不好笑啦!

This goes out to my dear friend Hiong Gai Gai:

Kinda notice that the below expression is the "IN" thing these days eh?

"Stop laughing, it's not funny."

Hmm... maybe the juniors are "confused", time to send them to Sabah???

Anyway, have fun slogging out in ICT!!! Hahahahha =)

"Stop laughing, it's not funny."

趣文

Excerpt from a blog "Madguitarist":
"I went to the GENUS concert today at LT13.They work magic. Seriously. They only practised for barely two weeks and every note that sounded was purely musical euphoria. I loved the Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 - Allegro by J.S. Bach, because I jolly well know that Bach's pieces are super insane to play on the guitar ( memories from the SYF back in SR *shudders* ) But they were so perfect! The running notes sounded clear, despite being played at the speed of the buzzing bee.Don't get me started on the Carmen Suite No. 1. It was like guitar music at it's peak. The Spanish strumming, the percussions, and the high pitched notes of the soprano guitar weave a melody that I've missed for very long. It's so nice. Nice is an understatement.YES PEOPLE! Go get the GENUS concert tickets! It's definitely worth your money.I loved it a lot. I think Fuzzy did too. We both bought tickets to catch their actual large scale concert with the full powered Ensemble."

Yet another excerpt:
"This evening attended Exxonmobil's Campus Concert again. This time round it's GENUS (NUS's Guitar Ensemble). If all you know about guitar is strumming and then singing a tune with it, you probably know very little about it - like me. The guitars were amazing! Never thought a guitar ensemble could sound so... sweet, pretty, tingling, exquisite, tiny, huge, loud... The only time before I heard a guitar ensemble was in AJ I think, and I don't exactly remember them.This man sat beside me in the concert. I was wondering if he'd start talking to me because he has that aura around him that whispers "I am a very vocal person and I will talk to you". True enough, he started talking to me, a little chat before the concert starts. I'm not very good at small talk, but he told me that he used to teach at SMU (he was a professor/lecturer) but don't anymore because it's very tiring, the class too large. He also said that he's there to watch because his son is in the ensemble and was the ex-president of it. So everytime he plays, they'll make an effort to attend his concerts. I thought that was really sweet .By the way, GENUS is made up of mainly alumni members and have only 3 undergraduates. They're also having their annual concert sometime in March and tickets cost only $9 or $11. There's also a 20% early bird discount if you get a ticket before 31st January. You might want to keep a lookout for it. Can't remember the date, sorry. Interested maybe can just tell me? I'll check it out for you.So if you haven't heard a guitar ensemble before, you might want to give it a shot!"

And from ACS(I) Guitar Orchestra:
Year2 to Year 6 (inclusive) Guitar Orch members are to note that we will be attending a GENUS (Guitar Ensemble of NUS) performance on Wednesday evening.Meet in Music Room 2 at 1815 hrs on 24th January 2007.Wear smart-casual home clothes or full school uniform (excluding tie).No need to bring anything.Should end around 2130 or 2200, transport back to school provided.Attendance will be taken.

来者不善

皮箱人再次回到我们的生活了.

也许劲爆的事项就要发生了吧.

疯狂的联想着存有的阴谋:
1. 把指挥推翻(指挥不会弹六弦琴)
2. 逐步自封第三位教练
3. 偷乐谱
4. 找女朋友
5. 为了硕士学位而需要拜托指挥
6. 巴结指挥,从中谋利
7. 卖琴

很烂吧!哈哈哈!也只是拿来当笑柄而已!

无论如何都希望他用正当的手法和良心去处事, 别搞得天怒人怨.

雾里看花

After reading Yen's entry on the case of the "inverted" bars, here's my take:

We sometimes fail to see the other positive aspects of the comm. I think the comm faces a different scenario from what we had last time. I mean, who was the oldest in the group? Renjie? or Karmun? In extremely low numbers and they are only year 6 then. I think the ratio of seniors and juniors can significantly change the under-workings of a committee.

