☆Bass Trombonist!♥ :)

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Happy birthday me!

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

Today is my birthday! :D Thank you Megan (classmate) and Darryl :) Oh, and Wen Ling wished me on the last day of school in October, very early. Darryl, you really wished me twice! Haha, on MSN you said you'll wish me twice and you did! :D Megan's the first to wish me today. She SMSed me at 10.59am when I was still sleeping! As I said, the bag is my present. I'm bringing it to Genting. I got red packets also. And I got a mint cake! I never seen a mint cake before, inside is vanilla cake (I didn't taste any vanilla though). Look at the candles! Yellow & blue, NAS school colours! That's why I used those instead of others. I got it yesterday after the briefing for Taiwan trip. The Bands going to Genting tomorrow! :D So cool! We'll be there for 5 days! :D

Bye!

Labels: Birthday, Competitions, Events/Occassions, Overseas

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 5:46 PM

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Band practice

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

I'll only summarise the day's happenings from now, because I'll be writing the full story in my diary, and also because some people won't want to read if it's too long.

Band practice today! :D I found my water bottle the exact same place I left it on Wednesday, haha! I went to wash and refill it. I used my new bag today. I was taking out Kevin's trombone when I said I want to use bass trombone again and just at that exact instant Darryl opened the door!! Kevin had a haircut too! Haha, maybe he also had it yesterday like me! His hair is so short now. People didn't notice I cu hair, though I felt it's a lot shorter now. Anyway, we warmed up with Chromatic Low Tones. Then Ms Ong came with Benedict and Yi Hui who'd gone downstairs to try the 2 new uniform designs. Yi Hui was wearing white blouse and black skirt with red plaits and red blazer. Benedict was in all black and red blazer too. I think the white and black one's much nicer, but a lot of people said all black was nicer :( Why must we even change, the current one is very nice, but Darryl called it a banana suit -.- After that we continued with Total Training, then went for sectionals! :D I think sectionals was fun today! :D :D

We practised both songs. Singapura Medley first then Novena. There's a part where there's 3 minims of note G and it's slurred. Darryl say it's 6 counts so don't tongue. I've always been tonguing. Was wondering why the first 4 counts is 2 minims and not 1 semibreve... He said the composer was tying to trick people... Anyway, the chorus part we're supposed to play the whole phrase then breathe but I play till there then tired already. I asked if I can breathe quickly in between then he started teaching me Science :D Triple Science guy!! :D "Human reaction takes about 0.3 to 0.5 seconds and you still need to think, so everything should be 1 second plus then the judges can tell already..." And I like to hear him tell stories. He said Terrence was from trombone and bla bla... We moved on to Novena later.

I said I can't do something then Darryl asked "Then how ah?..." I said "..die..." "No la! Won't die one la!" Haha! Cai Yan cme when we're doing Novena. She clapped tempo for us. She doesn't know Novena. Darryl & Kevin said Samuel quit :( After a while, Darryl gave us 5min break. Kein said he wanted to play basketball then Darryl said something like, who want to play with you? The bangla ah? Even the bangla also got better things to do! He asked: Taiwan got bangla ah? Kevin: Of course la! Darryl: I mean construction worker one, have or not? Kevin: ..... How I know?! I asked Cai Yan: They always argue like that ah? Cai Yan: I know how you feel. Haha, I think she's experienced it before too. Cai Yan took out the bass trombone during the break but I didn't see her use... I took 12 pictures during the break! :D

Bass trombone! :D

T3 & T2! :D (Kevin used T2)

Kevin's trombone, T3 & T2! :D

Our trombones! :D

Neat & nice! :D

We are one section!!! Yeah!

