Friday January 25, 2013
Young piano prodigy wows audience
By JOSEPH KAOS Jr
joekaosjr@thestar.com.my
Natural flair: Yoong Qi playing the piano while his mother proudly looks on. KUALA TERENGGANU: With his favourite soft toy Spidey on his shoulder, Wong Yoong Qi looks like a regular eight-year-old.
The SJK (C) Chung Hwa Wei Sin pupil, however, has composed four songs by himself and just passed his Grade 7 piano examination.
On Tuesday night, the child prodigy dazzled the audience at the Exxon Mobil Excellent Teacher Awards, including Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said.
Performing four songs, including Malay hits Rindu Bayangan and Sedetik Lebih, Yoong Qi also surprised Ahmad by playing his favourite Hindi song, Tujhe Dekha Tu.
Except for Tujhe Dekha Tu, Yoong Qi memorised all the songs and did not refer to any piano scores.
The songs were requested by the organisers and he learnt them in a week.
His mother Wee Ling Long, 40, is also his music teacher.
Wee, who plays the piano and violin, runs the Oriental Music School in Kuala Terengganu.
Yoong Oi only started learning piano at the age of six.
“He used to come with me to my music school and after watching me teach the children and playing at home, he asked if he could learn too.
“I was happy to teach him because I love music.
“Little did I know that he would be an exceptional talent.
“Not only has he passed the piano grades very quickly, he has also composed his own songs,” she said.
Yoong Qi, who just completed his Grade 7 early this month, is currently pursuing Grade 8 but his mother does not plan to rush him.
“Maybe he will only complete it next year. I plan to enter him in competitions.
“Though he has done several live performances, he has not competed before,’’ said Wee.
When asked what he wants to be when he grows up, the shy Yoong Qi said with a smile: “Pianist. My favourite musician is Beethoven.”
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