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The GrowlersWorld Interviews

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The GrowlersWorld Interviews are an ongoing quest, bringing you closer to successful and creative people in all walks of life.

Rawle Austin presents...

A conversation with Benjamin Chan FRSA - A Virtuoso at Indexing the Game of Life!

Benjamin Chan is an ambitious achiever who is an inspiration to all. He was recently elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and is a keen pianist. I spoke to him to get his recipe for success.

Rawle Austin: Could you introduce yourself to GrowlersWorld readers?

Benjamin Chan: I’m the keyboardist for the British Chinese Indie Pop Band Bigyellowband and Top Hat Band (Corporate Events and Weddings). The Top Hat Band was recently listed in Bride’s magazine (July/August 2007) edition as one of the best 30 wedding bands in the UK.

In my musical lifespan, I’ve played for audiences that include Nobel Prize Winners, a Papal Ambassador, and a celebrity chef - Ken Hom.

RA: When did your love of the piano manifest itself and why does this instrument in particular strike a chord with you?

British Museum Great Court 2007; wearing a shirt he designed (inspired by Bruce Lee!) (photo: Aneta Grochowska)

BC: My elder brother’s Bontempi electronic keyboard – I was 7 at the time, I started playing random notes. Showing a keen interest, my mother set me up with Electronic Organ lessons.

I moved onto piano and (keyboards) at age 11, the piano seemed to be a challenging instrument with nuances of dynamics, you can incorporate your fingers, arms, soul, and imagination into playing.

There’s also such a huge range of styles which musicologist Tovey calls in his publication, the “Literature of the Piano”.

My personal favourites include ragtime, tango, piano music of the romantic era and Rock and Roll.

RA: How did you nurture your love of the piano in the early days?

BC: I was always hearing and discovering classical music from films, my dad’s record collection, televised competitions and visits to the symphony.

I would hear a classical piece, find out what they were and want to learn it.

With celebrity chef Ken Hom at the Pearl Awards 2007

A family friend introduced me to the piano concerto when I was 11, also there was an early Hooked on Classics series.

RA: Who is your favourite classical composer and what makes them stand out in your opinion?

BC: My favourite, previously it was Chopin, Liszt, and now currently Schumann. Schumann has Jekyll and Hyde themes in his music – often two themes with completely different characters.

One of the pieces I'm learning has both a marching, stout, brass theme and the other character has a lyrical, singing, ethereal [theme]. In his lifetime, Schumann suffered from syphyllis which affected his mental state.

RA: How often do you practice playing?

BC: I’m fairly busy, being a Dad, working full time work and my two bands, but I aim to get 20 minutes in a day minimum.

I increase that if I have a performance.

When I prepared for Grade 8 piano I endeavoured to practice up to an hour a day, averaging 40 minutes a time.

Hear Ben play here

Grade 8 was especially difficult because I entered straight in at this level, without taking any previous exams, so I had to bring my aural (listening) musicianship skills up to a higher standard.

There are effective methods to practice – if I’m tight for time, I’ll focus on key mistakes from the previous lesson.

I often make recordings of my lessons so I can identify and remember what to improve on.

Occasionally you can get into a rut when it comes to practise – you may feel that you are working hard on a piece and no immediate noticeable improvement, you should then take a break from the piece and approach refreshed wherever possible.

I found, often by surprise, improvements in my playing after periods of breaks following hard practice - it’s amazing how the subconscious works.

RA: What is your favourite piano concerto movement and why does it appeal to you?

BC: I quite like Liszt’s totentanz (Dance of Death).

It’s virtuosic, frantic and powerful. Also, Franz Liszt was one of my former teacher’s teacher’s teacher!

Big Yellow performing at the Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House 2008 to an audience of 500

RA: You are keen to play overseas, why is this dream special to you?

BC: I’ve played at some major london venues – Royal Opera House’s Linbury Studio, The Trocadero, Metro Bar in Oxford Street, Victoria and Albert Museum, mainly because I’m a keen traveller and to combine any two hobbies – travel and music would be a plus!

RA: What is your ultimate ambition in regards to your piano playing?

BC: Start teaching my 19 month old daughter – she seems to display an early propensity and preference for the drums however. I’d quite like to develop my jazz piano playing, I’ve arranged for some lessons shortly.

RA: You’ve played in the classical, jazz and rock genres. What has been your most memorable performance to date and why?

BC: Without doubt, the Royal Opera House’s Linbury Studio earlier this year. We had a full set up complete with stage lights.

RA: What advice would you give to someone who is eager to learn piano playing?

BC: Be realistic about what you want to achieve and what you can achieve. There’s no shame in learning for the fun of it at your own pace.