The bells are exactly aligned! :D

We love trombones! :D

Our sectionals place! :D

Sectionals outside the store room

The band's side of the store room! :D

Our trombone cupboard with the bass trombone case and a mute! :D

After the break, which ended at 10.30am (30min), was combined practice. Our instruments came back! :D We changed back to our own instruments. Cai Yan lectured the band for being late from break. I wasn't late, so I didn't feel anything except that she's doing the right thing. We started combined at 11am. Darryl was in the store room until 11.30am cleaning his trombone! When he came out we just stopped -.- We played both songs and I couldn't pitch the high notes -.- Don't tell me I'm so used to Kevin's trombone already -.- Ms Ong gave the schedule for Dec practice. There was supposed to be none but we need to practise for the Sec 1 Orientation and CNY 2009. I was gonna ask Darryl if he can come for every practice then I said "Eh why they put one "Merry Christmas" here?..." Then he said "Oh ya when's your birthday?" I was gonna say 23rd November but I remembered today's 22nd then "Errr..." came out instead and I checked my watch for date and said "Tomorrow" haha! He said "Happy Birthday in advance" Yay :D And shake hand too :) So nice, he's the only one in band who remembered. (I think he remembered)

I said I can't go for the first 2 practices because I'm going to Taiwan. "Oh ya (immediately turns to Kevin) She's going to Taiwan. Cliff lectured us then we went to keep our instruments then shift them down to the conference room. I was doing nothing when Darryl asked me to lend him my water bottle. My reaction very funny... "Wait ah wait ah!" Then put my mouth to the bottle and drink (aka suck it) then pass to him. HAHAHAHAHA!! His expression was... don't know how to explain. Haha! Bye!

Labels: Band, Birthday, Break, Chats, Competitions, Events/Occassions, Overseas, Seniors, Slide oil, songs, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 10:44 PM

Friday, November 21, 2008

Haircut

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

I had a haircut today. I dislike having haircuts. I haven't had one this year and last year. I don't remember when I last had one but my mother says I haven't had one for years. My hair was so long, now it's shorter. I cried. I always do when I'm forced to get a haircut, which is every time I get one because I never willingly get my hair cut. At least I still have one picture when my hair was so long. Sunday is my birthday and Monday I'm leaving for Genting! I realised that every year, me, Kevin and Darryl's birthdays will be on the same day of the week, and Samuel's will be 2 days of the week earlier. Anyway, why do I have to cut hair just before my birthday and the trip? I'm gonna get a bag for my birthday. I got it yesterday. It's black and reflective, I've been looking for it for quite some times. My mother paid for it :) I hope we'll get at least Silver for the competition, or else it won't be such a nice birthday after all. I hope people (from band) will remember my birthday :) Bye.

Labels: Birthday, Competitions, Events/Occassions, Overseas

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 4:43 PM

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Band practice

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

Band practice today. I'm not very happy today... nobody talked to me, except the usual people, some other Sec 1s. Sometimes I have a feeling that my senior/s don't like me... (I mean don't like not dislike) I don't like that feeling... When I get that feeling, I feel left out, I wonder if I did anything wrong or anything they didn't like. I wonder why they talk to each other but not me, after all I'm in their section too. Anyway, I alighted the bus a stop after the school because I was hungry and wanted to buy something to eat. I thought practice starts at 1pm so I ate at 10+am and went to change and tie hair everything. Then when I was wearing my socks, I remembered seeing 2pm on the schedule somewhere. I checked and realised, it's 2-6pm haha. That's why I was hungry. I bought waffle and when walking to school, I saw Jaslyn. Then later we saw Ms Leong. I asked her about the change that we've not gotten back for Standard Of Excellence (book). She said Ms Ong put it in the band fund?! And we didn't even know. It's our money, then just take and put in band fund? Anyway, everyone was at the tables, don't know why they didn't go upstairs. Shortly after I reached, we went upstairs and I haven't finished my food haha, so kept in my bag.

