Parents’ move to limit gadget time gives birth to mini-rock stars

Like many modern parents, Suhana Mohamad Daud and Arif Rafhan Otham were concerned over the amount of time their children spend on electronic gadgets.

This prompted them to limit the amount of screen time their three children, Mya Elisya, 11, Arif Aamil Hamka, 8, and Arif Ezra Avicenna, 3, were exposed to.

The results of that decision, implemented close to a year ago, were beyond expectations of the family who are based in Jenjarom, Selangor.

Although their children had shown interest in music at a very young age, the parents’ move to limit their screen time had somehow unearthed a hidden talent within the children.

Today, the two older children - Mya and Hamka - have a rock band which not only rival professional tribute bands but they are also writing their own songs. They call themselves "Young Arif".

And unlike other children their age, the siblings play classic rock songs from The Beatles as well as music from the 1990s and the 2000s from bands like Weezer and the Foo Fighters.

Mya’s musical talents were first spotted when at two years old, she was given an acoustic guitar after her parents noticed she was ambidextrous like her father who is an artist.

But the siblings’ only took music seriously when their father converted their playroom into a music studio to reward them for doing well in school.

“Mya started getting interested and started practising some songs such as those from the Foo Fighters, Weezer and Nirvana, and now (she is) interested in The Beatles,” their mother, Suhana said.

The music studio, equipped with electric guitars and microphones, also included a drum set for Hamka. Before this, he played on a toy drum.

Most of their instruments were donated by friends and family.

“We were surprised Hamka was a fast learner in drums and he really learned just after we set up the home studio which was last December,'' said Suhana, a full-time mother.

Hamka started jamming with his older sister in March and the duo improved tremendously after playing together, she said.

They do not take any formal lessons and learn the basics from their father, who sometimes plays bass to accompany them.

They are also teaching themselves the piano and learn to play their instruments from watching YouTube videos, Suhana added.

“(Mya writes her) own music and lyrics on acoustic guitars. Their dad helps them by becoming their bassist during their jamming sessions and gives advice on improving the song. They were so excited,” she said.

They now have three original songs under their belt and have also performed live - at their father’s school reunion in Taiping recently where they played songs by The Beatles (video, above).

“When writing songs (we tell them to) try not to think about what people want but rather to express themselves,” Suhana said.

The first song they wrote is called Friends, while the second was a theme song for the band called We Are Young Arif.

However, like all parents, the children’s studies remain a priority and they are only allowed to play music for 90 minutes each day. The studio is also closed during exam season.

“This band was created for fun, the main purpose is just to maintain their hobby. We hope their music skills will make their brains more active and help with academic learning and soft skills including drawing and other creative skills, to balance both brain sides of the brain,” Suhana said.

The older children have so much fun playing music that they have inspired their three-year-old brother to join them.

He joins their jamming sessions with his ukelele, although he doesn’t quite know how to play it yet.

“We will try to expose him just like we did his older sister and brother. We’re waiting for him to be ready to play any instrument. God willing, he will join their band,” she said. - Mkini