☆Bass Trombonist!♥ :)

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Band practice

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

Band practice today! :D It was from 1pm to 6pm. Our Sec3 seniors had their EAP before that, so they came late, except for Yi Hui who didn't go for lunch break (she ate outside the room). They came at 1.30pm, which is when their lunch break ended. I think the break was given by the Band exco because why would the teacher give them a lunch break if the lessons ended already? Inside the store room was more crowded than last Saturday! :O After I set up my instrument and went outside the store room (into the practice room), there were only 2 chairs instead of 3 for my section, so I sat beside Cheng Heng. Yay! We got Singapura Medley score. Haha, Chong Jin gave me 2 2nd trombone and 2 1st trombone scores for my section. Since Darryl haven't come yet, I kept for him. And I just put the 2 1st trombone scores on Cheng Heng's chair, haha. We did warm up with Total Training. And like Darryl, Cheng Heng's helpful too :) We were in the midst of warm up when I heard my instrument sound funny, then I remembered that I forgot to put a tissue paper at the water key, haha. Then the rest were playing and I attended to my instrument, and he helped me hold the water key open :) Then Darryl came and no chair for him, haha. So he took the one beside Ms Leong which was used to put files and stands. So he's on my left and Cheng Heng on my right, haven't sat in this arrangement for very long already! :D But I think I won't get to sit like this often next time, because later Mr Yeo asked "You're playing 3rd trombone right?" and asked me to change place with Darryl so that it's in order of 1st, 2nd, 3rd trombone :( Then why did he even ask me to sit between them last time?

After Total Training, we practised Singapura Medley. I think it was sectionals, but not individual section sectionals, some section went to the music room with Ms Leong and the rest stayed in the room with Mr Yeo. After a while he started asking sections to go outside and practise. They play wrong notes or not very sure of the notes then one by one got sent out by him. My section was one of the last to be sent out, yay :)

Down at the basketball court, they were playing match. Cheng Heng said "Eh they playing match!" Then Darryl said "Oh, they playing match right? Good, face the back, so you won't get distracted." Then he faced the back and Kevin said he won't get distracted then Darryl face the front again -.- You should have just faced the back you know. Then in the end, they both got distracted, especially Kevin. They didn't teach me today...our sectional wasn't productive :( Kevin kept on talking about what's going on down there. And out of the blue, Darryl started playing Into The Joy Of Spring, but only the few bars then stopped. I play from bar 75 until 85 then at 85 I cannot reach the high D, and that's our melody... -.- What is wrong with me?!... I think it's because the new trombone is bigger, so more air's needed, not that I'm deproving. I think I can do it if I have T T3 again :) T3 I miss you!! Mr Yeo came and asked Kevin how to spell his name and Kevin said "Kevin" ...that's his real name? Then Mr Yeo said "How to spell your Chinese name?" Then this is the funny part. Kevin go spell his name letter by letter and every letter Mr Yeo repeat, so it sounds like this. "C"..."C"..."H"..."H"..."U"..."U"..."A"..."A"..."N"..."N"..."G"..."G"... "C"..."C"..."H"..."H"..."E"..."E"..."N"..."N"..."G"..."G" then Mr Yeo walked off. Then Darryl went "Huh? Still got one more!" Then Kevin also "Still got one more" He called Cheng Heng's name back in the room and he forgot already?

After that Darryl saw that everyone went back already, so we went back in too. Why are we always the last to go back? Then there was once I couldn't play the high D at bar 85 which is the melody. Then Mr Yeo asked me to stand up and I was like ...??...?? He asked me to do the hissing thing again. He said I "must feel pain here (diaphragm)" then Cheng Heng pretend to punch himself and Mr Yeo said "Don't hit yourself" haha! Then he asked me to blow air into the trombone. Actually I knew what he meant, but don't know why I go buzz into it and play high D. He keep asking me to blow more air and hold longer, and twice I accidentally buzzed and got some kind of blasting sound for a second, haha! And also later Cheng Heng couldn't play the high F and Mr Yeo got him to do the same thing, haha. Then we had a 20min break. No one went anywhere because it wasn't enough time to go outside and eat. So everyone just stood outside. After break, we did Novena. Oooohhhhh all the high nooooootes...

Mr Yeo was asking Trombone Section's people to play a note individually. Then after Darryl played, Mr Yeo looked at me because it's my turn to play, but I didn't know because I wasn't wearing my specs. Then Darryl called me and Mr Yeo said "Hi Rebecca" then they laughed, haha. When Darryl was playing the G, Mr Yeo kept saying "Sharp" then every time he said that, Cheng Heng would turn to him and say "Sharp" also, haha.

(Darryl plays)
Mr Yeo: Sharp
Kevin: Sharp
(Darryl plays)
Mr Yeo: Sharp
Kevin: Sharp
(Darryl plays)
Mr Yeo: Still sharp
Kevin: Sharp

Then I started laughing which made Darryl laugh also, haha! I don't recall how many times they said sharp but I know it's when Mr Yeo said still sharp then Kevin again, then I laughed, haha! Oh yes, I cannot have T T3 back :( I asked Darryl "Can I use T T3 back?" He shook his head, and I went "Why?!" He asked me why I want to change back and I said "I don't like this slide, and this one very difficult..." "But if you use that one it's like very inappropriate lor" And again I went "Why?!" "Because that's for people who just started playing only." :( I also used for the whole year, that's inappropriate too. So why can't I just continue being inappropriate for a while until the competition is over? I can't get the high notes on this trombone, but I can on T T3! If I play like this for the competition...how can I even compete like this?! Anyway, at the last few minutes of practice, Mr Yeo did some things with the Harmony Director. He played a chord twice and said the first time there's wave, second time there isn't... I don't really get it but I think I know. Couldn't really hear the difference. Then he said "Like Trombone Section, if you play like this (plays the first 2 notes, then plays the highest note horribly continuously) then we can't do anything...bla bla..." Cheng Heng said he was talking about him -.- Not his fault right? Then after that we're dismissed. Next practice is Friday. Bye!

Labels: Band, Break, Competitions, Events/Occassions, Names, Seniors, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 10:09 PM

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Seniors! :D

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

I LLLLLOOOOOVVVVVEEEE MY SENIORS!!! ♥♥♥♥♥ I think I'm idolising them, haha! Or fantasizing about them, haha! How often do they come across such a nice junior like me? :D

Cai Yan
♥So sweet :)
During the tapestry, she gave people a lot of things, and she gave my section a DIY badge
♥Good at teaching juniors also

Darryl
♥Caring and considerate :)
Last Friday (24 Oct) I got injured by my new gold trombone (haha) and he asked a few times whether I was ok
♥Helpful
He helped me many times before-help me oil my trombone slide...
♥Also good at teaching his juniors
♥ACT CUTE!!! :D

Cheng Heng
♥Caring :)
When we went to meet Zhihui at the MRT station to watch the RGS band concert, he kept turning back to check if I was still there
♥Shy
When Cai Yan first asked him to teach me, he was very shy, he didn't even look at me, haha
♥Helpful
He helped Darryl set up his stand when he wasn't there. And once he was going to help me keep my stand but I came back then
♥Quite good at teaching his junior (he only has one) although sometimes he doesn't know how to teach, haha!
He explains everything to me

Samuel
♥Very shy :)
He never talked to me (we've only practised together twice)
♥Innocent
When I interacted with him for the first time, i knew that he's quite innocent from his words

I hope to know them better, especially Samuel :) Out of all of them, I'm most distant to him :(

Labels: Seniors

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 12:17 PM

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Band practice

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

Band practice today! I reached school at 7.30am when practice starts at 8am because I wanted to be earlier :D I think only Faris was earlier than me because when I alighted from the bus, he was walking in front. But he went to talk to the security guard while I went upstairs. The door was locked-no one inside, and no one was waiting there either. I was wondering whether practice was there or somewhere else, haha. Then I had nothing to do so I walked around the whole level. I took 2 pictures of the old school building.