Darryl took out T3 and set up the trombone, then he wanted to keep the case back and I told him I haven't took mine yet, then he help me take Kevin's trombone. I said I'm using bass trombone eh. He was like so surprised, haha. His expression was... I don't know and he went "Huh?...Heavy or not?" I just say a bit la. Then he help me take the bass trombone case. Luckily, or else I think I cannot take it, too heavy. I set up the bass trombone, took stand, Total Training and my file and went out. Help him set up stand also. Then started with Chromatic Low tones then Total Training. Brayton conducted. I managed to make the cool sound on the low notes again :) Mr Yeo said if I can do that on bass trombone then that'll be the coolest thing that ever happened to me, haha. So the coolest thing happened to me, but too bad, it'll only be today and maybe never again. Because when we're going to finish Total Training, I asked Mr Yeo (sitting at Brayton's seat in front of me) and he asked why. I said it was heavy and Darryl said it was too big for me. Actually it's not too big, it's just heavy! Then he said 2 more exercises then I can change. Darryl didn't put tissue at his water key so saliva was dripping/spraing out and Mr Yeo saw it and kept staring at it and Darryl, hahaha! Then I started hitting my left shoulder and he said "1 more exercise only! 1 more only!" Haha. But actually after that last one he took over and did 2 more, but it's scales only. Then he said I can change now. Then I look at Kevin's trombone, and he said again "You can change now" and pointed to the store room. Then Darryl said there's no more tenor trombone. Mr Yeo asked if there's only these 2 (T3 and Kevin's) then they said ya?? There's also T1 &T2. And they said the rest is all bass trombone. (I only remember seeing 1 bass trombone) then he called them into the store room. Darryl came out and say I use Kevin's trombone, then he took the bass trombone in, then Kevin came out with a silver trombone (either T1 or T2).

Tenor trombone that Kevin used :) Took it during break.

I think Mr Yeo doesn't want him to use bass trombone as he's playing 1st trombone part. T1 & T2 were on top of the cupboards, how did they get it?... After that Mr Yeo said we're gonna play our 2 songs 5 times today, but not just play and play. We'll play once then make some parts better then play again like that. So no sectionals today. Started with Singapura Medley.

Then Novena, then SM and Novena again. Then instead of SM then Novena, it's Novena then SM. After that I think it was break at 4.30-5pm. I was thirsty and went into the store room to take my bottle and brought it out like what Kevin told me last practise. A few people were playing Novena, then when their melody ended, other people continued :O So they were practising together, I thought they weren't, haha, so I joined in too! And Tian Hoe was conducting -.- He isn't a student conductor and it's obvious, there's more than once his speed is wrong and I have no idea why they followed his wrong speed. Then SM, practised together also, and he's still conducting. For this one I didn't play throughout, just the melody and some other parts where my parts should be heard. Actually where my part should be heard is where other people are playing the same thing, so I should play where I'm different from them right? Haha! After the break, we did the songs again. I don't know whether once or twice, but I know that the last time was already after 6pm. We played so many times I forgot the order of things that happened and when who said/did what.

Anyway, I'll mention not in order, things that happened. Mr Yeo said our melody (Chan mali chan....) we blended so well that he couldn't hear us! :O Oh my gosh, this isn't good. And also, there's once Mr Yeo was talking about cream or something, he asked what is used to make it. Kevin said egg yolk, then Taufiq corrected him by saying egg white. Hahaha! Egg yolk! :D But Mr Yeo said something and sugar (forgot what) he didn't mention eggs, haha. And also, the part before Novena melody, they play louder then at the melody Mr Yeo does action that tells them to be softer then the flutes and clarinets can be heard at the melody (and also flutes and clarinets add up to a lot of people). But the part before my melody, they play loud, when it's my melody Mr Yeo doesn't tell them to be softer and they're still loud, and louder than my melody -.- When it's their melody, they got more people at melody than accompaniment, and the accompaniment gets softer during the melody. But our melody, there's more people at accompaniment than melody and they don't get softer during our melody :( The melody so soft :( We're dismissed late today. Past 6 already then we did our last round of the 2 songs. I realised I left my bottle in the room when I was at the bus stop!! -.- Bye... :(

