Tabi basa & greetings everyone. In this post, I’d like to share about the recently concluded second edition of Bengkel Seni Talent Vocal (BSTV) held at Inspire Miracle Training & Consultancy Centre, Jalan Pujut 7, Miri.
Prologue
The man behind BSTV, the one and only – the legendary Yudhi Seriestha, fondly called Cikgu Yudhi by his students, is a passionate man in the art of singing. Thanks to him, over 3000 students were coached by him in the art of proper singing techniques ever since he started this singing workshop in 1992.
Interestingly, according to Cikgu Yudhi, 70% of his students are from Iban community. In Sarawak, Iban music scene can be considered the most active, and each year, new songs are being produced. My personal favourite is Masterpiece, with hits such as Ngarapka Nuan Nikal Pulai, Sinu, Redak Seribu and many more.
About Cikgu Yudhi & Dewi
Cikgu Yudhi himself is a great singer, and he is known internationally. His latest achievement to-date is WINNER of SANREMOSENIOR AWARD 2022, a singing competition held in Sanremo, Italy which he gladly shared with his students, including us who were eager to hear his story at class.
His daughter, Dewi Liana Seriestha, a multi-talented person herself, is the winner of Miss Talent World 2014, London – the first Malaysian to win Miss World Talent award. She represented Malaysia at Miss World 2014 and was placed as the Top 25.
She is also the represents Malaysia in World Championship of Performing Arts 2014, Los Angeles. She won Gold for Classical Opera and 3 Silver Medals for contemporary, world music and variety category (vocal).
He said, age is not a barrier for someone to achieve excellence, as what he proved at Italy a couple of years ago. As for his daughter, Dewi – she has been coached by him during her early age – something that we wish we had when we were young. But, it is never too late to learn & improve our singing techniques.
Where there is a will, there is a way.
The Inception of 2nd Edition of BSTV Miri
The advertisement for BSTV came after the singing competition at Boulevard’s Food Festival, after Gawai celebration. I saw it, then I registered my name with Christina Brayon, a Miri-based Iban singer-songwriter. Along with her was Jay, another Iban singer-songwriter based in Miri.
Preparation for BSTV
As far as I am concerned, BSTV is the only vocal workshop at Sarawak and I haven’t encountered any other similar workshop. They maybe are, but probably based in musical school.
Echoing Cikgu Yudhi’s message, there are many talents here in the Land of Hornbill, but the number of vocal teachers are not many. So much untapped potentials.
Anyway, for those who is joining BSTV, one of the exercise that we need to do is to prepare a song. Beyond that, there is no further instruction because that would be less fun.
I have prepared a different song, rock song, I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing and Bed of Roses – the two songs that I have performed at Legends Bistro during the previous Singing Competitions.
Note: actually I didn’t sang any of those two during the workshop. I sang other songs. Why? Because I felt like it.
Participants of BSTV are mostly my singing competition buddies – sharing the same passion in singing. We’re joining this workshop to improve our singing capabilities too.
The Day of BSTV
There was a drama before the session, where we were struggling to wake Richard Well up, as he had some overtime happy hour the night before, and only went back 5am, just few hours before the workshop started.
Since I promised to pick him up at 7.30am, I called him numerous times. He initially told me to go first, but I am not that cruel to leave him behind. Besides, there are possibilities that he will go back to sleep due to fatigue. I just show up and fetch him.
At our rendezvous point, at eateries beneath Pavlion Inn, Permy, we started our day with a hearty breakfast. Mine was kolo mee (extra large), and hot milo – a common breakfast for Sarawakian; whilst the rest – Chua & Lyn had their own meal too.
“Guru Besar” @ GB Augustine L arrived earlier than us. He is much more enthusiastic than us. Around 8.45am, we made our move to the training centre at Pujut 7 road.
Over there, we were greeted by the owner of the training centre, who is also the student of Cikgu Yudhi too.
There is a lot of successful singers under Cikgu Yudhi’s vocal coaching, including Menoah, Karen Libau and let’s not forget his daughter too, Dewi, who is also a great singer.
Let The Class Begins
Once most of the students arrived, we began our class. From the front, Jay, Lyn, yours truly, Richard, GB, Penny, Aida, Connie, Chua, Roslind, Stella, Stenly, Iskandar, Reagen and lastly Christina.
Before this, I only saw their names in the WhatsApp group and only met them in person there.
Cikgu Yudhi started his class with his sharing, story about singing and some theories before we move to practical exercises which for me is practical and useful indeed.
There were few parts where we need to sing but that is expected in any vocal workshop. This workshop would need your 100% participations, both mental and physical. I also would like to add spiritual because when you sing, you would need to sing from your soul too in order to be a good singer.
Joke of the Day: Jaku Nuan Kapa Didinga?
That simple line was the one that Penny wrongly-sung when it came to her turn to sing. It shows how a single word can change the meaning of a sentence. The right one is “jaku urang kapa didinga?” (why you should listen to others?”).
That is the fun part of the workshop too, where we always have something to laugh about, to neutralise the intensity of the workshop. We learn faster when we are having fun, isn’t it?
Let’s not forget that mini concert at staircase, shall we?
About that song, it is from Florence Lo’s famous hit song, “Ati Nuan, Ati Aku” (meaning Your Heart My Heart in Iban). I seldom hear this song because my preference is more towards rock songs sung by male singers, so that I can prepare for upcoming competitions. But after joining so many singing competitions in Miri, I can memorise the lyrics. Why? I have listened to a lot of participants performing that song.
It is a great song actually. I do enjoy watching ladies singing that song, especially when she can perform it with “feel”. Then she is doing that song a justice.
Why You Should Attend This Workshop?
If you wish to improve your singing technique, you should attend this course. If you have any other intention, then this may not be the workshop for you. For example, someone who wants to be rich. Then, this workshop is not for you.
This workshop is intended for someone who is sincerely wants to improve their singing techniques, if you want to unlearn your bad habits and want to sing for a long time.
Besides, the person who is teaching you is some who has been teaching vocal for almost 40 years. In order to teach and sing for that long, one has to be passionate.
Cikgu Yudhi is definitely has his passion in singing oozing out of him, and we, his students definitely can feel it. His style of teaching can be tailored to suit your singing capabilities.
Also, he love it if students throws him a lot of questions. We did. And all of us got our questions answered.
Graduation Pictures
Epilogue
It is indeed a blessing for the almighty God to be able to attend Cikgu Yudhi’s workshop. I am not kidding when I say that it is a life-changing experience, especially when I have always wanted to improve my singing techniques.
Thank you Cikgu Yudhi for taking your time, coming all the way to Miri and shared your passion in singing with us. Thank you also to Jay and Christina for organising this workshop for all of us to attend. Even though they are professionals, they are still eager to learn and improve their singing techniques – a continuous improvement spirits that we all should have should we aim for excellence.
Thank you also to Lyn for becoming the unofficial videographer of the day.
If you want to know the details and experience a life-changing moments like I did, do attend his workshop near you in the future.
Your Tukang Rantek,
Emcee Claud
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/claudiusweson
WhatsApp 014-8677585 https://wa.me/60148677585
I will post my future stuff here at my WhatsApp Channel
Thank You Cikgu Yudhi & BSTV Miri!
