天~~~啊!!!
6:30p.m. : I decided to save my finishing touches on my FF7 medley and clicked the save button.
6:30p.m.: Sibelius pops up a message, some sort of error somewhere.
6:31p.m.: I closed the software. Sibelius always has auto-backup.
6:32p.m.: tried to opened up the file, corrupted.
6:33p.m.: searched auto-save files, tried opening them, corrupted as well.
That's 400 bars of music down into the cyber sewerage. My sweat and blood!
6:50p.m.: finished grieving. resigned to blogging this as the only last memoir of the work.
Adios FF7!
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Teaching guitar to 40 students
Yes. It is on hell of a task. I took a good 45 min just teaching them how to pluck on the open strings. Actually, it's not that they are dumb or what, but I realised that for one teacher to deliver guitar technique to 40 students is simply an uphill task, coupled with the fact that the participants are beginning adolescents.
The other 45 min was dedicated to the C chord, which triggered to students to complain and grumble that it's painful to stretch and press on the strings; co-ordination problems between plucking and pressing; and of course, the usual question, "Why no sound one?"
Apart from that, the transportation of the instruments is another hassle. Instruments are not stored in the music room but instead, at the AVA room which is 100m away and 2 floors down. The instrument soft cases are problematic, it's tight fitting on the guitar. Can't believe it. Hence, I've done away with keeping them in softcases and decided that they'll just leave them on the ground for the time being.
I think after this half a year, GENUS sectionals would become an absolute delight to me.
Yes. It is on hell of a task. I took a good 45 min just teaching them how to pluck on the open strings. Actually, it's not that they are dumb or what, but I realised that for one teacher to deliver guitar technique to 40 students is simply an uphill task, coupled with the fact that the participants are beginning adolescents.
The other 45 min was dedicated to the C chord, which triggered to students to complain and grumble that it's painful to stretch and press on the strings; co-ordination problems between plucking and pressing; and of course, the usual question, "Why no sound one?"
Apart from that, the transportation of the instruments is another hassle. Instruments are not stored in the music room but instead, at the AVA room which is 100m away and 2 floors down. The instrument soft cases are problematic, it's tight fitting on the guitar. Can't believe it. Hence, I've done away with keeping them in softcases and decided that they'll just leave them on the ground for the time being.
I think after this half a year, GENUS sectionals would become an absolute delight to me.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
"Career will be smooth for those born in the year of snake." - Eeping
Yesterday, I just had an argument with my VP. It happened that I decided to allow the class to do their revision/own work during my music lesson. She happened to pass and demanded that music must be the learning subject during a music period. (Perhaps I did not make it clear in my entry, she was also trying to convince me that the learning of music/guitar can be done without prior knowledge/skill to any instrument.)
What a nerve! Well, unable to convince me, this weakling then went to see the principal about it. So I'm due for "principal tea".
Yesterday, I just had an argument with my VP. It happened that I decided to allow the class to do their revision/own work during my music lesson. She happened to pass and demanded that music must be the learning subject during a music period. (Perhaps I did not make it clear in my entry, she was also trying to convince me that the learning of music/guitar can be done without prior knowledge/skill to any instrument.)
What a nerve! Well, unable to convince me, this weakling then went to see the principal about it. So I'm due for "principal tea".
Monday, January 23, 2006
"It didn't turn out as bad as I thought" - Domy
The first words spoken after the LPG 2006 concert. Perhaps in an attempt to say something intelligent, that was what he could come up with. What a wet blanket.
The concert turned out alright to me. With so many juniors participating inside, it was a pleasant surprise to have various groups presenting different genres of music. Pan Yu's group sounded well rehearsed with a balanced sound and relatively good tone. Priscilla and Marie's duet was impressed me. They managed to condense the Little Fugue into a duo version; Priscilla played confidently and Marie was following well too, with some occurrences of wrong notes here and there. JingTing's group played Capriccio Catalan, sounded a little bit chopped up, didn't flow very well, but nontheless plodded along and went through. The last group is a myth to me, none of them exists in the database of members' names I know. Carcassi piece, "Petite Romanze" or the other way round, played rather nicely except for some tuning problems.