Labels: Band, Break, Competitions, Concerts/Performances, Events/Occassions, Overseas, Seniors, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 9:52 PM

Monday, November 17, 2008

Band practice

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

Band practice today! :D We practised Novena only, no Singapura Medley. Darryl didn't come, he was sick... :( Kevin was not that late today, but still late a few minutes, he came before warm ups. He actually sat beside me today instead :O I oiled the slide again! I think this slide need to oil every practice, the top always so stiff! We did Low Chromatic Tones first then Total Training. Kevin didn't take Total Training and we were gonna use it so I rushed in the store room to get it. Brayton conducted all the warm ups, even after the conductors came. I think my low notes (Low B flat downwards) are so cool! I love the sound! It sounds so loud, so nice, so brass! :D I always try to blow more air so I can make that sound when it comes to those notes. Too little air then it'll be no different from my other notes. Ms Leong was standing beside me when I was playing the low notes. She said don't blast. Huh? I wasn't blasting... And she said keep the air going... Huh? My sound was straight, it didn't break... And last time Mr Yeo liked that sound but Ms Leong tell me don't blast? Anyway, later Mr Yeo was beside me when I was playing the low notes, then he wanted to tell me to make a stronger sound, his action was funny and I wanted to laugh, but of course didn't. After warm ups, we started Novena.

Brasses and Woodwinds separated. Shortly after we started, Trombone and Eupho were sent out to practise the first bar where there's high F, for like 10min only. Kevin learnt useful stuff at his workshop on Saturday. Then we went back in and continued Novena. Then after a while more, we all (brasses) went for sectionals. Didn't do a lot like usual. Kevin took me at first, but later we just practise on our own. We didn't play the whole song at once, we did part by part. Sometimes when one of us don't play we still continue because the other plays although it's different parts. Mostly when this happened, it's Kevin couldn't get his high notes then I continued with mine then he come in again. But sometimes when we both stop then have to play the part again. Practising half way Kevin wanted to drink water, he tell me to drink also, so I also go take my bottle and bring out. He said sometimes the mouth gets dry and cannot play the high notes but we won't feel thirsty, so I should bring water and put with me not inside the room like Darryl, haha. I always put it in the room, but I won't anymore after today :) See, I listen to Senior!

We're near trumpets, and behind us there's a room like a hall or something. Then they opened the window to see inside then Kevin also, but the lower window couldn't open so he open the higher one. From where I was, and given my height, I only saw the lights on the ceiling -.- All the windows are high also. Then later he tried to open the lower window but cannot then he go from left to right, trying all the lower windows, haha! Then Mr Yeo went to trumpets and did something with their mouthpiece, then me and Kevin were curiously staring at them, hahaha. Then he came and see our mouthpiece. Mine is fine, but when he saw Kevin's mouthpiece, he go stick some metal thing into the mouthpiece and twist it then take it out. I think it's cleaning the inside of the mouthpiece. After we stop practising together, I was bored so I pulled out the tuning slide and couldn't put it back, hahaha. When I put it back in, it got stuck, and Kevin was looking. Then I was pushing and pushing, then finally it went in, went in all the way and had the 'ching!' sound :S Then he also go pull out his tuning slide and ask me for tissue paper and start wiping one part of it, don't know why also... I tried the starting part of Singapura Medley, but once only, then go back to Novena. Then at about 3.30pm Mr Yeo said we have 30min break, so we put our things in the room and Kevin went for break while I stayed. At first I rested then later I played a bit. I lowered Kevin's stand (because when we have sectionals we stand so we put it higher) and tried playing his parts. I managed some :) And I took pictures! :D

Bass trombone! :D

Kevin's trombone (tenor) which I'm using :D

After break, the whole band combined for Novena. Kevin kept laughing today, I got influenced by him and also kept laughing. Why's he so... happy today? Haha. He's laughing at everything! There's one part he focus on what the woodwinds play, then he ask "Can I have all those people playing (sings tune) ji ji ji ji ji..." (which is quite a weird way to sing) then he also laugh. He still mention the aeroplane thing. After that part, the brasses come in. Then Mr Yeo sang "turbulence" with the tune, haha. Yay, trombone play turbulence part. But actually what he sang is not what I play. He sang 3 notes, mine is 4 notes. I thought that's the flute part... I don't know, maybe other brasses have that 3 notes. Last time the turbulence that he said was on page 2, this one is on page 1. We have another turbulence, yay!