Then the door was unlocked so I went in. I set up my instrument, took my stand and went out. We started with Total Training again. I didn't put tissue paper at the water key and air was escaping when I played so I put one piece there...I want my slide back!! Take my slide and give me the lousy slide! We sounded dead so Liang Rong asked us to run one round, like last time. All my seniors were not here, so I thought they all didn't come. 1min 30sec again, and since we didn't complete it in the time limit (overshot by a few seconds) we had to run again. After the first round when I reached back outside the room, Cheng Heng was there. So he missed one round and just ran the next round. He has advantage-he got longer legs so he can run faster. Not fair! We again didn't complete it in the time limit which was shortened by a few seconds (Cheng Heng obviously did) and Liang Rong said to run another round, but in the end we were spared.

Then we went back in and continued with Total Training. This is the first practice for a long time where only I and Kevin come... If only Samuel came too. Cheng Heng's trombone is so shiny! Because he has my slide, or else his slide won't be shiny, it'll be rusty. After Total Training, we all went for sectionals.

My section and euphoniums went to the music room. Euphoniums took chairs but we didn't :D I went outside to empty my saliva but there was nothing there, all absorbed by that tissue paper -.- I want my slide back. This one all the saliva absorbed by the tissue paper. Then Ms Leong came into the room (I think she just came). She asked us why we didn't take chairs, we said don't want :D But she asked us to take, so we did. We stayed in there for quite long. No wonder she asked us to take chairs, haha. Remember I said Singapura Medley has one nice part that I remembered? Ms Leong focused on this part today :D I think I'm good at that part. And, people say I'm louder now! Yay! Could it be because of the new trombone? Or is it me? :D Anyway, whichever the answer is, I'm very happy! :D Before we started, Liang Rong came and asked if the horns could join in but Ms Leong only wanted the lower brasses so she got the tubas instead. From there, we practiced until bar 74. She didn't want to go on the bar 75. The very nice part is bar 55 and a few bars after that. It's crotchet quaver quaver 2 count-triplets except for bar 57, it's 4 quavers then 2 count-triplets. She got us to clap the triplets over and over again with the metronome individually. She said me and Cheng Heng very good. Yay! Go trombone section! :D I love trombone section! Then when we played she said we're changing the crotchet quaver to 2 count-triplets also. Then second time I didn't already, but Kevin still did :(

My arms hurt under the weight of my new trombone. After practising a while, I got permission form Ms Leong to go oil my slide because it was rough at positions 3 & 4. After that, it became very smooth along the whole slide :D For T T3, when I lift it, the slide doesn't come down, but this one, when I lift it, the slide won't come up with it. I keep playing with the trigger now, haha! sometimes we played from the beginning also. Cheng Heng is a pro, he can reach all the high notes. But that's also because he's older and stronger. Break at 10am until 10.30am. I went outside to walk and I took one more picture of the new school.

I cut through to this classroom block by that bridge to wash mouthpiece before practice since Darryl said he did that, so I ask Xue Qi to lead me there. It's 3R1 I saw! :D The first classroom from the left, top floor, which is 4th. After taking the picture and walking around the level, I went back inside. I took pictures of my trombone and Kevin's trombone! :D Last time I also took pictures during break, and I took a long time adjusting the trombone so that there won't be other things in the background. 'His' slide is really so shiny! It's my slide. Our trombones! :D

My new trombone! :D Taken from the angle that made the best photo of T T3. But this one's not as nice. And look at the slide, it's so rusty! -.-

I think this one is nicest out of this batch of pictures :)

Also my trombone :D It's still a tenor trombone

Cheng Heng's new trombone :D I didn't get the whole slide in because there were other things around it and I didn't shift it to another place with less things like I did for mine

Also Cheng Heng's trombone :) Isn't the slide so shiny? It looks perfect because it's so shiny right? My slide! I want it back!!

Then I practised my favourite part of the song :D I just started playing then Xue Qi (who was visiting) said "Wah" and started clapping. Then I stopped and asked "What?" a bit puzzled. She said so hardworking, haha. I've always been so hardworking since I joined Band, always practise during break :D

After the break, Taufiq "taught" the lower brasses and the horns came. We practised until bar 80 something I think, we went past bar 75. Then we went back to the practice room. Darryl sits between me and Kevin but today he didn't come so we put our files on the chair between us. Then Taufiq asked him why he's sitting so far from me. He said the chair is for the files, then Taufiq said the files can put here. (Where Kevin's sitting) Then he said the chair is for Darryl -.- (Don't want to sit with me/dislike me just say so) then Taufiq said Darryl is not here. Then he took our files and said "Sit with your junior la, she's not gonna eat you up." Then Kevin sat beside me. You know how long he hasn't sat beside me already? Actually, that chair's not for Darryl, I'm supposed to sit in between 2 seniors, not one senior sit between 2 juniors! Next time I'll ask Darryl, and also ask him if I can have my slide back! The holiday practice schedule is out. Bye!

Labels: Band, Birthday, Break, Competitions, Concerts/Performances, Seniors, Slide oil, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 3:01 PM

Friday, October 24, 2008

Band practice

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

Band practice today! 3pm-6pm. I reached school quite early as usual, at about 2.45pm. Little did I expect that Darryl, Kevin, Jaslyn and Xue Qi who are always later than me, were already there! Especially Darryl and Kevin, they were never that early! I saw more than 2 trombone cases so I knew they were going to help me change trombone. T T3's mouthpiece couldn't fit in the gold trombone so I used the other mouthpiece, which is bigger than T T3's. Yay! I finally changed to gold trombone! Thank you! :D When I came back into the room again, just nice, help Darryl hold the outer slide while he oil the slide. Actually don't need to take out the whole slide, just extend it will do.

Then we went out of the band room/store room, and when Mr Yeo saw the gold trombone, he looked at it and nod, haha. We warmed up with Total Training and my sound sounded like there was saliva inside. I heard Darryl's trombone last time sounded like that when there was saliva also. But when I used T T3, there was never saliva inside. I thought I was really deproving because I still didn't play the high B flat properly. After Total Training, my section and euphoniums went for sectionals. We went to the music room. There are mirrors there. Sectionals means the whole section practise together, not 2 sections practice together! Why Darryl agree to have sectionals together? There's no such thing as sectionals together. It's just like combined practice, we can't practice on our own. After going to the music room, I went outside to empty saliva, and Darryl also. After he unlocked the door, he go and push the door so hard when it's supposed to be pulled, haha! I said T T3 never had saliva, then he said he was also wondering why I can keep playing without emptying saliva, haha. Then when I turn the slide up side down, the saliva came out but I didn't know because I wasn't looking, until he said "There, come out already what." And I looked, wow, so much saliva for the first time, haha. Then we went back in and practised.

