This blog post is part of a series called "2025 Wrapped" where I share videos of my students celebrating their learning achievements across 2025.

We all love a good success story, don't we? Dolly, Laverne, Malala, Edie. Oh, you don't know Edie? The 10-year-old girl who started singing lessons in January this year and has drastically come out of her shell through sheer perseverance and a love of music? Yeah, that one!

Without even realising it, Edie showed me her musicianship skills from the very beginning of our lessons together, through her instinctive ability to follow high/low and long/short pitches when written down. Over time, she ended up discovering that she also has a sense of what sounds pleasant to the ear if ever we need to modify a melody (e.g. if a note in a song is too low or too high for her, she is always able to find these notes herself without much guidance from me).

When Edie first started lessons, her hyperfixation was Melanie Martinez. Her room was (and still is) covered in Melanie merch and all things macabre (think black wallpaper, skulls, disembodied hands holding jewellery, etc.), so it was a bit tricky at first to open her up to listening to any other artist. But then came "Mayhem" by Lady Gaga, and OH MY GOD NEW OBSSESSION I MUST HAVE IT. Suddenly, our lessons were filled with Die With a Smile and Edge of Glory, and from there, we found other boundary-pushing divas like Chappell Roan and Billie Eilish.

Somehow we got onto the topic of exams, and before we knew it, we were preparing for Grade 2 Rock & Pop. Of course she passed (just scraping a Distinction grade!) and it didn't take long for the funniest little ego to kick in - "Umm, actually, Dad, I think you should get me a drink from the kitchen, since I did get a Distinction..."

Edie's family has been very gracious in allowing me to share with you her entire exam video, so for your viewing pleasure, enjoy Killing Me Softly by Roberta Flack, Wonder by Emeli Sandé, and (Something Inside) So Strong by Labi Siffre. Happy new year 🎆🍾