Little Mozart

Hendrik just loves music. He not only listens to music, but he makes music. He never fails to make us chuckle whenever he answers our questions to the tune of “Do-Re-Mi” or “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”. He also never fails to put a smile on our faces whenever we see and hear him sing the tunes of his favorite keyboard demo pieces at any time of the day and night whenever he feels like doing it.

I introduced wholesome and uplifting music to Hendrik while he was still inside my tummy. When he was born, children’s nursery rhymes and songs as well as Mozart filled our room. Because we let the player on for most of the day, I think music was already imprinted in his mind and soul.

Hendrik's "Chopsticks" | 3 yrs old
(without the demo lights & using his fingers)

Hendrik's "Let It Be" | 3 yrs old
(following the demo lights)

Hendrik's "Ode to Joy" | 3 yrs old
(without the demo lights & using his fingers)

Playing the piano is one of my many frustrations. I was given the opportunity to have piano lessons at a very young age, and my parents were also very supportive of me; but it was my choice not to continue and push through. I was given another chance while I was in the university when a good friend offered to give me lessons for free! I did not take it seriously and I was lazy. Two opportunities looked at me in the face, but I ignored them.

Hendrik's "Do-Re-Mi"

Hendrik's "Happy Birthday" | 2 yrs old

Hendrik's "Lightly Row" (but he calls it as "So-Mi-Mi")

I am glad that my son has a penchant for music. For a couple of weeks now, Hendrik would always request for the keyboard to be put on the bed by the time he wakes up in the morning because he wants to play with it. He also learns the pieces by himself. The demo feature of the keyboard is a very important factor to his memorization of the sequences of the notes. I was actually amazed when I saw him playing “Ode to Joy” without the guide lights. After repeating the demo over and over again for a couple of days he was able to memorize them. He even knows the demo numbering of the pieces/songs! As he is still starting to read little words, he recognizes the pieces/songs by number and not by title.

Hendrik and the Church piano | 1 yr old

Hendrik's "Lightly Row" ver 2 ("So-Mi-Mi) | 2 yrs old

Lola and 11-month old Hendrik (June 2009 | Davao, Philippines)

I must not forget to give credit to my Mom or Lola (grandma in Tagalog) as Hendrik calls her as she is a great influence to Hendrik. She was the one who taught Hendrik to play a number of simple pieces like “Do-Re-Mi”, “Happy Birthday”, among others. Lola would also sing songs anytime of the day and night, so I think Hendrik got it from her.

Note: Hendrik self-studied the first three pieces above - Chopsticks, Let It Be, and Ode to Joy - meaning (just to reiterate), no one taught him and learned the notes by himself  ^_^ .

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