也许你当初做错了，

致，一个走到交叉路口，头上没两点头绪的普通人：

“也许还是值得挽回的。”

Hear and forget...

"I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand"

I have been for a few pedagogy workshops that like to quote this, some even brough up brain studies to support this. Is it really true? or just generally applicable?

My report card

Hmmmm... iPhone can't upload photos on blogger leh...
(picture)

The SCO concert on Saturday was good! Inspired to re-start 古筝 lessons.
Tempting tempting...

16th WMC

Arrived at Amsterdam after a 13 hour flight and took a 3 hour bus trip to reach our lodging area. Finally there's a BED to lie on!

Back to the same lodging 4 years ago, and the landlady still remembers me! Amazing!

This is the rehearsal place, called wielderhoes, provides us with most of the infrastructure, like practice and dining areas, and percussion instruments.
Rehearsals begun and it's a fair bit of work for me.

After concert reflections

Just back from the SYF presentation concert, must say AJC band gave me the best impression of all. NJC picked pieces which were more mature and advanced but didn't play as smoothly as AJC. Actually all the bands did pretty good(obviously...).

I think the kids I have are like light-years apart. Given their current attitude, which is very much inclined to sleeping and playing, it's going to be a long way.

Let's start with rhythm and intonation.

While resting my eyes...

From Mich's blog,

"But how is it possible that not a single teacher smokes, drinks, batters up his wife, or have mistress(es)?"

I found this rather interestingly morbid. Anyone who is depressed or has lost confidence in humanity will find this absolutely delicious to their waning soul.

I have several other options for them to choose from.

"But how is it possible that not a single violinist has molested a child before? "

"But how is it possible that not a single mother has sexually abused his/her child before? "

"But how is it possible that not a single principal has porn addiction?"

These questions spiral endlessly. The population of the world dictates the number of permutations we will have. Problem is, there is choice. Some people choose to go left, some to go right, some choose to wait and some don't want to choose.

Do not mix moral values with profession, do not mix personal life with professional career.

A male teacher who smokes openly may not set a very good role for his students but his vice is not his sole example he has to offer. He may be able teach very well and impart other virtues and values to his kids.

My dad smokes. I didn't learn that from him.

Why are we so insistent that students need role models? Com'on, NONE of my teachers were my role models. Some were cool, some were fun, some were weird. I didn't want to become ANY of them. But yeah, interestingly enough, I became ALL of them.

Ok, off to my games now!

Thanks to Mel !!!

Amazing, well, hahaha =) I feel so intrigued by the fact that there's someone out there who thinks alike as me(to transcibe this piece for guitar ensemble). Only that they changed the trumpet part to Bass, and though lower but the tone still cuts through. Interesting! I suspect they are using a Sopranino(can't see well, but the tone is even higher sounding than Soprano for sure.)

You should hear their Brandenburg No. 3(all movements somemore!), lagi better...

One thing's for sure, they play from memory! Which probably means that's tons of hours of practice dumped in.

I wonder that 1966 means that they are founded in 1966??? Hmmm... that's 15 years earlier than GENUS? We have 15 years to catch up to their standard!

Summary of the above!

Looks like:

1. More schools are starting up Guitar ensembles.
2. Adjudicators are guitarists or guitar-trained, standard of judging has gone up!
3. Distribution of medals seems more "normal" in 2009.
4. If you want your child to excel in a guitar CCA, anything that starts with Raffles works.(e.g. Wai, Shuhann... who else ah?)
5. Anything that starts with "Angl" seems to work just as well. (e.g. Adrian TKS?)
6. Don't ever go on stage with lousy sound or poor ensemble playing. COP is now officially POSSIBLE!
7. It seems like secondary schools are fairing better than JCs!

Anything else?

Good Tango

Whoosh... makes me wanna do the piece myself!

The Golden piece

Drop by this site: http://gemeridian.blogspot.com/

MJC Guitar ensemble website.

They won themselves a gold this round in SYF, scroll down on the first entry and you will suddenly see MASAK appearing. hahahah =)

Anyway, seems like any guitar ensemble who wants to get Gold, just need to play the winning formula.

Dance of Yao.