I was still out of sorts! I really thought I deproved! Only until we went back to the practice room, then Mr Yeo asked us to play with the horns. Then when he asked just my section to play, I didn't play a lot of notes. Then when he said only 2nd trombone play, mostly it's only Darryl playing. Then he asked me to play alone and I couldn't play properly. Then he said "Rebecca, don't let go here! You're letting go here! (Diapragm) Don't let go, ok?" Then I didn't answer and just look at him blankly because I was thinking whether it was me letting go. Then Darryl and Cheng Heng both tell me to say yes, haha! Then tried again but still cannot play nice nice. He went to the trombone and after a while took my mouthpiece and asked "Why is your mouthpiece so big?" Then I look at Darryl, because I don't know what to do. He said that's for bass trombone and asked if there was another mouthpiece in the case, I said don't know, Darryl said he thinks there's one more. Then he and Mr Yeo went in the store room and I got a smaller mouthpiece. I washed the big mouthpiece for nothing! Then I went to go wash the smaller mouthpiece. I should have taken the big one with me too. When I came back, Darryl and Kevin were insid the room. They changed Kevin's trombone to the one without trigger. Then when I played, it was ok already :D So I' not deproving, it's just the mouthpiece problem. While they were still in the room, Mr Yeo asked them if they were done and said "两个大男人婆婆妈妈!" -.- I asked what to do with that mouthpiece, he said give to...(points at Cheng Heng's seat)...what's his name?..."Cheng Heng..." "Cheng Heng!" He remembered my name but forgot Cheng Heng's, haha. Then Kevin said his trombone was weird, then Darryl go take my slide and change with Kevin's slide -.- His slide was not balanced with the bell, too heavy, so after changing with me, it's balanced. Why give me the heavier slide when my instrument is already heavier than his? (His new instrument is lighter than mine) Then also, my bell is model 42, and the slide is also model 42, then after ahcnging, it's model 12?!?! And his slide is rusty, greenish at the top and the piece of rubber at the water key's not there, means the water key is spoilt and have to put tissue paper there. And it's rough at position 3 and 4, needs oiling.

There was a short break after that. And finally Darryl talk to me! :D He asked "So how's your results?" He only talked to me twice, excluding about band/trombone, and both times he started with asking how's my results, haha. Then I went "Why you always ask that question??" "Just asking la" haha! When I said ok, he said "You did very well right?" Then I "Ok only!" because according to him, his classmates say ok, but they get 80+ for some papers. Wow, 80+ is ok to them. And when I told him about the Science A2 and 74, he went ouch. And the EL, CL 69 and another 2, 68,68 he also went ouch. "And English, I got 10 marks less." "Ouch" See, he can feel my pain too, haha! And he is really my senior. "You aiming for triple Science right?" "How you know??" "Cofirm one" "How you know??" "Confirm one" Actually I wanted to ask again but I knew he'd say "confirm one" so I stopped, haha. "See the face can tell already." Wow, genius :D Actually it's nice to talk to my seniors, but too bad they don't talk to me often :( Oh yes, according to him, want to go to triple Science is not just get good grades for Science, Maths too. He was lucky because in his year, all the smart people don't want triple Science haha. but you're a smart person too :) I hope the same thing happens in my year :D

Then after the break, we played Singapura Medley. We only did this song today. I heard Kevin & Darryl saying something about Cai Yan going to Genting :O She's going to Genting with us?? Then... I forgot what happened. Then we were dismissed. Bye!

Labels: Band, Break, Chats, Competitions, Concerts/Performances, Exams, Maths, Seniors, Slide oil, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 9:45 PM

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Exam results

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

It's the last day of school and my class got COMPASS magazine. Band's featured! The 2nd National Band Competition, trombone section's in it! :D But the picture is so small! I got back my report book today. But before that was the Great NAS Clean Up. 1h, but nothing much to do. Last time we had it, we cleaned the tables and chairs first, then put them at the back. This time we put them at the back first, so it's only the windows and teacher's table to clean and tidy. Then the whole school went to the hall at 11am to get back our report books. Only today, the CCA record, where we write the activities that were not recorded, was collected. Isn't it a bit too late? How to make any amendments if they collect today and the report book is given today? But when I got the report book, it was written that I participated in the National Day performance. So no worries :D But there was also the record that I participated and represented the school in National Band Competition but the Sec 1s didn't even participate! We only went to watch our seniors! And points are awarded for that competition! So I get 1 point for nothing?

Anyway, my class position is 15/39 when my percentage is 70.8% and Wen Ling is 8/39 when she's about 72% -.- That few marks makes so much difference in position. I got 1 B4, 2 A1s, 3 A2s and 4 B3s. Haha, I got 4 different grades in the proportion of 1, 2, 3, 4. And by the way, all the grades and marks I'm talking about is the overall for 2008. You know what kind of A2 I got for Science? 74!!! -.- The subject I most want to excel in is none other than SCIENCE!! I want to go to 3R1, triple Science class! And you know what kind of B3s I got? 69, 69, 68, 68 -.- Again, so close to the next grade! All 4 B3s, so close to the next grade! -.- EL, CL - 69. Maths and Home Economics - 68. For Literature, I just got a B4 with 60, or else I would have stayed at C5. For CA1, SA1 and CA2 I got C5. My L1R4 Aggregate is 9 and my L1R5 aggregate is 11. What JC can I go to with 11 points? My remarks: Rebecca is pleasant and well-behaved. She has made an effort to interact more, an essential life skill. Continue to work hard and pursue higher academic goals. My CCA remarks! :D : Rebecca is a conscientious student with a positive work attitude. She has the potential to go far and has improved through the guidance of her seniors. She has shown regular attendance and commitment to the CCA. :D

Band practice tomorrow. I hope I'm back to normal. It's one month to my birthday, which means it's one month - 2 days to the concert and one month + 1 day to the competition. Bye!

Labels: Assembly, Band, Competitions, Concert Band, Concerts/Performances, Exams, Maths, Report Book, Seniors

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 9:37 PM

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Band practice

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

Band practice today, the first practice with my seniors in about 8 weeks since they didn't come on Tuesday. Still, only Cheng Heng and Darryl. But today I was out of sorts again, not because I laughed too much before practice. I hardly even smiled because I was not playing well and I was depressed about it, so I was sad almost the whole time.

School ended at 1pm and after lunch, I came back to my lovely school and soon after Chong Jin came. I couldn't leave my bag in school because my favourite spot outside the old band room was closed already :( I saw Cai Yan & Zhihui and thought I was dreaming until they waved, haha! The tables were shifted out to the open area and we sat there until about 2.30pm when I suggested going up to the new room to see if anyone was there. When we reached, we stood outside trying to see who was inside, but the windows are dark. Then we loitered outside wondering who was inside, haha. Then Chen Hua opened the door and we both were like waiting for each other, haha. And Cheng Heng and Darryl were both inside. Darryl asked if I was still using tenor trombone. Of course I am, if not which trombone would I be using? His? Then he said he'll try to help me change to gold trombone by Friday. Yay :) I've always said I want to change trombone but I'll miss T T3 after changing.

