Timbales

A Cuban percussion instrument consisting of a pair of single head, shallow drums tuned to different pitches, and performed with two sticks. These drums are essential to Latin American popular music.

Rest for my eyes

How I wish I could magically conjure the ensemble scores I want, or buy them over the internet for that matter, or from somewhere, someone!

My eyes are dropping out of their sockets, partly from gaming on Dirge of Cerberus, the typical run and shoot game, which I usually don't favour; I get a headache out of it. BUT, since it's the next installation after FFVII, well.... I suppose I could bear with the screen spinning.

And straight after that, I'm working on the computer, staring at notes, drawing slurs, transposing etc...

I was quite set on going for the Niibori ensemble playing workshop, but somehow, I started to have the idea that the presenter is going talk about stuff which Manji or Koyama has already mentioned, breathing method, counting, Niibori Rhythm method, blah blah... and I'm not so keen to dump money to Tony Romas. Oh well, we'll see then...

Feel like doing a lot of stuff but time sorta just slips by...
I'm keen to take up dance courses! But I haven't even started looking yet...
I've been telling myself to do exercises! But I haven't conjured enough motivation yet... I think Shuhann exercises more regularly than I do... or I should just go buy a few dumbbells and just workout at home...

and YES... I have FFXII !!!! Lotsa sleepless nights gonna follow...

Xenosaga is one good RPG out there. Trilogy and good story, a little bit like Evangelion(if it's spelled correctly...)

Singapore Conference Hall

Or "SCO Concert Hall" it seems.

Sits about 800 but rental rates are going at about 1800 or 18% of ticket sales.

If each ticket is priced at $10, that's $8000 for FULL House, overhead of $1000, split amongst 20 members = $50

If each ticket is priced at $15, that's $12000 for FULL house, overhead of $600, split amongst 20 members = $30

Concerts are hard to plan...

I need a sponsor!

钢琴五人组

I watched a piano recital with Michelle on Friday evening. It was a 5-piano ensemble recital, and I was rather impressed with the stage set-up. Repertoire was fine, a wide selection of genres; they only missed the classical period.

Every pianist had their page turners, that means 10 people on stage. Wonder how much the page turners get for doing stuff like this?

I'm never a avid fan of piano, not that the instrument doesn't impress or sound nice, but I'm perturbed or easily bored by the monotony of the tone. Fact is, I find the instrument's tone so homogenous over the registers that it numbs my ear rather quickly. Well anyway, after 1.5 hours of 5-piano sound, I was so pleasantly delighted when they ended one of their pieces/encore with 1 piano. And I'm starting to think solo piano sounds nice. Hahaha... or could be just a temporary figment of my imagination.

Boh Jit Jhee leh...

Anyone knows the dates for the workshops in the 6th International Guitar Festival 2006???

Seems like brochures and websites have no information on them. Rather keen to go for the workshop on ensemble playing really.

韩潮再现

皮箱人应该是想成为最高尚宫.
其实, 我并不排斥他成为尚宫. 但他现在真的是弄巧成拙, 不但没将目的坦白, 还添加了虚伪的手段. 我看,连不怎么认识他的社团理事都对他反感了.

他还是不明白. 成为了最高尚宫又怎么样.
成为一个不受尊重的最高尚宫才是最可悲的.

跟老羊和李大肠吃饭时, 我推测, 他的下一站可能是恶人谷.

欢迎光临.

太极

(Chatting with Wai about Pictures at an Exhibition, the Great Gate of Kiev)

Suitcase: We could break a few guitars for some loud chords at the start.

(gentle smiles from both Wai and myself)

5 seconds lapsed.

Suitcase: Hey you thought of distributing or selling your scores?

Owls: Sell? Must look for a publisher right?

Suitcase: No need lah... just sell directly or distribute. My students wants to play your arrangement of......

Owls: Ask them to join Genus next time! then they got chance to play loh! Hahaha!

Gig at Esplanade concourse

Looks like we're performing for some charity cause... think the first row looks very pro...

Luckily didn't colour code the dressing, variety kinda matches the artwork behind.

想办法

I have a hard time getting one of my students to understand intervals.

For instance, it seems she simply does not register the difference between a major 3rd or a minor 3rd, visually or aurally. And she counts by semi-tones! Though I do not recommend that, it seems like she remembers intervals through this tedious counting.

It would seem alright at first, since it temporarily solves the interval problem, but alas, the enharmonic errors will surface when the keys get more cluttered with sharps or flats. By counting semi-tones, one may recognise C to Bb as an augmented 6th instead of a minor 7th and vice versa.

My method is to go through key recognition, but her key identification is not very accurate. and much as she is weak in intervals, so is the understanding of major/minor scales and tonality.

Have to find a way to settle this!

The suitcase man

Heard from the guys that the suitcase man is back in action again.

I've never had any conflicts with him. I've always thought he's just a bit too business-minded/practical/goal-oriented; well nothing harmful if your basic morals are upheld. The old man told me about the suitcase affair and that shed a bit more light on his personality.

Frankly, I think he's a afraid of rejection. Hence, the reluctance to come clean with his objectives to people around him. People are not stupid these days, so unless you are ultra good at covering your tracks, you'll be found out one of these days. If the suitcase man wants to go far, I really think he needs to examine this aspect.

Well folks, beware of your suitcase!

Bass strings

I believe that in the past, string breakages on the Bass guitar seem to be associated with the quality or the age of the strings given to us. If I'm not wrong, in 2000, we're still using an old stock of strings as ancient as 1990. Well, after 10 years of oxidisation, it's no wonder why they give way after a few harsh plucks.

Bass guitars these days don't seem to exhibit so much string breakage, but more on intonation problems which are even more annoying to correct. Every string seems has different tendencies at the octave and it's a pain to tune the basses with the rest of the gutiar parts.

I don't believe in down tuning instruments; I think the instruments need time to season to the tension of the strings and stabilise. Warping may occur if we continuously alter the tension experienced by the wood which may lead to horrendous intonation.

Experiential Learning

Managing a group has never been more exciting. Not just musically, but also administratively. I think I’ve had the privilege of experiencing this through Expose, and I must say I am grateful for this experience.

- Planning the repertoire which doesn’t not end at just purchasing them over the internet or obtaining them from the library; you’ve got to arrange them yourself.
- Attendance during rehearsals can be heart-wrenching when absences are concerned. Parts may go missing and it’s difficult to balance; to top it off, everyone’s sound projection is different on the instrument.
- Performance during weekdays are not exactly easy to co-ordinate. With more 80% or more of the members as working members, logistics and sound test can be quite tricky. Sound test was scheduled at 6pm and I had only about slightly more than half of the members for the concourse performance, and with zero Alto 1 parts (2nd evening, Queen of Sheba).
- The numbers per part are constantly shifting, due to absences, leave, etc. I try to manage this part by taking in more players so that I have greater freedom with numbers, and also with the hope of training newcomers.
- Spreading solo parts to many more members is one of the policies I try to keep up to in order to expose more members to playing lead voices. Avenue for training provided almost equates to hearing more unusual stuff rendered.
- Rhythmic cohesion is probably one of the greatest hurdles for the group. I think Expose should aim to match Tsu ensemble’s standard, if not better. Anything less than that is basically somewhat acheivable by the main ensemble. This is not exactly a smooth sailing task; working with the members from different music training and background, can sometimes prove to be rather uphill. Reculcitrant mistakes and relentless laziness to count are some of the killer moves. - Patience is the essence, and some occasional begging.
- Projection trivia. Essentially it’s rather interesting to try to balance anything in a guitar ensemble. First it’s the highs versus mid versus bass, next is the funny thing about seeing 4 hands moving but only hearing 3 or 2.5.

I sure hope one day we can get engaged in some competition preparation, esp. if it’s overseas, like some guitar festival or something. That would be absolutely fantastic.

"道德"重要? 还是"得到"重要?

In response to Hiong Gai Gai's recent encounter with the laptop charger, I've decided to give an insight on the school situation.

In school, I've also encountered many such cases. Not between teachers of course. Well, being a NT class form teacher for 3 years, it's no wonder to anyone that I have such cases on hand. Handphones and wallets are usually the prime target items of theft, they both boil down to one simple incentive. Cash!

There was even a time when we had a group of students working together to steal phones from athletes and participants of Sports Day, since it's highly unlikely that one will take good care of their belongings while cheering and competing. They had a network of who does the stealing and who holds on to the phone and all that. Sale of the phones is almost immediately done on the day itself, and cash would be distributed to all participating members.