With our experience and relevant years in the ensemble, it's not difficult to be irritated about certain things which we take as the "norm" and for granted. And we tend to think we've done a good job previously because we're no longer doing the job now. This "been there done that" feel. I'm pretty sure Ruby will find it bothersome to stick scores for the ensemble now; that's a few hundred bars we are talking about. yeah, it's an easy job, but not exactly a very motivational one though.

On a “musical” note, Pris probably should have re-printed the score, at least for archival sake.

It's always easy for the by-standers to throw in comments and stuff but who is willing to make the individual effort to change something? We could assume they are in the comm, and they would assume we are year 8, 9, 10 seniors; who has more social responsibility to make the ensemble a better group?

Even Hiong Gai Gai can tell me 3 weeks before concert that he's not playing because he can't reach the venue on time. (mind you, he drives.) So how can I ever assume and expect that a year 2 comm member is going to pour every ounce of blood and soul into his/her comm work???

I prefer to think and reconcile that we all have some differences and we'll work our way through these issues with some patience and negotiation. I’m glad that GENUS is still moving on musically under the baton of Robert, and there are some very impressive committed members amongst our committee as well. For instance, Derek has always been helpful and supportive in helping Expose get venues for rehearsals and sectionals. The PMs also came to help with the stores during our concert. Daren also helped with the collation of the feedback forms. Such generous acts should not be taken for granted and we should be thankful for the presence of these gracious juniors.

P.S. Be careful when you speak to Pris now. You make get electronically insulted over email by some lunatic in case you say something inappropriate.

精彩

I'm still rather elated about the concert the night before. A full concert repertoire with the theatre almost full!!! Much thanks to those who came to support !!!

I've always wanted a concert like this; quite similar to orchestra/wind symphonies, where most of the pieces is done by the entire group, instead of having large movements for entrances and exits for small groups and such.

Lots of thanks goes out to my friends in the small ensemble Expose! They have made music making such a pleasant and rich experience for me. I've always liked big sounds in music groups and this unique group has been able to provide that dynamic colour and tone variation in many ways. Not just the resounding fortissimo, the subtle piano and delicate handling of notes were such sweet moments in the process of making music!

To see all of you playing and grooving to Gelato, interpreting Mozart, romanticising Bizet, really inspires me. In that a music performance can be such a wonderful culmination of the efforts by various musicians of different strengths, to learn and understand what to play, where to play, and how to play, altogether. Synergy. It really reminds of the possibility of attaining the Tsu ensemble standard.

Fact is, it's highly unlikely that within this life, the group will ever get to Niibori's standard, simply by virtue that we are not professionals in the art. But, music practice and performance is not all about being world class standard; it really emcompasses a long and ardious journey of learning which must be savoured and enjoyed with patience, encouragement and PASSION.

And passionate we were, on 24th Jan 2007.

老来无依

Moving as a group

I'm not so particularly worried about stagnation. I believe that music takes time to develop and the progress sometimes cannot be measured with a definite time scale. I see much improvement in many of the members, which is something really great to me. If there's any stagnation, it may be a growing phase which a musician has to pass through. I'm not talented in music, hence I know how annoying it is to plough through the pieces, studies, practices and not see any fruits until maybe about half a year later.

It always boils down to attitude.

I've always emphasised the importance of "musical input" to my players, be it in shaping a phrase, articulating explicitly and clearly, group cohesion, balance etc. This is something I find in need of more awakening. This mode of playing music requires practice, and the rehearsals are there to give time to such matters; on the assumption that we need not spend time on correcting melodic and rhythmic discrepancies.

The other essence which needs work is the ability to play the part of an instrument work as it was intended. Most of us love haunting melodies and upbeat rhythms, but if everyone's doing that, then who's giving the basic necessities of the music work? I firmly believe that the supporting cast has a much more important role to play in a piece of work, more often that not.