85 岁去世

您将于公元2062年06月07日去世！

您距离死亡还有： 53年 10月 26日 1时 21分 19秒
=====================================

如果真的知道有个这样的电池期限，会更努力生活吧！

A Beautiful Sunday on 12th April

12 April 2009 - SUNDAY

"Stars and Stripes"

BY
Singapore Wind Symphony

VENUE / TIME
Esplanade Concert Hall, 3PM

ADMISSION
Free

MUSIC DIRECTOR
Regan G. Wickman

REPERTOIRE
Cuban Overture / G. Gershwin
An Outdoor Overture / A. Copland
Stars and Stripes Forever / Sousa
A Symphonic Portrait For Concert Band / C. Porter

Cowboy Overture/J. Williams

Butterfly Lovers go Dutch

THE BUTTERFLY LOVERS
BY Mus'art Wind Orchestra
DATE: 5th Apr 09

VENUE: Victoria Concert Hall

TIME: 5.00pm
PRICE S$10

CONDUCTOR/S Mdm Tan Soh Hwa, Mr Wilson Ong Chok Yen

REPERTOIRE

The Elgin Sound (World Premiere)

Atmospheres

The Butterfly Lovers: For Erhu & Wind Band (World Premiere)

Rhapsody for Euphonium & Concert Band, Soloist: Mr Su Guobin

Arirang: A Traditional Korean Folksong (World Premiere)

A Story of Stars (World Premiere)

The Year of The Dragon

I recommend

The 2nd movement from "The Year of the Dragon" by Philip Sparke.

The sad and soulful tune carried by the Cor Anglais really reminds of melancholy. The mid section goes into a brighter, more optimistic choral, enchantingly hope-giving. All then pummels back into inevitable initial music subject, ended off by the Cor Anglais.

V day performance @ Nat Lib Plaza

I think everyone had a rather good time performing on Saturday. Well, I definitely had. I haven't had time to go through the recording.(I will, soon!) Too many things to do.

Thanks to everyone who took time off on valentine's day! Let's hope we get the Esplanade slot next year!

Another very nice Mononoke Medley

You are a Benevolent Director.

You are a Director

As a DIRECTOR, you combine an unusual openness and passion for beauty and style with confidence and a down-to-earth sensibility that allow you to realize your vision.

You are practical and pay attention to the details that others tend to miss.

By focusing on what is real and concrete, you achieve more than those who always have their heads in the clouds.

When it comes to what really matters in your life, you are confident in your ability to succeed.

Having beautiful things in your life gives you pleasure and satisfaction - you have a keen eye for style.

Even when problems present themselves, deep down you know you will overcome these challenges.

When routines get too familiar, you become bored and start looking for ways to spice things up.

You are open to new types of experiences – you are not afraid to take a risk on something new.

You have a highly developed sense of taste – you know what looks good on you, in your home, and in the world at large.

Generally, you believe that you control your life, and that external forces only play a limited role in determining what happens to you.


If you want to be different:

Occasionally let yourself dream a little more, even if it doesn't seem practical or efficient.


how you relate to others
You are Benevolent

You are a great person to interact with—understanding, giving, and trusting—in a word, BENEVOLENT

You don't mind being in social situations, as you feel comfortable enough with people to be yourself.

Your caring nature goes beyond a basic concern: you take the time to understand the nuances of people's situations before passing any sort of judgment.

You're a good listener, and even better at offering advice.

You're concerned with others at both an individual and societal level—you sympathize with the plights of troubled groups, and you can care about people you've never met.

Considering many different perspectives is something at which you excel, and you appreciate that quality in others.

Other people's feelings are important to you, and you're good at mediating disputes.

Because of your understanding and patience, you tend to bring out the best in people.


If you want to be different:

You spend a lot of time taking care of others, but don't forget to take care of yourself!

Sometimes you can get overcommitted, and when you sacrifice spending time with those close to you, it can make them feel unimportant.

"It's your choice."

We experience this in life. Sometimes things are not as rosy and comfy as we expect them to be. The differences in lifestyle, mindset, values etc. We ignore them when we hope that matters can proceed on in the most smooth-sailing fashion ever, but when they surface, we begin to realise the fundamental disparities.

I have a choice. I can choose to be happy, or not to be happy.

I try my best to make things work out. I tussle with old issues, unable to reach a resolution, I simply live with the issue. Like a thorn in the flesh, it throbs when someone accidentally pushes against it. Take out the thorn, it bleeds like hell; keep the thorn, and tolerate the pain.

I have a choice. I can choose to be happy, or not.

People do not respond the way I hope they'd respond. That is the way of life, nothing's perfect. Underneath that masquerade of friendship, I see selfishness, indifference and judgements. I know it's the way of life. Nothing's perfect.

I have a choice. Live with it, or go away.

Don't worry, I have no problem with picking first choices.

My favourite mistake.