There was another case who stole from a teacher while submitting homework. This same student stole from the dentist stationed in school to do health checks.

Who gets the lousy end? the parents, of course. and who they have to blame? themselves, in my opinion. If you allow your child to carry a 24K gold necklace to school, don't expect me to take care of it for you. If you think your child is responsible enough to take care of the expensive electronic device then you replace it when it's stolen.

Children are more easily blinded by greed. Their developing morals(if any is developing) do not exert a strong influence on their decision. Unless of course, we are talking about VERY well brought up kids, which are rather hard to locate these days. And most of the cases of theft, the parents are just too soft-hearted to cane the child. Most of the time it's just a stern scolding, some even went on to rationalise with the imbecile teenager. If my child were to be caught stealing, I'll beat the living daylights out of him/her.

The leniency of the parents these days makes the teachers work so much harder. Sometimes, I feel that I am stricter to my students than their parents are to them. I will not hesitate to slap them if they are defiant or rude to me. I have had parents call me up and ask me to talk to their child about matters, simply because their child won't listen to them but listens to me. Unfortunately, the parents don't understand. I am just a temporary substitute; I can't be disciplining your kid forever, one day they will grow up and leave the school.

Spare the rod and spoil the child!

I agree with one aspect my colleague tells me. One of the reasons parents shun from beating their children is because they feel pain when they dish out corporal punishment, and they don't want to feel the pain in their hearts. What they often forget is that if they don't teach their children well, the emotional pain to come later is even worse to bear.

好心没好报

今早起来有点病病的, 好象感冒了.
想到中午要给学生科学补习, 好吧, 就抱病上场吧.
哪知道,有几个王八为了要去别班同学的生日会, 而放我鸽子. 说都没说一声, 定是怕我不准, 干脆一走了之. 还好还是有一些学生不去生日会, 来上补习了.

那些没来的混帐东西, 看我明天怎么收拾你们!

他妈的! 没爹娘教养的烂孩子! 让我来替天行道!

好词!

从我脸上的苍白
看到记忆慢下来
过去甜蜜在倒带
只是感觉已经不在

而我对你的期待
被你一次次摔坏
已经碎成太多块
要怎么拼凑跟重来

- <<倒带>>

Majullah Expose!

2 months of rehearsal. Yes, it's finally done.

I had a good time performing at the concourse in the past 2 days. And I'm starting to get used to announcing pieces! I hope there weren't any of Mr. A's friends there... less they inform him that I dug myself a grave by saying he's got "better things to do" and hence left GENUS..... gosh.....

Malaguena and Nocturne were fantastic, Polovetsian Dances was good too, except that Alto 1 didn't seem to acknowledge the quavers in the melody very well. Some annoying rushing there. ZQ's pedal A note was marvellous. Spanish Coffee was fine, though could do better with a bit more tempo and spunk. The "enhanced" or actually "reduced" version of Zapin was more palatable in my opinion, addition of percussion and all, I personally liked the flavour. Sheba soloists were good, and with the help of the soloist mikes, they were able to play more dynamically. I think if we went a bit faster, it might have worked even better. Spirited Away shone during the 2nd night, beautifully crafted. As expected, In the Mood was the one to kena the most, perhaps more Jazz pieces in the future for the group then.

Well, let's hope we get a slot for Beautiful Sunday!

精武门

一胆,二力,三功夫.

如果没胆把音乐奏出, 即使功夫了得, tone 再好也是一场空.
如果没力, projection 欠佳, 奏出的音量只够自己听, 那么加入一个合奏团,简直是浪费时间. 但是浪费时间是个人的选择, 高兴就好, 重点是不要浪费别人的时间.

闯一闯吧!

Saturday’s rehearsal wasn’t entirely all smooth sailing.
I loved the fact that we got to use the auditorium, but alas, it would prove to be a rather morale stifling venue for the last rehearsal. The group was too used to previous reverberations and did not adjust sufficiently and was much disturbed by the clarity the room had to offer.

I really have to attribute at least 20 % of the success of a performance to the rehearsal venue a music group gets. Constantly playing in sound enhancing areas is never going to help efficiently with cleaning up any piece; actually quite the same with my quartet as well, come to think of it.

“In the mood” got it worst; a spectrum of “jazz”, “semi-jazz” and “non-jazz” rhythmic renditions popped out. I would almost put the standard of this piece at about 70% of Gelato con Caffe; rhythmically challenging and not exactly the easiest piece to achieve cohesion. The group did pretty well, considering it’s the 4th or 5th time we’ve rehearsed it formally. I think the guys did a good job on the effort, perhaps the piece simply needed more time to mature under the players’ fingers. Well, partly my fault, due to my ambitious programming of the performance as well.

I’ve also come to the conclusion that the next one who’s joining us will be required to audition, unless it’s enlistment by invitation. Many reasons entail:
Genus has limited instruments.
The group is sufficiently big in numbers, and rather proportionate as it is.
I need volume!!!
The group needs to keep up its standards, and I don’t have time to give sectionals.

Anyway, the concourse performance will give the group a good boost in exposure and performance expectations. Not to mention the nurturing of 默契.

Engine warming up

Life’s been pretty much a whirlwind these few weeks really. I have actually spent a lot more time with my students over the past month, activities ranging from fights at other secondary schools and chalet at Downtown East just last week.

Am not going to blabber on the details, I’ve got enough of the neck/heart pulsations as it is now. Fortunately, my staff lounge has a blood pressure device available and it seems I’m in optimal condition.

Didn’t mean to slave drive on Saturday, but it just seems like I need to clean up quite a bit of parts for the music here and there. Oh well, partly my fault, perhaps I was over ambitious to dump so much new repertoire into the Esplanade performance; if we had relied on our usual play-till-rotten pieces, maybe it would be better. But I was thinking, what the heck, since the people are gonna learn some pieces, might as well be new ones. In fact, I was on the verge of distributing the first 5 pieces of Carmen Suite No. 1 last Sat, for fun reading; of which later I thought perhaps not, less I get maimed unknowingly. I’ll give them out after the Esplanade episode. Well X-posed people, if you are reading this, practise hard and be prepared to practise harder!

Oh well, back to my whirlwind!

国庆录

With some twist of fate, I was able to attend the NDP this year with my aunt.
Always enjoyed the atmosphere there, but dreading the trip back home.
Took Guay's advice and didn't drive there, not that walking makes a difference in arrival time anyway.

Kallang Stadium

Enjoy the crowd!

Make way for the flag!

fighter jet galore

夕阳无限好,

只是近黄昏.

machang cast Holy or Ultima like that....

Magic missiles, some even hit the stadium spotlights

Time to say goodbye... Kallang Stadium

Click!

Forbidden.
You were denied access because:
Access denied by BlueCoat WebFilter content category. The requested URL belongs to the following category: Adult/Mature Content


This is what I got while trying to access Keeping's blog.

Hmmmmm....

Civil Service shit

The she-borg brought in a public service division officer to give a talk yesterday. Unbelievable, she actually went on and on on how the civil service selects and grooms leaders. Unbearably boring. And the irony of it is when she said that several civil service sectors actually make their employees do compulsory National Education courses; high flyers are also required to do community service so that they don't forget the grassroots. Hilariously absurd. Don't you think it's totally wrong?

I'm really starting to see why that she-borg behaves that way. MOE HQ is a alien hive.

Interested to lose your humanity?

gitchy gitchy ya ya?

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love, and be loved in return."

怪人

Why does she have to use the word “truly” in more than 50% of her sentences?

My VP is a cyborg. Ok, fine. It’s a she-borg. A typical robotic speech from her at staff meeting goes:

“This is truly an educational experience and truly our job is to nurture the young, so that they can develop to their best potential. Truly, I wish to…..”

You imagine the agony of listening to this kind of lousy talk, puts me into a drowsy state without fail.

She also needs to dish out MOE directives which I suspect she’s been eagerly memorizing every night at the expense of her husband’s libido.

Yes, typically she’ll work out some shit like “the classroom is a protected space for teaching and learning to take place.” I mean, please lah, who speaks like that? It’s like saying “the bedroom is a protected area for copulation to take place.” Geez…

The tone is simply cold and corporate-like.

She’s one absurd personality in school I simply can’t stand or have enough of. Why? There’s something about her that is seriously wrong, mentally or conceptually. Sorely lacking in the human spirit and compassion. She’s all about hype, directives, circulars and education in the very primal paper form you can find it. Just to reinforce my point, she was working at MOE HQ prior to this. I think the HQ smells fishy. I think they clone you, inject control microchips into the clone and send them back to schools. As for the primary clone subject? Sent to the nearby Biopolis for genetic alteration.

