Studies show that culture appreciation can enhance one’s mental health, including relieving stress, lowering one’s risk of anxiety and depression, and preventing memory loss. “Man does not live by bread alone. We do wish for the finer things in life, to appreciate beauty, love and something uplifting for the spirit,” said Prime Minister Lee Hsien
Do you know that music is composed of waves of vibration? And that trillions of cells in our body resonate and respond to vibrations, which influence our feelings? From ancient sages to modern molecular science and string theory, studies have proven that all matter in the universe, including our bodies, vibrate. In other words, the
“Music to me is a realm. It brings me into another realm. When the music is taken to another realm, I always call it magical.” – Mr Toh Ban Sheng, award-winning choral conductor In 1999, Mr Toh Ban Sheng, a self-taught conductor, stood on the stage of the historic Victoria Concert Hall with Raffles Junior College Chorale.
(WATCH: Epoch Times Spoke to Mr Lee Yuk Chuan, President of the Singapore Choral Association) “A good conductor is able to condition the choir members to achieve the right state. Each member is able sing in tune with emotional honesty, while blending into a chorus without overwhelming each other.” – Mr Lee Yuk Chuan, a pioneer of Singapore’s
(WATCH: Artist Khan Siong Ann and his work) An artist has to rely on himself and work hard. It depends on how the artist attains his realm through cultivating [his character and skill]. – Second-generation artist Khan Siong Ann Born in 1942, second-generation artist Khan Siong Ann has been painting for over six decades. His interest in art
What’s your life’s biggest, unfulfilled dream? If you don’t yet know, I’d suggest you watch ‘All in 700’, a 2016-2017 Taiwanese drama series directed by Danny Teng. Join 10 lively residents of the Yinhwa Senior Community—with a combined age of more than 700 years—on a nostalgic road trip, as they embark on a serendipitous journey
“Master Tan’s paintings are amazing. They can be interpreted through the lens of Taoism or Buddhism. They are akin to what Laozi once said: “Pliant, and yet unyielding, exceedingly great, and exceedingly strong.” Both the false and the real, the large and the small, existence and nonexistence, Heaven and Earth all manifest in his artworks.
(WATCH: Epoch Times spoke to Nelson Kwei, premier choral director) In 2004, the Singapore flag flew high and the national anthem rang out at the Choir Olympics award ceremony in Bremen, Germany. “It was a very surreal moment. Till today, I still can’t believe it’s true,” says Mr Nelson Kwei, a name synonymous with choral music in Singapore. The
When people agree to disagree, we often hear them say, “That’s true for you but not for me,” or “That’s just your perspective.” Sounds familiar? Chances are, they’re representing postmodernist thinking. Many scholars have tried to define postmodernism, but a wide range of definitions exist. And that is the exact premise of postmodernism—that there is
An acquaintance recently related a story from her days as a kindergarten teacher. Once, in haste, she started throwing workbooks to her pupils at the back of the classroom. To expedite the process, she asked a boy to help her distribute. To her horror, he started throwing workbooks as well. “That was when I realise
The OECD consistently finds girls perform significantly better than boys in reading. This gap can also be observed across the Australian NAPLAN reading data. Research suggests reading more can improve literacy outcomes across a range of indicators. But girls typically read more frequently than boys, and have a more positive attitude toward reading. Parents read more with their daughters. This sends a strong
Each year, more parents send their young child to elementary school equipped with a smartphone. For instance, the percentage of third-graders who reported having their own cellphone more than doubled from 19 percent in 2013 to 45 percent in 2017. Similar increases took place for fourth-graders and fifth-graders. About half of fourth-graders and 70 percent of fifth-graders went to school
“If a person is looking for friends, they should basically be active in as many communities as possible,” says Anshumali Shrivastava, assistant professor of computer science at Rice University and coauthor of the study, which the researchers presented at the 2018 IEEE/ACM International Conference on Advances in Social Networks Analysis and Mining. “And if they want to become
A new study takes a critical look not just at Facebook and other similar platforms, but at the peculiarities of the systems on which they operate. The short-term effects of social exclusion posts create negative emotions in people who read them, and may affect thought processes in ways that make users more susceptible to advertising
Contrary to what others say, it’s easy to shop for furniture. If you completely trust a store to take care of what you want, you can just visit their showroom, pick a set that looks great and voila! Your taste, your choice – backed up by the furniture shop’s professionals. Why not? They’re pros in
For many people, the idea of being on a business trip or vacation means having the best accommodation. With the presence of the non-traditional accommodations that allows you to use someone else’s residence or room, along with traditional hotel accommodations that many are now using for term short-term accommodations, which is better? Traditional Short Term
We’re always drawn to bodies of water. A sign of life and prosperity, it’s idyllic and dreamy when one gazes upon the sea on a relaxing holiday. However, a usually forgotten alternative to the beauty of the ocean is the timeless and functional beauty of a bay. This loose body of calmer water should
It’s very understandable and common that if one chooses to reside in another country as an expat, he would choose one that he would feel comfortable and safe in. Enter Singapore. Making up for its size is its low crime rate and diverse culture giving expats a great place to live in. Here are the
How often have you skipped dessert because you felt guilty about overeating after a good meal? Or felt guilty about indulging in a sugar- and fat-laden dessert? Well, you shouldn’t feel bad. A dessert is the culmination of every meal. Sometimes it can even make up for a bad meal. It’s a prize. It’s a
A bathroom’s design is important for any house. There’s a reason why it’s called restroom in the first place. It should be a place where we can all relax. Never is a bathroom’s limited size an excuse for it not to be as stylish and functional as it can be. Here are some tips. Open