Well, of course things wouldn't just end so smoothly with Domy around. He immediately transformed the session into a masterclass(He has a thing for masterclasses, perhaps he really yearns to feel like a master of some sort). One of the comments he made was that the groups could have their tone improved! If you've heard him on the Alto Solo for the Handel Concerto, you probably wouldn't think he had any right to comment about anyone's tone! It was unprecedentedly harsh and raw! I decided at that point that going to my granny's place early for the family gathering would be a better idea than to hear his nonsense, so I left.
The first words spoken after the LPG 2006 concert. Perhaps in an attempt to say something intelligent, that was what he could come up with. What a wet blanket.
The concert turned out alright to me. With so many juniors participating inside, it was a pleasant surprise to have various groups presenting different genres of music. Pan Yu's group sounded well rehearsed with a balanced sound and relatively good tone. Priscilla and Marie's duet was impressed me. They managed to condense the Little Fugue into a duo version; Priscilla played confidently and Marie was following well too, with some occurrences of wrong notes here and there. JingTing's group played Capriccio Catalan, sounded a little bit chopped up, didn't flow very well, but nontheless plodded along and went through. The last group is a myth to me, none of them exists in the database of members' names I know. Carcassi piece, "Petite Romanze" or the other way round, played rather nicely except for some tuning problems.
Well, of course things wouldn't just end so smoothly with Domy around. He immediately transformed the session into a masterclass(He has a thing for masterclasses, perhaps he really yearns to feel like a master of some sort). One of the comments he made was that the groups could have their tone improved! If you've heard him on the Alto Solo for the Handel Concerto, you probably wouldn't think he had any right to comment about anyone's tone! It was unprecedentedly harsh and raw! I decided at that point that going to my granny's place early for the family gathering would be a better idea than to hear his nonsense, so I left.
Friday, January 20, 2006
团团转
FFVII medley is probably the piece which I have used up the longest time to arrange and yet unable to complete it till now... Sheesh, beats Capriccio Espagnol and Pictures at an Exhibition hands down. Day after day, I would change this and that, re-arrange the parts; nastily time zapping. And behold, I've actually added 2 percussion parts. Kind of feel that it's rather endless... and to top this off, I've not written the ending yet!!! The only consolation is that it's roughly a 12 min piece, so it sorta justifies the time spent on it. The worst thing would be it doesn't sound right on a guitar ensemble.
I'm really looking forward to finishing it soon, so that I can move on to arrange another work.
FFVII medley is probably the piece which I have used up the longest time to arrange and yet unable to complete it till now... Sheesh, beats Capriccio Espagnol and Pictures at an Exhibition hands down. Day after day, I would change this and that, re-arrange the parts; nastily time zapping. And behold, I've actually added 2 percussion parts. Kind of feel that it's rather endless... and to top this off, I've not written the ending yet!!! The only consolation is that it's roughly a 12 min piece, so it sorta justifies the time spent on it. The worst thing would be it doesn't sound right on a guitar ensemble.
I'm really looking forward to finishing it soon, so that I can move on to arrange another work.
"Cirriculum time is meant for teaching and learning, nothing else."
That's what my VP said when she strutted into my Sec. 1 Music class today to confiscate a handphone from a student. The 1.5 hour lesson is not really rigorously planned, as the guitars have not arrived in school and I don't enjoy boring the students with all that music theory jargon. So I decided I'll get them some materials to read about the history of guitars and gave handouts of some guitar-like instruments. Mainly for enrichment, optional to the students.
Being students, they looked through the handouts, filed them and then went on to do their own "work". Some studied, some read books, some decorated the classroom for the upcoming CNY, others were engaged in the usual adolescence ranting, ever so energised to talk and laugh loudly at almost anything.
My VP is rather a conservative person. Not much fashion sense I guess, considering she has her pants pulled very high up, not waist level but perhaps "stomach level"? Anyway, she gave the class a good shelling about the purpose of education and the usual do's and don'ts. I was actually quite pleased to have someone scold the class on my behalf for all that ear damaging noise.
