A day turned bad

I was counting the days to my birthday and this devastating news hit me right smack on my face. Wu Xiao Zhong, the chinese orchestra sheng/suona teacher i had respected a lot, had passed away.

The first reaction my body makes is to freeze, and my mind was running like a debate tournament, to which if this is true or not (in which i sincerely hope its not). As fate would not have it, after the CCA, the conductor pulled us to a corner to confirm this terrible news.

Later things became hazy, i remember staring at a crack in the wall while the conductor droned on and on. Then, we went down to the toilet at the first floor, where i finally let my pent-up tears flow. I really can't believe it. Can'tcan'tcan'tcan'tcan't!!!!!!! This was so not true!! I cried and cried in what seemed that had never happened for a long time. The tears would have filled buckets and hiccups knocked on the walls of my throat.

Wu lao shi was a great teacher to us-me, Xiao Yun, Janice and Vivan- sheng players. Although we had some arguments that left each other unhappy, we had shared a bond. He was patient and understanding, i remembered him willing to spend extra time (when he was already so busy) to help us with our last minute parts (3 days before SYF 2007). I also remembered that that was the last time we had a lesson with him.

I did not have much of a good impression of him the first time he taught me. He had ask us to play a part of a song we hadn't learnt and left us there, while he teach some new students. However, as he took us for classes(CCA) every week, i found out that he was not what i thought he was. He was always encouraging us whenever we did not manage with our parts of the song well. He would also praised us when we did well, and i remembered it gave me loads of encouragment and courage to learn songs and stay in the orchestra.

I remember a time before SYF 2007, when the conductor recommended us to apply for extra lessons at her music school. But when we reached there, i realised there is money involved and called up my parents. Unfortunately, they do not allow and threw me into a fix which sent tears to my eyes. After a talk with my father, the conductor get the idea that i was not allowed to apply . But Wu lao shi offered to teach me for free that night and i was really grateful to him. At that time, he looked teacher cum fatherly to me and i felt comfortable and relaxed when he was teaching. After the class, as it was raining cats and dogs, he also offered to drive us to the nearest MRT station, which we gratefully accepted.

Even though he had only been with us for only five months (Dec 06 to April 07), each of us has fostered a sense of community with each other and with Wu lao shi. Each of us felt a sense of dread when the conductor confirmed the news...

He deceased on the 9th of January 2008, due to a fall which half paralysed him on 8th of January. Had set up a blog in memory of him. http://dedicationtowuxiaozhong.blogspot.com/