Aureus Academy - Interview with Drum Teacher, Putera

In a blink of the eyes, Emma crossed her 1 year mark in learning drum with Teacher Putera last month!

With just 30 mins drum lesson at Aureus Academy each week and at the very most additional of 15 mins practice at home, I still wondered how did Emma manage to learn drum. I think we spent too little time on it. When we first started, I wasn't sure if we would make it past 6 months. But, to my surprise, Emma's actually progressing well and efficiently under the guidance of Teacher Putera. She finished learning a few songs and performed once at a rectial. She's still working on the various drum beats and how to read the notes. 

I was curious to find out how Teacher Putera helped Emma to learn and did an e-interview with him to find out more! 

How long have you taught drum? And how long have you taught at Aureus Academy?

Throughout my professional career as a performer and educator, I have been teaching music, drum and percussions for about 5 and a half years and i have taught at Aureus Academy for 3 years.

Share about your music journey.

I have always shown a great interest in playing music as a kid. However, i have never got the chance to formally learn about playing and performing music until i was 13 years old. I have always been taking music seriously apart from my academic as a teenager ever since. After i graduated from high school, I got into a music school for my undergraduate studies right away. Since then, I have been performing throughout South East Asia like Myanmar, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong and etc. Apart from that, I also got a chance to perform in Europe.

What keeps you going as a drum teacher?

As a drum teacher, I think it is a different kind of satisfaction and experience from performing when i manage to share the knowledge and patience on playing music.

Share your favourite moment as a teacher

As a performer myself, watching my students overcome their fears and gain confidence to perform in front of large audiences has to be my favourite moment!

What's your teaching style?

Every individual has different kind of interest. For me, i always try to find what my students are interested in and apply that in my teaching style to get them going. I believe having fun while learning gives them the chance to play without feeling pressured. 

What's the challenges you faced as a drum teacher?

As mentioned earlier, every individual has a different style, for me as a teacher I have to get to know each and everyone of my students in a short matter of time so that they can progress better.

What you think of Emma?

For about a year of sharing my knowledge with Emma, it is clear that she is one of my most talented student. As a young student, Emma have shown a very positive, exponential growth in playing drum. She also has a great attitude in learning and she always managed to digest the inputs that i gave in lessons very well.

What's one advice to children who learn music instruments?

Always try to find joy in playing music and never give up. Hardwork and determination pays off!!

Dont even start it because it requires great commitment, interest and discipline to persist! Or try it! It's ok even if they don't continue. What's your take?

I always believe if you never try, you never know. Not only in the feel of music but anything that we do in life. Sometimes, we do not even know that we have the talent on something until we experience it for the first time. I always encourage my student to try new things and to never give up on the things that they love.

I totally agreed with Teacher Putera. I'm glad that I took the first step to join performing acts in my younger days. Looking back, I don't know how I danced and sang on stage. But, they were my best childhood memories and definitely made me who I am today. No regrets even though I couldn't dance now anymore. At least, I've the memories to count on! 

I'm not sure if Emma's indeed as talented as Teacher Putera commented. So many drummed so well at the recital! Hubby and I often wondered if it's indeed easy to children to pick up drum or perhaps Emma has some flair in it or Teacher Putera is awesome! I think it might be the latter. Emma loves Teacher Putera and enjoys his lessons. He's patient, fun and teaches in a way that Emma can understand.

Thank you, Teacher Putera and Aureus Academy for bringing music and drum in her life!

Related posts:  

Emma's first drum rectial at Aureus Academy
Emma started drum with Aureus Academy

Emma's 1st drum recital at Aureus Academy

It was a proud parent moment! After 10.5 months of drum lessons, Emma had her first drum recital! She drummed to "Fight Song" in front of a group of around 30 parents and children.

I know it was silly but my heart pumped faster as the emcee called out her name. I felt that I was the one walking forward to perform in front of the crowd. It didn't help to have the room dark and spotlight on. Hubby walked her halfway to the front and went to the dedicated spot for parent to take video. Avalyn and I watched her played by the side as I anchored my gadgets to capture the precious moment. 

She looked calm and displayed a silent confidence as she sat herself down at the drum set. With Mr Putera by her side, Emma drummed her way with her hot pink drum sticks. As she hit the last beat, everyone clapped. We were glad that it went well. In fact, all the children, aged from 5 years old to 12 years, drummed well too!

Teacher Putera had indeed taught the children well. From one who can't drum, Emma could now read the scores and drum the beats. There were some children who drum solo, some who drum without scores, some who drum impressive beats and some who drum more passionately than others. But, I see Teacher Putera giving the same encouragement and support to the children. I'm so thankful to his dedication and patience in his teaching.

Another person that I need to give credit to would be Hubby! Besides being the one who sent her to lessons, he also spent many nights practising with Emma before the recital. Honestly, it wasn't without any whines, cries and rewards since we hardly practise on usual days. Emma would very much prefer to play than practice and we hardly practise outside lessons. However, which children enjoy doing repetitive stuff?

After the recital, we asked Emma how she felt. She wasn't sure but she seems to feel good about performing. She was also happy to get a toy as her reward after the recital! Hubby and I both thought that it's very useful to have recital as the students get to put what they have learnt to test and watch others children drum. It's motivating to see other children performing especially when their classes are conducted one on one. Overall, it has been a very fruitful journey so far! Thanks Aureus Academy!

Drumming with Aureus Academy! Emma's 6th month update

"Let it go!", Emma replied without a second thought when Teacher Putera asked her what's her favourite song. After 7 weeks of 30 mins class (3.5 hrs in another word), she finally drummed a complete piece. It wasn't perfect but it was good enough for us. My heart swelled with joy and pride when Hubby shown me Emma's first complete drum pieces! I wasn't there as Hubby is usually the one to accompany her.

Emma's first 11 weeks with Mr Putera was spent going through the basics with "We will rock you", "One call away" and "7 years". Then, another 10 weeks or so on "Let it go!" and now just started another new song - "Fight Song". 

After 6 months of drum classes at Aureus Academy, we see progress! . It takes alot of coordination to drum and I'm glad she could even follow. Emma is now able to get the beats alot better. She seems to be able to read the notes a little but she sometimes look to Teacher Putera for confirmation. Generally, she knows which part of the drum to hit at Teacher Putera's counts. However, she still needs to work on the notes reading and do the counting herself. She's kind of memorising the beats now. Unlike piano or vocal, there isn't any book for drum. Thus, it's useful to get a really good teacher for drum class.

Emma started drum with Aureus Academy

Hubby: “singing class?”
Ashlyn: “hmmm, ok, but she already has choir at church”
Ashlyn: “what about piano?”
Hubby: “don’t want la, we need a piano at home”
Emma: “piano like quite boring”
Ashlyn: “violin, guitar or ukulele? Emma, do you want to learn violin, guitar or ukulele?”
Emma: shake head. “I just want to learn ballet”.
Hubby: “Don’t want (volin, drum or guitar). Drum? I show you!”
Emma (after watching a drum clip): hmm, ok!
Ashlyn: Really drum ah? Or what about learn piano?
Emma: yup!

And so, that’s how we end up having a budding princess drummer who wants to be dainty princess ballerina yet hippy and cool drumming. Ballet is definitely her first love but music is always good for the children and she only said yes to drum.