SCHEDULE FOR ABRSM EXAM

Here are the time and dates for your exam as promised. Remember to report an hour before your turn.

TO ALL THOSE WHO STILL DON'T NOT HAVE A PIANIST! BETTER GO GET ONE! THE TEACHERS ARE NOT YOUR SERVANTS. THEY ARE ONLY THERE TO HELP. SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PIANIST ON THE ACTUAL DAY. DON'T BLAME ANYONE BUT YOUR FOOLISHNESS.

Monday 3/9
Wei Tianhao 9.31
Gerald Sim 9.45
Benjamin Huang 10.02
Hanley Rupawalla 10.19
Yang Yuchen 10.33
Lin Xu Song 11.22
Luke Lim 11.39
Harold Lim 11.56
Dong Zhengsheng 12.13
Jovan Chin 12.30

Tuesday 4/9
Darryn Ng 9.oo
Edison Lim 9.17
Lao Zhenxi 9.51
Qiu Wen Kai 10.08
Joel Tan 10.25
Yao Qi 11.14
Aaron Soo 11.48
Andrew Lai 12.05
Ng Il Shan 12.19
Leong Jie Xiang 12.36

Wednesday 5/9
Justin Lim 9.00
Lee Woon Ngiap 9.34
Marcus Hoh 10.08
Springsfield 10.22
Zhang Jun Yao 10.54
Phan Nop 11.28
Hoe Jun Wei 11.45
Bryan Lim 12.15

Thursday 6/9
Lim Zhi Wei 9.00
Louis Zheng 9.34
Calwin Lim 9.51
Guo Zhi 10.08
Loo Qin En 10.25
Kwan Ian 10.57
Ronald Yu 11.14
Daren Sin 11.28
Joshua Koh 12.02

WHAT YOU'RE GONNA BE TESTED FOR AURAL

Hi guys! I understand that most of you are unsure about what would be tested for the aural ABRSM. So here's what it is. If you are unclear, you could approach me, Justin or Joel Tan.

Aural Tests: Grade 3

A To tap the pulse of a passage of music in 2 (including 6/8), 3 (including 9/8) or 4 time played by the examiner. The examiner will commence playing the passage, and the candidate will be expected to join in as soon as possible by tapping the beat, stressing where the strong beat falls. The candidate will then be asked to state the time.

B To sing, as an echo, three short phrases limited to a range of one octave in a major or minor key played by the examiner. The echoes should follow each phrase in strict time without an intervening pause. The key-chord and tonic will first be sounded and the pulse indicated.

C To recognize a rhythmic or melodic change to a four-bar phrase in a major or minor key played twice by the examiner, with the change being made in the second playing. Candidates will be required to recognize and tap, sing or describe the change. The key-chord and tonic will first be sounded and the pulse indicated. The examiner will be prepared to play both versions of the phrase a second time if necessary.

D To identify certain features of a piece played by the examiner. The features will be confined to contrasted dynamics (p/f), gradation of tone (crescendo/diminuendo), articulation (staccato/ legato), recognition of tempo changes (rallentando/accelerando etc.), and recognition of major and minor tonality, of which the examiner will select one or two and advise the candidate accordingly before playing the piece. Questions on the selected features will then follow. Candidates are encouraged to use Italian terms in their answers where appropriate.

Aural Tests: Grade 4

A To sing or play from memory a four-bar melody played twice by the examiner. The key-chord and starting note will first be sounded and named, and the pulse indicated. A second attempt will be allowed if necessary.

B To sing five notes from score in free time within the range of a third above and below the tonic in the key of C, F or G major. The test will begin and end on the tonic and will not contain any intervals greater than a third. The examiner will play and name the key-chord and tonic, and, if necessary, play each note after it has been attempted. Candidates may choose to sing the test from the treble or bass clef.

C1 To identify certain features of a piece played by the examiner. The features will be confined to dynamics (p/f), gradation of tone (crescendo/diminuendo), articulation (staccato/legato), tempo changes (rallentando/accelerando etc.), recognition of major and minor tonality, and general perception of the character of the piece, of which the examiner will select one or two and advise the candidate accordingly before playing the piece. Questions on the selected features will then follow. Candidates are encouraged to use Italian terms in their answers where appropriate.

C2 To clap the rhythm of a short extract played twice by the examiner from the above piece and state whether it is in 2, 3 or 4 time.

Aural Tests: Grade 5

A To sing or play from memory a short melody played twice by the examiner. The key-chord and starting note will first be sounded and named, and the pulse indicated. A second attempt will be allowed if necessary.

