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After graduating high school, due to family circumstances and financial constraints, I ventured out into the world to work in classical music. Shortly before my high school examinations, my stepfather passed from a three-year illness, leaving the future uncertain. It was up to me to find my own way.  In East Asia we have a high demand for classical music education, and by then I was playing at a pre-professional level.  So naturally I went in the direction of music teaching. It was a practical choice. I always took music seriously, but I never thought I'd pursue classical music as a career. But I did, and I did so for the next 9 years, until I moved to Canada. My mother did not support my career choice, but accepted it as a practical solution in those times.  My mother's reaction to my career choice. I started out as a junior teacher, then attained my performance diplomas and licentiate, and began playing at festivals and competitions in Singapore and Europe....

Let's talk about the burpee. Everyone's favourite exercise. Now, burpees hold a special place in my heart. It was my coach's favourite exercise, and then became my favourite warm-up and indoor substitute for running. Winter is burpee season. Years ago, I did 300 push-up burpees in one training session. After that, my warm-up routine was 100 burpees. A very convenient adrenaline and endorphin booster. And no, I did not get rhabdomyolysis. But I do not recommend attempting a burpee marathon without prior training.  Actually, this is a more accurate portrayal of my relationship with burpees. The History of the Burpee The burpee was invented by American physiologist Royal Huddleston Burpee, Sr.  in 1939 for his PhD thesis at Columbia University as a simple, full-body exercise. It gained widespread popularity after the US military used it as fitness test during WW2.  So someone's PhD thesis became your coach's favourite exercise. Variations on the Burpee There...