But I really thought what she said about cirriculum being all learning is absurd. Students are not machines and you can't expect them to behave like some DVD writer, spinning and storing data all day long. There's got to be times when you got to let them mingle, yell, yack, chat, else it's just not complete for their character development.
I believe my students have just found a new public enemy in school.
That's what my VP said when she strutted into my Sec. 1 Music class today to confiscate a handphone from a student. The 1.5 hour lesson is not really rigorously planned, as the guitars have not arrived in school and I don't enjoy boring the students with all that music theory jargon. So I decided I'll get them some materials to read about the history of guitars and gave handouts of some guitar-like instruments. Mainly for enrichment, optional to the students.
Being students, they looked through the handouts, filed them and then went on to do their own "work". Some studied, some read books, some decorated the classroom for the upcoming CNY, others were engaged in the usual adolescence ranting, ever so energised to talk and laugh loudly at almost anything.
My VP is rather a conservative person. Not much fashion sense I guess, considering she has her pants pulled very high up, not waist level but perhaps "stomach level"? Anyway, she gave the class a good shelling about the purpose of education and the usual do's and don'ts. I was actually quite pleased to have someone scold the class on my behalf for all that ear damaging noise.
But I really thought what she said about cirriculum being all learning is absurd. Students are not machines and you can't expect them to behave like some DVD writer, spinning and storing data all day long. There's got to be times when you got to let them mingle, yell, yack, chat, else it's just not complete for their character development.
I believe my students have just found a new public enemy in school.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Guitarstrophe
My goodness! What a pleasant surprise! There's actually a group claiming to be the 老大 of all large guitar ensembles. Their recordings are not bad actually, and they play difficult music so it really cuts them apart from the usual "Chang" and "Wang" of amatuer guitar groups. Not all the pieces they choose were suitable for large ensembles, some became really odd due to the inevitable chordabile, coined by Junhao and myself to describe the minute spatial/rhythm discrepancy audible yet unforgetable in untrained guitar ensembles.
Make no mistake, they are better than GENUS! It's time for EXPO to buck up and look forward and ahead!
My goodness! What a pleasant surprise! There's actually a group claiming to be the 老大 of all large guitar ensembles. Their recordings are not bad actually, and they play difficult music so it really cuts them apart from the usual "Chang" and "Wang" of amatuer guitar groups. Not all the pieces they choose were suitable for large ensembles, some became really odd due to the inevitable chordabile, coined by Junhao and myself to describe the minute spatial/rhythm discrepancy audible yet unforgetable in untrained guitar ensembles.
Make no mistake, they are better than GENUS! It's time for EXPO to buck up and look forward and ahead!
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Regression, Rebirth or Evolution?
Shuhann, I'm not missing the point. In fact, I concur with you that the player has the choice to stay/quit if he is discontented with the repertoire. And I have also mentioned that it is the conductor's responsibility and right to select the repertoire to be performed.
Thing is, if I may put frankly, we have 2 talented tutors who have been in GENUS longer than 5 Domys added together and they are going to sit by and watch Domy run his uninspiring routine on the group. Of course, we could wait till we have zero ticket sales or mass exodus of members to really start wondering what's happened. As it is, if I had the money to buy over the niibori instruments, I would have left the group already and hopefully brought EXPO along as well.
I think most of us would agree the tutors are definitely in a better position to talk to Domy, and of course they have a personal choice to make as to whether they wish to do so. We could also wait for the ultimate regression of the group before we could proudly justify that it's the conductor's fault for landing the group in a pathetic state. Either way, it mostly hinges on the paths which the leaders take, which is my point.
Perhaps it's really time to look for a community centre to set up something.
Shuhann, I'm not missing the point. In fact, I concur with you that the player has the choice to stay/quit if he is discontented with the repertoire. And I have also mentioned that it is the conductor's responsibility and right to select the repertoire to be performed.
Thing is, if I may put frankly, we have 2 talented tutors who have been in GENUS longer than 5 Domys added together and they are going to sit by and watch Domy run his uninspiring routine on the group. Of course, we could wait till we have zero ticket sales or mass exodus of members to really start wondering what's happened. As it is, if I had the money to buy over the niibori instruments, I would have left the group already and hopefully brought EXPO along as well.
