09/08/2025
再堅持一下❤️
「我女兒學什麼都很快，但好像什麼都學不久。」
她女兒四年級，真的不笨，做題有一套，記性也好，任何才藝點一下就上手，連鋼琴、游泳、羽球都學過。
但只要進入「開始變難」的階段，就會說：「我不喜歡了。」
一開始大家還會覺得：「孩子有選擇權不是很好嗎？找到喜歡的就好啦。」
但你會發現，無論換什麼，她最後都會說：「我不喜歡了。」
好像不是活動本身的問題，
而是她只喜歡「自己很厲害」的感覺，
一旦那個厲害感消失，就想逃走。
這種孩子不少見。
小時候聰明、模仿力強、適應快，
爸媽都會忍不住驕傲，覺得這孩子有天份。
但等到年紀漸長，難度提高，瓶頸出現，
這些原本被誇「天才」的孩子，反而開始懷疑自己：
為什麼以前那麼順，現在會卡住？
而大人這時候如果也慌了，說：「可能你不適合吧，我們再換一個學看看」，無形中就讓孩子以為——
遇到難，就是不適合。
要嘛我一開始就會，要嘛我就放棄。
我們都知道，真正的能力不是「學得快」，而是「願意學久」。
但在這個什麼都強調速成的時代——
三分鐘看完一本書、十天學會游泳、模擬題直接套模板……
孩子真的很容易被「學很快」這件事誤導。
以為「快學會＝我很聰明」，
「慢＝我不行」，
所以乾脆不要學了，才不會被發現我不厲害。
有一個很現實的東西叫做「學習的高原期」。
意思是：進步不是直線，是像爬山一樣，一段段走、卡、再走、再卡。
而這種卡住的時候，才是最關鍵的。
能不能熬過？能不能再爬上去？
這才是「從會變成擅長」的轉折點。
但如果孩子從來沒卡過，一直都在「學得快」的世界裡，他可能連高原期長什麼樣都不知道。
所以真正該教孩子的，不是怎麼更快學會，
而是：
怎麼接受「自己不會」也沒關係；
怎麼在失敗裡待一下，不急著逃；
怎麼撐過那段「我已經不喜歡」的時候；
怎麼從「我不行」走到「我做到」。
不是每件事都要堅持到最後，但能不能不要一開始就說放棄。
因為很多時候，不是你不喜歡，是你還沒學會喜歡。
我聽過一句話很有感：
「等你擅長了，熱愛才會開始。」
小時候聰明，沒什麼了不起。
長大之後，願意咬牙堅持一件事，哪怕它很慢、很難、很不酷，這種孩子，才真的讓人放心。
書局 Book
「真正的聰明，是願意在不喜歡裡堅持一下，然後把它變成自己會的樣子。」
19/06/2025
I taught in Hangzhou, China from 2011 to 2015, and during that time, I had the privilege of working with many talented and hardworking students. One of them—a bright, dedicated young boy—studied with me for about two years. It was bittersweet when we had to say goodbye. His parents were incredibly supportive and placed complete trust in me to guide his musical journey.
At our final lesson, he said to me, “We’ll visit you in Singapore in the summer—wait for us!” And, to my surprise and joy, they truly did. Their visit touched me deeply, and it was wonderful to see them again and reconnect.
Two years ago, I visited Hangzhou briefly, and they warmly hosted me during my stay. That little boy had grown into a thoughtful young man pursuing studies in traditional Chinese medicine, with dreams of becoming a doctor. During our farewell dinner, his mother shared something that moved me profoundly. She said, “He told us, ‘What inspired me most about Teacher Liu was how she found her passion in music and used it to help others. I want to find my passion too and dedicate myself to others, just like her.’”
Hearing those words brought tears to my eyes. I was even more grateful to know that he still plays the piano from time to time—not just as a skill, but as a way to enjoy and appreciate music. He found his passion, is actively working toward it, and hopes to give back to society through it.
To me, music education is not only about learning an instrument. It’s about discovering your path, developing character, and cultivating a lifelong love of music.
18/06/2025
Another touching comment from Kylynn who changed her career path a few years ago and has become a successful piano teacher. I love to discover what the composers tried to convey to us by observing the music. I am thrilled to witness and provide support to the young music teachers, sharing our passion and love with the next generation.
18/06/2025
A grateful message from Ayden who is a dedicated violin teacher… I was so touched (and cried) when he shared his piano learning experience with me. I truly believe that everyone can express their feelings and thoughts through playing the piano, and no one should ever dim their light just because they think they are not enough at that moment. I am so honored to be part of Ayden’s piano journey and support him.
17/11/2017
Good luck to all my beautiful students for piano recitals tonight! ❤️
08/02/2017
Song requested from a mummy adult student recently. Such a beautiful song and got me teary.
最近一位媽媽學生點歌要學這首，好美好感人的音樂
Schindler's list theme (piano)
Que sea éste el, espero, no último homenaje que humildemente hago al compositor que hizo que me fijase en la música: John Williams. Gracias a él y a su arrie...
16/01/2017
They are brilliant! 😂
Piano Concerto n°1 (Tchaikovsky) - Decostruttori Postmodernisti
If you write down some lines of music and you invite some friends to audition them, they might point out that your "concerto is worthless and unplayable; pas...
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