Take for instance, GENUS. Compared to years back, we've come quite a long way and many of the previous pieces we're playing now are of a higher standard, in terms of interpretation and presentation. Much of it is due to the presence of our new conductor and the alumni who have also developed much over the years of playing. Any group that retains a fairly large number of experienced players is going to be more successful in the long run. And we all know that experience is closely related to effort and time.

EXPOSE never started out as a professional body and there's much chance it will never be, given that we don't have any full-time players around. We're just generally better in technique than the main group, more experienced but there's still much to learn for every single one of us. If we start thinking that we are of another league or expecting that we should be high up there on performance standards, I don't think there will be much to progress as a group. Expectations should be used positively to inspire and not to bind.

no chinese language support

nice!

Stylo

I am bogging this entry using a stylus pen on my new HP tablet. cool, Generally, the character recognition is good, considering 2m actually scribbling on the pad. Some minor mistakes though. Wonder if they have character recognition for Chinese characters ? Fantastic isn't it?

I also get to scribble Chinese words on the Windows journal. prints wonderfully too.

And just in time for my Fujitsu to retire at home!

Zalera

闻泪声入林 寻梨花白 只得一行 青苔

天在山之外 雨落花台

我等你来

(Zalera is a alphabetical re-shuffling of Azrael, angel of Death)

加快节奏

电话换了新的,好开心. 哈哈, 非常顺心顺手.

今年的班级还不错, 不用教吉他了! 和国大的初班生比, 中学生实在是一项超大的挑战.

校方分配新的电脑, HP TABLET, 真是妙! 我这台FUJITSU, 就可以在家休息了. 可能是时候签个宽频网路什么的.

真是感谢"晋"帮我接下了和CFA 的PRODUCTION MEETING. 近日每天好象都在奔波, 回家倒床就睡. 没时间啊! 好象编完合奏的曲子, 但真是有些懊恼.

最近自己在炒杰伦风, 连"千里之外" 都想编一编.

看来真的要逼自己加快脚步了.

bits and pieces

Guay is the best lah! He even managed an annual report on our MJ sessions!
I will strive hard to show you the upward trend!!!! for my column of course!

============================
Do you guys find that Barber Lee like blows up more often? Well, one example is that I merely asked him to ask more questions during the game at SH's place and he said I said those words with some "attitude".

Is it?!?!?!

I thought I've become more patient leh. Attitude? Aiyo, where got???

Ok lah, maybe it's just that I'm good at triggering his mutant powers.
============================
"那薄如蝉翼的未来,经不起谁来拆."
真的到了那天, 我又会怎么样?
===========================

埋伏

刚看了 Parkinson Tan 借我的"十面埋伏", 果然是一贯张艺谋的风格, 色彩华丽夺目, 情节浅短.
飞刀战是挺好的, 但可惜没什么大场面. 结局似乎有些仓促, 使整体感觉非常不完整. 缺陷美吗?

点滴

今天有机会出外走走. 站了一天, 吹头洗头, 走路好象是一种享受.
在理发院, 过得很充实. 今天又学到了新招!
刚好经过衣店, 就自己再添多些便衣, 也顺便买了两件来送给学生.
总是这样, 不买就不买, 一开始购物就没什么节制 !

一月的演奏会就快来了. 是有一些期待, 一些担心.
期待着顺利演出, 担心着自己有没有把每一个彩排做好. 时间不多, 要加油.

正在寻找一个3G手机. 开学前要换.

学假要结束了, 忙碌的日子, 希望多姿多彩.

几首曲子还没编完. 老天,再放我一个礼拜假吧!

三舅的生日要到了, 希望祝福能直达天堂.

指挥棒断了, 还没修.

濠雨成灾; 雨神听话, 下够了, 我烤肉会那天你别下.

叫鸡

杰 : 我们有没有叫鸡?

店员 : 你们没有叫鸡.
(我想: 有没有叫鸡, 还要问你? 哈哈哈!!!)

杰 : 今天有什么鸡?

店员 : 今天没油(有)鸡.
(难怪没叫鸡...)

杰 : 那么有什么鸡?
(还真是非叫不可.)

