Annual Yamaha Concert

Three years on, the Yamaha concert has a different feel for us.

It's like an extended gathering of family and friends. We may not know the pint-sized performers so eager to show us what they've learned over the course of 8 months, but we clap enthusiastically nonetheless.

And when our eyes meet the eyes of complete strangers next to us - proud parents and grandparents - we exchange knowing smiles. "Wasn't that a fantastic effort," we want to say to each other - but don't.

This year, we are much more relaxed as a family. I fuss less about Beth's outfit. We are more confident about the routine: how early we need to be, where we should meet. The location is the same as last year, and we now have a sat-nav, which makes for a much more pleasant ride, although The Voice gets irritated when we do not stick to the recommended route.

Having said that, a Singaporean can't get rid of certain traits.

Like playing the Solfege CD all the way to Brighton in the hope it will help Beth rehearse Adventurous Kids and Rock and Roll.

I am secretly worried about the latter, because it's an ensemble piece and Beth is the only one in her class playing Part 3. If she messes up, there will be no one to hide behind. Her teacher Rebecca was sick the day before the concert and they had a replacement teacher in who couldn't possibly know where they'd got up to in their preparations. The Sat before was the elections and the school was used as a polling centre, so lessons were cancelled. And the Sat before that, Beth missed the class because of flu, and lost another chance to rehearse with her classmates.

If ever there was an example of Murphy's Law, this surely was it.

Then when we flicked through the programme, we realized Beth's class was on first.

I wasn't sure that was a good thing. But as life turns out, my worry was wasted. The children dug in and put in that extra effort to shine, listened to each other and maintained good eye contact with Rebecca. I was especially grateful that Beth was seated right in front - maximum eye contact! - and that Rebecca played Beth's part along with her just that bit louder.

Once Beth's item was over, I was able to enjoy the rest of the concert much better.

I particularly enjoyed the class performances where the songs were more complex, with that 'wow' factor. The kind of song that, after you heard it, you would turn to your neighbour and both of you would have that slightly awestruck, admiring expression, having heard an amazing result from such young performers. Like Cosmic Dance and A Monster.

And the advanced performers...

There was this young girl (Jordanne called her 'beautiful' because she had a sparkly maroon sequinned dress on) who so expressively played her own composition and will represent Yamaha at an event in Indonesia, and a young man who improvised on Gershwin.

You might say they offer a glimpse into a possible future for the ones who persevere through the levels with the talent and right attitude.