Mr Yeo was at the bottom of page 1, the trombones' and euphoniums' melody. Then he asked Kevin if he's using bass trombone to play 1st trombone. Kevin explained that my instrument and Darryl's instrument were sent for repair so I used his, so he used the bass trombone. Then Mr Yeo said I'm using tenor trombone to play bass trombone part and he's using bass trombone to play 1st trombone. Then asked us to change. Kevin said "Darryl say..." and didn't continue. Mr Yeo asked what it was but he didn't say. I said "You want me to die ah?" Then he looked like he was going to change, then I said "I cannot play!" then he tell Mr Yeo "She say she cannot play" but he still ask us to change. And say to change now, but we didn't immediately change, we were like don't know what to do like that... Then he said "Just change the trombone, don't need to change the mouthpiece, or else you'll be kissing each other" I thought the whole band would laugh, but to my surprise they didn't, just some of them made some sounds, don't know what... He should speak more carefully or it'll cause trouble. It's not like we're same gender, if we were then yes, it would be funny but we're not, so it's not funny but inappropriate instead...

When I changed trombone it was already about 5.40pm, only 20min more. Then after I changed trombone with him (and kept the mouthpiece) he asked me to play my scale. I ask which scale. Haha, B flat major. The first note I played, I played F, then they started laughing, even Mr Yeo, and I also laughed. Then he said something like "Is that concert B flat?" Then I played again, this time correctly and went up the scale and stopped at high B flat. I used trigger for the 2nd note, C :D Then he said something about "rrrrrr" sound. I thought he was talking about the kind of sound I make when my embouchure too loose, but apparently he wasn't... He then told the band "When we were doing Total Training, she was going "rrrrrrr"" Then I understood, he was talking about the cool sound when I played the low notes. They laughed when he said that, but I think they don't even know what he means. How can they know if even I don't? I only understood when he said during Total Training. Then he said "If you can make that kind of sound on the bass trombone, that will be the coolest thing that ever happened to you." Then something like "Like Mighty Mouse like that, so small but use bass trombone!" They laughed, I also laughed. I didn't even know what Mighty Mouse is. I thought maybe he meant a mouse that's mighty, haha. YEAH!! I'M SO COOL!! :D :D :D I continued using bass trombone all the way. I USED BASS TROMBONE!!! But with tenor trombone mouthpiece, which is smaller. Not that I don't wanna change but I can't because our mouthpieces got our saliva. I can't use bass mouthpiece. Last time I used wrong one, I used bass mouthpiece with my gold tenor trombone and I couldn't play properly. That was only tenor, if I use bass mouthpiece with bass trombone I think it'll be worse. Bass trombone was not as heavy or difficult as I thought. I thought I won't have enough air as it needs more air, but I used the same air as tenor and I still played. Maybe it's because I'm, not using bass mouthpiece. Imagine Darryl's reaction when he finds out I played bass trombone today. I have to continue using it, so I think he will see on Wednesday, haha.