B To sing six notes from score in free time within the range of a fifth above and a fourth below the tonic in any major key up to two sharps or flats. The test will begin and end on the tonic and will not contain any intervals greater than a third, except for the rising fourth from dominant to tonic. The examiner will play and name the key-chord and tonic, and, if necessary, play each note after it has been attempted. Candidates may choose to sing the test from the treble or bass clef.

C1 To identify certain features of a piece played by the examiner. The features will be confined to dynamics (p/f), gradation of tone (crescendo/diminuendo), articulation (staccato/legato), tempo changes (rallentando/accelerando etc.), recognition of major and minor tonality, and general perception of texture, rhythm, form, style and period, of which the examiner will select one or two and advise the candidate accordingly before playing the piece. Questions on the selected features will then follow. Candidates are encouraged to use Italian terms in their answers where appropriate.

C2 To clap the rhythm of a short extract played twice by the examiner from the above piece and state whether it is in 2, 3 or 4 time.

By the way, I'll be in the band room on Friday after the celebrations. So if anyone needs help with the exam, I'll be there to help you.

Cheers,
Daniel

Postpon in the movie

Hi guys! Daniel here!
Yes, this is my first post.

Just wanted to inform all of you that
1.) Sec2s you have to attend your oral exam on monday
2.) The movie will be postponed due to their oral
3.) There WILL BE band practice on monday

Okay, that's all. Spread the word

cheers,
Daniel

I just CANNOT let go of band!

It is 2 days after the Passing out Parade. I came upon the post by Yue Sheng in our band blog and I realized I just can’t let go of band! This post shall be my “last words” for you guys in band so I can rest in peace. (The pop “sharing” session is just too short for me to tell you all important things!!)

The 1 ½ year as a leader in band is the most meaningful and enjoyable time in my life. Whenever there were proposals or planning to do, the other leaders and I would always stay until very late to discuss. I can still remember the day I got the Drum Major post. It was my birthday. The very moment we were given our posts, we had tasks to do. We stayed back late to discuss about them. But we never get anything out of it. During meetings, as mentioned by Yue Sheng, I am always the stubborn one, Timothy and Eric the clever ones, Yue Sheng the one who wastes time and Yun Song the one that stops him. It was taxing but it was worth the efforts when the proposals that we planned worked out fine.

Life is so fun in band. I got to know many friends in band. We have been through so much together that we have a very strong bond between each other. It’s safe to say that if anyone of us were to have difficulties in any thing, even outside of band, the rest of us would sure help him out. In the preparation of SYF this year, I could see that happening - all of us had been through the exhausting 8 – 10 hours of practice, woke up at 4 a.m. every Saturday to practice for SYF and pulled through the taxing 8 – 10 hours of practice that followed, came back every day in the March Holidays, been through the daily morning practices, and many other extraordinary feats. We did all these TOGETHER. We sacrificed for one and other. We stood side by side when faced with a challenge. We encouraged and spurred each other on when some of us felt like surrendering. None of us had forsaken each other. Therefore, we are more than just friends, classmates and schoolmates; we are brothers.

Band impacted my life the most. It inspired me. It shows me that I am capable of so much more in life. Whenever I felt like giving up, I would look back at the times I spent together with my other brothers in band. The fact that we had conquered so much seemingly impossible obstacles shows that there is nothing in the whole word that we cannot solve. As long as we believe in ourselves and put in the extra efforts, nothing can bring us down.

However, I felt the real spirit of the CHSSB disappearing. Our fraternal bonds have weakened. Our zest in our music has diminished. We are losing our faith in music. We no longer have the stamina to “tahan” the pain of practicing and put in the hard work into our music. We complain at the slightest pain. Why have we changed so much after the silver? What happened to the ruggedness and the love for music that we possessed back then when we were preparing for our SYF? Are we no longer brothers?

I urge all of you out there not to forget the days we been through together. We had sacrificed so much for the band; we MUST NOT forsake each other now! We shall put in the extra efforts now to truly get up on our feet and look ahead. Believe in yourselves that you are capable of much more when you face any form of challenges. Stare the challenges in the face and never let it defeat you! 咬紧牙关地度过那些挑战! Believe me you will come out of it a better man!

Nonetheless, I truly enjoyed my 4 years together with you, brothers. I hope I have left a legacy behind for you guys. The story of CHSSB will now be passed on from us, the sec 4s, to you guys. Do write another wonderful and captivating chapter from where we had stopped!