I saw T T1 and T T2 on top of the cupboards and on Tuesday they were still in the cupboard with T T3. Then Darryl seemed to have taken T T3 out from the cupboard beside the one the 3 tenor trombones were kept in on Tuesday. Now that cupboard contains only stands and files. They must have shifted the things on Tuesday. Oh! Now I know why Liang Rong suddenly asked me which instrument I was using. No wonder T T3 was together with the 2 gold trombones Darryl and Kevin use in the cupboard beside the cupboard with "Trombone" on it, I don't know if that's trombone cupboard too. The other gold trombones were in the trombone cupboard with "Trombone" and T1 and T2 were on top. I was one of the last few to leave the room although I was one of the first few to enter it. I took so long until it started getting crowded then I couldn't get the case.

We started with a bit of warm up. Brayton conducted with a drumstick, haha. We did B flat scale in crotchets, triplets and minims too. Then the conductors came. We used Total Training. At first, when one of the majors asked "SLs, do you still have Total Training?" I didn't know it was a book. Haha, then Darryl reminded me of something I always do. He wanted to say yes but wasn't sure, in the end he went "Ye......aaaaaooowww" Hahaha! I always make that sound "Yeow" hahahahaha! He only had one book though, then Cliff lent us another one. I got the whole book to myself, haha. We did Lesson 1, Lesson 3 and Lesson 5. Each lesson has a few exercises.

Then we played Novena. Argh...what's wrong with me today? I can't play properly-bad pitching, not enough air, not enough air speed :( I couldn't pitch the high notes. And when Mr Yeo asked me to play individually the bar that goes F G high B flat high C, I couldn't even pitch the high B flat. Oh my gosh, what's wrong with me. When I was playing, Cheng Heng saw the CCA record in my file and said "CCA record..." and lean over to see and Darryl also go see. Haha, what's there too see except for the remarks? Sec 1s have nothing much to write about and not many points also. Today I didn't sit in between them...because when I came out of the band room, only the seat at the end was empty, so Darryl sit between me and Kevin. And when I coughed once, I kept coughing after that and my throat hurt. It made me more tired also. I don't know why I was out of sorts and so tired today. School ended early at 1pm, and we didn't have lessons also, I really don't know why... Everyone thinks I'm better than other Sec1 juniors because Mr Yeo said it, but now the good junior can't even pitch a high B flat? I'm the worse junior today I think. Mr Yeo asked people who were playing A flat at one part to play, then he point to me and said I play D flat. But since he asked 3rd trombone I just play A flat as written. Then he also asked Darryl to play F. So he thought I was 2nd trombone and he was 1st trombone. Haha, and there's trombone section had to play 2 bars, then Mr Yeo said "Why does 2nd & 3rd trombone sound the same? 2nd & 3rd trombone shouldn't sound the same." Then he wanted to ask the 2 trombones to play then he said "2nd & trombone...2nd & trombone, what am I saying?...2nd & 2rd trombone!" Haha. I think it's because I played too high. Earlier I had trouble pitching High B flat and now I play too high -.-

The woodwinds were not with us from 4pm to 5pm as they went with Ms Leong to the music room I think. Then I was chatting with Serene on MSN just now and told her I "slept" and she said she saw me. :O I went "YOU SAW ME?! OMG! WHEN?!" Haha, she said when the woodwinds came back Brayton told her then she saw me (my section seated near the door of band room). That time I was wide awake, just looked like asleep, I didn't even feel asleep. They moved the chairs so loudly how could I "sleep"?

After Novena, we played Singapura Medley. Mr Yeo said he preferred Singapura Medley to Singapore Rhapsody because the brasses already have lots of high notes in Novena, and SM has not many high notes. Oh yes, during Novena, he said "Tubas, Trombones, Euphoniums, everyone is singing you're scolding vulgar word." -.- Yo, that's too exaggerated, and it's not funny. What "every week the trombones euphoniums and tubas come back and scold vulgar word"? -.- Ya, because they sing too badly so we scold vulgar word. Singapura Medley, is it really a medley? It says Chan Mali Chan below the title, and that's the only song I hear throughout the song. I think I did better than last week, but we didn't sound as nice as Mr Yeo expected. He asked "Everyone knows Chan Mali Chan right?" and "Who knows Chan Mali Chan?" Then I kept acting as if I didn't know. I shook my head when he asked if we know. I didn't raise my hand like the others when he asked who knows. I think Darryl really thought I didn't know.

After practice ended, Cliff read out names, those whose names were called means we've given our Genting form already. Then Cliff called "Rebecca (he meant Rebekah)...(bla bla)...Trombone Rebecca" Then people started laughing, haha. He sometimes calls Rebecca, some times Rebekah. But, his problem is that, when he calls Rebecca, he calls both Rebecca, when he calls Rebekah, he calls both Rebekah -.- Then why does he bother to sometimes call Rebecca sometimes Rebekah? So my first name is now Trombone and 2nd name Rebecca? Nice? Kevin's not going to Genting! :( And Darryl hasn't even discussed it with his parents yet because "they're working", must be until quite late... My parents were like that too, last time. I think Kevin's going back to Taiwan, as he mentioned before. Wonder whether he will participate in the concert. And by the way, what is GG? The 2 of them kept saying GG. After dismissal I went to look for Ms Ong for the endorsement for the CCA record. Hope I get one more point for the National Day "performance" :D Bye!

Labels: Band, Competitions, Events/Occassions, Music, Names, Overseas, Seniors, songs, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 9:01 PM

Monday, October 20, 2008

Exam scores

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

Today is the first time we're singing the school song as one school after a long time! :) I think from now onwards, we'll always have flag raising in the new hall as one school :) Checked some papers today. Literature first, I only got 32/50, which is 64% - B4. Ms Lee said the top scores was 18/25 for the written test. Only 2 people, but there were many 17 scores, and I was one of them! :D So I'm one of the many 3rd positions. I improved by about 3 marks. I remember I got about 14 twice. For the poem, which is group work, it only got 9/15. But it's not my fault. I did the entire poem because the 2 other people went to the meeting empty-handed, not only did they not do any research, they also did not bring writing materials to the meeting. "Too much information will make it seem like an information report." Rubbish. So in a group work, only 1 person has to find information is it? It's just pure laziness and can't be bothered. These kind of people just piss me off. For the reflections, I only got 6/10. So it's a B4 for Literature, at least I moved up by 1 grade.

Then Chinese, we've seen our paper before so I already know that I got 51/70 for paper 2. But when we got the paper last time, the lame teacher talked so much rubbish after going through the multiple choice questions until there was no time left for the open ended questions which carry more marks. So today we went through the open ended questions. I already forgot my scores for paper 1. We have 2 compositions, letter writing and the other is writing a story. There's also the oral which will be counted, I think it'll pull my scores down. Anyway, 51/70 is my best score for CL Paper 2, I got 50/70 for SA1.