Ben with daughter Tamra meeting Sir David Tang, KBE (founder of Shanghai Tang) following child prodigy Niu Niu's Piano concert at the Wigmore Hall

Lessons can be expensive but you should view that [as an] investment for the long term and strive to improve. If you enjoy it, invest in it.

Also, seek inspiration – network with other enthusiasts and attend concerts, or conferences where you can get inspired from professionals and musicians at the top of the game.

I recently organised the St Reatham Festival of Music, an informal gathering of prize winning classical professional musicians and aspiring amateur instrumentalist musicians of the piano, guitar, and violin.

The aim was to inspire; provide an opportunity to perform and try out new musical ideas in a mutually supportive, friendly and relaxed environment.

Not only were all who attended inspired, but new collaborative networks and friendships formed as a result!

RA: You describe yourself as ‘always one for self improvement and development.’ How do you keep yourself motivated to pursue your personal goals?

With drummer bandmate Jeremy O' Hare (who is also an Information Professional too!), at the International Information Industry Awards 2006

BC: It can be difficult juggling work, family life, I set goals and live for now – if there’s something you want to pursue whether that is something you wish to learn, travel to, accomplish, let it enter your subconscious, think positively about it and the opportunities will manifest themselves.

Two years ago, I thought it would great to be invited to Parliament to attend a meeting.

Only last year I was invited [through a band contact in Chinatown Magazine] to attend a function – Integration of British Chinese into Politics, a non-partisan project to raise the political profile of the community in the UK at the House of Lords.

I was chosen among the 100 delegates to lead the project.

I then had the opportunity to speak on behalf of the project with Mr. David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party, at a British Chinese community gathering in Birmingham.

So sometimes it’s not the objective that matters, but the journey and the possibilities where that can lead to.

With Mr. David Cameron, MP, Leader of the Conservative Party

5 years ago when I restarted learning the piano and music would I have known I could come this far even performing to audiences of 500 and played on local radio stations in London and Manchester.

RA: Who inspires you most in life and why?

BC: It’ll have to be my 2 year old daughter, she loves learning and every experience is new and wonderful to her, whether that is learning to jump, playing the drums, or speaking on a toy megaphone.

A love of life, is something we can often lose in modern life, we often take for granted the simplest pleasures of life, something a child never does.

RA: You were recently shortlisted for an International Industry Information Award. Can you give us a history of your work in this field that led up to this incredible achievement?

BC: I started working in the information/library profession from the bottom – starting as a shelver.

I rapidly got promoted and undertook a professional qualification gaining my Masters in Information Systems & Technology (information science).

I created a collaborative work web portal for Westminster Reference Libraries.

Speaking at the Online Information Conference 2006, Kensington Olympia

I only started my first professional (librarian grade) post 4 years ago, and within that time period I have been profiled in the professional journal, podcasted a talk on networking [social], written an article on 24 Hour Reference Services and given a conference speech at Kensington Olympia.

It was this speech regarding the particular project that was shortlisted for an International Industry Information Award within the field of innovation in Knowledge Management.

This was particularly amazing as the previous year, I set myself an objective of learning more about Knowledge Management, I even organised a seminar for librarians about the topic with the Knowledge Management head of PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

RA: You have a love for practising Kung Fu. Can you talk about your journey to date with this sport and where you’d like it to take you in the future?

BC: As a teenager I started Kung Fu lessons in San Francisco, I even entered the Chinese New Year Parade, one of the largest of such events. I stopped learning about 16 years ago despite reaching an advanced level.

Last year, I discovered my California based school had a distance learning programme, I enrolled, I also learned there was a practicioner in Exeter.

Using my research skills, I located him and we arranged once a month lessons in my London home for the past year.

So it was a combination of learning from a video tape, infrequent private instruction and home practice.

I learned several new forms such as one for the Sabre, Staff and five animals.

On a recent trip to San Francisco I took two private lessons with one of the masters – it really upped my game and inspired me.

I was awarded my brown belt, and am now preparing for the black belt exam.

In terms of the future, I see my practice as benefiting my health and well being, and I’d quite like to learn more weapons – such as the chain whip.

Even at black belt stage there are five levels before you can become a master – so there’s plenty to learn.

Awarded brown belt in Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu, 2007

RA: You’ve also delved into fashion by designing your own range of shirts (See pictures below). Why did you decide to enter this creative field and what was your favourite part of the whole design process?

BC: My mother makes costumes and ballet clothes for stage, schools and film.

I used to make a custom designed shirt for a particular gig I was performing in or house parties I threw (had a 100 people attend).

The favourite part of the design process was having an idea, albeit wacky sometimes – like a shirt in the design of a pumpkin, or ladybird motif, seeing it from idea – to design sketch to reality.

RA: And finally, what words of wisdom would you like to leave us with?

BC: Anything is achievable – be open to meet new people, develop your abilities in all facets.

Prime your subconscious to your deepest goals, wishes and dreams.