My mother had a passion for piano since a young age, and as she was born into a modest family, she had to beg her parents for extra money in order to get piano lessons, which were considered a useless luxury in those times.

When I was born, she already had a career, and was teaching at the Shanghai conservatory. It was important and evident for her to pass on her passion to her children so that we wouldn’t be deprived of such an important element in our life.

Paul, my brother, started taking violin lessons when he was five. I never understood why he did not get to learn piano, and found out later that for my mother, violin was more “masculine,” while the piano, for her, was a more “feminine” instrument. Thus, I started piano lessons under my mother’s personal supervision when I was three. According to her, I was so very gifted that it would have been a waste if we waited too long for me to begin my training.

I must say that my love and appreciation of music has definitely been a marvellous gift from my mother, but the learning process was extremely painful for both of us.

My mother was very disappointed when I decided to give up piano when I finished my secondary education. I continued to play from time to time for pleasure, but I basically dreaded the practicing part.

When my children were born, I had the same wish as my mother – I wanted them to grow with the music, and be able to share my passion.

Both of them started piano lessons when there were around five. Unlike my mother, I did not try to find any hidden musical talent in my children, mostly because I’m quite sure there wasn’t any! My main purpose was merely to have them exposed to music.

Gabriel had a few years of lessons, and became very content when he managed to play and sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star or Mary Had a Little Lamb at the same time. After this considerable accomplishment, he became a Man U fan and did not want to have anything to do with music – well, at least, not my kind of music.

Melissa, more persistent and concentrated, went through all the pains of understanding and practicing Bach’s Two Part Inventions. But she was struggling – not wanting to completely give up piano but still needing to cope with homework – so I took the initiative of switching her conventional professor for a more relaxed teacher, allowing her to have more fun on an electronic piano. Nevertheless, by the time she had to get prepared for her IGCSEs, we all agreed it was time for her to concentrate on her studies.

During all these years, whether the children were having music lessons or not, I made it a point of taking them to festivals over the summer holidays: Salzburg, Roque d’Antheron, Aix en Provence, Beaune, etc. And during the Hong Kong Arts Festival, we together set up a quota of events to be attended until they finished their secondary studies.

Now, both Gabriel and Melissa are grown up, independent and leading their lives with their own interests and passions, and I must say that classical music is almost nonexistent in their lives. Melissa does enjoy an opera from time to time, but as for Gabriel…

But I don’t really give up. I sincerely think whatever has been planted years ago, will come back, and eventually be appreciated at a more mature age. Hopefully then, music will bring them joy and comfort, and they will thank me for exposing them to something unique and exceptional.


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