After that was recess, and after recess was Science. Mr Lim (Science teacher) only let us check the marks but didn't go through the paper. I got 24/30 for Section A. For Sections B and C I got 49/70, so that's 73/100 - A2. Argh...! I was expecting an A1!! I topped Science last time and now I only get A2?! How can I go to my dream class 3R1 like this?! Then he went to invigilate 'O' Levels or something. I thought 'O' Levels start in the afternoon. Then later, Mr Lim (History teacher) came, it was still the Science period. When I saw that my score was 42/50 I was quite happy. That is my best score for any subject this year. It even beat my score of 83.1 for Geography :O But later I found out that many other people got A1 too, because the answers were given to us before the exam, so we just had to memorise all the answers because we don't know which question will come out as we were given answers for a few questions. I got 30/30 for the 2 structured essay questions. I think the structured essay questions are just memory work. It's the source-based and comparison questions that your memory can't help. So I got A1 for History :)

Last period of the day was Maths. Again, we only checked marks, didn't go through the papers. I was expecting an A1 too. I only got B3. My scores were 28-1/40 and 33/50 for Paper 1 and Paper 2 respectively. The 28-1 is because the presentation of answers were not good for Q3 and 10! And what a funny way to get the score /100. Paper 1 score x 1.25 (to make it /50) + Paper 2 score = score/100. ?!?!

My class has a lot of lame and brainless people. They tear down the plastic covering for all the noticeboards in class when they're only going to be used next year -.- That's very stupid. It's still 2 months + till next year and they remove the coverings. They really have nothing better to do right? Have to go and dirty the noticeboards. And what's more, we're not using this classroom next year. Can't they be more considerate? And they make so much noise and act like idiots as if they were just released from prison after 10 years. If they've got nothing better to do, then go and study for next year! Just because SA2 is over, doesn't mean studying will never be needed again right? It's only Sec1 idiots, wake up. People stereotype against classes because of their names. People think lower sec R6 and R7 and good classes and all the C1s are bad classes. As if. You call this a good class? Just because people are from this class, doesn't mean their the goody goody type. And don't look down C1 people, they are not all bad. Every class has bad kids. Just because their results are not that good doesn't mean they are all not the goody goody kind. Samuel is from 2C1 but since the first time I chatted with him on MSN (which is the first time I interacted with him aside from 2 lines), I already knew he's the good kind :)

There's band practice tomorrow! :) I hope all 3 of my dearest seniors come! Why is there still band practice when there are 'O' Levels in the afternoon? We won't disturb them since we're in an enclosed place on the highest floor right? Good luck Cai Yan & Zhi Hui, all the best! :) Bye!

Labels: Assembly, Band, Chats, Exams, Geography, Maths, pissed, Seniors

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 5:45 PM

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Band practice

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

Band practice today! It's the first practice in 8 weeks since 12 September! I was so looking forward to it but it was not nice :( Yesterday Darryl said he won't be coming, but I thought Cheng Heng would come but he didn't, so I was all alone... :( I went to set up my trombone and I didn't wash my mouthpiece because the nearest toilet was on the first floor -.- Common sense should tell the building planners that every level needs a toilet right? Then by the time I went out of the instruments room, other people already set up the chairs. Then Ms Ong talked to us. That's not the band's room, that's the CO room -.- She said we have 2 places to practice - the music room (which is on the other side of the instruments room I think) and that CO room. Why does CO have their room but we don't have our room? Unfair. So the whole CO has to squeeze into that room. It felt like the M-Learning Room because it's not that big, but bigger than the M-Learning Room I think, and less cupboards taking up space.

We started with scales for warm ups. Brayton conducted the warm ups. We did B flat, E flat and F Major Scale. He said G Major Scale and I never heard of it before, I also never seen it in Standard Of Excellence, so I didn't know what notes there are in the scale. I asked Taufiq (Alumni) and he said it's G to G all the notes are naturals except for F sharp. Then we started playing but stopped after the first note, I think because it wasn't good. Then we did F Major Scale instead. Then, still with Brayton conducting, we played March "Blue Sky". It didn't sound good, sounded like only some people were playing. I didn't sound good also. Sometime in between, Liang Rong told us to go run one round around the level because we "sounded so dead". But we were all walking instead of running. So after walking that round, we had to do another round, and this time we ran. Liang Rong gave us 1min and said who doesn't reach back in the time limit will have a punishment. Then he changed it to 2min. Then when we just started running, he changed it to 1.5min. After which we returned and continued practice.

Then Ms Leong came and said she didn't want to focus on scores because we haven't played for a long time and she wanted to do scales, so we did scales again. She also trained our reaction. We play 4 crotchets for every note going up the scale, and she happened to stop at E flat scale so we kept using E flat scale. Then when she conducts faster we have to play faster. Then she decided to use B flat scale because it was a more comfortable scale. Then it was break time at about 9.50am. They gave us about 40min until 10.30am. I didn't go out of school as usual. I stayed inside and practiced. I oiled my slide, it's always rough at the top. Only half way I went to the toilet on the first floor then went back and continued practising. I also SMSed Darryl to ask very politely what G Major Scale is. He explained like how he would if he was here :) When I went back I saw 2 scores on my chair - the scores for Singapore Rhapsody Trombone 1 and Trombone 2. No Trombone 3. The 2 scores were not very different.

People returned late from the break and Ms Leong scolded them. But the Majors let them off because it was the first practice in a long time. Then I got 2 more scores - Singapura Suite and Singapura Medley. I've only heard Singapore Rhapsody before. The score for Singapura Suite was a thin book! It has a few pages! And they gave me the Trombone 1 score. For Singapura Medley also, Liang Rong asked wich trombone I take, I said third, but I think there was no third trombone so he asked me to "take this first". All the scores don't have third trombone. I was wondering why they suddenly gave us so many Singapore songs and Ms Leong said it was a requirement for the Genting competition that we have to play a song related to Singapore. We tried Singapura Medley first. My side-reading is not good :( So I didn't play well. Then we tried Singapura Suite. There is one part I still remember, it's nice. Then Ms Leong said "Let's drop this piece" and we moved on to Singapore rhapsody - the easiest of them all - the first part that is, there are 2 parts in the score. We only tried Part 1. And we decided to play that song. I think it was that song which was very weird, there's the melody then it stops suddenly and "even the ending is so funny" said Ms Leong. I found that song the easiest out of all 3. For all 3 songs, my side-reading was very bad, I got lost at the starting when the song just started, and then I couldn't find my way back into the song. I almost cried, I think there were tears in my eyes. How I wish my seniors were here, I still wouldn't play well but they will explain things to me :)

After the 3 songs, practice ended. We still haven't learnt the Japanese song yet. We only side-read it once months ago! I didn't really use the bowl for the saliva because when I blew into the instrument, nothing but air came out from the water key. So I took out the mouthpiece and shook it over the bowl, only a bit of saliva. I didn't wash the bowl and the mouthpiece, just wiped them with tissue paper. I kept my trombone and why is there other section's files and stands in my section cupboard?!?! -.- It's getting in the way when I want to take out and put in my trombone! -.- No space, yeah right, is it as big as the instrument?! Some small space at the side can fit it in right? I feel like throwing it out. In the old band room they can be kept separately from my section's stuff and in the new band room that's bigger, there's no space and have to hog up our space?! It doesn't make sense - nonsense.