I think most of us would agree the tutors are definitely in a better position to talk to Domy, and of course they have a personal choice to make as to whether they wish to do so. We could also wait for the ultimate regression of the group before we could proudly justify that it's the conductor's fault for landing the group in a pathetic state. Either way, it mostly hinges on the paths which the leaders take, which is my point.
Perhaps it's really time to look for a community centre to set up something.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
选择
If everything was up to the players, what's the role of the tutors and conductor?
I must make it clear that I do agree that the conductor should be the one planning the repertoire. If it so happens that the repertoire is not favourable to the player's taste, then it's just too bad I guess. So if Domy chooses to do Handel/Vivaldi/Warlock pieces, then so be it. I guess the player can then choose whether to be a part of the performance or not, or even quit for that matter.
Just like the issue on concert attire. Shuhann commented that the male attire should evolve together with the female attire. Currently, the females have gone all black, blouse and pants, or skirt and all, which perhaps is the attire we should adopt for the annual concert as well. Some females are flauting concert attire rules, e.g. Huifen, wearing short skirt to perform on stage and causing a clash in level of formality between the male and female outfit. Ya, perhaps the males could just put on a light colour long-sleeve shirt and black pants, and that'll do. When asked to bring this issue up to the committee, Shuhann again commented it's the player's choice.
Genus will have a hard time going far if the leaders do not take on a pro-active stride towards matters.
If everything was up to the players, what's the role of the tutors and conductor?
I must make it clear that I do agree that the conductor should be the one planning the repertoire. If it so happens that the repertoire is not favourable to the player's taste, then it's just too bad I guess. So if Domy chooses to do Handel/Vivaldi/Warlock pieces, then so be it. I guess the player can then choose whether to be a part of the performance or not, or even quit for that matter.
Just like the issue on concert attire. Shuhann commented that the male attire should evolve together with the female attire. Currently, the females have gone all black, blouse and pants, or skirt and all, which perhaps is the attire we should adopt for the annual concert as well. Some females are flauting concert attire rules, e.g. Huifen, wearing short skirt to perform on stage and causing a clash in level of formality between the male and female outfit. Ya, perhaps the males could just put on a light colour long-sleeve shirt and black pants, and that'll do. When asked to bring this issue up to the committee, Shuhann again commented it's the player's choice.
Genus will have a hard time going far if the leaders do not take on a pro-active stride towards matters.
Monday, January 16, 2006
Temptations
Went to Yudi's shop on Saturday and was pleasantly surprised by one his guitars there. Good sound and really well-balanced across the range. Priced at 11K, I consider it quite value for money, being first hand and all.
Initially there was an urge to squander 11K and once and for all, stop my fellow Guitaresque mates(spouses included) from bugging me to buy a guitar whenever they have the chance to. Now I'm just waiting for the impulse/urge to subside.
I should commit 20 min of my weekly life on 4D and TOTO from this week onwards....
Went to Yudi's shop on Saturday and was pleasantly surprised by one his guitars there. Good sound and really well-balanced across the range. Priced at 11K, I consider it quite value for money, being first hand and all.
Initially there was an urge to squander 11K and once and for all, stop my fellow Guitaresque mates(spouses included) from bugging me to buy a guitar whenever they have the chance to. Now I'm just waiting for the impulse/urge to subside.
I should commit 20 min of my weekly life on 4D and TOTO from this week onwards....
Friday, January 13, 2006
Parang's Point of View
Taking the tie issue up with a teacher is not going to help in any productive way. An opinion voiced and that's really about it. If the student is so irked by the attire, she should have headed straight to the principal's office, or worked out a student petition of some sort.
I'm not convinced that Physics is my most adored subject in my life. Neither is math. If possible, I would rather do less of both. But in teaching, the essence is really about imparting a skill/knowledge, a spark. And we need people to do that. You don't necessary have to possess 100% devotion towards the topic.
The students may not like the choices they have but they still have choices. Yes, they can choose to heck care and do what they want, they can choose to leave the school, choose not to come to the school, choose to run away from the teacher etc. Make the best of the one's available options yah? Part and parcel of life, and through it the youth will learn to cope with other challanges in life.