Then they brought up the issue about band uniform. 7 people don't have it, but we need it for the competition. Actually Sec 2s also don't have but they borrow from seniors. Sec 1s don't even have at all. Kevin said he's blazer is only until his stomach, haha! Then I said his long pants also very short. It's slightly more than 3 quarters the length of is legs only! They said I could borrow from Mavis. (She's not going to Genting and she's same size as me) At first they were saying who take from Cheng Heng, who take from Bryan. Then when they ask those who don't have to stand, we stand then they ask "Eh then the girls leh?" And Kevin laugh again. Not funny also he laugh. He say the girls wear long pants -.- I was like "No!" Haha! So it's confirmed I take from Mavis :) Her skirt is 24 and blouse is 32. My school skirt is 28 and too big so I think 24 can. I bought 23 initially but changed. 23 have to wear so high, so ugly so I got 28. My school blouse is 34, also too big, so 32 is just nice I think. Yay! :) We're changing band uniform, so I will definitely get one right? But it's black inside! :( Now inside is all beige. They said our uniform is ugly when it's actually so nice and different from others. Now they're gonna change to something uglier? All black inside and red blazer (same blazer I think)? Not nice. Bye!

Labels: Band, Break, Chats, Competitions, Concerts/Performances, Events/Occassions, Seniors, Slide oil, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 9:28 PM

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Band practice

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

Band practice today! It was supposed to be 8am to 12pm but it wasn't. Darryl didn't come. I thought he said he was coming... Either today or next Saturday. Cheng Heng had a workshop today, so he also didn't come, so I'm alone today. I took T3 today! I thought it'll be easier than Kevin's trombone. First time using T3 after changing trombone. Then I went to the classroom block toilet to wash the mouthpiece. When I went back, we took attendance and went out for sectionals. T3's water key is really leaking. Some times I saw water spray out from it, so I put tissue paper. I'm addicted to tissue paper too! Hahaha! Sectionals from 8am to 9.30am I practised by myself :) Novena & Singapura Medley. Ok, this is one time when nothing funny happens in the section because there's only one person :( Then when we're practising half way, it was only 9.10+am but Cliff told us to go back in because there were parents walking around. There's brak until 10.15am. I took a picture!

Serene & Shi Mei's alto saxophones. Looks like mirror image right?

Today's open house, we already decided no to perform downstairs at the canteen but we were still performing in the room. The alumni person called Jezer came and he used Kevin's trombone. Ms Ong was here since we went back into the room all the way until practice ended. She called on visitors to come and see the band. There was a poster outside the room with our name, Ngee Ann Secondary School Concert Band, and wrote our performance times-1030,1130,1230 and 1330. It's ridiculous. They didn't even tell us we're performing and just put posters. We were supposed to end at 12pm but ended at 1.20pm.

We played many songs. Novena, Singapura Medley, March "Blue Sky", YMCA and Seagate Overture (I didn't play, I didn't have this score). Jezer took out Kevin's scores and messed it up a bit. He took them out of the pockets and didn't put it back before he left. So I put it back but don't know if I put it in the correct place. Singapura Medley is so slow then I play half way and start playing wrong notes, correct position but embouchure loose already, I think. I prefer Novena, it's faster and most of the high notes aren't that long. Some times after we played, we got applause! :D First one was from Ms Ong and a visitor. Once the applause was louder, then we turned behind, our seniors! :D Cai Yan, Zhi Hui, Xue Ting and Shir Lin came. Jezer emptied his saliva on the floor!!! Then he left and cleaned the saliva first. Then we played YMCA. Cai Yan sat beside me a while and see Kevin's file (all the Chinese words and drawing of eyes, haha) then see how I play. But I only played the very easy part, because when it comes to around part B, my sound gets a bit weird. One senior ever said that kind of "rrrrr" sound is because embouchure too loose. And some more Cai Yan beside me, I don't wanna play wrong notes in front her. Other times I don't really care, but still care. If I knew today was like this I would have used Kevin's trombone instead of T3 which is softer. Jaslyn's alone today, so at the melody where there's only trombone and eupho, it's very soft! And it can be heard when I play wrongly. And sometimes I can't hear a melody at all...