After that, I went out of the band room to the practice room and we went through the CCA form where we write participations/performances/achievements ... that are not mentioned in the CCA Certificate, both given yesterday. Sec 1s only had 1 thing to write - National Day performance. The others have Ngee Ann Tapestry 3, 2nd National Band Competition with Silver award, Notional Day performance and another one I forgot. Cliff also mentioned Band Camp 2006 and 2007 which will be awarded 1 point each but later when listing all the things he only mentioned the 4, so I don't know if that's counted. I hope I get 1 more point for the National Day performance! :D Then we were dismissed. Some time while playing the Singapore songs, the air-con was snowing! :D People suddenly started laughing, then I looked up and saw that the air-con vent above the Flute Section was giving out something that looked like smoke! Then someone went "Is it snowing?" and right after that, some white things came out from it, and it really looked like it was snowing! Haha! It didn't immediately fall down, it fell slowly like snow! Then Cliff went to turn off that air-con, haha! Wow, we have snow in NAS :D

I went with Xue Qi to look for Ms Ong at the staff room. I wanted to ask if there was any subsidy for the Genting trip because $500 is "too much for a trip" as Darryl said. He said he may not go because it's too expensive. Actually when I asked yesterday "Tomorrow I ask Ms Ong" he said no need but I still asked anyway(although I'm afraid he might think I'm meddlesome), I also think that $500 is very expensive, but my parents already agreed. Xue Qi didn't have any question in particular I think. I asked Ms Ong whether there was any subsidy. She said there was 40% subsidy so we have to pay $300. Then Xue Qi asked her something (I think it's whether students under financial assistance plan get more subsidy) while I turned to the back and went "Yes!" with hand actions, hahaha! Then when I turned back, Ms Ong asked me with a puzzled expression "Why you suddenly so happy?" Then I explained that Darryl didn't want to go because he thought $500 was too much. I was so happy! :D We discussed a few more things then we Xue Qi and I went home. Bye!

Labels: Band, Break, Competitions, Concerts/Performances, Overseas, pissed, Seniors, Slide oil, songs, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 7:11 PM

Friday, October 17, 2008

Post-exam activities

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

Yesterday was the first time in a long time that our entire school gathered as one. Too bad the Sec 4 Express wasn't with us :( But anyway, it was the good thing that we're back together as one school :) Wednesday only the lower sec was together. Yesterday all the Sec1 classes except 1R7 went on our excursion to Singapore Discovery Centre. We went from Tampines in the East all the way to Jurong in the West I think. When we just got down from the bus, we boarded another bus for the SAFTI tour. That's Singapore Armed Forces Training Institution. The bus just go to some places and the person tell us what building it is and all that. Then after that ended, we went to the discovery centre.

Our school always has some race when we go out of school. I still remembered the NAS Maths Trail 2008 was something like Amazing Race at Changi Airport Terminal 3. And yesterday was X Race, same thing, go around looking for answers. I don't like "Amazing Races". There were also other things. Oh yes, during the break just after the SAFTI tour, I was so bored that I switched on my handphone for absolutely no reason (on silent mode of course, it's always silent in school). Then I felt my phone vibrating and was quite surprised. Rebekah called again and asked me the same question "Rebecca where are you?" and got the same answer "I'm not in school." She said my Genting form was missing, then I thought it was the particulars form but asked to make sure. Then I said I just gave it to Ms Ong that morning. She was so relieved she went "Ooooooohhhhhh!..."

Oh yes, also saw Darryl in the morning, because after I changed to taking 27 instead of 72, we take 291 from the same stop which is opposite the library. And he always just suddenly appear out of no where when the bus comes, that leaves me ??? Bye!

Labels: Assembly, Break, Events/Occassions, Exams, Seniors

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 4:45 PM

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Post-exam activities

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

The first day of post-exam activities today, and the first assembly in the new hall. Yesterday was marking day and Monday was checking EL and CL papers. I got B3 for EL Paper 2 and B3 for CL Paper 2 and 1 combined. We assembled in the new hall today. Only the lower sec. It was air-conditioned. We have 2 halls - Assembly Hall & Multi-purpose Hall. Actors Tan Kheng Hua and Lim Yu Beng (couple) were there. They gave a talk about theatre. It was the first thing in the new hall, so, wow, we had celebrities open the new hall. When they asked questions, hardly anyone answered. In fact, they asked a few times but still no one answered. After the talk, they did a recording and wished us Happy 15th Anniversary for next year, haha.

After that, the second thing was a short talk by someone about 2 things - some learning method and martial arts. Then at the end, he got a volunteer so he could show his attack. He said he'll be teaching us defence so we'll see him again. Recess was at 10am and there was still time, so we watched the national day video. It was funny, haha. All the school videos that we watch are funny. After recess, we went back to the hall to do some IDEA thing, where they asked about the arts culture in our school, whether we like the arts programmes and stuff and we give feedback. Each class split into 2 groups - odd index number and even index number. It was quite boring, I couldn't hear much when the person read what was written on the paper because it was noisy.

After that was done, we did a fire drill. "Evacuated" class by class through 3 exits. There are 19 doors in the hall. Went to the temporary canteen. And from there, we went back to our old classrooms to shift the tables and chairs to the new classrooms. When I went back to class, the new 3I1 sign was there. Why do Sec 3s use the old block when the others (Sec 1 & Sec 2, don't know about Sec 4) will be using the new block? The new signs are bigger than the old ones. 1R6 is on the 2nd floor, same as the current 1R6 classroom. The 2 blocks are connected. When I was walking to the new 1R6, I walked past the first classroom nearest to the old block and saw Chong Jin in there. I looked around and saw Kevin. Then I looked at the class sign and realised that was 2R6! 2R6 is the odd one out there. I think all the other classes are Sec1 classes. And they are all facing away from the old block but 2R6 is facing the old block. Why didn't they do PRIME last year? If they did, Kevin's and my classroom would be on the same level! 1R6 and 2R6 is just a few classes away by the way. Next year I'll be in 2R6, that odd one out and none of my seniors will be on the same level :(

The new classrooms are so big! :D The old classrooms had only 4 fans while the new ones have 6! This means that the new ones are 1 and a half times bigger! :D The whiteboard is longer too! And the projector screen will not cover the national flag when pulled down because the flag is on the left while the screen is on the right.

I went home after the shifting was done. This time my arms don't hurt like when the Band's shifting. I just alighted from bus 27 and I remembered that I forgot to give Ms Ong my particulars form for the Genting trip! During recess Rebekah saw me and I passed my passport to her. She was also holding some particulars forms but she didn't ask for it, and after I passed her the passport, she went off already. Then I felt my handphone vibrating (couldn't hear it ringing) but I didn't recognise the number. Then when I picked up, "Rebecca where are you? I'm Rebekah" How coincidental, I just said I'm not in school then she wanted to say something and I heard people shouting then she said she'll explain to me tomorrow. Don't tell me it's something wrong with the passport. It can't be. Tomorrow I'm having the excursion to the Singapore Discovery Centre. I'll just give it to Ms Ong in the morning then.