我这个老友, 对什么服务员每次都是百般刁难. 该是八字不合吧!

杰 : 有什么鱼?

店员 : 今天石斑不错.

杰 : 多少钱?

店员 : 30 元.

杰 : 不要了!

从认识他以来, 就知道他比较挑剔. 他叫我点菜, 我总是笑他还是自己叫吧, 他是最不随便的一个.
就快要到美国读硕士学位, 他是我们几个当中比较上进的了. 希望他一切顺利. 我们等你回来!

菊花热

"花落人断肠, 我心事静静躺."

有时失去了, 才惋惜当初没有珍惜. 但也就因为惋惜, 一份记忆却变得如此珍贵.

"怕你上不了岸, 一辈子摇晃."

有时就是恨不下心去决定. 拖得越久, 就越难.

一悲一喜

I've been visiting my uncle at his place.

He's now all rags and bones, turned completely yellow due to liver failure, unable to speak and literally bed-ridden.

I touched him and I cried, as much as I tried not to.

My aunt whispered to him, like an piece of joyous update.
"Kevin 去学剪头发."

Actually, I told my mum, my aunts and uncles and my cousin about it this evening.
What I expected was some immediate traditional response; "you are thinking of changing job?", "Why you go and learn this type of thing?", "Hairdressers are all ah-guas and sissy." etc.

What I recieved was such warmth. I've been booked by my cousin to do free colouring for her, my mum wants me to do up my aunt's hair; and she doesn't mind getting hers permed once I've learned something decent. My cousin reminded me to keep her on top of the list, and not dump her for my girlfriend.

Even in the state which my uncle is in, I'm sure he'll be supportive of it as well. I hope he hears it and is happy that her daughter is getting free colouring and perms.

First day!

Phew... I stood for a hefty 6 to 7 hours today. literally.

Well, what did I get done? Some basic sectioning skills, blow drying techniques.
In a certain sense, it's quite like music. Practice!
My first hair drying took me about 1 hour plus, inclusive of the sectioning and managing of long and tangled dry hair(which definitely got me a little irritated).
My 2nd try was better! 30 minutes! and hopefully it gets better.

The teachers are friendly and my classmates are very young. Min age: 13
Some of them already know I'm a school teacher and have Math and Science questions for me.
One of the hairdressing teachers asked me if I'm fierce in school. I must have appeared quite docile. You say leh? Ask my student loh!

As of now, Hairdressing is really very HANDS-ON and I must admit that I feel a little thrown off from this learning pattern at first, coming from a more academic background. Oh well, I guess I'll get use to it in time.

吉他盛况

To hear the Niibori people do the percussion parts, is truly enlightening.

The resounding thumps still embed in my memory; not just the cohesion in rhythm and sound quality, but mood and in every sense, musicality!

When they do percussion on the guitar, the instrument instantly transforms into a drum!!! I think many a times when we do percussion on the instrument, we still treat the instrument as a "guitar" and hence the percussive sound that is produced lacks the punch and rumble which percussion instruments have. More often than not, dull wood-slapping sounds are heard. Could be technique or interpretation as well. or even the energy of the player.

豪子 feels that the Niibori people 比较敢玩 compared to ourselves, which I agree. He was also telling me about the way the Niibori guitarists do tremolo should be endorsed in GENUS XP. Perhaps I could ask him to explain to the group this Saturday...
(Which suddenly strikes me!!! perhaps he should get a go at conducting as well... since he has a keen musical sense and a good sense of humour)

The ratio of the ensemble that came is about 5 : 3 : 3 : 3 : 2

It was great seeing Manji again, he's taught me a lot during his stay in Singapore 3 years ago.
Think he's grown a bit.
I don't think Manji remembers me, although we shook hands and acknowledged.
To see him playing and hurrying around after concert, reminds me of his passion for music and life. Would love to visit his rehearsals when I go to Japan, not looking like anytime soon though.

I have a feeling that Masak may be revived after this concert. Heh heh