I suspect she gives a certificate to her husband for his sustained achievement of staying married to her.

I’m betting on it.

Prelude

Heard from Raj that Robert Casteels is going to be our new music director. It’s quite exciting, since this is a conductor who I do not have a pre-concept of prior to joining us. As with Domy, he was already blacklisted in by cerebrum when he threathened to use Thumboo to join the ensemble.

Supposedly brought Philwinds to WMC 2005 and brought back a gold medal in the 1st division. Or was it gold with distinction? Well, Genus is not a wind band, so I believe it’s very much going to be a brand new experience for him and us. I think I’m going to enjoy the sessions, especially after Domy’s dark reign.

I recall years back he wrote a Sonata Profana for some CFA group collaboration item which Terence Choo played in. I remember seeing the guitar part scored in Bass clef and with some annoying long notes. Hey! We might want to get him to work on some Guitar concerto for us to premiere in our concerts.

Genus is finally “normal” again after the Jap group returned. The turnout was pretty good this Sat, at least not relegated to the remains of quintet or quartet numbers. I spent some good time looking through the loot and treasures sought in Japan, temporarily plundered a couple of things. Moh was really nice to have brought back a Yamaha flute catalog to show me. Thanks pal!!! Really appreciate the thought. I should have asked him to see if he could visit the Sankyo flutes and hopefully check out prices, models. Ha ha, just kidding. Ok, trip to Japan next time, sell old flute buy new flute!!! (if the wallet permits)

红拂女

I always thought 舒淇 looked odd in 古装. Facially rather square-like, I think it is quite the opposite of what the ancient Chinese who have thought to be a beauty, not to mention that she's quite skinny and all. I think she sports a very modern look, with decadent sheepish eyes, doesn't really occur to me that she's the 慧眼识英雄 type.

Look at how odd they look together. Obviously, the lady looks so much more devious and 有心机 than the poor chap who is supposed to be 文武双全.

张翠山,殷素素?

Nonetheless, the 插曲 for the show is superb.

被撇下的第七天

仍是踌躇不定.

想着, 如果去了日本又会怎样. 不知道自己的选择是否对了.

因为放不下自己的学生而放弃了赴日的机会.

好象有一点笨. 只是一群工艺班的学生, 少教几天又有何方?

我有些明白妈妈说过为什么有了我之后, 她就再也没有出国了.

怎么衡量值不值得? 也许已经不是值不值得那么简单.

随心而定吧.

不入虎穴, 焉得虎子.

可能会是我人生中最愚蠢, 最有人性的决定.

最近耳边的歌

1. 蔡依琳-舞娘 (觉得词写的不错, 虽然是舞曲风格.)

2. 张韶涵-真的 (词也不错, 有点反复, 不过旋律还蛮幽美的.)

3. 周华健-爱情路 (民歌风格, 清新爽朗, 觉得词蛮有意思的,押韵有点过火吧.)

慢半拍

觉得好象有一点过时了. 哈哈.

最近才觉得"屋顶"很好听. 不是以前没听过这首歌, 只是突然耳朵觉醒了.

后知后觉吧.

霍霍霍霍霍霍霍霍!!!!

To all of you who are heading to Japan,

give them a KICK ASS performance!!!

Don't forget to ask Koyama or Manji to visit us for music camp!!!! Haha!!!

Have a blast of a time there!!!! Bon Voyage!!!

武侠与伦理

最近重看了漫画版的神雕侠侣, 顿时觉得焕然一新, 仿佛新一般的体验.
想了想, 应该是在电视上看了太多烂的武侠剧, 金庸的反而显得有些深度, 多了一点人性.

潜藏了许多伦理, 是蛮有教学意义的.

天官赐福? 飞来横祸?

When CFA rang me up and asked if I were interested to be GENUS’s next Music Director, I was really very apprehensive about it. Being not exactly qualified for the job; I have no music degree, not even a Guitar Grade 8, for that matter. I only picked up instrument playing at the age of 19, and yes, that makes this year the 10th anniversary for me. I mean. Compared to those who have studied Piano or whatever since pre-primary school, my number of years in meddling with music is insignificant and late.

Anyway, I sort of just sat on the issue, and waited for some divine force to steer the way.

豪子说: “他们敢 offer, 你就 take up loh.”

Ok, so I decided to give it a shot and proceeded to meet up with the CFA staff/tutors for an interview/discussion. I was also supposed to send in my CV three weeks ago from now, which I have gallantly procrastinated and ignored till now. Jianqun told me I probably don’t have to send it in anymore since he heard some news that CFA has already decided who to hire.

As this juncture, I must explain that the main reason why I’ve not submitted the CV is that I don’t have much to write and I am too lazy to go about it. Nutshell, it’s a chore to me. I felt that I had already said all I wanted to say and informed the CFA staff of my relevant experiences during the interview. So there.

Anyway, there are many concerns I have in my head. Firstly, of course, is that I don’t really represent well in terms of qualifications for GENUS. I mean, Raj is like guitar diploma holder and the MD is a Yamaha grade 6??? Er… like 怪怪的. Well, personally I don’t mind lah, cos I don’t care what others say, but it may make GENUS look like it’s now headed by imbecile. Oh well, I dispelled that, telling myself as long as I make good music with the group, it doesn’t matter.

Secondly, it’s of course the fact that I have to take the main ensemble(everyone) which I know will not be as fun and rewarding as taking EXPOSE. Fact is, I will have to re-adjust my expectations. Not too difficult to do, except that it may take up more time and disrupt my schedule, EXPOSE practices and all. Well, I thought, nothing can be worse than teaching Sec. 1 Normal Technical students guitar right?

Scores is the third thing. I’m not exactly doing a full-time music career. I may not have time to constantly produce scores at an efficient rate. Main ensemble needs pleasant and easy music, EXPOSE needs challenging and rewarding music. Sheesh…

And then there’s Guitaresque and MASAK. Rehearsal times for the former is alright, but the latter is currently in a state of lull, partly due to the Japan trip, EXPOSE practices and performance avenues. Weekday practices are not exactly fruitful for working people unless there is an immediate goal, so practices are best kept to Saturdays.

那就这样吧!!! 再爱也无需挣扎!

If I get the appointment, I’ll just have to work a bit harder.

If I don’t, I’ll have more time to play badminton with my students!!!

顺应天命!

超棒的词

"曾经有人这样唱过, 白天它不懂夜的黑, 你却懂得我的美."

"也许黑永远不明白, 在这个彩色的世界, 有你我才会存在."

强力推荐!!! 黑白配!!!

赞!

知足

"If you whack teacher, I will whack you."

This heart-warming sentence, I will remember for life.

I commented to one of my colleague friends that teaching can be one of the most heart-wrenching jobs on Earth. Through the years, the bond strengthens and they cease to be just students in your eyes. Yet in the back of your mind, you know that one day they will all grow up and leave your safety net; and you will terribly miss them, the nonsense, the high blood pressure and the "good morning cher".

当一阵风吹来 风筝飞上天空
为了你而祈祷 而祝福 而感动
终於你身影 消失在人海尽头 才发现 笑著哭 最痛

Desperate Takeaway

We all make mistakes in life.

Some of us have fallen for the wrong man, some of us have given up the right woman, some of us have shamed our parents and some of us have let down our children.

But most importantly, we must learn from our mistakes and move on with our life.

超难唱

周杰伦的"霍元甲".

可能写给吉他乐团玩一玩; 众人立即吐奶身亡. 哈哈.

还是不了.

最多下一次到 K-BOX 挑战这首猛曲. Just for laughs.

温故知新

曹格的 superwoman 好象是Karyn White 版的续集.

女的唱"I'm not your superwoman."
男的唱"You were my superwoman."

也许下一个该轮到女的唱"You are my superman."....

依昔记得王菲的"当时的月亮"歌词中也暗示了是"月亮代表我的心"的下部曲.

"看,当时的月亮,曾经代表谁的心,结果都一样."

范范的新歌"黑白配"也是采用了那英的"白天不懂夜的黑".

看来可能是流行曲的趋势.

1 : 1

最近才借了范范的"一比一"来细听. 蛮喜欢这首歌的.

我听歌先听词,不是很注意曲或旋律. 觉得词写得不错, 简单扼要.