One Band, One Sound, One Brotherhood

En Hao 19/07/07

NOTE: This post is by, AND SOLELY, by LEE EN HAO, EX-DRUM MAJOR OF BAND, as he doesn't have a blog account yet...not me!

POP is finally over...

Hi GUYS!

So, finally POP is over, and the Sec 4s have left after they had put in so much effort in CHSSB. So much that we don't even know 70% of the hard work they had put in! (ok...maybe not 70%, er, 50%?)

Ok whatever.

Firstly, i would like to say GOOB JOB GUYS! WE made the sec 4s proud of us. And now, WE r the CHSSB. Yep, us, the sec1s, 2s and the 3s.

Secondly, like what Mr heng said, we have grown so much. The CHSSB has matured a lot from what i have observed. And the sec 1s are bucking up, which is good!

Thirdly, if any sec 4s are reading this RIGHT NOW, then i would like to say a big thank you, for giving so much to the Band, both time and effort. And congrats to the sec 4s too, you all have become the alumnis of CHSSB from the time the POP ceremony ended.

To u all, the sec4s, leaving CHSSB ,maybe a painful thing. But look on the bright side, you can always come down. And also, we will always remember you...

*SIGHS* So, now the sec 4s are gone. And we have got to depend on ourselves now.

But so what? We WILL do it.

Right?



PS: Erm, for the "we will always remember you" part, i dun wan to use "you will always be in our hearts", cos its too mushy, and it sounds like you all are dying. Ok? Erm, just so you all know lah...

Leonard Bernstein - Overture to "Candide"

Clinic by Boston Brass (courtesy of Gary Chew)

I'm just going to say that this is an extremely rare opportunity. If you ask Daniel (lim), he'd agree that such fine stuff can only be found at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago. Now you're having it here in Singapore.

Basically this clinic, as with all other clinics, takes your learning of the instrument to an advanced level. Some good inspiration for you, especially Sec 1s, to fine tune your playing skills. Also, S$10.00 is
an extremely reasonable price for a clinic held by Boston Brass.

Therefore all you brass players are encouraged to attend this clinic. In fact I'd say its mandatory. So all you brass players keep this special Saturday free. Payment will be settled as the event draws close.

For more information on this "Boston Brass" visit
http://www.jupiterinstrument.com/event/bostonbrass/index.html

There's No Place I'd Rather Be

Poignant Lyrics, Simple yet Evocative Melody and Accompaniment...
BRILLIANT SONG!