"no absolute, no good, no bad, no God, no sin", rather gospel-like, perfect for a RPG cult motto or creed of some sort. Nirvana?
Taking the tie issue up with a teacher is not going to help in any productive way. An opinion voiced and that's really about it. If the student is so irked by the attire, she should have headed straight to the principal's office, or worked out a student petition of some sort.
I'm not convinced that Physics is my most adored subject in my life. Neither is math. If possible, I would rather do less of both. But in teaching, the essence is really about imparting a skill/knowledge, a spark. And we need people to do that. You don't necessary have to possess 100% devotion towards the topic.
The students may not like the choices they have but they still have choices. Yes, they can choose to heck care and do what they want, they can choose to leave the school, choose not to come to the school, choose to run away from the teacher etc. Make the best of the one's available options yah? Part and parcel of life, and through it the youth will learn to cope with other challanges in life.
"no absolute, no good, no bad, no God, no sin", rather gospel-like, perfect for a RPG cult motto or creed of some sort. Nirvana?
Thursday, January 12, 2006
JC Student blog
As directed by one of Hansen's comments, I went to read this blog by a typical JC student complaining about school woes. An interesting read I must say, full of self-rightness and above all human desires that sort. Kids will always be kids.
As I reviewed the movie "Dangerous Minds" recently, I remember Michelle Pfiffer(care to correct ma spelling?) telling the classroom kids that "you do have a choice whether you want to come to school or not. You may not like any of the choices you have, but you do have a choice." Bottomline is, if you want ask why schools make students wear ties and why do we take O levels and A levels and stuff, might as well lament that your father is not the richest man on Earth. Whether or not, the school is trying to mass produce constructivist products of the Singapore Education, that's really not important. Just be yourself and make the best of life!
I'd really like to speak to such students, too bad mine are too naughty to engage in such wider perspection. But, they are cute in a simple way, defiant and stubborn. Bright side, it's some what tenacious and resilient, though most of their teachers think they are reculcitrant most of the time.
You do have a choice.
As directed by one of Hansen's comments, I went to read this blog by a typical JC student complaining about school woes. An interesting read I must say, full of self-rightness and above all human desires that sort. Kids will always be kids.
As I reviewed the movie "Dangerous Minds" recently, I remember Michelle Pfiffer(care to correct ma spelling?) telling the classroom kids that "you do have a choice whether you want to come to school or not. You may not like any of the choices you have, but you do have a choice." Bottomline is, if you want ask why schools make students wear ties and why do we take O levels and A levels and stuff, might as well lament that your father is not the richest man on Earth. Whether or not, the school is trying to mass produce constructivist products of the Singapore Education, that's really not important. Just be yourself and make the best of life!
I'd really like to speak to such students, too bad mine are too naughty to engage in such wider perspection. But, they are cute in a simple way, defiant and stubborn. Bright side, it's some what tenacious and resilient, though most of their teachers think they are reculcitrant most of the time.
You do have a choice.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
A Present Issue
I think Michelle passed a rather sweeping remark, something like "If I don't say/buy anything, you all won't get any present for *whoever*." I must agree that if I don't have a good idea of what to get for a person, it's very likely I would not get anything for that person's birthday. To me, perhaps a treat at Haagen Daaz or anywhere with nice food will do.
I think everyone has a different way/idea of celebrating birthdays or occasions, some prefer simpler ways, some prefer wine and dine, some chiong pubs and bars, picnics and others extravagant ones at good restaurants. Personally, I don't really mind not recieving presents, simply because I don't really want to inconvenience my friends to get me something. Of course if I do recieve any, they are very much appreciated.
Well, the idea I got from Michelle's tone seems to imply that if you DON'T give a present, hence forth you are undoubtly considered as thoroughly insincere. Irked me a bit, like my way of looking birthdays has been put down/disapproved. Felt that it was rather a narrow point of view. Presents should be given whenever the time/occasion is appropriate, the absence of them should also not mean any other if there's that basic trust and understanding between friends/individuals.