"爱是一点一点清晰, 一点一点满溢, 感应一步一步累积."

废舌

不听就算了. 不需要给我态度或嬲样.

"我早就提醒你不要跟他提了,你就是不听. 看! 是不是踩到狗屎了! 自作孽!"

知道了啦!

赴日

觉得去日本演出的团员闷闷的, 缺了热忱, 少了活力.

各弹各的. 你不听, 我不闻. 你练熟了, 我没练.

奏得一大盘散沙, 真气狂泻.

一首色彩缤纷的"千与千寻"演得音量不足,死气沉沉, 坟场再现!

不知道是团员累了, 还是准备欠佳, 还是无心恋战.

真是令人担心.

等老天来收你

Two days ago, I gave my HOD a piece of my mind in front of the entire department. She made a mistake which I felt was totally irresponsible and utterly unbecoming of a school leader.

Though she may not have meant for things to happen this way, I am greatly disappointed in her actions. Though I try very hard not to be biased towards religions, then she has to be a bloody catholic. Perhaps that is why she needs a religion which distributes forgiveness like goodie bags; come and you shall recieve.

Everything happens for a reason. Perhaps it's an application for passport to purgatory.

God bless.

Desparate Housewives

"The opposite of love is not hate; it's indifference. If you hate me, that means you still care. And I have a chance to set you right." - Bree

The HORRIBLE Nun

This is arguably the worst horror film I’ve ever watched. Low grade dialogues, poorly written script and a disgusting twist right at the end.

The Nun’s special attack on her victims:

1. levitate water into the air and form a hydro-wall.
2. manifest within the wall of liquid
3. animate a roar just like Aslan or Simba(without sound)
4. initiate breast stroke and attempt to kick off swimming towards victim
5. victim is gushed upon water and always ends up hitting something sharp.

How ridiculous.

After watching this, I thought Dawn of the Dead was significantly better.

Useful Voodoo

Next time you want someone sacked, do the following.

1. Drive to Melaka.
2. Head towards the Legacy Hotel.
3. Get yourself seated in the lunch buffet just around the lobby.
4. Get yourself the kueh as shown in the photo below.
5. Think of the person you want to get rid of, picture him/her as the kueh and STAB the kueh mercilessly.

It worked on Domy.

P.S. The power of the curse was highly enhanced by the laughter of anti-dom fanatics throughout the ritual.

Mutants at Melaka

One of those back date posts.

This is the second time I've driven into P. Malaysia(first was Ophir), carrying with me an assortment of mutant characters:

1. Shuhann aka Hiong Gai Gai
- Legend has it that he is able to metamorph mentally and physically into any known creature of brawn and strength. It seems like he has taken a liking with bears, so the "bear paw strike" has been a favourite move. His primary mission in the trip is to avoid the sun, seek out cool areas, and of course, devastate any robbery attempt on the vehicle along the way.

2. Eeping aka Kuja
- Apparently one of the weakest characters in physical attributes, high resistance to heat/thermal attacks but extremely fearful of ice-based attacks. Mutation has given her the ability "Eyes of destruction", which does not deal physical damage but the ability to reduce the ego of an average human to that of a mosquito. She was tasked by the headquarters to guard the untamed Hiong Gai Gai; an obvious choice.

3. Michelle aka Sista Pink
- Hyperactivity seems to be her startling attribute as she drags the villians in a shopping/touring/eating spree around town. "Shop till you drop" is her finishing move, usually devastating agility stats of whoever comes near. Statistics have shown that dumping her in the middle of a tropical rainforest is the best counter-attack. Navigation is her primary task in this mission; she also sports the photographic memory of all the good food and shops in any urban setup she's been to before.

4. Alex Lee aka 李大肠
- His assignment in the mission is unknown. "Bin Or Or" or 脸黑黑 seems to be his primary special ability, creating dark negative aura around himself should his cosmic alliance with the GENUS galaxy be threathened. Most humans will be telekinetically jolted away should they come into his aura field unknowingly. Perhaps his ability is the best weapon against North-South highway car robbers or corrupted policemen. It is also rumoured that his telekinetic powers can render pillow-based attacks useless against him.

5. Hansen aka Cloud Strife
- A character to counter balance and compliment Sista Pink; his logical thinking stats have gone way over the charts. Seemingly also equipped good navigation/map-reading skills. He is the only other one who can ride something with 2 wheels connected to a motor. A great technician and mechanic to have in any mission, although it was rumoured that he does not handle mechanical arms that grab majhong tiles very well. Award-winning move: Pillow strike!
Extremely vulnerable to milk-based and tooth-based attacks.

Anyway, there was no robbery along the way, thank goodness.
Melaka is quite a small town with plenty of food to offer but can't say that much for merchandise. It reminds me of chinatown, but with some spices of European history and architecture. The sun was scorching hot during our stay there and I was quite happy to get a bit of the sunlight. Can't say the same for Mr. Hiong though.

ping pong ball chicken rice!

Floral tri-shaw

survived a pillow strike from Cloud!

It's hideously big!

sumptous tim sum!

Red walls - Porturgese origins.

Sunday fishing at Sungei Melaka!

Greetings from the mutants!

开锁

成长.

是一个非常奇怪的过程.

它需要一把钥匙.

也许是风浪, 时间, 失望, 希望.

也许是妈妈的眼泪,
父亲的拥抱,
亲戚的唾弃,
老师的叮咛,
朋友的鼓励,
社会的眼光.

不同的钥匙, 产生不同的变化, 可好可坏.

我又是怎样的一把钥匙呢?

eeeeeee-learning

I hate e-learning.

I've always been someone who prefer to read on my own(on paper) or listen to someone deliver the information to me. The web serves as a last minute quick information directory, a download server; simply because I don't enjoy scrolling through pages and pages from search engines.

Are secondary school students ready for E-learning? I really wonder. Perhaps there'll be that handful who prefer reading information off the computer on a own-time-own-target manner, rather than have a teacher dung subject content into the sleepy brains.

Youngsters these days already spend a million hours on the web; dota, maplestory, and other web games. Yet another excuse to justify the RAM upgrade and 25" monitor; and isolate themselves from the realities of the world and hide in their virtual fantasies.

他...真的...走了...

经过两年的洗礼, 可说重建天日, 废掉了那个昏君.

淡淡的不舍, 残留在心底.

也许, 春天的到来, 是死而重生.
也许, 春天的到来, 只是下一个冬天的前兆, 的开始.

被污染过的大地, 是否还有如以往一般的生命力呢?
是否又能培育出另一批生力军?

浩然天地,正气长存!

明知道

"明知道, 爱你只是继续错, 为何还如此执着."

不爱你的人, 不适合的人, 还是趁早放手吧! 勉强可给于一线希望, 但却无法幸福.
难道非要他在与你做爱时, 喊出别人的名字, 你才甘心, 才满意?!?

一个人的心, 可以碎成多少片?

苦海无边,回头是岸.

"也许, 当一场梦, 梦醒一切都随风."

知师莫若徒

It feels funny, annoying and somewhat pleasing to hear a student finish a sentence for you when you are disciplining another student in class.

Funny: How did they know what I wanted to say?
Annoying: How could they know what I wanted to say?
Pleasing: They actually do know what I want!

Maybe they know my rubrics better than I do myself.

大长今 - Lesson No. 1

医女: "不了解, 也可以背. 先背起来, 以后自然就会了解."

Ancient pedagogical strategies are brutally efficient.

乐

I haven’t been updating the blog lately due to an immense involvement with my Normal Tech kids. This is the exam week and I’ve been babysitting/tutoring/remediating many of their subjects, esp. Math.

I’m definitely more worried for them during this exam unlike previous years. It’s only barely another year to their N levels and they are still taking papers quite lightly. Believe me, if you’ve seen their academic standard, you would be gravely affected. Hence, all that nagging, scolding and monitoring.

I’m rather pleased with their Math Paper 2 today; looking on as I strolled past them while invigilating. All my days of hard work seem to have paid off a little. I’m expecting at least a 60% pass rate for that one.

The sweet scent of students willing to take the first step to put in time and effort in learning and later reaping the fruits of their labour is unbearably delicious. Yes, truly a rewarding experience for the 师傅 and 徒弟.

Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t reach to this stage in all smooth sailing glamour. Essentially, I had to risk increasing my chances of getting high blood pressure or cardiac arrest; scolding them harshly in a parental/paternal way can invoke pulsating gushes in your arteries.

And there’s still much work to do ahead.

