Peony’s Music Sdn. Bhd. (Yamaha Music School), Sri Hartamas

The moment at a concert after the lights go out and before the band comes on stage.

You go early, you grab a drink, you buy a T-shirt, you find your seat or you edge up to the stage, you listen to the opening act, you people watch, you talk to your friends, you guess what songs they might play, and then the moment finally arrives: the background music fades, all the lights suddenly go out, and there’s total blackness. You feel a massive wave of anticipation sweep across the crowd, people stand up, raise their arms, and scream — and everyone clamors for that first glimpse of the band walking onstage.

AWESOME!

Peony’s Music is where the best of these budding musicians come to learn their trade or hone their skills. At Peony’s Music, rough uncut diamonds meet master craftsmen.

Meeting Mdm. Peony Er, the founder, owner and principal of Peony’s Music for the first time was quite an experience. “It all started in 1998 when we opened our first centre in Centrepoint, Bandar Utama. Since then, the music has never really stopped!” said Mdm. Er with a smile. From that first centre in Centrepoint, Peony’s Music has spread its wings to cover The Oval in 1-Utama Shopping Centre, Plaza Damas in Sri Hartamas and Solaris Dutamas. Loosely quoting a line from her favourite comedy show, Phua Chu Kang – Peony’s Music is the “Best in Bandar Utama, Hartamas and Dutamas”!

Mdm. Er believes that music is a language. Peony’s Music believes that the music they teach represent a language that transcends race, religion, culture and nationalities. Where every country or region in the world has a different spoken language, dialect and even alphabet, music does not. It has a common set of notes which denotes a certain musical sound which is used and observed wherever you are in the world. Music is a language which anyone, young or old, can give expression to their thoughts, their dreams, their feelings and even their life’s story or experiences.

Through the ages, there have been many phrases that have been coined to try to adequately describe the effect music has on people and different situations:

It is a language which the soul alone understands but which the soul can never translate– Arnold Bennett

Peony’s Music has a diverse mix of students from different nationalities and backgrounds. Hence, it is virtually a melting pot of different cultures and customs. And the single element that has brought these people together is music. The ages of the students taking music lessons at Peony’s Music range from 4 years old to an 83 year old man who is taking piano lessons. Peony’s Music is not your usual music centre where you come in, take your lesson and leave. During our interview session, I noticed that everyone who have come in, be they students, parents, teachers or even the delivery men have one thing in common – huge smiles on their faces! I am not exaggerating. The whole centre is filled with smiles, laughter and music! O joy, I have just found a little piece of Shangri-La!

At Peony’s Music, a student can pick up the piano, pop piano, guitar / bass, ukulele, drums, violin and even vocal training. For every instrument there is a curriculum and properly structured subjects to help you learn about the instrument, music and eventually master the instrument. Taking this a step further, you can sit for grading exams offered by various music guilds and exam bodies such as Trinity Guild (since 1877) and Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (since 1889). For those who are a little bit more gifted, the next level would be ‘playing’ towards a diploma or degree. You can do this locally at ASWARA, ICOM and UM/UPM/USM or overseas at the National University of Singapore, Berklee College of Music, USA or even the Royal College of Music, UK. However, it is also okay if you want to take up an instrument just as a hobby or a form of self-improvement. Peony’s Music will welcome you with open arms.

“Excelling in something without enjoying it defeats the purpose of learning or mastering it,” says Mdm. Er. Peony’s Music recognizes that the fun factor is of utmost importance in the learning of music. Aaaaa……now I understand. The fun and enjoyment factors have been nurtured and inculcated throughout the Peony’s Music schools, from the principal, to the teachers, to its students right on to their parents and even the deliverymen! This journey of ‘fun and enjoyment’ has not always been a bed of roses. It has been tough. But Peony’s Music has persevered, they have never stopped trying to improve themselves and enhancing their music programmes and classes. Even today, 20 years on, they are still coming up with new, exciting and fun programmes for their students.

Aside from their regular scheduled classes, Peony’s Music has one of the most innovative holiday class programmes that I have ever encountered. When I asked for their programme schedule I was given the “Peony’s Music Menu”! But upon closer scrutiny, I started to smile and then burst out laughing. Their schedule for the year has been very cleverly divided into four seasons:

The schedule has been named ‘Blosson with Happiness – Sing, Play & Jam’

The programmes have been devised to suit anyone and everyone, be it kids, adults, stay at home housewives, busy working adults and even grandparents. The flexibility of this programme is amazing. It has four mainstays which are,

In keeping with the ‘Menu’ theme, this programme has been further spiced up so that students are able to enjoy very special rates at certain days of the week and at certain times of the day. The folks at Peony’s Music offer: