☆Bass Trombonist!♥ :)

Friday, September 26, 2008

Trombone

♫♪I love NAS, Concert Band, Trombones and my seniors!!♪♫

Yesterday I practiced trombone again! My pitching was not nice. Keeps going up and down. What is happening? My cheek muscles were tired. I hope I'm not getting worse. During band practice it's not like that. Could it be because my seniors are not with me? Don't think so. I think everything will be back to normal when band practice resumes! :D Oh! And, I have Novena in my handphone so I played it on the handphone and tried to play together with it. But, pitching spoiled it. And some parts I couldn't catch up :( Senior, help your junior...

Labels: Band, Seniors, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 5:20 PM

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Band meeting

♫♪I love NAS, Concert Band, Trombones and my seniors!!♪♫

Today there was a short band meeting. Germaine SMS me about it yesterday. Funny thing, my seniors and I are supposed to be one section but they never inform me about practice dates, changes in dates/time or anything. So today after dismissal at 1pm, I went for lunch at a coffee shop I've never been to with Germaine, Serene and Chong Jin. There, Germaine said that Yi Hui said Shi Mei told her it was a sad thing. I thought that maybe the competition trip to Genting or the performance was cancelled. By the time we reached back in school, it was about 2pm already. Luckily we reached before Ms Ong did. True enough, Ms Ong said the Genting trip was cancelled... :( All because of the instability in Malaysia -.- She said it was a last-minute decision to cancel the trip. Last Thursday, she asked Liang Rong to get the consent forms from her table and distribute them on Friday. But on Thursday night, Mr Lim (don't know id she means the principal or the other band teacher, I think it's the principal) called her and told her to cancel the trip. However, she said that we might be going to Australia in June next year for their Band Fest! :D But she said they don't know if they are going to let next year's Sec 4s (this year's Sec 3s) go because they have 'O' Levels :( We still have our year-end concert in the new school auditorium! Ms Ong said it can only seat 385 people so if we sell tickets, we could only sell 385 so she suggested the hall to him. Sell tickets? I thought there are some bands coming already, according to Mr Yeo. There goes my first competition...I think my first competition will be next year's SYF :) We'll be the first aesthetics group to use the auditorium for a performance if we're using it! :D But only aesthetics groups have performances in the first place, so in other words, we'll be the first to use it! Yay! If we use the hall, I think we'll also be the first to use it because it's during the school holidays :D The meeting was 5 minutes only. After that, while walking to take my bag, I saw Darryl, Cliff and Mabeline (the only band members in 3R1) walking to the AVA Room (venue of the meeting) haha! It's already over when they were dismissed. I wonder if Darryl will still wish me happy birthday twice now that the trip which is after my birthday is cancelled, haha. Maybe there'll be band practice on 24 November. I think he will wish once because I don't think he will forget. Bye!

Labels: Birthday, Break, Competitions, Concert Band, Concerts/Performances, Events/Occassions, Overseas

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 5:35 PM

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Quiz

♫♪I love NAS, Concert Band, Trombones and my seniors!!♪♫

This is some quiz that I didn't know I was passed to do until I read the blog, haha.

1. The person who tag/pass you is ? Mabeline
2. Your relationship with him/her ? She's my Band senior (but not Trombone)
3. Your five impression of him/her ? Friendly, crazy, happy, bold and high-profile
4. The most memorable thing he/she had done for you ? I don't know...
5. The most memorable thing he/she has said to you ? I don't know...
6. If he/she become your lover , you will ? -.- That's impossible, we're not lesbians
7. If he/she became your lover , he/she has to improve on ? This can't be answered unless Q6 is
8. If he/she became your enemy , you will ? I won't do anything
9. If he/she became your enemy , the reason will be ? I don't know...
10. The most desired thing you want to do for him/her is ? I don't know...
11. Your overall impression of him/her is ? She's friendly
12. How you think people around you will feel about you ? That I'm quiet/shy, and some, friendly
13. The characters you love of yourself are ? I love NAS, NAS Band and my section
14. On the contrary, the characters you hate yourself are ? I don't hate myself
15. The most ideal person you want to be is ? Someone as nice as my seniors
16. For people who care for and like you , say something to them. I care for you too
17. Pass this quiz to first 10 person that you can think of, how they feel about you.
1) Cai Yan
2) Zhi Hui
3) Jaslyn
4) Germaine
5) Mabeline (I think she doesn't need to pass this already)
6) Suky
7) Rasyidah
8) Syaza
9) Hwee Yee
10) Elaine

18. Who is no.6 having a relationship with ? Her boyfriend
19. Is no.9 a male or female ? Female, they all are
20. If no. 7 and 10 are together, will it be a good thing ? Of course not
21. What is no. 2 studying about ? 'O' Level subjects
22. When was the last time you had a chat? If on MSN then today
23. What kind of music band does no.8 like ? I don't know...
24. Does no. 1 has any siblings ? Yes
25. Will you woo no.3 ? Of course not
26. How abt no.7 ? Of course not
27. Is no.4 Single ? Yes
28. What is the surname of no.5 ? Yeo
29. What's the hobby of no.10 ? I don't know...
30. Does no. 5 and 9 get along well ? No, they don't even know each other
31. Where is no.2 studying at ? Ngee Ann Secondary School of course. She's my Band senior
32. Talk casually about no.1 . She's nice
33. Where does no.9 live at? I think Hg
34. What colour does no. 4 like ? I don't know
35. Are no.5 and no.1 best friend? No
36. Does no.1 have any pets ? Yes
37.Is no.7 the sexiest person in the world ? No

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 8:34 PM

Monday, September 15, 2008

Trombone

♫♪I love NAS, Concert Band, Trombones and my seniors!!♪♫

Yesterday I practiced at home :D Then during my break I ate mooncake, haha. Only yesterday itself I found out it was Mooncake Festival. During band practices last week, Mr Yeo kept saying don't eat mooncake, haha! As in our sound is not clear, like when someone eats mooncake and talks, it's not clear. Of course I didn't eat while playing. And last Friday when Mr Yeo asked Trombone Section and some others to play, he said we're not just eating mooncake, we're eating mooncake and 'ba zhang' -.-

Labels: Band, Break, Food, Seniors, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 6:42 PM

Friday, September 12, 2008

Band practice

♫♪I love NAS, Concert Band, Trombones and my seniors!!♪♫

Band practice today! I went to put my bag outside Band Room. Only Serene was there, and soon Chong Jin came. Then I waited there, thinking where I should go for lunch, haha. Then I went to McDonald's to buy take-away. And it was raining, so I got wet while going there. And when I came back, the drizzle became heavier and I got wetter. Then I sat at the table and ate while doing my Chinese worksheet, which I didn't do a lot. Then after I finished eating we talked about band. Then Chong Jin took out the conductor's score (with all the instruments' parts) then Germaine came and they went to eat. Then I was all alone there. I read the score because I wanted to see 1st and 2nd Trombone part. Then at 1.40+ pm, Kevin and Chen Hua came to put their bags down. Then Chen Hua looked at the scores and said "哇，好用功哦" (Wah, so hardworking) Haha, actually I looked at the scores because I was curious. Then they went for lunch too. I didn't feel lonely. Then more people came later.

I set up our instrument then went to take chairs. This time there were chairs for my section, haha. I asked Germaine, who's Assistant Quarter Mistress, for slide oil then she went to ask Yi Hui. Then I went to 2R6 classroom to get chairs. Then Yi Hui came and say "Rebecca, you're under arrest." Hahaha! She asked "Is this the thing you want?" showing me a bottle of slide oil. Then I said I don't know, never seen before. Then she asked me something I couldn't really hear although she repeated and I didn't answer then Germaine said "Ask Darryl la!" Then I said" Er...ask Darryl la!" Haha! So I took the chairs and Germaine went to look for him. She went outside the Band Room but he wasn't there, then asked me. I said in the room, if not there (Band Room) means there (M Room). If not there (M Room) means there (Band Room). Haha, but he wasn't in the M-Learning Room too. Where did he go? Then she asked if anyone saw him then just then he appeared outside the M-Learning Room, haha. He went to the toilet to wash the mouthpiece, haha. Then I don't know about the oil already. Then when I went into the room, Kevin took his stuff and threw a bottle of oil (a different one) on the table? Obviously I didn't take it.

Brayton lead in warm-ups today because both Ms Leong and Mr Yeo weren't here. Mr Yeo came at 4pm while Ms Leong didn't come. Started with chromatic low tones then B flat Major scale. We tried March "Blue Sky" first thing. I managed to play more of the high notes than usual for the melody part! :D Good! If only every time we tried any song I could do that. Still couldn't reach some, but I reached those in front. Then we played Novena. I flipped to North Bay Vistas, haha! And only after the music started then I knew I was at the wrong page, haha! The 2 songs both start with rests for me. Then we stopped on the 2nd page. Then Cliff came. He was late because he had oral exam. He wanted to hear us at the slow part of the song, which I think we're not very good at. We tried the last part of the song which I never played before. So, not too good at it. Then Mr Yeo came.

Still on that part of the song. Then there's once he asked me to move my stand to my right, then asked me and Darryl hold our Trombones above the table. I heard a banging sound but didn't know what it was. Then my Trombone hit the table and had the same sound. I think it was Darryl's Trombone. Mr Yeo asked both of us to hold the Trombone above the table then Darryl's Trombone hit the table then my Trombone hit the table, haha! I had to tilt my head upwards when I was playing with the Trombone above the table! Am I too short? For playing like that maybe I am, but for playing Trombones, I'm not :D Head up while playing?! And the part he asked us to play was new to me. But when he asked Trombones and 2 other sections to play, I tried. Then the Trombones hit the table one is when he asked me and Darryl to play only. So when he say "1st note" or "next note" then Darryl played first then I follow, just to make sure. We play together, I mean he start first. So for every note in the 2 bars, he started first when Mr Yeo asked us to play. Then also another time, Mr Yeo asked me to make some hissing sound before I play but must use diaphragm to support. So many other people kept making the sound then Mr Yeo said "You all keep doing that then she has no chance to do! Can you all let her have a chance?" haha! Then he ask me to go louder, until the whole body shaking then he demonstrate, haha! Obviously I didn't do that. Then later he said "Can hold longer?" Actually that's telling me to hold longer but I shook my head, haha, then he said can. Then when I played on the A flat on the instrument later it was louder than before! So I should do the hissing thing before I play next time, haha. And when I played, Kevin jumped??? As if I suddenly played so loudly. And I started to feel cold just when Kevin said "I starting to feel cold already."

So we continued practicing Novena. Then at the end of practice, they asked who doesn't have a pencil. Then we raised our hand and they gave us one. So good. Then when Liang Rong gave Darryl a pencil, I was going to stand up to take one then Darryl gave me that one. So nice right? :) Then Liang Rong wanted to give Darryl another one but couldn't get it out of the box. Then when he did, I think the lead broke then the guys there started laughing and I didn't know what happened. I think it broke after he took it out, not sure. Then Liang Rong didn't know what happened and asked "Huh? What? What?" Then Darryl just said never mind and kept that pencil. That broken one should have been mine...Darryl is so kind. He got a broken one but didn't ask for a change but I think if I got the broken one, he would ask Liang Rong for another one. Mr Yeo said we should bring back our instruments or else when we come back the Clarinets will go to him and say the cork drop out, the Trumpets will go to him and say the valves stuck...bla bla bla. And Trombones would probably have the least problem (yay) but we also have a valve so it might be stuck. (I was thinking since when did Trombones have valves??)(And when he said the Clarinets will go to him and say the cork drop out, they started laughing. Don't know if they are thinking the actual thing or another word) Then I asked Darryl the Trombone slide need to put oil or not. Then he thought I said I need to put on my slide and asked "You need to put?" then I said "I asking you." but actually I do need to put oil on the slide. Then he say just put and later he pass me the oil. Then Mr Yeo wrote on the white board "Mr Yeo Band" and asked us "Who plays the instruments? Who makes the sounds? Who needs the correct articulation?" All answered the band. Then he asked what the band needs to be a good band. We started listing things like responsibility...then someone said "punctuality" and don't know it's same person or who said conductor also then everyone went "Oh..." because the conductor was late, haha. Then went on listing and Darryl said commitment(one of our 4 core values), then someone else said "Integrity...respect" then everyone laughed because those 2 together with responsibility are the other core values, haha! Then Mr Yeo stopped after a lot of things were listed (mostly under "Band") and said that commitment means punctuality, responsibility...(and said everything on the list except the first 3). So actually he only needed to write one word instead of the whole list, haha. And Darryl only needed to say that one word to mean all the other words they said, haha.

Then after we were dismissed I kept my instrument and while waiting for Darryl (because the Sec 3s and Band Committee stayed inside) I decided to loan my instrument although it's very heavy. Jaslyn loaned hers too. Then Darryl came and passed me the oil. Finally I get to oil my instrument! :D At least I didn't have to wait so long like the last time. Then when I gave it to Yi Hui she asked me to keep inside my section cupboard but when I went in, the percussion had already kept their instruments so Rebekah said she'll keep it in her cupboard first... I hope it's in there so it doesn't get lost. I found out that oil was given to Darryl by Yi Hui so it belongs to our section now. Then we went home with our instruments. 3rd time loaning my Trombone :D I thought I'd never loan it again... Today is the last practice before the exam break :(

And just when I started blogging this, a window popped up on my screen "LR says:hey" then when I opened it, 10 people were in the conversation! 11 plus me I think. I think it was Cai Yan added people to the conversation, asked us to go for some Soka Centre performance which has Band performance. Then Assiddiq (Trumpet) asked who Trb Jr was. That's me. My display name is Trb Jr - Trombone Junior. I thought it'd be obvious. Well that means that he doesn't have Kevin's msn. Because Samuel was in the conversation too and only lower Sec are considered juniors. And today was the last practice before the exam break from CCA starts. 1 month of no practice :( I'll miss the trombones and my seniors...Mr Yeo said when the break is over, it'll probably be end of October and by then the school should be done. Then we'll have a new music room big enough for the whole band to practice in! Yay! :D And we'll practice in the auditorium too since we'll be performing in the auditorium. And we are probably the first aesthetics CCA to use it for a performance! Yay! Bye!

Labels: Band, Break, Seniors, Slide oil, Trombone, Weather

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 9:32 PM

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Oral Script about Trombones

♫♪I love NAS, Concert Band, Trombones and my seniors!!♪♫

English Oral Presentation today. The first time I come across an oral exam where we present in front of the class. It's not fair, some will be too nervous to speak properly, like me! I was too soft! And I didn't read my entire script because we couldn't exceed 3 minutes! The purpose I'm writing this is to show my script. I wrote quite a lot actually, but read about only half...and changed some words when I read them too...And we also have to record an audio recording of ourselves reading a passage and send it to the teacher (not yet). And also, there's no staying back after school and reading in front of the teacher. I prefer that actually. There were 7 topics to choose and I chose A New Interest/Hobby. I think you already know what I talked about :D

This is my script. Those in brackets were not written, it's just so you know who I'm talking about. What a pity I didn't read everything... Here is my script! :D

Oral Presentation

Topic: A New Interest

*Ehem!*

Good morning/afternoon everyone. The topic which I'm presenting on is A New Interest. Recently I have a new interest, and that new interest is in Trombone! (The 2 girls in front of me smile because they know I love Trombones, and I smile too) Firstly, let me tell you what a Trombone is. (Because some don't know)

♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫ The trombone is a musical instrument which is part of the brass family. It is very unique and different from all the other instruments as it is the only instrument with a slide! Some examples of trombones are the Bass Trombone, Tenor Trombone and Alto Trombone. Now, let me move on to how I got to be with this very special instrument.

♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫

It all began in February this year, when I joined the school's Concert Band. We were required to try the instruments and our seniors would indicate if we made a good sound or a bad sound by putting a tick in the boxes with the words "Good Sound" and "Bad Sound". After trying the trombone, I found out that my senior (Cai Yan) put 2 ticks under "Good Sound" for me, while only putting 1 tick for my friends, that is, if they even managed to produce a good sound. I knew it meant that she thought my sound was better, she even drew a smiley face! Then, it was time for us to indicate our choices of which instruments we wished to play. Without hesitation, I put the trombone as my first choice, knowing that I was better at it. Next we had to play in front of the teacher and she would decide which instrument we were suitable for. I was the first to go and I was allocated to the Trombone Section!! I was very exhilarated, but I didn't know why. Maybe I was fated to be in the section!

The following week, we Sec 1s had our very first practice. My senior (Darryl) taught me all 8 notes in the scale (B flat major) when the teacher only asked the seniors to teach us the first 3 notes. However, Senior said I was fast at learning, so he taught me all 8 notes. That day, I kept boasting to people that I was in the trombone section because I was happy. After that first practice, I already liked trombones. It was only one practice, but I guess that one practice must have been a very good one to make me like trombones so much. Next, I will tell you why I love trombones.

Ever since that first practice, I've been crazy about trombones, as you can already tell. I'm always talking about it to everyone I know. I love the sound it produces and I find it very special as it is longer than other instruments and uses a slide, as mentioned earlier. Another thing is that it can make a unique sound which other instruments cannot make. That is where the trombonist blows into the mouthpiece of the instrument while changing slide positions without stopping or blocking the air. Because of all these things I've mentioned, I find it very interesting and I am very proud of my instrument.

I am constantly learning from my seniors and trying to improve my playing. Currently, I'm using the Tenor Trombone but I hope to change to a Brass Trombone soon. The difference between the 2 trombones is that the Tenor Trombone is silver whereas the Brass Trombone is gold in colour and more complex than the Tenor Trombone. In my entire life, I have never been happier than now, with my trombone. In other words, trombones bring joy to my life. I will always remember the times I spend with my seniors and trombone who are most precious to me. With that, I end my presentation. Thank you!

I drew musical notes on my script! :D Unfortunately, it didn't go as well as it looks. But I don't regret doing on trombones, and a little on my seniors :) I love them! Always! :) And I'm happy I did so. Bye!

Labels: Exams, Seniors, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 7:27 PM

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Band practice

♫♪I love NAS, Concert Band, Trombones and my seniors!!♪♫

Band practice today! I was out of sorts today... I went for lunch at the canteen with Chong Jin and I found out that 2R6 guys like to throw things at the fan, haha! Like a water balloon and it burst and all the water came out, haha! Then after lunch, went back to the area outside Band Room. Actually I wanted to give Darryl his card and present before practice started but in the end, I gave it at the end of practice. I kept laughing. When I came back from lunch, I saw a black bag on the table. I didn't know whose it was and since there was a black bottle in it, I thought it was Darryl's. But then I just finished telling Xue Qi about it and Darryl came, haha. Then I laughed. Ok, so that's not his. Then Chong Jin was drawing and I remembered she drew a Saxophone so I asked her if she knew how to draw a Trombone. She drew wrongly, haha, 2 extra braces. I was doing the Maths worksheet and I think I did wrongly because the numbers had so many decimals. Then I kept on laughing. Then when Yi Hui came and open the black bag, I looked up and when I saw her, I went "Oh, cheh!" and laugh again. Then I wanted to use correction tape but it finished, then I laughed again. And Germaine lent me hers, haha. Then Cliff asked the band to gather. I took out the present from my handphone pouch and the card from my file. Then gathered for attendance. When Cliff called me I didn't answer, but he still marked me because he saw me. I kept telling Xue Qi that I'm crazy and kept laughing until Darryl look at me. Then Cliff asked us to stop talking. After that he asked us to set up our instruments. Then Liang Rong came and asked Rebekah for tissue, she didn't have, then he asked Rebecca, and Rebecca has, haha. Then Cliff came and asked us to hurry up. Today got scolded so many times, usually I don't even get one, that's why I say I was out of sorts.

Then after setting up instruments, went to M-Learning Room. No chairs for my section. So Darryl went to take 3. Then when he came back, he said "Make me take for nothing!" but I didn't get it. Then Chong Jin took one of the chairs then me and Darryl were like "....." but then there were extra chairs beside the Trumpets. Then Ms Leong did warm-ups as Mr Yeo wasn't here yet. When she did F Major Scale I couldn't do it properly, then I don't know whether it's quavers or semi-quavers, she said "Good job Trombones", haha. I need to familiarise with the scale so I can do it fast. Then we practiced Novena again today. Not as good as usual, that's why I said I was out of sorts. Maybe because it was freezing inside the room. I think it is. I couldn't play the higher notes like I could normally. I couldn't even reach High D sometimes. Probably because it's too cold. My whole section was freezing. Then Mr Yeo changed a part of the music! I prefer the original one. It's supposed to be from ff to fff volume but he changed it to become from f to p, and not gradually like the original. He wants it to be f then very quickly change to p, which means f for one count only! Then when he asked me to play f, I breathed the usual way I do, and he said, I shouldn't breathe like that (then he exaggerates what I did by looking as if he take in a lot of air then sings at volume p) it doesn't justify how I play. So in other words, I act as if I take in a lot of air but don't play loud. Then he said this is not drama, this is band. I always breathe like that and my seniors don't say anything! Hahaha, very funny! Not! Then when I was supposed to play at p, either embouchure not tight enough or air speed not fast enough, got that kind of sound. Then at the melody part I couldn't play High D properly! Too cold! I was out of sorts today!

Then once (I'm not very sure) I think Mr Yeo asked Darryl to play something then he played wrongly or when everyone was playing, he came in one count early which is a rest, then Mr Yeo told him and say "You laugh laugh laugh...later your third..." (Didn't finish his sentence) but he meant later Third Trombone (me) also come in early like him. Then Kevin laugh. Then later Mr Yeo asked Kevin to play something with High E flat then he couldn't reach. Then Mr Yeo sing High E flat and he played C, he sang E flat he played C. Went on a few times and was quite funny. Then Mr Yeo said "Just now you (Kevin) laugh at him (Darryl), now you (Darryl) can laugh at him (Kevin)." and Darryl really go laugh at him. Then after a few times of the singing and playing, he finally got it, and played exactly the same time Mr Yeo sang it, haha.

Actually the dramatic one is not me! It's Darryl and Kevin, both of them! On Friday Terence opened the door then Darryl shout so loud and Jaslyn really thought something was wrong. And today, Kevin keep pretending to shiver, but too exaggerated already, haha. Just because we're a band, doesn't mean we can't have a bit of drama right? So, if what Mr Yeo implied (I'm too dramatic) is true, then we have a section of actors! Or if that's not true, then we have a section where he guys are drama kings! :D

I still need slide oil. Then after practice ended, Cliff was talking and when he stopped talking, I called Darryl and gave him the present and card. I kept the present in my pocket and it looked like flattened, although it was flat in the first place, but now, looks like the wrapper become soft already. Very small present, but not cheap ok! I went to buy it yesterday - a name keychain. At first I wanted to put his name, but later I decided to put "TROMBONE" instead because he's my Trombone Section senior and I'm his Trombone Section junior, but in the end, I decided to put his name again. Gold coloured square beads with black letters and a yellow star at the bottom. I was looking for a star decoration because I always say shining star and my seniors are my stars, so I decided to put a star and luckily, there was a star! The rest were mostly for girls. It's so small so it was hard to wrap. I just wrapped it in a way that when it's opened, the chain can just be taken out, no plastic or anything. After wrapping, it's still so small, haha. I hope he likes the card and present. I tried a new way of decorative writing which I never used before. ...just hopes he appreciates and likes it. Bye!

Labels: Band, Birthday, Break, Seniors, Slide oil, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 9:09 PM

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Happy Birthday Darryl!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY DEAR SENIOR, DARRYL!! :D Best wishes and good luck! :)

I only found out yesterday that his birthday was today! I asked him on MSN "When is your birthday?" Then he replied "tmr". I went "What?" He said "My b'day is tmr" and I asked "serious??" That's the first time I asked someone when his birthday is and he says tomorrow. So I wished him happy birthday. And today I SMSed him to wish him again. I'm probably going to wish a third time on Tuesday. I made a card for him just now, it's got my Trombone picture :D I want to get him a present, maybe a name keychain, but I don't know whether guys use that. And I can't go to the library to study. If I could then I can go and buy the present. Hmm...how do I get out of my house? His birthday this year is on a Sunday too! My birthday is on Sunday :D

Labels: Birthday, Chats, Seniors

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 2:30 PM

Friday, September 5, 2008

Band practice

♫♪I love NAS, Concert Band, Trombones and my seniors!!♪♫

Band practice today again! :D Samuel didn't come although he confirmed he was coming. Darryl already ate the sweet :D I was quite early today, about 30min early, and I was 3rd earliest :D At 2pm we set up instruments and everything. Then went to M-Learning Room and my section sat at the same place, at the table at the side. It's because there's the drum set now. We did warm-ups with Chromatic Low Tones as usual, B flat Major Scale and F Major Scale. I wasn't very good at F Major Scale...I could go up but couldn't come down. We also did B flat chord-B flat, D and F. Mr Yeo grouped us into 3 groups. 1st group play B flat, 2nd play F and 3rd play D. My group(2nd) had less people and so we were softer. Mr Yeo asked group 1 to play group 2 to sing and group 3 to buzz, so obviously my group was very soft. And I didn't do anything then Kevin asked me if I know which group I'm in, haha. Also some times we buzz or play, only then I did what I'm supposed to. I only didn't do anything in the group 2 singing part. Only 3rd Trombone (me) is in group 2, the other Trombones are in group 3. I think Kevin's not angry anymore because he didn't ignore me today, maybe giving him the lollipop helped! Haha.

Then we practiced Novena. No March "Blue Sky" today, just Novena. Mr Yeo asked me to play by myself one part then he asked me to play louder. Then when he asked Darryl to join in, he said I have to support him so I must be louder and that when Kevin join in I have to be louder. Then me and Darryl played that part. Then when Kevin join in, Mr Yeo said I am only Sec1 and I'm a girl and I have to play so loud until both of them paiseh. I nod but I think I wasn't that loud. Then we practiced...Oh yes, there's once Mr Yeo was trying to use the tuner then he fumbled with him a bit and said "damn it." Then he pressed some things and got the "Toot..toot..toot.." sound then everyone started laughing. Then even funnier was after that there was "Tooooooooooot....." hahaha! That was what he was trying to get. And it sounded like the hospital thing "Toot, toot, toot, tooooooooot..." haha! So we practiced...Then at 4.20pm he let us go for 30min break.

During the break, I didn't go out except for drinking water. I stayed inside the room and practiced some parts of March "Blue Sky", Novena and North Bay Vistas which my seniors have yet to teach me, but I learnt the some parts myself. There were about 15-20 people who stayed, around half the band. Then we combined at bar 41 for Novena. At bar 68, me and Jaslyn have the melody but she didn't know how to play so I had SOLO!!! Only I was playing the melody! 2 bars there which goes: rest(1), E flat(2), A flat(3), High D flat(4), High C(1), B flat A flat(2), B flat(3), E flat(4). And while I was soloing(was obvious that only I was playing) someone said "She one person play". Yes, I'm good enough to solo :) That wasn't my only solo part! After the 4 bar rest at bar 76, which is at bar 80, my solo part again. Jaslyn again didn't know how to play, so, solo for me! At bar 86 the last 4 notes which are quavers, are High F High E high D high E. Quite high, and I'm not good at it, so I didn't play those 2 counts because if I played wrongly, everyone would know it's me because it's my solo. And since I'm soloing and I didn't play that part, the 2 counts had no melody. Altogether I had 10 bars of solo, WOW! Jaslyn made me solo! No I should say she let me solo! :D She let me have a chance to solo! :D How many times do you get to have a solo part when only you are playing the melody? I had the chance to prove that I'm good and that my seniors taught me well :) At bar 80, I think the woodwinds sitting near Cliff were playing too loudly and Cliff use hand actions to tell them to be softer and point at me, haha.

My seniors didn't see me solo...but if they did, it would mean that they were there, and if they were there it wouldn't be a solo anymore, it'd be a soli. Yay! I solo-ed! :D Today, they actually returned from break on time. Shortly after the break ended, Mr Yeo asked my section and Euphoniums to follow Ms Leong. We went to 2R7 classroom and Ms Leong took us. My section is so nice. Ms Leong asked us to push back the tables and take chairs. We pushed back the tables and took chairs for ourselves and the Euphoniums. So nice of us :D And, my section so good, each got our own score and file and stand. The 3 Euphoniums, which is already the whole section, share 1 score on 1 stand. The whole section sharing a score?! Ms Leong started by asking us to play from bar 10 which is where we start playing because we have 10 bars of rest. The first 2 notes are G High F. Then she kept asking us to play the 2 notes. Then she asked out of the 4 times who managed to get all 4? Then how many got 3, 2, 1 and when she said 0, I raised my hand immediately as if I was proud of it, whereas my seniors got 3 but raise their hands so low, haha. Then she focused on me. Actually I was just joking! I don't know how many I got. Then after focusing on me, we did the same thing for 5 times this time. This time I didn't raise at all because I don't know how many I got and I don't want the Euphoniums to think I'm lousy if they didn't the 1st time, because I was the only one out of the 6 people there who raised for 0. I was just joking!! I'm not lousy! Or else I wouldn't have dared to solo right! Then we moved on to the next parts. Ms Leong was saying there is "Molto expressivo" at bar 13 which means more expressive. Then she got all of us to try and play more expressively. Then after we played, she said she liked the way Darryl played and asked him to play again. While he was playing half way, she said "Listen" then we heard Chinese Orchestra sounds which were not nice and quite funny. Then we laughed and she said "Not that" haha! I was the one laughing the most, haha! But silently of course, but I was smiling. Then later she looked at the Euphoniums and asked "Did you hear him?" and one of them went " The CO?" -.- Then we practiced some more and Ms Leong let my section go back to the room first, and we kept our own chairs and pushed back the tables on our side. They didn't help us back! Never mind, we are nice people :)

When we went back they were playing the bottom of page 1 and the top of page 2 (which is where I solo-ed, page 1 end and page 2 start). Then they stopped at the top part of page 2. We just went back and dismissed already. Then when the Euphoniums came back, Terence wasn't back yet and they said he died. Then Kevin said he's walking back here. Darryl said "They say he die already then you say he walking back. Scary eh!" Then later, the door opened a bit and stopped(I guessed it was Terence), then open fully. It was Terence, then Darryl went "OH MY GOD!!!" He's a great actor :D Then acted as if he was scared by covering his face, haha! (We were still standing at the door until we left the room) Actually not supposed to say God, should be oh my gosh or oh my goodness. I learnt that when I went to Church last time during school Catechism period although I'm a free thinker but I was forced to take Catechism in primary school. He's a Christian but don't know why...maybe he doesn't know.

Cliff talked about the NCO camp that Liang Rong attended. Actually Laing Rong should be talking since he attended the camp right? Haha. Cliff said he talked to other Band Majors. Their bands are not much different from us and their instruments are the same but what makes us different? We lack passion. Then he asked "Who knows Mr Leonard Tan?(haven't finish the sentence and some people raise their hands) The very (something) conductor?" Then everyone started laughing because they thought it was Mr Tan from our school, haha! Then Cliff said "Not that Mr Leonard Tan! They are very different! Their size is very different!" Haha! Then he mentioned that Mr Tan the conductor said a band needs to have 5 'P's. They are: Present (present for practices), punctual(punctual for practices), Practice, Pencil(on the stand to make notes)(everyone laughed at this P) and passion. He said we lack practice too. I don't have a pencil on my stand...because my file is not the band file where there's a pocket in front to put things like pencil. And while they were talking and Trombones and Euphoniums standing near the door, me and Darryl were both resting on our Trombones. Then James turned around and looked at Darryl. Darryl asked "What?!" then James said something which I didn't catch but then he pointed at us and said something in Chinese I think. Didn't catch it but I think he was pairing us because we were doing the same thing -.- I need slide oil, my slide's getting stiff. Won't be so shy on asking for the slide oil this time, haha, which is the first time since that time I wrote about. That was months ago, which means I haven't oiled my slide for months but it was ok. I think I've only oiled it twice! But Kevin oiled his slide so many times. That was practice today, bye!

Labels: Band, Break, Food, Seniors, Slide oil, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 9:16 PM

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Band practice

I love NAS, Concert Band, Trombones and my seniors!!:D

Band practice today!! :D I left my ez-link card in my jeans pocket and the driver of the 72 bus wanted me to pay $1.40 -.- What the heck, can't he see I'm a student? Think of a better way to cheat money, that's way too lame -.- Later when I took other buses the drivers said 55 cents only. And then I said something I shouldn't have-"shit". Oh my gosh...I disgraced Ngee Ann. So sorry Ngee Ann...I promise never to do that again. Then in the end I paid 60, 5 cents more than what I'm supposed to pay ok! Actually I have 5 cent coins, but only 2, so I had to either use it then or later. I'd still have to pay 10 cents more. I thought I'd be late for practice, but well, I wasn't. I reached at 9am, before they took attendance. My instrument was right inside and on top of something else, which means it's not on the floor which means it's put in a dangerous way and it's not supposed to be put that way! I think the person who put it there just threw it, and I think the person is a percussionist. It's not the first time. So I went to ask Darryl to help me take my instrument. That was only the second time I call his name you know :O The last time was months ago :O He managed to get my trombone! :D

So then set up instruments and washed mouthpiece. Some of our seniors don't wash mouthpiece I think. I didn't help with the chairs today. My shirt was coming out because my skirt is so loose, so I went to the toilet to adjust my uniform, haha. When I came back, they were roughly done setting the place up already. The M-Learning Room was more cramp today because of the percussion instruments. We had no space! Then Mr Yeo asked us to change place then we had a lot of space-no chairs in front of us, the row in front was a bit shorter, haha. But Mr Yeo asked us to sit at the table that area, he said so that we have space and we cannot put our instrument down because the table is there so we have to hold the bell up very high, haha. Before that we had more space actually and besides, there's a gap under the table so me and Darryl still can hold our instruments low, only Kevin cannot, haha, because he's sitting in front of the drawers. Then we did warm-ups and went for sectionals.

For once we don't get people walking around, blocking us and staring at us! Focused on March "Blue Sky". I still cannot play High E flat properly... Kevin dropped his trombone!!! He was holding it at resting position and it suddenly dropped!! :O He gets to use the Brass Trombone when I don't and he doesn't appreciate and take care of it, whereas I am using the Tenor Trombone but I look after it and love it so much! Should switch instruments with him right? Darryl gave us 5min break and I called my mother to ask how I was going to go home without my card, it didn't help at all -.- She asked me to look pitiful-.- I'm not going to beg just to save a few cents ok! Then I said never mind, I'll pay the amount. Actually it was same as if I used the card, 55 cents, that idiot say what $1.40-.- Lame. Then we went back to the M-Learning Room, but before that, I asked Jaslyn to help me empty saliva. I've finally done it. I emptied my saliva in someone's shoe, that irritating person, but only a few drops of saliva came out. When we went in, Mr Yeo said we could go for break until 11.30am, but as usual, most people were late.

I got Jaslyn and Xuan Lin to go to 7-11 with me because I wanted to buy lollipop for my seniors. Actually my mother bought for her students and she bought 10 extra. She gave me 2 and the other 8, she left it at her table in school-.- The ones she bought only cost 30 cents and those 2 I bought cost 60 cents. I got orange flavour ones because that was the only appropriate one as the others were strawberry. I went back to school after that. I left the sweet for Darryl on his stand and the one for Kevin beside his Trombone. They came back late. And Darryl was beside me for so long but didn't say anything. Only after a while then he took it and said "This one you buy one right? Thank you ah." He actually knows it's from me! Then I went "How you know?" "Obvious la, only me and Cheng Heng have..." Haha. "Then just now so long you don't know meh?" "Know la, but must wait until now then say what" Hahaha! I thought he didn't know. Kevin's reaction is even worse. He took his trombone but left the lollipop on the table. Then after dismissal when we were going to leave the room he still didn't take it and I asked Darryl if he wanted that. Then Darryl call Cheng Heng and tell him "Cheng Heng, your lollipop." Then Kevin just "Oh ya." and take it. This kind of reaction, I don't know if it's know but don't care or don't know.

During combined practice, we started with playing the whole of March "Blue Sky" and then Mr Yeo focused mainly on the Clarinets and woodwinds but mostly Clarinets as usual and so the rest of us had nothing much to do. Darryl even took the time to rest. I mean rest as in really close his eyes. Mr Yeo might think he's sleeping if he looked but actually he's awake, only looks like he's sleeping, haha. And it's not the first time, which means Mr Yeo is always focusing on the Clarinets and we have nothing to do! When Mr Yeo says "Everyone! At bar.../At part...! He will sit up and get ready to play. That shows he isn't sleeping, haha. I think he's bored, because I am too.

After combined practice (which was more like sectionals for some) we were dismissed. This Saturday, a trombone alumna will be celebrating her 21st birthday. Her birthday is actually 16 September not 6 September. Actually the whole trombone section is invited but I don't even know her and I don't think she knows me either. All I know is that she's Geck Woon and she's our senior. Darryl says he doesn't want to go but he still agreed. Speaking of him, it reminds me that I chatted with him yesterday. The funny thing is that I asked "You ARE my senior right?" haha. Suky (trombone alumna) gave me a wrong one last time. Had a nice chat, haha. Bye!

Labels: Band, Break, Chats, Food, Seniors, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 3:20 PM