An essay

Frankly, the blog seems rather dead, i am very postive that u guys have more to express. Anyway this is a essay that has relevance to music so i am going to post it up.

Children

I walked into the examination studio. Thoughts were running astray in my mind. I rubbed off the sweat on my palms against my pants. It was my music practical examination. I was taking the Grade 6 test. I took confident strides towards the piano. my heart was thumping at an incredibly fast rate. Although I was trying to portray the image of a candidate who was fearless of any challenges that lay ahead, deep down i was trembling with fear.

I started my piece entitled "Four Calling Birds". In terms of technical difficulties it was not fascinating. It did not require a virtuostic pianist but it required an instrumentalist who could feel and express what he had in mind. I had already told myself before i walked into the studio that I must not be frantic or flustered. I had to let the music flow.

I discarded all the pressure that was mounting in me. I imagined a beautiful picture in my mind. It was a portrait of a group of children. 'Magnificent' would be a word suitable to describe the artwork yet the only pity was that it was not coloured. My task was to use the enchanting piece I was playing to paint the adorable and innocent toddlers.

On the canvas, the radiant smiles on the faces of the children emitted happiness. They were dancing joyfully in the dense forest. They embraced nature, enjoying their lives to the fullest. The mere sight of these children would be alluring to anyone.

At the beginning of time, when God created Adam and Eve, he made sure they were perfect, creating them in the likeness on himself. He wanted us to be pure, ignorant and clueless about sins. That was how my portrait of music should be painted. I played every chord delicately to ensure that it was consonant. The sound that i produced was as graceful and elegant the way the children danced in the portrait. Their poise and every action teemed with sweetness and serenity. The children were flawless exactly the way God had wanted it to be.

I was like a master painter perhaps the famous renaissance artist, Michelangelo. I wanted to create a masterpiece comparable to the Sistine Chapel. Perfection was what I hoped to achieve. I played the melody which resembled the call of birds. It was like painting all the little canaries flitting above the heads of the children. Their chirping were lyrical and mesmerising. They were flying in tandem with the children's movement. Though the children were only toddler, they danced like excellent ballerinas. The children followed the gentle, meandering, lyrical lines of the chirping. My heart started to calm down, their sheer beauty had made me forget that i was at an examination.

I controlled my touch perfectly. The outcome up till then was to my desire expectation. Every tonal shade of colour i used to paint the children was fabulous. The hues matched consummately. Crimson sunset as backdrop. Trees with mahogany trunks. Children dressed in bright turquoise, orange and yellow radiating blissfulness. It was absolutely the way i wanted the sound to be. Music that exude beauty beyond the description of words.

The air-conditioner let out a soft groan. The sound reverberated against the four walls of the room. My pride swelled at that moment, due to the excellent performance that I was doing. I lifted my head and for that split second I lost focus.

I did not notice it but my finger was placed on the wrong key. After I pressed it, the sound was jarring. The dissonance of the destroyed the tranquility and balance. The vivacious picture had turned into a dull one. My picture was ruined. It was like landing a stroke of awlful dark navy blue onto the scarlet skies. It was like turning a sweet dream into a horrifying nightmare.

As the phrase ended, i took a deep breath. I needed a solution terribly quickly. The painting that had originally been described as fantastic only had one suitable word for it then. Devastating. As I search frantically for an answer, a few words came to my mind.

Music is spontaneous, react to the situation

These words made me continue the music. I followed my heart and expressed my feelings. I wanted the remaining of the music to be performed to perfection. I was like an elite painter adding tonal shades of red to let the dark gloomy skies regain the authentic crimson glow. The original peacefulness and azure feel was once again achieved.

I ended the piece by playing the last note subtly. After the echoes of the last note died down I looked towards the examiner.

He smiled.

CH Open House '07

Open House 2007 Duty Roster

Shift 1

8.30am – 11am

Bryan Lim

Hanley Rupawalla

Joel Hong

Wong Jin Sheng

Andre Neo

Marcus Tan

Kenneth Lee

Guo Zhi

Norman Wong

Terrence Lee

Brandon Tanato

Benjamin Koh

Gerald Sim

Lao Zhen Xi

Tey Ge Rald

Yang Yu Chen

Gerald Gan

Calwin Lim

Luke Lim

Kwan Ian

Leong Jie Xiang

Tan Qi En

Cheah Dong Lum

Tan E yang

Joel Tan

Daniel Lim

Benjamin Tan

Shift 2

11am – 2pm

Ding Tzung Ern

Ronald Yu

Sun Boyang

Khoo Wei Bin

Shoki Lin

Toh Yue Feng

Mitchell Lim

Michael Lim

Zhang Jun Yao

Joey Yeung

Benjamin Huang

Andrew Lai

Poh Han Siang

Loo Qin En

Lin Xu Song

Yao Qi

Wen Kai

Joshua Koh

Aaron Soo

Harold Lim

Lee Woon Ngiap

Hoe Jun Wei

Joel Tan

Ng Il Shan

Yap Chuen Chin

Shift 3

2pm – 4pm

Ernest Koh

Koh Xian Zhe

Ng Kit Chong

Lee Wei Hao

Ang Wee Kit

Aw Yong Wee

Joel Chien

Marcus Hoh

Quintus Lim

Lim Zhi Wei

Louis Zheng

Avan Kwek

Wei Tian Hao

Justin Lim

Darryn Ng

Gran Ooi

Dong Zhengsheng

Phan Nop

Ong Springsfield

Daren Sin

Gentle Reminder

Hi guys! Remember that there's band tomorrow and DO GET YOUR OTHER BANDMATES TO COME. OKay! Great. We wouldn't what happened last week to happen again yea. I'm going to close one eye and let last week pass since you guys practiced well. I wanna see some good attendance from tomorrow onwards okay!