Labels: Assembly, Exams, Overseas, Seniors

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 2:25 PM

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

NASS Concert Band 2008 members

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

Let me list all the members of Ngee Ann Secondary School Concert Band 2008 :)

♥Trombone Section! :D
♥Ng Cai Yan (Ex-Section Leader) (Sec4-graduated)
♥Darryl Lim (Section Leader! :D) (Sec3)
♥Chuang Cheng Heng/Kevin(Probably next year's Section Leader) (Sec2)
♥Samuel Choo (Sec2)
♥Rebecca Tan (Me) (Probably 2010's Section Leader) (Sec1)

Clarinet Section
Nadhirah (Sec3)
Fernandez Leong (Sec3)
Benedict (Sec3)
Tan Tian Hoe (Sec3) (Section Leader)
Germaine Koh (Assistant quater mistress) (Sec2)
Ng Shu Yan (Sec2)
Tay Xi (Sec2)
Jeremy Chua (Sec2)
Filzah (Sec2)
Chong Jin (Bass Clarinet) (Assistant librarian) (Sec2)
Lam Xuan Lin (Sec1)

Oboe Section
Wong Liang Rong (Sec3) (Band Major)
Karl Chua (Sec3)

Flute Section
Cliff Halim Tirtamaya (Sec3) (Drum Major)
Gaby George (Sec3)
Norfaris (Sec2)
Low Xue Qi (Sec1)

Saxophone Section
Chan Shi Mei (Treasurer) (Sec3)
Brayton Goh (Student conductor) (Sec3)
Serene Quek (Sec2)
Chen Hua (Assistant Secretary) (Sec2)

French Horn Section
Shazana (Sec3)
Brandon Ho (Sec2)
Felicia Lim (Sec1)
Sandy Lok (Sec1)

Trumpet Section
Ong Yi Hui (Quater mistress) (Sec3)
Mohamed Assiddiq (Secretary) (Sec3)
Melissa Ho (Sec2)
Yuen Chien Wai (Sec2)
Jay Tan(Sec2)
Andrew Dion (Sec1)

Euphonium Section (No SL)
Terence Tan (Sec3)
James Chen (Sec2)
Jaslyn Lim (Sec1)

Tuba Section (Combined SL with Eupho)
Mabeline Yeo (Section Leader) (Sec3)
Leong Shenghao (Librarian) (Sec3)
Jonathan Yap (Sec2)
Larry Thng (Sec1)
Ong Zi Yuan (Sec1)

Percussion Section
Bryan Ho (Section Leader) (sec3)
Azra Anwar (Sec3)
Tan Sherina (Sec3)
Rebekah Ong (Assistant Drum Major) (Sec2)
Mavis Lai (Sec2)
Brendan Tan (Sec2)
Qiao Xueying (Sec1)

This is my hundredth post.
♥I LOVE BAND♥ ♥I LOVE BAND♥ ♥I LOVE BAND♥ ♥I LOVE BAND♥ ♥I LOVE BAND♥ ♥I LOVE BAND♥

Labels: Concert Band, Names, Seniors

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 6:45 PM

Friday, October 10, 2008

Band meeting

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

Band meeting today! Yay! Finally see the band after 6 weeks! :D Math Paper 2 ended at 9am and the meeting was at 10am in the AVA Room. I went upstairs to wait outside the AVA Room. When Darryl came I told Xue Qi "How come this time I see my senior I not happy ah? Not just not happy, unhappy..." Why?... When I was outside the AVA Room, I asked Jaslyn about the quiz at my blog. It's some friend quiz to see how well people know you. I asked her how she knew the answer to the last question. Then Xuan Lin thought I was talking about the Math paper and said the answer is no -.- The last question of the quiz is "Who's my cutest senior? :D (Haha, tricky one)" And the 4 options are A. Cai Yan B. Samuel C. Kevin D. Darryl. The answer is Darryl and she got it right. Then I said I'm talking about the quiz at my blog and said "Where got people's name is "no" one?" Then Darryl went "No! No! No!..." So coincidental, haha! Then Ms Ong came and we went in.

She told us we'd be going to Genting again! Yay! She said it was because the company promised something, not sure what she was saying. Yes! This will be my best birthday as I said! :D She said we'd be moving the instruments after wards and that a lot of people are shifting today and that we're the last people to use the AVA Room, so honoured, but didn't take a picture of it. Then when she was briefing us, there were a lot of funny parts :D When we were too noisy, she took the bell on the table and pressed it, actually it's a service bell but I have no idea why it's in the AVA Room. Then she said we also need to put a picture on the particulars form so that if anything happens, touch wood ah, they'll know like "Oh! This is Gaby's picture!"" Then everyone burst out laughing including Gaby herself, haha! Then also she said she needs us to do some form so she'll know who we want to sleep with, hahaha! She meant room mate but said wrongly and we burst out laughing again. Also, she told us a secret! :D Then she said it's not really a secret la, it's confidential and if we're clever, we won't tell other bands especially those not going. One of the judges called John Edward something is going to be a judge for SYF 2009! Then she said maybe we can take the chance to see what he looks like (we start laughing again) and know what articulation or style he likes, Then Liang Rong said "Why not go make friends with him?" Hoping he will be corrupted so we get higher points for SYF, haha. Then she briefed us on the shifting and we went to shift instruments.

She took us to the new room and said some things about it. The floor is parquet so water spills and scratches will be quite serious. She'll tell about about emptying saliva next time. I was thinking "What if the trombone water key scratches it? And, haha, empty saliva on the floor." Then she told Section Leaders and Exco members to stay there to decide which cupboard for their section and stuff while the rest went back to shift instruments. Since she asked us to shift our own instruments first, I took mine which was outside the band room since I borrowed it and brought it back today. I also took a stand since I thought just carrying one trombone was too little. That stand is in the box where that's the only thing usable and since there's no name, I always use it and I'm thinking of making it my section's. My left hand was very painful because the room is on the 5th floor and we walked up the stairs. Saw Darryl going back when I was going there, must be meeting over. Went inside the band room (which isn't the air-con one, it's beside the air-con one) and Cliff tried to put my trombone in the trombone cupboard but since there was a separating board to separate into 3 parts (all 3 parts are part of the trombone cupboard) my trombone couldn't fit and he had to take out the whole board and put it higher. My stand (not mine actually) also he kept, in the cupboard I think. Then he asked me to tell Darryl to bring all the trombones, even those spoilt. So I went back to the old band room and told him and he said "I know"...Yeah, I thought you would know because I also know but I'm just telling you because Cliff said so. Then I didn't do anything for a while because I didn't know what to do! Then I asked Germaine and she said I could take the mutes because she thought it was my section's. I don't know if it is. Then Chong Jin wasn't holding anything so she took a trombone. It's the kind my seniors use. I took all 4 mutes there. Then half way up the stairs I asked if it was heavy and she said yes, so I switched with her. The gold trombone with the case is heavier then my tenor trombone! Then I said I don't want to change trombone anymore. That's just joking, of course I want to change. Then, already on the 5th floor, while walking to the room, I couldn't take the weight anymore and put it down. Then just then Darryl came round the corner and run there and help me take, haha. I went "Thank you!" haha. Already on that floor and reaching then he come and help! Haha, it's better than nothing. Don't know whether he run because he's worried for me or worried for the trombone, haha! And, oh my gosh, he's so strong! The way he carries it is as if it's so light and he can walk so fast with it! I only started carrying it half way up the stairs but broke down before reaching -.- Does he think I'm useless?... :( Kevin is also very strong. He carried 2 trombones at the same time, one in each hand! Then went back to take some more things. I went to and fro many times, like everyone else :) Oh ya, there's once Chong Jin's Chinese teacher who's also Cliff's Chinese teacher, was arguing with Cliff over Band's space and other CCA's space (we share the band room with Chinese Orchestra and Guzheng). When you go into the room and turn left, there are cupboards on the left and right. We put our things on the right side (don't know if they used the left side in the end because after a few times I didn't go in already). We were using the first half of the left side cupboards then they were going to put things in the back half left cupboards when the teacher said it's CO's space. Then Cliff got agitated and asked "Then where's the band's space?!" The teacher then said "Ah, ah, ah..." as if he said some vulgar word -.- then we start laughing. Then Cliff said he thought it was that side (pointing to the right side cupboards) but the teacher said no, the back half is their space -.- Then Cliff said "Oh even better! Then they'll use this (back half) and we'll use that! (Entire left side)" Haha. So we'll have the left side and half the right side while CO only gets half a side, haha! But Cliff was correct, we own the entire right side. And the teacher actually thought half the left cupboards would be enough for a BAND?! It's even smaller than the old band room, please -.-