And for the record, I DO give presents to my friends! Like I said, it's when I feel like it!
I think Michelle passed a rather sweeping remark, something like "If I don't say/buy anything, you all won't get any present for *whoever*." I must agree that if I don't have a good idea of what to get for a person, it's very likely I would not get anything for that person's birthday. To me, perhaps a treat at Haagen Daaz or anywhere with nice food will do.
I think everyone has a different way/idea of celebrating birthdays or occasions, some prefer simpler ways, some prefer wine and dine, some chiong pubs and bars, picnics and others extravagant ones at good restaurants. Personally, I don't really mind not recieving presents, simply because I don't really want to inconvenience my friends to get me something. Of course if I do recieve any, they are very much appreciated.
Well, the idea I got from Michelle's tone seems to imply that if you DON'T give a present, hence forth you are undoubtly considered as thoroughly insincere. Irked me a bit, like my way of looking birthdays has been put down/disapproved. Felt that it was rather a narrow point of view. Presents should be given whenever the time/occasion is appropriate, the absence of them should also not mean any other if there's that basic trust and understanding between friends/individuals.
And for the record, I DO give presents to my friends! Like I said, it's when I feel like it!
Suteki worked out pretty well during the SG practice, though initially the balance was terrible. Probably due to everyone reading through the scores and not listening much. Shuhann hissed about his part being on Bass and all, so he'll get his part transposed onto a Prime then. Michelle and Hansen were quite contented with their parts, no hideously unplayable portions written I suppose. Alex plays really well on the Alto but when it comes to the guitaron, he sorta suddenly transforms into a junior, playing funny notes and counting bars faster and slower than us... Then again, on the contrabass, he's fine. *puzzled*
I find that the quintet seems to be a lot more balanced in pieces with 2 Alto parts, e.g. Au Bond, Triste, clayderman pieces and the likes... perhaps an arrangment issue. Suteki sort of falls into the same category as Reasons, with a single Alto part against 3 lower voices and a continuous voice. Well, it's quite a different ball game altogether.
Jamming Farandole was fun! We sounded quite good actually!
I find that the quintet seems to be a lot more balanced in pieces with 2 Alto parts, e.g. Au Bond, Triste, clayderman pieces and the likes... perhaps an arrangment issue. Suteki sort of falls into the same category as Reasons, with a single Alto part against 3 lower voices and a continuous voice. Well, it's quite a different ball game altogether.
Jamming Farandole was fun! We sounded quite good actually!
Meet less, Play more
Planned to have a small ensemble practice this Saturday, only to receive news from Zhiqiang that the ad hoc comm is having a meeting so I guess we’ll just make do with less players.
What do they meet for anyway? The trip is not confirmed, pieces for the trip are not chosen yet and to top it off, there’s no committee port folio at all. Who’s in charge of what?!?!?
Cut the stupid meetings and come for practice. Duh!
Planned to have a small ensemble practice this Saturday, only to receive news from Zhiqiang that the ad hoc comm is having a meeting so I guess we’ll just make do with less players.
What do they meet for anyway? The trip is not confirmed, pieces for the trip are not chosen yet and to top it off, there’s no committee port folio at all. Who’s in charge of what?!?!?
Cut the stupid meetings and come for practice. Duh!
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Suteki de Ne
2 hours to my SG practice and I'll still changing stuff on the arrangment... wondering if Hansen is at home to print the scores even... can't seem to straighten out some stuff in the arrangement. Well, I guess I could change it after today's read thru.
It's been a while since MASAK stopped practising due to Hansen's most unfortunate encounter on the flyover to Marymount Road. And yes, We're BACK! Fans out there, look out for our latest single!
2 hours to my SG practice and I'll still changing stuff on the arrangment... wondering if Hansen is at home to print the scores even... can't seem to straighten out some stuff in the arrangement. Well, I guess I could change it after today's read thru.
It's been a while since MASAK stopped practising due to Hansen's most unfortunate encounter on the flyover to Marymount Road. And yes, We're BACK! Fans out there, look out for our latest single!
