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".....