The First and the Last blog

This blog was i guess specially done to remind me of the beautiful things that had happen during my 2 years or perhaps 1 1/2 years of leadership. I was tidying the file that i was going to pass to daniel and i sort of looked through all of the documents. There was this particular document that i came acrossed, it was all the certificates of the 2005 batch. The certificates done by me. As i scrolled down the 28 or so names, each name greeted me with much familiarity. Lessons learnt from them were invaluable. There were just so much things that happened in this two mere years. I still remember the walking on the roof incident. How clumsy was i then, to dare to walk on the roof! Thank goodness i was fine. Exco meetings to discuss the camps, problems that the band had, etc, it was great i guess. The five of us truely have grown in this 2 years, we were sort of the best team? At every meeting, en hao would always be very stubborn and stick with his plan, I would always be digressing into something unimportant, Eric and timothy would always be the 2 that came out with the better ideas, yunsong was incharge of stopping me from digressing and convincing enhao that the second plan is feasible. Each meeting we stayed till wee hours of the night, en hao even sacrificed his birthday celebration just to stay back to discuss about the proposals. For my batch, we were always there for each other, win together lose together. A team in other words, sec 3s, it's a short amount of 2 days aways from pop. But perhaps after the pop you'll see a clearer picture of what does it mean to be the leading batch. I didn't really understand it at first, but when i was sitting on the sofa after band practice during last years holidays, tzung siang came. He asked why did i looked so stressed, then he just said during this term of leadership what matters is to have fun. Have Fun. Just 2 words but it changed the 1 1/2 years left in band totally. When we plan things as a batch we truely enjoyed it, there was no solowork, everyone contributed. We sneaked back to school during public hoidays to rush things out such as sec 1 orientation boards. It was totally fun, getting into the school through other means as the gate was locked. Many things happened this year and I guess the thing that will always be etched in my heart would be this year's syf. It was a silver, but i don't want anyone to put that as a past. Everyone would remember the practices we had. Edison playing the whip with all that he got, joshua having to go to syf playing a timpani solo when he is only a sec 2. The camps at the beach where we played before a real sunrise. Yes, those hardwork, some of you said that it was unfair, but calm down look at the situation, it is fair i guess. The silver was a excellent reminder that having hardwork was not enough. The Gold with Honours required knowledge of music, it required every player to be clear about what they are playing,how in tune are they, this are all being done through practice. Something not achieved through a mere tuner. We all wept for the silver, we wanted more, yes, of course, we are the catholic high symphony band, we never stopped moving on. Our band has a mindset of excellence, the mindset of striving to be the best and i really hope that from now on during every practice have the attitude that you all were having before. Ever since we left and taking example from the recent esplanade concert, everything was sloppy and slow. Perhaps you all changed but your inate characteristic will always remain there. Let me call you to think of time when you joined band, writing Syphony Band as your first choice for your cca, you were thinking of the pieces you've heard for orientation and i'm sure the inner you was thinking about making music. Why did we add on for the love of music to our three phrase motto: One Band One Sound One Brotherhood? It is because we are one due to music. Everytime each one of you said that we made music, it is actually the time when each of your inate ability showed. Everyone was happy after each performance because everytime we played, our hearts connected, we all had fun at a higher intellectual level. It was like playing a teamsport. Now i would like to ask all of you to remember about me talking about interacting with each other through music and of course the importance in knowledge of music. If all of you are not going to learn how to blend and going right down to the fundamentals the band will never improve, there's no point in aiming at high level technicaility pieces. Train yourselves up, if the basics are not there, it will be hard to improve. But i have to say, thank you for the music, on Limelight at esplanade. It was a very good closure for the four years in band. Remembering time when we had just taken over, all of you were very sloppy, most of you couldn't manage with the physical training. Well, it's time to toughened ourselves up isn't it? The rugged gentlemen poster isn't made just for fun. I have to say it, if you are going to complain to your parents now about it. Yes, you may get to relax and not do any exercise, but eventually we will all have to go JC. For the first 3 months you will be representing your school. Would you want to be regarded for someone who can't do basic PT?If all of you have the mindset of excellence in music, wanting to achieve more, then have it too in sports! I have no idea why did i start to write this blog but there was simply gush feeling to blog. Perhaps it was to tell all of you that my batch really enjoyed our time at band for the whole 4 years. I hoped that each and everyone of you band members will really enjoy it too. Win Together, Lose Together, we are One Band One Sound One Brotherhood. Our camaraderie and sense of esprit de core will always be our source for our excellent rapport on stage. So all of build you physicality and technicaility and play music so good that you can do it over a million times. Time and tide waits for no man and band, we sec 4s are officially leaving the band and soon the school. So thank you once again it was a pleasure leading you guys and do not only the band proud but also the school proud. It seems that 4 years in band is coming to an end and indeed it is a fruitful end.

Yue Sheng

Hairspray

19 years after the release of the original film, New Line Cinema is bringing a feature film adaptation of the Tony award-winning Broadway production Hairspray to life. Featuring new and original material based on John Waters' 1988 cult classic about star-struck teenagers on a local Baltimore dance show, the comedy features a remarkable collection of talent including John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, Allison Janney, Brittany Snow, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley, producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Chicago), and director Adam Shankman (Bringing Down The House). The new screenplay for Hairspray was written by Leslie Dixon (Freaky Friday, Outrageous Fortune).

Pomp and Circumstance

Presenting, Pomp and Circumstance, Military March No. 1, by Edward Elgar:

Land of hope and glory
Mother of the free
How shall we extol thee
Who are born of thee
Wider still and wider
Shall thy bounds be set
God who made thee mighty
Make thee mightier yet
God who made thee mighty
Make thee mightier yet

A New Chapter Unfolds

So all of you had your fun that night. That rapturous performance with the most overwhelming response from our audience. That was enough. Time to look forward and constantly remind ourselves not to fall into the reaching hands of complacency. You all know deep down that we're not good enough.

Long story short.
A series of hurdles have been laid neatly before us :
1) POP - if you know what that means
2) ABRSM
3) Sec 1 Orientation 2008
4) Aesthetique 2008

These are some of the major events following our life as CHSSB members.
Our current standard will not last us for long.

Some of the pieces in mind for next year :
1) Pomp & Circumstance - Grade 5
2) Overture to Candide - Grade 5
3) Noah's Ark - Grade 5.5
4) Jericho - Grade 4

Will probably pick only 2 out of 4.
Prepare yourselves mentally. Practices immediately after concerts are never meant to be slack.
Preparations for Aesthetique 2008 will start after ABRSM.

Remember the consistency of purpose each and every one of you will have in mind.
For that reason, CHSSB should and will bear a top band standard from today onwards.