Monday, January 09, 2006
"Alto 1 的声音很齐" - 俊豪
It’s 2 hours before performance, running short of time; I can’t understand why the conductor needs to go through the bloody pieces although he’s not conducting them later on. Told him to stand aside and do the listening while Alex conducts, yet he stubbornly refused. And the best part is that his rationale for doing that is to cue the ensemble in. HUH!!?!? What the hell are you talking about??!!
The other antics of Domy:
- ladder climbing on stage
- late for sound test
- changing the MC script on stage during the dry run
- pulled his ninja stunt on Jai just before La Partida
- urging the ensemble to look at him during performance (hahaha! Obviously no one bothered to look, except for Edwin who couldn’t make out what he wanted)
- Flaring up at Yong Kiat! That was the best one yet, he did it in the most high-pitched Auntie-ish tone, almost burst out laughing. I’m definitely nominating and seconding Yong Kiat to assume presidency next.
The concert went pretty well, though I’d say there’s a lack of differentiation in the playing. Haru was steady and perhaps too steady. America was unresolved rhythmically, Get Back and La Partida was the usual bull-dozing, ELO unsettled here and there.
I really want to thank the hardworking juniors for helping with the instruments. With UCC so close to CFA, I doubt they’d have much problems, which of course is my perfect excuse for being lazy. Long Live the PMs!
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Snare Drum?
Wondering if I should add a snare drum part into the FF VII Medley... Hmmm....
Couple of songs that could use some good percussion. I'm not so sure if guitar percussion works this time round. The feel is somewhat wierd...
If I use the snare, might as well write another percussion part... totalling to two... but then the piece would seem more appropriate if played by a large ensemble...
Wondering if I should add a snare drum part into the FF VII Medley... Hmmm....
Couple of songs that could use some good percussion. I'm not so sure if guitar percussion works this time round. The feel is somewhat wierd...
If I use the snare, might as well write another percussion part... totalling to two... but then the piece would seem more appropriate if played by a large ensemble...
喜出望外
Yesterday, Dad suddenly called me in the evening and asked me to choose the colour of my new car! HUH!?!?! What new car!?!?! I was very surprised, considering I was working on the FF VII medley, in school around 5 plus, packing up soon to go home. Nonetheless, decided to let him choose the colour instead, since I could sense over the phone he was all gleeful about the one in black, which in the catalogue was crowned nicely as Ebony.
依依不舍
Then felt a little moody about giving up my current Toyota Spacio, which I’ve been riding around since August 1998… even to the extent of wondering why Dad went to that decision without even consulting me.
二十四孝
Of course, senses came back, and I started to appreciate what a wonderful thing Dad has done. He’s been always so nice to me, even though on the surface he may seem really indifferent to what I do, where I go. I wondered if I could be as generous, caring and accomodating as him to my own children.
爸,真心感谢.
Yesterday, Dad suddenly called me in the evening and asked me to choose the colour of my new car! HUH!?!?! What new car!?!?! I was very surprised, considering I was working on the FF VII medley, in school around 5 plus, packing up soon to go home. Nonetheless, decided to let him choose the colour instead, since I could sense over the phone he was all gleeful about the one in black, which in the catalogue was crowned nicely as Ebony.
依依不舍
Then felt a little moody about giving up my current Toyota Spacio, which I’ve been riding around since August 1998… even to the extent of wondering why Dad went to that decision without even consulting me.
二十四孝
Of course, senses came back, and I started to appreciate what a wonderful thing Dad has done. He’s been always so nice to me, even though on the surface he may seem really indifferent to what I do, where I go. I wondered if I could be as generous, caring and accomodating as him to my own children.
爸,真心感谢.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Anak Krakatau
Scenic and a nice spot to really look around, though the boat ride was rather deadly if waters are bad. Managed to perform 2 merlion shows for my friends on board, to and fro, entertainment while commuting.
Carita("Cha-ree-ta") is quite a nice town despite the fact that the natives do like to 砍菜头, simply by difference in skin colour and tourist looks. The good thing is that S$ is pretty strong, so it withstood the fluctuations in pricing. The people there are not good at math either, do check your bills before paying. And, they have a thing about giving you OLD menu and then charging your food to the price on the NEW menu, which is obviously higher. Lodging was interesting, room with TV which has only ONE malay channel subjected to the fancies of the main cable TV at the lobby, dusty room as Wai complains about but I thought it was quite alright, faulty flushing device, attached bathroom that runs out of water once in a while, sticky bedsheets and so.