I'm just so glad they are listening to me.

不测风云

Domy’s not going for the Japan trip? Sheesh, what a weird twist of events! I’m half wondering whether it’s because he suddenly 良心发现 or CFA ask him to 靠边站. Fortunately and luckily, that’s no big loss to the group since we are not playing Handel Concerto anyway.

Whichever the case is, at least I don’t have to be a passive smoker in Japan.

What's the problem?

I'm puzzled at the email response of me offering to be a helper in the Japan trip.

What's up with everyone? Please lah, I'm the one paying 2000 bucks to go and be helper, why everyone eye red red, talk so much? Not as if you paying for me and I going to Japan FOC.

If Hansiang can choose not to go, why can't I choose to go as helper?

Why being a helper is better for me.

1. I'm not in tune with Domy. I don't think my participation in the ensemble will help the group greatly.
2. I can't stand Domy's rehearsals. I do not wish to go to Japan dreading all the rehearsals prior to that.
3. I'm only interested to observe and learn from their ideas and practices, not to play for them(in concert or whatever performance).

My apologies to ZhaoJin. Hope I haven't got you in a difficult position.

怪了

Weird.

I've never felt so nonchalant about a overseas trip before. I remembered how excited I was when I was due to head to Holland for World Music Contest last year. All that focused preparations, the target/objective of achieving in the contest. Much of the time spent by the band was on the music itself; every instrument a specific role, esp. in the Hardy Mertens's "Iris".

It's rather low-hype, low-key for the Japan trip, considering the Japan trip members should be rehearsing intensively(even now!), although the NUS exams are around the corner.

Too bad Shuhann, Hansen, Junhao ain't going, else MASAK can go and whack a few J-pop hits and barber them. Oh yes, I think 了无牵挂 will be a C-pop hit!

Anyway, I'm quite leaving it to fate on whether I'll go or not. Not very comfortable with so many days of Home-stay, think I'm a little too old for that and I feel like I'm imposing on the poor family. Nonetheless, it cold be traditional Chinese thinkings influencing my discomfort. Would really prefer to stay in the dormitory though.

听而不闻

I feel that students these days exhibit a severe weakness in aural skills. It seems like the years they have spent in primary school, with English as a teaching medium, has not helped them at all. For some reason or another, you'll find that they need you to:

1. repeat things over and over again, as if they have just arrived from some village imprisonment for years.

yes, they don't seem to enjoy information being disseminated by the masses. They NEED you to transmit the verbal information on a one-to-one basis.

2. show them visually what you mean.

"A picture tells a thousand words". Visual cues are excellent for content pedagogy, but when it comes instructions to deal with time and space, we are in short supply of understanding and imagination here.

Of course, the worse part to it is that they have completely mastered the art of talking at about 70 dB consantly and consistently for the whole day, which forces me to really go above them with the typical "Aslan" roar, or the Sadako Red Eye Death stare. I wonder if they speak like that at home. Hmmm... Actually my friends could easily imagine what it's like.

Imagine 5 to 7 of me speaking to you simultaneously or sequentially.

I foretell that the size of the human ear is be significantly reduced in the next 500 years, since the young ain't using them, there's no need for the current ones.

色不迷人人自迷

Someone can actually kill himself over the size of his penis. Rather amazing that one would allow a body part to dictate the outcome of one's life.

We're looking at Alex's newly taken "resume" photo at Marche just last Sat. Michelle commented that interviewers tend to short-list those who are good-looking/pleasant-looking/cute and just chuck the rest away. It's really a stark naked segregation of 美的 and 丑的. After reading about the incident over at Straits times, it occured to be that this line of thoughts is already present in the young workforce these days, hence, the escalated version in the teenagers.

My colleague remarked that the media now publicises breast enlargement creams on daily papers, something which used to be in exclusive female magazines only. I won't be surprised to see Penis enlargement kits appearing at your local pharmacies.

There is cause for great concern, I wouldn't want to live in a society where the size of my body parts play a major role in how others percieve me. For one, I'm out of puberty and there's nothing much I can do about it "naturally". And of course, with aging and all, it's rather unlikely the skin is going tighten as the years go by.

Hey!!! whatever happened to all the intangible qualities in life?

Election lottery date

Election had better be on 6th May!!! I got trips planned on the other long weekends!!!!
Ooi... 老天爷.... don't sabo leh....

韩流

The food served on 大长今 looks awfully weird to me. Most of the dishes are tainted with floral colours and happy pastel like ornaments, looks like various renditions of sushi to me... but the names are a shade too vivid in description though; 内脏粥, oh please, all appetite is lost, especially if you've just watched Cannibal Holocaust. Why? well, in the movie, there's quite a bit of 内脏 being tossed around, uncooked of course.

I can't help but feel that 长今 is a little too motherly looking to be a 宫女. 韩尚宫 looks more like her sister than teacher actually. So when she gives that timid look whenever that irritating 崔尚宫 snaps at her, it just does work so well on scene.

Motherly face + timid look = WHAT!?!?!?!?!?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of the show, just happen to catch some bits and pieces here and there. The "Wu La La" song is quite nice. Though I have nudged Alex to arrange it, he didn't look a bit convinced. Well, just for fun lah.

The Korean costume seems to cover too much of their body till everyone (of the same gender)looks quite the same; though I realise the ladies then like to sit in the typical trishaw/rickshaw ah peh position. Would like to visit Korea actually, once I get over the phobia of eating 泡菜 every meal. Not to mention their language as well. The ads make the place look like a perfect place for a romantic getaway, at the filming sites of 冬季恋歌 and all that trauma drama. Perhaps not that auspicious afterall...

执迷不悟

I wonder if it's CFA or NUS web designers.

They always make the fatal mistake of laterally inverting pictures with guitarists. Actually, it applies to all instruments. Sigh... when are they going to realise?

摊牌

I wonder if my open accusations on Domy over email is going to work. I think whoever's reading it should just laugh it off lah, there's no animousity there, just stating facts really. And I doubt he's seriously going to change because of my comments.

I know Zhiqiang is one of those "preserve the joy, purity of family wellness" kinda guy, so he's bound to find it a bit uncomfortable reading all those stuff. Shuhann would love the gore and drama; penultimate bloodbath he adores. It is also quite a mere coincidence both their names appear together in this paragraph.

To all juniors who are reading my blog, please try to reconcile with the fact that I am NOT a meany senior, waiting to breathe fire down your necks. I'm rather friendly by nature, Chiok Yen can vouch for that.

Oops CFA did it again

As I've predicted, CFA pulled a fast one on us again.

So far, I've noticed that whenever they call for performers to take up performance slots, they've never once been very very CLEAR of what they want, what they need and what they can provide.

Their style is kinda like "whack all and later sort it out" style. Rather irritating and unprofessional, considering it's a university arts centre.

So there's no Istana for EXPOSE for now. But we'll be back.

一生要试镜几回

20 going to Japan

6 excused, including Domy and Raj.
8 auditioned and passed.

The rest??? You do the math.

Ultimately, the irrelevant audition has warped into something nonsensical. For the records, Jianqun actually auditioned 3 times in his entire lifespan in GENUS!

1st time - to get into GENUS
2nd time - to get into PO
3rd time - to go Japan

My heart goes out to him. 好一条坎坷路!
(background music:雾锁南洋)

In the mood

Indeed, I'm in the mood to lash out at any unacceptable behaviour. Partly because I have a very bad headache now and I'm not about to take any nonsense, esp. arrowing.
So Domy, I'm not really sorry,

it had to be you.

Band Policy

http://www.vincentlim.com/Music.htm

Check it out and read the Band Policy section!
I think it's a great effort!

EXPOSE is going to Istana

The next small ensemble rehearsals we'll be preparing pieces for the Istana performance. I'm quite excited about the possible repertoire we can cook up. Mostly easy listening and familiar favourites I guess. I'm also thinking of asking Mr. Alex to lend us his ASEAN medley. Think might be a very appropriate occasion to do this piece.

Anyone free to arrange some easy pieces for us?

夜来香?

基本功

According to "Faran"(to those who remember him),

There's 2 ways to read a piece of music:

1. You count and play to according to the tempo/rhythm
2. You don't count and just play the pitches, disregarding the rhythm.


"The rhythm is the most important part of the music."

These were words imprinted in my mind when I was a year 1 junior in GENUS. Who? Mr. Alex said that; which I've come to agree to many years till now. Rhythmic cohesion has to be the first and foremost issue to be addressed in any ensemble setting. There's no point doing group playing when the player does not make a conscious effort to

1. count his beats
2. listen out to the other parts

Many players in the ensemble too often or not ignore this. Hence, Junhao and I coined the term "Chordabile", inspired from "cantabile".

"Chordabile" - chunky chord-like rendition of a single homophonic line.

If there's anything a guitar ensemble should and could impress audience, it's rhythmic cohesion. Fact is simple, the attack of the guitar sound by the finger is so distinct and discrete that it takes much more effort to ensure that everyone is doing it together at the same time. I believe Niibori strikes through different from others because they have this.

Hence, we need to fall back to basics. If we can't even come in relatively correctly on beats, cohesion is almost impossible. This requires immense concentration during rehearsals and plenty of homework individually.

Michelle said I passed nasty comments when the guys didn't read well in the anime medley. I can't say no to that, everyone's entitled to perspectives. Nasty or not, I think my objective was set some basic expectations. Please count!

Ultimately I hope to raise the group's awareness and expectations; where we develop into musically aware and able musicians who can present guitar ensemble music at a higher level; above GENUS standards.

Anime medley!

Laputa: Castle in the Sky

Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind

Porco Rosso

My Neighbour Totoro

Hayao Miyazaki!!!

http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/

Performance Pressure

I think it's something which bugs most performers. If you'd listened to the recordings made by the Small ensemble off stage(which I did not until recently); and comparing, really sounds much better than on concert day!

Anyone have any idea how I can upload them somewhere?

MEGAFLARE!

"This monstrous fish comes from Moslem traditions. The legend goes that it floats in a vast sea. A giant bull rides on its back and on the bull is a ruby mountain. There is an angel on the mountain over which are six hells, then the Earth, and then seven heavens. The bahamut is so huge and dazzling that human beings cannot look upon it. Its name may have lead to the behemoth."

玩完了!

This is what happens when you use your own phone to call students playing truant!
Time to shop for a new one!!!

孬种

As usual, Dominic has made communicated information seem uncommunicated. Verified with Alex that they had discussed on the audition criteria and he pulled a fast one on Alex, by changing the audition topics last minute; and of course without concensus.

What a jerk! And he lamely excused himself, diverting the error as an inevitable manifestation of his character(or what's left of it).

Nonetheless, he's gotten his retribution when Daren told him that he's not playing the bass part for Rondalla last minute as well. Perhaps I should pull one on him too. heh heh...

杀!!!

Time to 进货!

意见分歧

Hours after I blog about Alex's email, comes Domy's one which sets quite different expectations about the auditions. 2 free choice pieces and sight-reading. I wondering what's happening to the upper management. Do they even communicate before sending out mass mails??? Perhaps Chua Beng Hwee or Thumboo could send out the next email on another set of audition criteria as well... hahaha

Nontheless, I still think if they are serious about encouraging the younger members to go for the trip, the should just concentrate on the repertoire on the trip, which addresses more pertinent issues for the trip's performance itself. Knowing Domy, he must think that the juniors have played in the annual concert and assumed that they are fantastically at home with their individual parts.

Spring Overture is a tricky one to bring to Japan, percussion instruments and all. It's already quite difficult to balance between full ensemble and the chinese percussion, what's more now it's a down-sized ensemble.

Auditions for Japan Trip

Tuning? and Sight-reading? I think it's a little too tough lah. Ho Xim lah, this is an audition for a trip, don't use formal music examination assessments.

How to test for tuning? Test whether they know how to use tuner or not ah?

Test sight-reading for what???

If anything, just test them on their readiness of the chosen pieces. If they can play those WELL, it's already half a miracle.

Do.... Re Mi Ti.... La

IT has arrived!

Percussion Concert - Strings Attached

YST Conservatory's concert with Percussion and Strings was good. The first piece was played by their head of violins(or strings) Qian Zhou, which I always thought sounded like 欠揍. But that wouldn't make sense, as the dialect would become Kiang Mao or Kiang Pah. Anyway, very exotic violin concerto by Harrison, employing some compositional technique called Control Intervals.(or was it Interval Controls?) Anyway, the highlight was much on the mixture and use of unconventional percussion instruments, rather gamelan sounding and a little western comtemporary. Fusion I suppose. Almost dozed off after a while, felt like I was in a temple in Thailand. Luckily the piece made a hasty ending.

I enjoyed the 2nd piece a lot, Shchedrin's rendition of Carmen Suite. Plenty of surprises; both blending and yet offering contrast. Theme of Toreadors and Habenara was made reall interesting to listen to. Thought entr'acte and Aragonaise wasn't too much of difference, in fact I thought entr'acte didn't sound as good as the original. Loved the re-make from Les Dragons d'Alcala, fantastic change in rhythm and colour. Seems like Shchedrin forgot about Seguidilla and Gypsy Dance though, was hoping to catch these two familiar favourites.

Strings and Percussion seem to blend better in modern pieces, perhaps due to the decrease in need for harmony in parts. The 2nd piece kind of reminded me of the GENUS getup for Chinese Spring Overture, quite similar in a way. Balance between strings and percussion is quite hard to achieve. Find that the percussion cuts through too much, but yet asking them to play less would also mean losing that 'oomph' in the percussive parts. Dilemma. As with GENUS's Spring Overture too, the percussions are a little way too above the rest in the recording, which makes the sound a shade too pompous and unpolished.

My favourite mistake

废戏一部, 但真字名言.

紫青双剑合璧那一幕, 我淌出了开心的眼泪. 好动人的情节啊!

白眉: "浩然天地,正气长存!"

令人愤怒

Gloomy entries from Hiong Gai gai and Yen about the future of MASAK, which I still see much potential to be excavated. Alas, Alex doesn't have a blog, else he can air his views to us over cybernet as well.

To set things in perspective, Small Ensemble was formed for the Singapore Guitarist Networking event organised by Toa Payoh Guitar Club. After that performance, I thought it'd be good to keep the group going, since the feel I get when we rehearsed together was really good. On the technical aspect, the group could attempt pieces which are more challanging and need a larger number of players to bring forth greater impact in terms of sound.

Before we go into asking "when's the next practice?". We'd like to ask ourselves "what's the next piece?". Music progress in the small group is driven by the availability of scores. Without scores, what's there to rehearse?

To obtain scores for a niibori quintet is definitely harder than for a guitar quartet. Besides the archive of existing pieces, if we do not actively arrange or source for materials, the death of any group is inevitable. I think we need to encourage ourselves to write for the groups we play in, and not sit back and wait for nice tunes/scores to drop from the sky. Instead of worrying whether or not the group should/would/could disband, get off your butt and do something about it!

I'm very much annoyed by people who sit back and ask themselves silly questions. I spend my nights cutting and pasting scores, arranging pieces for both MASAK and small ensemble(still owe Guitaresque the "loose canon", yes it'll come.), while others lament about the possibility of group disbanding.

WTF?

购物乐

Was shopping on eBay for a present for Snowparang, since he mis-informed me via his blog; thought he was interested in the CD but ended up not. (!!!)

Decided to get something for Hiong Gai Gai as well. Hopefully it's Hiong enough for him.

倪的大牌

What! Want to buy present for him and yet gimme big shot remarks. "I don't really like the arrangements in the CD." KNN! 耍大牌! 咒你一辈子胡不了十三幺!

The CD has already been shipped! 他妈的! Stupid snowparang! Blog incorrect information on your OWN blog!

常年会议

Heard from Shuhann that Pris was wondering why I didn't say much during the AGM. In fact, I was also quite silent (or so I thought) during the Small ensemble meeting prior to the AGM.
Well I think it has come to a point where I believe that time can be better spent on something else, and I've decided not pro-long everyone's agony.

Common pitfalls of AGMs:
1. The usual bulk of time during AGM is always spent talking about the past, and hardly anything pertaining to the future.
2. Nominees are not well prepared beforehand, constantly rejecting posts and gesticulating about how incapable/useless they are, which I seem to agree, gradually, after being innoculated about the same point, person after person.
3. Ridiculous planning, I see Marie running in and out of the DT like a frantic Maria, Zhao Jin hurrying along the elections, like Chinatown sales during Chinese New Year.
4. Elected personnels are made to sit in front of the spectators. Weird.
5. Current committee members are all seated with the audience, which in fact they should up there chairing the meeting. Everyone of them.
6. Loss of prestige to office holders; "By the way(!?!?), Priscilla is the librarian." While the rest continue to pack and stack up chairs.
7. Refreshments not catered for, expect people to sit there for hours.
8. Where's the bloody Music Director?
9. Committee members put on and give out a "get it done and over with" or "phew, I'm finally out of this" aura. Hardly surprising why everyone rejects almost everything.

Ya know, sometimes things are really strange. I particularly liked the AGM which Leo's comm got elected. Somehow, the nominees are well-prepared and very enthusiastic to take over, though the office was handed over from Shirleen's comm, which was ahem..... rather "spectacular spectacular"...

I think Zhiqiang's comm has done pretty well too, except a few phantom ones which I wonder if they could even play their concert pieces or not. There was much thought into many matters though not all matters were handled with style. Well, com'on, we're all learning.

The issues which I would potentially highlight at the AGM are:
1. Sales of the Annual Concert. had they listened to me and devoted on concerted effort to the March concert, perhaps we would have raised more funds.
2. Purchase of new instruments
3. Purchase of new scores
4. Small group management/development of juniors
5. Committee attendance for rehearsals
6. Review of the issue of quitting rates of juniors during Timeless Classics period.
7. Attendance of juniors(figures to be presented, who's monitoring?)
8. Review of the need for sectionals
9. Job scope of Section Leaders
10. Role of AC and CM
11. Downsizing of comm/New positions for comm
12. Role of tutors in the new year

向未来看齐!

倪的礼物

Was comtemplating to get this.....

but decided that a CD is of better choice, since he yearns to be in US to hear it "live".
SO DO I!!!

And yes, I've not forgotten about the FFVII medley too.

So many things to arrange and so little time....

The young ones

1. During the meet parents session last Sat, one of my ex-students(B*s**) in Sec. 2 came to look for me and popped me a strange question. Yup, the ultimate one, "What's the meaning of life?". I discussed it briefly with him and he told me that he doesn't find much happiness in himself. And he's wondering if the others are as happy as they seem. I eventually asked him to find happiness within others, he seemed a little puzzled about what I talking about though...

2. My technical class has managed to get themselves into a chalet and invited me over for BBQ. I was very glad since FOR ONCE, they were independent and could get the show running. Usually, I'm the one picking up the scraps after them, which makes me furious. The chicken wings and chicken fillet they cooked for me was really goo too! Haha, which makes me wonder if they heading to SHATEC. heh heh... I was worried about their safety though, since some of them have really bad temper and I wasn't staying overnight in the chalet; well, in case they pick a fight becuase someone "funked with their hearts". I didn't get any calls since Tuesday, so it should be fine. I hope. An very warming feeling filled me when I was there at the chalet on Tuesday night; this is the 3rd year they have been with me and I'm starting to think they are starting to grow up.

3. My cousin gets on the phone every night and talks non-stop for about an hour or so. So much so that they can spend time debating whether another person would like go out or not, or "how much is the present?" etc. real trivial stuff. She's a bright kid, but if this is going to go on, I don't think she's even going to get close to SA JC. So I've decided to be the 黑脸. My mum usually is the 白脸, or rather the indulgent spy. Soon she's going to find me a nag, probably just like her teachers in school as well. Occupational hazard eh?

4. 16 year olds still yakking away in my class. Gave them a piece of my mind this morning. Bloody hell, come for remedial class and talk and talk. Already so weak in Physics and not even taking the extra time and effort to beef up a little. Mostly all from Chinese Orchestra, acting like aunties and ah sohs from Chinatown, gesticulating every moment of their lives.

I'm suffering from a streak of back/hip-aches as I'm typing this, somehow started coming on and off after my trip to MacLeHost, now exacerbated by the bowling session with Pa and cousin, which of course influenced my choice of the title to this entry.

Perhaps I really should visit the doc soon...

长江后浪推前浪

If there's anything about Zhiqiang's comm that irks me, it has to be their communication with each other. Things like cost of AGM dinner, deadline of nominations for committee, there's always erratum after erratum. Several occasiosn, it's always a comm member sends email, and a while later Zhiqiang sends another mail and adds on with some modifications/clarifications/corrections. Considering the number of meetings the comm has had before the concert, it's really a terrible trend. Meet so many times and did not manage tie down such simple things.

On the other hand, the comm has come a long way, managing the group from PGP till CFA rennovations where completed. And not to mention managing Domy as well. They're quite a special batch, arising from the SO/PO system, which makes them currently the only exclusive batch, since the 2 sub-groups merged and the separation fizzled off. I empathise with their situation, since they wouldn't have interacted much with the seniors due to the segregation last year, and yet while being comm members, they'll need to manage and interact with the seniors and alumni. The 1.5 system definitely has allowed more of the juniors to come closer to the oldies, else how would I have known Chiok Yen's antics??? Haha.

We should also get rid of that 1.5 nonsense as well. Just reunited back as one officially, that 0.5 is utter rubbish with Domy around.

Anyway, their office is coming to an end, soon they'll put down their appointments and administrative roles. I do hope that the comm will continue to stay with GENUS in the following years, and enjoy making music together! It's their turn to 修成正果, 化身龙柱!

The Passion of Maazel

Lorin Maazel's concert was great! Unfortunately, we(Wai, Junhao, Alex and myself) were seated a bit high up due to a lack of ticket budget, so the impact of the sound wasn't that great. Nonetheless, the orchestra sounded different under him, much filled with subtle nuances.

Looks a bit like Jack Nicholson

Overture to Romeo and Juliet was fantastic, what I thought was the best piece for the night. Beautifully crafted and the tragedy/conflict not as harshly put forth. Recordings/Concerts which I've attended previously love to bring sorrow to grieve and conflict to confrontation. Maazel had a finer touch to it, keeping the music within human realms and not overblowing it into "War of the Worlds". Pompous french horn though.

The Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto had plenty of good tunes and virtuosic moments. Looked like the violinist breezed through it, quite the feel I like. As usual, with the lack of woodwind participation, I'm already biased to giving the piece lower points!

Pictures at an exhibition was straightforward and simple. I really liked some of the brass chords, esp. at the Great Gate of Kiev; superb tone and balance, unlike the usual blasting from recordings.

After a few listening to Jin Ta and Evgueni's tone, have to say I really prefer the latter's. Jin Ta's is awfully sweet and Galway-ish, not so in the sense of vibrato but just the sound itself. I think the sound makes a good flute solo, cuts through quite clearly, but doesn't really blend well with orchestral sound. Evgueni's tone is clear and very european. Basic rich tone with great musical ideas. Wonderful for solos in orchestral works.

演后感

I must say this is one of those concerts I feel rather hyped-up after. Could be because I was participating in 2 small groups and conducted in 2 pieces too. Hahaha. Though I was running in and out of stage during the first half, it was kinda fun.

My deepest apologies to my dear 三弦 player. Incidentally, I did notice you were tuning the instrument with Edwin. And, incidentally I did not notice you were picking up the Alto! Oops! Started without your glorious pianissississimo tremolo... heh heh... indirectly also startled Mel as well.

Yangyang displayed what would happen if he went into a trance or twilight zone. Things will slow down inevitably. Nonetheless, flawlessly executed, much the small ensemble's surprise and consent too! Quasi Cadenza!

Moh decided that Allegro in Farandole shall not be Andantino on stage. Alto players' eyes dilated for a while and conceeded to his tyrannic offer, the relentless pedal D note, he hummed on the contrabass silently.

Handel was as rehearsed. Perfected actually. Sheepish tone in the later movements from the guitar orchestra. Long and weary feel. Fatigue perhaps.

Duet was fine from backstage, till the end. It sounded like someone missed or was confused as the piece ended quite abruptly, incongruent to the title "Things that we do". Nonetheless a short dessert style piece for the audience after the interval break.

I liked the piece by Daren's group, Pain. I've played Xenosaga too, and I like the gameplay, the story and the music too. They presented it in combo band fashion, was quite refreshing to hear it from backstage.

春节序曲 had to be one of the best pieces in the evening. Nicely placed as the last piece for the night, I thought it roused lots of excitement and gave the audience a new aural sensations, using guitar to portray oriental works. As usual I want to hiss about the Alto's tremelo in the Andante section, sickeningly accelerated without remorse during tremolo, an obvious trait of unpolished music understanding/technique.

Met up with Ruijian, Buk Lan and Kennedy after the concert. I was happy that some of my school people came to attend the concert. (on their own interest, I did not pester them to get tickets) Saw quite many long lost alumni during supper; Sherrie said she might want to come back and join in the Small Ensemble, TMC said that he'll join to guest conduct, jokingly I hope he meant. Daokui also manged to whizz SiewLi back home before meeting us at King Albert for Macs, what a pleasant surprise! Vehicles do miracles!

战前

Saturday was a very long day. I had to meet students' parents in the morning from 10am till 1 plus, on a endless chatter about how their child can do better in school, behavioural problems, encouragements, that sort. I wanted to leave school by 1pm and get to UCC but turns out quite impossible. Met Hiong Gai Gai for lunch before we proceeded to UCC for concert rehearsal. Domy was doing Handel, the cue-ins and all that directing he insisted on doing from his 1st alto solo. Felt that the ensemble was quite disinterested in getting the piece together neatly for him, and so it sounded that way for concert as well. That sluggish sound and sheepish accompaniment.

Next up was sound test for small groups. Huifen and Songyi did a duet; in fact was not ready by audition about a month back, but Domy gave them all the time they needed(till concert day!) and finally agreed to having them on stage. A bad move it is. When it comes to music auditions, I feel it's either a yes or no, after audition. Meaning to say if you feel that they group should have potential to be ready by concert day, but not ready during audition, just give a yes if you are willing to take a risk and trust your judgement. Saying no, should also mean definitely no. Striking up a pact to give the players all the time they need till concert day before saying yes is ridiculous and impractical.

Just imagine, how to say "NO" to the players who've been practising that song twice as hard after audition, even if they really still can't play together? Hello to morale? To top it off, it's Huifen's group. I think unless the conductor wants to see her transform into a 冥炒炒的木乃伊, it's not exactly the best option.

Anyway, she always gets these "special offers", 见惯不怪. Wonder if it's because she's his student yah? Heh heh...

Listened to the duet during the sound check. "Something that we do", new age guitar stuff, I kept losing the melodic line, hence the phrasing and all that. Maybe just no knack for it. I mean myself.

Sound check for Guitaresque, Masak and small ensemble were rather smooth. I borrowed Moh's Alhambra, Alex borrowed Yangyang's Yamaha. The Alhambra was fantastic, a steal for $2k, the high notes were solid and the bass broad. The Yahama wasn't too bad either, but lacked a bit of character in sound, IMHO. In the end, I used YY's and Alex used Moh's instead, since Alex was doing the guitar 1 part. Greatest thanks to both of them!!! Rehearsed a bit with EXPOSE!, Raj was helping out with the sound, everything turned out ok despite cancelling our recent proposed weekday practice. Pro seah.... ha ha. Oh yes! Talking about Pro, Masak only rehearsed 3 times for Suteki!!! (Hansen was away in Thailand, eating scorpions, getting massaged)

This year we had lots of free time in the afternoon, kinda liked that. Instead of that usual rushing here and there, cleaning up of pieces, last minute changes etc.

Hmmm... which stage are we in?

保存实力

(This is the sub-article to Hiong Gai Gai's entry)

Operation Mitosis is not a project to primarily segregate the senior and junior players of the ensemble. In fact, the absense of sectionals has much contributed to the current segregation, with the juniors unable to catch up due to the lack of guidance and support.

The separation of the group is mainly to preserve the players who are still interested to make music together, but unable to reconcile the horror/disappointment during practices under Domy. My take is that either
1. there's something around to keep the alumni
2. or they are just going to go off anyway.

Might as well keep the group intact right?

I think it's a waste if we leave things be and watch the seniors all exit the group. We've come a long way, with many dedicated players. It's truly a pity to give it up.

稀客

Liling messaged me and asked for some ideas on where to get flutes, she's thinking of starting on it. Jokingly(I suppose) she told me her budget was zero, I assumed Zhizheng is buying for her lah. Anyway, she sounds quite interested(from the messages) and hopes that it will not end up like guitar. Really makes it sound like it was such a complete catastrophe with the 6 stringed instrument. heh heh

It's quite amazing that she still keeps such keen interest in music learning. I suppose many of those GENUS alumni people out there feel similarly, but have their individual reasons/reservations.

Preparation Woes

Once again, Chiok Yen is the only prime junior who faithfully attends my extra Prime sectionals. Well, he's got quite an optimistic character so I think he'll be alright for concert, despite glitches here and there in his playing.

Ensemble was quite unusual, with this practice being the last before concert. Domy was absent, doing sound test for Rondalla (for their Saturday Fringe concert), or so he claims. So we did Handel without both soloists. Much like a scamper though. Haha =) Most of us agreed to do the 4th movement a favour and 送他上路. Can feel that everyone's a little flustered and impatient, perhaps due to concert closing in soon. Attendance was quite under expectations, many juniors were missing from practice. Has NUS work just gotten harder or what? Seems like many of the undergrads are dumped with tons of work. Quite unlike the uni days of mine. Hmmm...

We spent quite some time on 春节序曲, ironing out percussion matters and the loose ends. For more than an hour perhaps. We skimmed through the surface of La Partida, Alex kinda facial-ly decided it was the best there was and we went on. Haha =)

During supper, the issue of the Japan trip came along and we were talking about the pieces to be played there. The group seemed to know of my dislike to let Domy do my pieces, and I feel quite bad about letting this come into the choice of repertoire for the trip. I just don't like the feeling of letting Domy sit there and have pieces prepared and served on his bed while he continues his nonsense with the group. It interferes with the interest of the ensemble, I feel it's just not right letting the vicious cycle go on and on. If he has poor choice of repertoire or concert planning, then it should surface to the CFA people, and hopefully, he changes or gets sacked.

Noc-tuned 2006

It's been years since I went for a NTU guitar ensemble(was called "club" years back) concert. Conjured enough curiosity to decide to visit them just yesterday night. Much of the reason was also I've never been to the Lee Foundation theatre at NAFA. Pris, ZhaoJin, Zhiqiang, Daren, Moh were there as well.

There wasn't much to listen to, literally. Miking was rather minimum, so the guitar sounds came forth pretty acoustically. They played some Kitaro piece, Matusri, which had some guitar knocking; completely drowning the altos and the alto cembalos tremelos in the process. Then there was that Air on G, Tomas conducted. He's gotten a bit fatter since years back, swollen to be exact. Perhaps guitar sales are really sky-rocketing eh?

Then came like 5 to 6 pieces of small groups, from Kill Bill soundtrack, schnappi the crocodile, Manha de Carnival... I was most unimpressed by their sound. Quite raw and unfocused. Lacks collaborated direction.

Interval came and I had a slight discussion with Daren. He had the most abhoration for the guitarron player, occupational hazard I guess. Moh and I were quite distraught about their sound. Looking at the booklet,we realised they only have 5 Altos, and 3 Alto Cembalos. Yes the Alto cembalos were playing the melody. Strange isn't it?
Primes? Hmmm... I think they have about 20 or so... but the sound is really unlike the numbers. Well, the pot is calling the kettle black. haha =)

We were transported to another realm of cacophony when they opened their 2nd half with vocals and keyboard. (huh?) Anyway, The keyboardist was FANTASTIC. He played with such confidence, but alas, the 20 second celestial realm was broken once the girl started to ignore A = 440 Hz. She somewhat decided at 430Hz I guess. Well, I survived through it, so did the keyboardist(God knows how...) AND Moh woke up. He slept through it!!!! Unbelievable. Must have be well trained by the SO last year.

We were greeted by many more small groups, some asking for money(2 dollar bills), some renditions of Chocobo theme from FF series and the evening finally ended with Plink Plank Plunk, a different version from Leroy Anderson's, re-arranged with a interlude in minor and a waltz. The concert ended at around 9:45p.m. We were rather grateful it did not escalate beyond 10p.m.

Overall: VERY VERY JC standard. I told Moh, VJC plays better.

Hope I'll be there for Not-tuned 2007!

几年前的一群疯子

青春的岁月总是充满无限的活力与疯狂.
但愿人长久, 千里共婵娟.

先诛少林,后灭武当.

狂妄.

有杀气!!!

天山童姥,威震武林.

脚踏实地.

吉他万岁!!!

曾经.

听天由命

Writing this as I’m standing behind the piano at the Activity Room. It’s Tuesday’s practice. The group is running through Handel’s Concerto last movement. I can vividly understand why Hiong Gai Gai would walk out of the DT in despair of the soloist’s performance. The solo was rather raw I must say, with little regard for the orchestra coherence. Notes go haywire at times, some wrong, some out of tempo. There was even a passage Daren was counting for him(or for the orchestra???)!!!

Spectacularly weird.