Good Job GUYS!

7/8/2007------>the MOST memorable day of my life...

All that I would like to say is CONGRATS to every single one of you.
Yup, you did it.
We all did it.
WE made the performance A great fanfare for the SECS 4!

WE made the audience OPEN THEIR MOUTH IN AWE when we played INCANTATION & DANCE.

WE made the audience CRY when we played AMERICAN ELERGY(ok...maybe some of them).

WE made the audience GO WILD & SCREAM wen we played ABBA GOLD.

Yes, although it wasn't our best performance, but we all enjoyed our selves didn't we?

Who cares bout SYF? Who cares if we got silver? WHO CARES? You noe wad?
WADS most important is that we MANAGED to stand up on our feet after we have fallen so badly!

The most difficult times in life are when we fall, and try to stand up again. BUT we did it. We stood up, ever more with pride that WE ARE THE CHSSB

Like the teachers said, lets not get complacent, lets work together and acheive greater heights.

YES, lets do it TOGETHER!

Thank you

Thanks for giving me and the other 17 people this big end.

Cheers.

Hey

HIHI. this is my 1st time blogging EVER, yay (if u consider this blogging)

Okay now, how would all of you like to improve? even with the help of your tutors and teachers and with the sectionals and combines, it still isn't easy to play it right...
As someone said before, if im not wrong Mr Heng, making music is painting a big picture.
the combines and tutorials only help to work on the little details and finishing touches, but what can it do if the colours on the pallet are not good or not even there at all?!

So to form the basis of the brilliant colours to be used on the painter's pallet, you 1st have to hone yourself to become the rightful colour that is needed. To achieve this, you can do one simple thing, which is to SELF PRACTICE !!!

Sectionals, tutorials and combines help the whole body, section or band, but we 1st need to upgrade ourselves in order for people to help upgrade us as a whole, so please do SELF PRACTICE !!!

the esplanade concert is on tuesday, which im sure its too late for you to start self practicing, but we have other concerts and the SYF 2 years down to look forward to, so , you can help the band by SELF PRACTICING (pardon the practicing spelling errors)

Thanks and lets do well together okay? God bless...

"Limelight" by Catholic High School Symphony Band

This is a response to the latest tag:

Esplanade Presents: "Limelight" by Catholic High School Symphony Band (CHSSB)

Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall
Time: 7.30 PM
Date: 7 August 2007 (Tuesday)

Ticket Price (excluding Sistic Booking fee):

$15 for students
$20 for adults
$1 booking fee for tickets priced $20 and below

Repertoire:

American Elegy by Frank Tichelli
Incantation and Dance by John Barnes Chance
"March" from 2nd Suite in F for Military Band by Gustav Holst
Early One Morning by Pierce La Plante

... and more!

Visit: http://www.sistic.com.sg/cms/events/index.html?content=1030

D-day minus 2

Now we're 2 days away.

Can we paste this up on that day?

It's up to us. ALL 90 of us.

Hey guys
This is well my first post so i will just keep it short
I would really want to say something about the ticket
Till now we still are unable to clear half the hall
i would really want to see a grand concert with a full house applauding
i know you guys can do it
we have done it so many times before
We are left with 5 days and all i want to say is PUSH!
It is defintely not impossible go for it give the sec 4s a grand swansong

BLOG GUYS! BLOG!

HELLOOO!
OK, erm...actually daren has already said evrything, regarding the concert, and i dun wan to pressurise u all anymore.
And dun mind the shortforms, or any english errors!
Hmmm, lemme c...As u guys noe, if u scroll down, u will noe tat only A HANDFUL of PEOPLE has actually blogged.
And if u look to ur right-hand side, >>>>>>>>>>>>>(this direction), u can see A LOT OF signed up bloggers.
U noe wad i mean rite?
I m not being sarcastic, but (this is gonna real bad english, hope u dun mind) JUS BLOG LAH!
Wads dere to lose? I mean, i m the ONLY sec 2 blogging, and i can c more than 1 sec 2 at the rite hand side>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>( this direction).
SO my point is: JUS BLOG! Put wadeva u wan, but not crap. Type ur feelings, wad u wan to shout out to encourage or to criticise!
So, no matter how old u r, whether u r a sec1, 2, 3, an alumni, or a teacher, and u r part of CHSSB, BLOG! If u dun hav a acc, or r not part of this blog, ask daren sin for it. HE WILL EXCLUSIVELY INVITE YOU TO BLOG HERE!

BLOG GUYS! BLOG!