The first few times, I went back immediately to shift more things but after a while I stayed in the air-con room for quite long before going back. I took a lot of pictures! Once I went back then Cai Yan, Zhihui, Jo and Shir Lin came at about 12pm, they were just dismissed. Then Cai Yan asked if we were done, I said no, they're shifting the librarian's stuff. Then she told Jo "They're shifting librarian's stuff! They're shifting your stuff!" Haha, then she went in (the old band room) and wanted to help. Jaslyn said she got a lot of piercing, and Zhihui heard and said don't follow her, she ah lian. We put boxes of books on the trolley and they pushed them until the stair case only. Yi Hui was pushing it but it kept steering to the right and she said it was very difficult to steer, haha! Then Melissa (Trumpet) lifted the front and made it straight but when Yi Hui started pushing again, it went right, haha! Then Melissa tried pushing it but she pushed too fast and couldn't stop in time when it moved right. Then the trolley scratched the wall and stained it blue! The new wall has a blue line on it now. Then at the stairs, Yi Hui passed me one box and said it was lighter, then Melissa took that box and said the Trumpet (don't know whose) was lighter. The band seniors are so nice :) The trumpet is very light! I expected it to be a bit heavier!

There's also another time I took 2 bags, one with valve oil and the other was tied so I don't know what it had. There were 12 bottles of valve oil, all or most not used! Hahaha, I'll never have to wait as long as I did to oil my slide again! :D Another time, Rebekah passed me a drum stand then Kevin took it. So she passed me the chimes and it was making a lot of sounds and she said "It's damn noisy, just bear with it for a while. Or you wanna take this?" Then I just used my other hand to take it. Actually I could choose one because she said "or" but I took both because the chimes are small and light and I thought taking only that was too little. I've never seen that chimes before, only seen the big one. That small one has a piece of wood with chimes dangling from it. Then I went to the new room with Jaslyn, Xue Qi and Xuan Lin were in front. They already went in when Jaslyn and I were going to enter the air-con room. I tried to open the door. Actually I already pulled the handle and opened a bit already but because my hand was holding the chimes which was long, it blocked and acted like a lock. But just then someone from the inside opened the door. I was surprised because I didn't know there were people behind the door. Guess who. Darryl, haha. The bigger percussion instruments were transported by a crane! Haha! Then he workers lift it over the railings and some people take it. I kept taking pictures at this part, haha!

We didn't have lunch, only some did. In the air-con room Ms Ong asked me, Jaslyn, Xuan Lin and Xue Qi "Girls, have you all had lunch?"I shook my head and said no. Then she asked the group of guys "Boys, have you all had lunch?" The Darryl also shook his head, haha! Same question, same reply but different people, haha! She got Kevin to put the small drums on top of the cupboards. He just took the drums and put on top without even standing on a chair! Cool! :D The Ms Ong said he's not tall enough and told Jeremy (Clarinet) to get a chair. There's one percussion instrument where there are 2 parts and were separated when transporting. Then Darryl and others were trying to put the other part on the instrument but couldn't then you know what he did? He called Kevin "Cheng Heng!..." Cheng Heng didn't answer because he was in the band room and might not have heard or heard but ignored. "Taiwan!" -.- Ms Ong dismissed the Sec 1s first. Actually I think she wanted those who haven't had lunch to go for lunch then come back and continue. But later changed her mind. I was dismissed at about 2.40pm. I wonder what time my seniors were dismissed... Here are the pictures! :D

Taken from outside the old band room, the new school. We went in by here.

Taken from inside the new school, the classrooms

Inside the new air-con room, the mirror image. The door on the right leads to the band room.

Inside the new air-con room. Where I was when I took the previous picture.

Moving the 1st timpani from the crane outside the air-con room. The person on the most left is Kevin

Kevin looking downstairs after the 1st timpani came

Inside the air-con room when there were more things later. On the left is the door to the band room

Moving Bass Drum from the crane. The tall person on the left of the drum is Kevin again

Moving the big chimes from the crane. That's Kevin too

Moving 2nd timpani from the crane. The person on the most right is Darryl. I think the person blocked by the one right in front is also Kevin

Moving 3rd timpani from the crane. On the right of the drum is Kevin for the 6th time

That's Darryl with the handphone. Beside him is Jay (Trumpet) and squatting down nearest to Darryl is Kevin for the 7th time

A percussion instrument outside the air-con room after being shifted from the crane

Our section's Brass Trombone cupboard in the old band room which I took after dismissal. I'll miss it

The nice board on the right of the old band room. The bass clef on the left and treble clef in the middle are made of messages. It's the duty roster on the right. I'll miss this too

The old band room. Usually the right side would be full of instruments and only a small path beside the cupboards. I'll definitely miss the room

The cupboards taken from outside the door of the old band room. This is probably the last picture I will ever get to take of the band room

Some instruments being shifted from the crane, I didn't take because there were very few people so I thought I might need to help but I didn't in the end. The last time I saw the M-Learning Room was the last band practice, which was about 6 weeks ago. I don't have any pictures of it. I'll miss that room too. It was where the entire band squeezed inside as one band and shared laughter, music and everything. If I ever get to see the M-Learning Room again, I will take pictures of it. Today I managed to take 17 pictures! And not just of instruments like the time I took 8 trombone pictures, I took people too! :D I told myself that the mext time I see the band, I would take pictures of them and I really did! I hope I can do this every practice, haha! The next band practice is next Saturday, so it's not 6 weeks without band practice, it's 8 weeks :( But at least I saw the band and the instruments (even those spoilt) today! :D Bye!

Labels: Band, Birthday, Competitions, Concert Band, Exams, Music, Overseas, Seniors, Slide oil, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 5:59 PM

Friday, October 3, 2008

Happy Birthday Samuel!

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

Today is Samuel's birthday! I found out when I asked him on MSN last time. Didn't give him anything... :( I saw him at recess today. Also saw him after school. Actually after school, I saw all 3 of them - in less than 10 seconds. After dismissal, at the stairs outside the staff room which is near 3R1, saw Darryl. Then went down the stairs, saw Kevin. Walked out of the school building towards the gate, saw Samuel in front. WOAH... I realised our section has a lot of the number 3. My handphone number has two 3s, like Kevin's, Cai Yan's has three 3s and Darryl's has one 3. I don't know Samuel's number. My birthday is 23 November, Samuel's is 3 October, Cai Yan's is 30 May and Darryl is born in 1993. I don't know Kevin's. So altogether, that's twelve 3s. WOAH...

Labels: Birthday, Chats, Seniors

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 2:21 PM