kiwis can't fly. but this one made it happen.
Saturday, 24 November 2007
Thursday, 22 November 2007
Band Camp ' 07
Today is the last day of the band camp, and everyone is very excited. Throughout this camp, i personally learnt a lot of new things and i got to bond and know my juniors better. This camp also allowed me to know who have the potential to lead and get to observe how the sec1s and 2s can work together to solve a problem. For my group is quite good, it consists of jie xiang, hanley, tzung ern, norman, andrew and jun yao. They are all very energetic for all the activities and they are able to encourage and motivate each other well, which i was very happy about it. The leader of my group is jie xiang and i felt that he did quite a good job in coordinating the group and engaging the group in conversations. I also learnt that in order to let my juniors do what i wanted them to do, i need to 以身作则 , 做个好榜样 and by taking the responsibility to let them know what is right and what is wrong. I felt that overall my group had dong quite well in this camp and i hope that everyone who had gone to the camp had gone back learning something important of it.
Friday, 16 November 2007
Hello PPL! (Random Post)
Hi Guys! It has been such a long time since i posted something on our beloved band blog.
And well, i will just say what i feel.
For the last few weeks, you guys have shown improvement. I can hear it, trust me. I noe wad i hear. Everything of our music making is improving.
Of course, not to perfection! But, that is all in due course if we continue to move forward in the right direction, which is wad we r doin now!
And, our sec 1s are bucking up. Not particularly in their music-making, but in their attitude. Some of you may not see it, but i do. They are more hard-working, more disciplined during Band , and of course their tone and everything is improving. Again, not to perfection, but there is a stepping stone for everything, right?
And well, our attendance is improving (i dun mean anyone), because more ppl are enjoying band. Though certain sections may be weak in attendance, but we shouldn't jus blame the whole band of a bad attendance just because of that/those section/s. See it in general.
I agree that it partly our fault because of these sections.
SO, what i am saying is: we are improving in all the aspects of a professional band, not to perfection, but i can definitely see that we are moving somewhere in the correct direction.
SO, keep it up guys. We can do much better than this. =)
And well, i will just say what i feel.
For the last few weeks, you guys have shown improvement. I can hear it, trust me. I noe wad i hear. Everything of our music making is improving.
Of course, not to perfection! But, that is all in due course if we continue to move forward in the right direction, which is wad we r doin now!
And, our sec 1s are bucking up. Not particularly in their music-making, but in their attitude. Some of you may not see it, but i do. They are more hard-working, more disciplined during Band , and of course their tone and everything is improving. Again, not to perfection, but there is a stepping stone for everything, right?
And well, our attendance is improving (i dun mean anyone), because more ppl are enjoying band. Though certain sections may be weak in attendance, but we shouldn't jus blame the whole band of a bad attendance just because of that/those section/s. See it in general.
I agree that it partly our fault because of these sections.
SO, what i am saying is: we are improving in all the aspects of a professional band, not to perfection, but i can definitely see that we are moving somewhere in the correct direction.
SO, keep it up guys. We can do much better than this. =)
Sunday, 11 November 2007
Band Web
Hey people, it's me, again.
The band website is up, again. Hope everyone will go drop by there. And I've also put up the department lists for everyone, and the leave form. In case of any emergency, you can always download the leave form from the band web. Cool...
The band website: http://chssb.atspace.com.
Feel free to voice out your comments at the blog's tagboard.
Cheers =)
Daren.
The band website is up, again. Hope everyone will go drop by there. And I've also put up the department lists for everyone, and the leave form. In case of any emergency, you can always download the leave form from the band web. Cool...
The band website: http://chssb.atspace.com.
Feel free to voice out your comments at the blog's tagboard.
Cheers =)
Daren.
Saturday, 10 November 2007
Random post
Went down to band room on Friday and saw some of the flute section, Zhen Sheng, Hanley, Ernest, Dong Lum, E Yang, Terence, Il Shan, Benjamin, Yue Feng and Daniel.
Good job to these people for coming down on a non-band day for self-practice/sectionals. So... Hope everyone will take the initative and effort and have the discipline to come down for self-practice!
Saturday, 27 October 2007
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.
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.
Saturday, 20 October 2007
Friday, 19 October 2007
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 EnTan E yang
Joel Tan
Daniel Lim
Benjamin Tan
Shift 2
11am – 2pm
Ronald Yu
Sun Boyang
Khoo Wei Bin
Shoki Lin
Toh Yue Feng
Mitchell Lim
Michael Lim
Zhang Jun
Joey Yeung
Benjamin Huang
Andrew Lai
Poh Han Siang
Loo Qin En
Lin Xu Song
Yao Qi
Wen Kai
Aaron Soo
Harold Lim
Lee Woon Ngiap
Hoe Jun Wei
Joel Tan
Yap Chuen Chin
Shift 3
2pm – 4pm
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
Darryn Ng
Gran Ooi
Dong Zhengsheng
Phan Nop
Ong Springsfield
Daren Sin
Wednesday, 17 October 2007
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
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.
Hmm. Not sure if this is relevant, but just watch and laugh if necessary.
Wednesday, 10 October 2007
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!
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!
Friday, 5 October 2007
Salvation Army presentsHousehold 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
Saturday, 22 September 2007
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.
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.
Thursday, 13 September 2007
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!
Wednesday, 5 September 2007
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------------------------------------
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------------------------------------
Sunday, 2 September 2007
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.
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.
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!
To all those involved in ABRSM, remember to report an hour before your exam. Good luck!
Friday, 31 August 2007
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
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
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