Cheers,
Daniel

Random Video

Hey people. Seems like the blog here's a bit stagnant...


Hmm. Not sure if this is relevant, but just watch and laugh if necessary.

Resuming Band Practice

alrighty people, its been a long study break.

next band practice is on your schedule, but just to remind you all...

11th Oct (thursday)
everyone, including sec 3s, should be in band not later than 3. Report according to your respective level dismissal timings.

its another start in band, and i hope all would be present and punctual.


note: even if the inevitable occur, you need to get the teacher's letter for coming late.

See y'all there, then!

Salvation Army presents
Household Troops Band in Concert
Thursday, 18th October 2007 Salvation Army Auditorium, 7.30pm , Bishan St 22
Free Admission
Concert Programme: To be confirmed
The Household Troops Band of The Salvation Army Band has toured extensively in the UK, Europe, the USA and Canada, and will be en route to tour Australia. They have appeared alongside such famous bands as Blackdyke, Grimethorpe and others, and have a number of great CD's to their credit.
As one of Salvation Army's premier brass bands from the UK, the band will be visiting Singapore on October 17-19. For more information about the band, visit their website here

Boston Brass Clinic

Hi people!

For those who are goin to the Boston brass Clinic, the following are the details for the "whereabouts" for it

The details of the clinic are as follows (also on attached flyer):

Date : 22 September 2007

Time: 1600 – 1700 hrs

Location: YMS Arts Centre Auditorium (54 Waterloo Street S'pore 187953)

Admission fee: $10 per person

For more details of the clinic, go to the link.

HAIR SPRAY!

HI GUYS! I know that band practices are stressful...
so here is a music video of Hair Spray!

This song is the last song to be sang in the movie and i feel that its the best!

So, just sit back, relax, and enjoy this fantastic video of an amazing musical!

Is Band Really That Difficult?

The holiday practices are almost over. They don't seem very productive to me for very specific reasons but anyway I managed to learn a few lessons. Once again its my usual, boring worries pertaining to the band I'm going to blog about. Those who read, please reflect.

Holiday practices expose to us how disunited CHSSB is at times as we have to deal with lousy, unacceptable attendance. You simply refuse to come for band and switch off your handphones. Perhaps to you band rehearsals may seem boring. Perhaps band rehearsals to you seem like a total waste of time. Well I'm telling you that its never easy to get a slot with a master conductor - you don't even realise the trouble the teachers have gone through to plan rehearsals! You simply skip band and when you get reprimanded you act as if nothing has happened.

I dare you to pick up the baton and conduct the band when HALF the members are gone, vanished, disappeared without a reason. I dare you to ask for balance and blend when you have HALF the trombone section missing. And what can conductors do? Scold? If you scold you wouldn't be able to make music. People with slightly immature minds will refuse to cooperate. And I am not speaking this for myself, rather on Mr Tan's behalf. Conducting a band that doesn't even bother about full attendence, is bullshit.

From today onwards, those that frequently "pon" band will stop "ponning". Twist this rule, and you will hate me forever.

------------------------------Removed------------------------------------

The Other Milestone

Well said Il Shan. Next up is some regulations from ABRSM:

• Candidates may use their discretion regarding indications or markings (particularly editorial) in the music – e.g. metronome marks, fingering, bowing, phrasing, the interpretation of ornaments, etc. – which need not be strictly observed. Where no such indications are present in the music, candidates should use their discretion to achieve a musical performance.
• Candidates may not bring any unauthorized material or equipment into the examination room, and all mobile phones/pagers etc. must be switched off. Any candidate infringing this rule may be disqualified.
• In the Practical grade examinations, out of a possible 150 marks, 100 are required to achieve a Pass, 120 to pass with Merit, and 130 for Distinction

And I think I read somewhere that "Remember, the examiner looks forward to listening to you" or something. Yeah. So RELAX. And "smile when you enter the room. This will boost your confidence during the examination". Think I forgot where it is, so can't copy and paste from the website.

Most essentially, REMEMBER TO BRING ALL YOUR ORIGINAL SCORES!

Good luck, god bless.

The Next Milestone

ABRSM is around the corner and I'm sure every fibre of your body has stiffened as you feel the heat of the exam. Do not compare and compete for it is immature behaviour - remember that this is your personal attainment and nobody else's.

Walk into the room with undenied confidence. Remember that the examiner has only one wish - to hear wonderful music and reward your efforts handsomely. Play with expression, nervousness is not in question anymore. Should you fumble, move along as if nothing has happened. Impress the examiner. Remember that this is YOUR exam.

Just three brief statements to summarize the possible outcomes.

To those who conveniently dropped the exam and took the easy way out, if you feel no shame you are being heartless towards yourself.

To those who may obtain godly marks, you will pledge not to become complacent and instead have an even greater hunger for excellence.

To those who may fail to obtain desirable grades, you will tell yourself that all is not lost and that your musical venture does not terminate at this minor defeat.

It's time to put on display your months worth of effort. Give it your best and the examiner will not hesitate to show you the fruit of your labour.

Boston Brass Live in Singapore

Don't miss the upcoming Philharmonic Winds concert with one of the world's top brass quintets - the Boston Brass! Early bird discount has been extended to 2 September (Sunday) , so get your tickets NOW to enjoy the 20% discount!

Next band practice

NEXT BAND PRACTICE : MONDAY 1.30 PM

To all those involved in ABRSM, remember to report an hour before your exam. Good luck!

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"