Her Story

Personal Background

Mdm Phaik Gek, a former IT Manager and HR Business Manager at a multinational company, retired four years ago. She now enjoys a rich post-retirement life indulging in her passions for music, playing the guitar, singing, and dancing.

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Initiative and Involvement

In late 2021, Mdm Phaik Gek's journey into community music began quite unexpectedly. A casual gathering at Raffles Park with fellow retirees led to a request for her to join a singing session. Initially, the plan was to sing using mobile phones, but Mdm Phaik Gek took the initiative to prepare songsheets and bring her guitar, transforming these informal meetings into structured singing sessions.

What began as a gathering of singing enthusiasts who were unsure where to start evolved into a robust community group. Mdm Phaik Gek introduced vocal basics and diversified the group's repertoire to include songs in various languages such as English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien, Malay, and even a Japanese song. The group, consisting mainly of Mandarin speakers aged 35 to 82, meets twice a week for sessions that begin with vocal warm-ups and body relaxation exercises. Each new song involves a fluent member articulating the lyrics, ensuring everyone learns and listens to their own voices.

The impact of this initiative is profound. Members have found joy and confidence through singing, learning to project their voices and even connecting with their grandchildren through contemporary songs like "The Wellerman". Many live alone or with spouses and find solace and connection in these sessions. Singing solos has especially boosted their confidence, and one member even learned a Hokkien song for the first time.

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Skills and Talents

Mdm Phaik Gek's musical skills, including guitar playing and singing, are central to the initiative. Despite not being able to read music, her good ear for music and empathy have been crucial. Her corporate experience has also been invaluable in providing sensitive and effective feedback. Additionally, basic Microsoft Word skills are essential for creating and printing songsheets for the group.

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Memorable Experiences

Two experiences stand out for Mdm Phaik Gek. First, a new member who initially whispered that she couldn't sing is now confident and brave in her singing. Second, a member who frequently sang out of key made significant improvements. This member's initial struggle unexpectedly helped others understand what singing "out of key" sounded like. As a result, the entire group became more aware and motivated to sing "in key."​

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Community and Connection

The joy of getting the key right and the happiness shared among members when singing together is what Mdm Phaik Gek enjoys most. Teaching patriotic songs like "Setia" and "Sejahtera Malaysia" has fostered camaraderie and unity, especially during National Day week.

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Lifelong Learning and Active Aging

Mdm Phaik Gek stays active by playing the guitar and preparing for the singing sessions, driven by the members' love for singing. Her advice to other retirees is simple: sometimes, the most impactful initiatives start randomly and grow organically.

Future Aspirations

It took time for the members to sing confidently and melodiously, but Mdm Phaik Gek hopes they will one day perform on stage. She dreams of them singing their hearts out, showcasing their hard-earned skills.

Support from SITI Network

To further enhance the group's skills, Mdm Phaik Gek suggests sponsoring vocal teachers to provide classes and correct their singing. She humorously notes that it sometimes feels like "the blind leading the blind." Additionally, the group is interested in exploring other initiatives, such as those offered by Memory Cafe.