitting beside or under the bridge..... I think nearly over 10 thousand people.....




This is the others side, when we reach there, already full of people......








This were some of the photos taking, hahaha..... so nice and beautiful....... and I have upload some video you can see it and hear it also.......




you can heard there is a children shouting there.... hehehe....




This one is just nice, all the big fireworks just came out on that moment....




This is the last part of the fireworks, you can see there is a line there and the fireworks falling from the line, is just like a fireworks rain...... so beautiful and you can heard there is a harmonica music going on also.....

1 Month Later........ We are going to Here... Taiwan..... The 6th Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival and Competitions......

Start count down from now.One month later, we will go to Taiwan for this coming Asia Pacific Harminica Festival...... Congratualations to 16 Yu Hua student that will take part on this coming festival. Because they have successful get sponser from public to help them to go over there to participate in this competitions.... Thank you very much for those who sponser them and I think all the student will do their best in this competitions.....

This is the official website from Taiwan http://www.2006aphf.org.tw:8080/ anyone who intrested can have a look on it......

6th Malaysia-Singapore Harmonica Competition second day

Jit Sin from Penang, they was playing solo on the stage....



Aik Hong, playing harmonica concerto in solo category... well playing.....



Jit Sin school, playing duet during the 1st round....



Jit Sin school were playing trio in the 1st round......




The others 2 Jit Sin team, also playing in Trio 1st round.....



During the rest time, some of the school were having meeting and try to do their very best on the next categorys.....

Yu Hua school, were taking Trio category as well....

The others Yu Hua team, the one who stand in the middle is Soon Hock Chuan. He just show up in NTV7 show and get help from NTV7 to get the sponser ship to Taiwan....

Seem like only Jit Sin school have sent me some of the photo, the others penang school didn't sent to my email. the event is not just Jit Sin and Yu Hua school take part. There actually got a fews more school took part in this competitions and there is one trio team from Singapore took part in this competitions as well.......

I am not sure which team is this..... but as can see it in the photo, there are a lot of girl playing harmonica as well. Compare with last time.....

Fews Yu Hua team taking part in Quatet ensemble category.... all of them are playing very well.... Wish they can continue to keep their hard work and improve themself more before they go to Taiwan.....

All the audience are so concentrate on the stage while all the contestent were playing on the stage..... On the final round that day, from morning 9am to 7pm I just sat on the chair with all the judge to give them mark.... I think that is the only day I have listen to harmonica music for so many hours..... hahahaha.......

Before the organizer annouced the result, 3 of us were playing on the stage and everybody is so happy and enjoy until come up on the stage dancing with us....

Soon Hock Chuan, won gold prizes in the Blues Harp Diatonic category.....

Yu Hua school were won gold metal in the Quatet open catogory.....

All the Yu Hua school player were so excited when the organizer announced the got champion.... The others Penang school also have won several champion... congratualations to all of them....

Some of the Yu Hua student were crying on the spot when they know that they won in the competitions.....

Jit Sin and Yu Hua school band were taking photo together.......

This Trio team is from Singapore..... 3 of them driving all the way long from Singapore to KL....

All the players and supporter from Singapore....

All the judge taking photo on the stage.... Except Mr Chong Ah Kow, left number 5, 10 of us were doing judge on this 6th Malaysia-Singapore Harmonica Competition...

We were taking photo with all the worker and volunteer. Without theyor helping this event is not going to be runing smoothly...... Thanks to the organizer and all the student and people who coming to this festival.... we hope that next year will have more harmonica event and lets public can have chances to know more about harmonica.......