Scenic and a nice spot to really look around, though the boat ride was rather deadly if waters are bad. Managed to perform 2 merlion shows for my friends on board, to and fro, entertainment while commuting.
Carita("Cha-ree-ta") is quite a nice town despite the fact that the natives do like to 砍菜头, simply by difference in skin colour and tourist looks. The good thing is that S$ is pretty strong, so it withstood the fluctuations in pricing. The people there are not good at math either, do check your bills before paying. And, they have a thing about giving you OLD menu and then charging your food to the price on the NEW menu, which is obviously higher. Lodging was interesting, room with TV which has only ONE malay channel subjected to the fancies of the main cable TV at the lobby, dusty room as Wai complains about but I thought it was quite alright, faulty flushing device, attached bathroom that runs out of water once in a while, sticky bedsheets and so.
Wa cha lookin' at?
neat looking resort eh?
Goats outside our resort
lush forest around the town
Gantry set up to collect admission to waterfalls!!!
Some river crossing work...
Day after we visited the waterfall at Carita, we took a boat out to Anak Krakatau. Not much boat ride photos taken though, I was busily engaged in seasickness.
Black beach due to volcanic ash perhaps?
Pot Pourri of coniferous and deciduous plants
Wai plodding along...
Fantastic scenary
Greetings with Krakatau
Presenting Anak Krakatau
Farewell, we're off to snorkel!
Ferris wheel in a Indo night market
1. Inspiration from Karen's blog, 2. new slippers at S$3, 3. badly sun-burnt thigh
永别了!
开心的疯子们
->
Teh Susu, something which is uncommon in Indonesia
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Blabber
Just finished reading Hansen's work of poetry on his blog, must say it's rather good!
Looking back at my 2005 sure gives new inspirations for the future!
A student who's been absent from school for a year has finally came today to inquire about procedures on leaving school. Too bad he had to insult the school in front of me, chased him away. The thing I can't endure most is crude rudeness, which jolted my memories on that email exchange with Songyi. It was never resolved though, hmmm... perhaps I should try resolving it in the new year!?!?
Maybe it's just my karma for laughing at "Singapore Youth Harmonica Festival".
Oops forgot to check for competition results today...
Just finished reading Hansen's work of poetry on his blog, must say it's rather good!
Looking back at my 2005 sure gives new inspirations for the future!
A student who's been absent from school for a year has finally came today to inquire about procedures on leaving school. Too bad he had to insult the school in front of me, chased him away. The thing I can't endure most is crude rudeness, which jolted my memories on that email exchange with Songyi. It was never resolved though, hmmm... perhaps I should try resolving it in the new year!?!?
Maybe it's just my karma for laughing at "Singapore Youth Harmonica Festival".
Oops forgot to check for competition results today...
Masterclasses
One of the silliest things I've observed.
Do you go for consultation when you feel the need to? or when you're obliged/forced to?
Shouldn't masterclasses be carried out when the players request for them?
Scheduling a masterclass in the music camp because the conductor wants to have one is not going to be very helpful, when players try to coax each other to present something. It's not that the players are too proficient for the masterclass, nor is about the conductor's standard of musicianship. It's about both parties being ready to teach and learn. In our ensemble's case, we've went to sight-reading pieces in a masterclass.
Might as well call it a Sight-Reading Symposium.
One of the silliest things I've observed.
Do you go for consultation when you feel the need to? or when you're obliged/forced to?
Shouldn't masterclasses be carried out when the players request for them?
Scheduling a masterclass in the music camp because the conductor wants to have one is not going to be very helpful, when players try to coax each other to present something. It's not that the players are too proficient for the masterclass, nor is about the conductor's standard of musicianship. It's about both parties being ready to teach and learn. In our ensemble's case, we've went to sight-reading pieces in a masterclass.
Might as well call it a Sight-Reading Symposium.
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