M Ong was talking to some people when we were not playing. Then she sudden;y said "Rebecca, can you hold up the trombone?" Then I just hold up a bit and the band's like "Woa...." Then Cliff said "Not high enough, stand up stand up" but I saw Ms Ong was talking to them already so I didn't stand... Cliff really wants to show off the band, haha! I should've done like Chen Hua did before. He held his baritone saxophone above him and he was standing too, haha! I should've stood up and held the trombone high, face upwards and go to position 7, hahaha! That'd be something I wanna see! :D If I'd known we're playing YMCA I would've practised it during sectionals. There were some extra chairs (so many people not here, especially brasses, woodwinds too many cannot here lower brasses) so the visitors could sit in the room. Luckily I'm not near them. Later, Cliff decided that the songs we play were too long, the people got bored and walked away, so he decided to play part of the songs only. Novena-bar41-96, Singapura Medley-bar 53 to the end. Just the fast parts of the 2 songs.

There was lunch at 12pm, it was provided but I didn't eat much. I asked Ms Ong why she told me to hold the trombone. She was telling the visitors that they need long hands to play trombone. Haha! :D Great job Ms Ong! I went back to the room after lunch, there was only me, Xue Qi, Cliff and Jaslyn. I went to keep T3 and took out Kevin's trombone. I went to wash the mouthpiece, Jezer used that one. There's 2 but I recognised it by a dent on it, which may've been made by me. And he didn't wash the mouthpiece first before using. The toilet was locked -.- so I used the water cooler. On the poster, there were concert times but actually we just kept playing even when there was no one walking past. I kept looking at the people watching -.- What for actually, they should be looking at us. I saw a person talking about trombone. Trombone is cool, yeah I know. Even when I'm not blowing (too tired or sound not nice) I still position because I want people to notice trombone. I think I'm the most attention-seeking one because I move a lot. I purposely try to show off trombone, haha. We really just kept playing non-stop!!!

I also emptied saliva on the floor but immediately cleaned it. Then put paper on the floor and empty on it. Only for our very last performance there was a whole group of people gathered to watch -.- It's our last performance and we're all tired already then they come and there were less people earlier when we're not so tired -.- I only slept 5h last night (couldn't sleep) and play so much today... I'm tired... DARRYL!!!!! Well, I don't know if it's the trombone or me, now I can pitch high F. I hope I can it on my trombone too. When I closed the trombone cupboard door, I knocked my own head. Ridiculous. Nadhirah said I look so tired. Ms Ong said it's the Sec 1s first time playing so many times. I seriously need to improve!!! Bye.

Labels: Band, Break, Concert Band, Concerts/Performances, Events/Occassions, People, Seniors, songs, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 10:26 PM

Friday, November 14, 2008

Band practice

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

Band practice today! :D Why does something funny happen every practice, especially in my section? :D Not something actually, a lot of things, hahaha! I love today's practice. I LOVE MY SECTION!! ♥♥♥ Today's practice was supposed to be at 2pm but last practice, Cliff told us to come at 1pm, I think so that we have more time to practise for SLF. I reached the room later than usual, at about 12.50+pm. Quite a number of people were there already, including Darryl, whom I didn't see until after a while. He was just to the right of the staircase door, but I went left so I didn't see him, haha. Only after how long then I saw the long pants but not the face then I asked Xue Qi if he's here and she said he was. Haha. Cliff couldn't find the key so he was running up and down trying to find it. He said the keys were with the CO who have no use for the room but want to keep the keys so they can keep their instruments -.- When Mr Lim came, he explained why we started after 1pm and he said the girl (I don't know who) put the keys in the keybox -.- so he couldn't get it. We were late by 30min, but still, not many were here. Cliff asked us to look for scores of Mamma Mia, YMCA, Tequila and Heal The World, so Darryl go find. By the way, he's still using T3! He reached the cupboard first so actually he could have chosen to use Kevin's trombone, but he took T3, haha. I was thinking of using T3 today... Later Cliff said just use YMCA. We tried YMCA and the scores are still in my file, because it kept dropping so I put it in my file first, and it's still here. YMCA is easy, not that I can play everything, but it's easy, and it's nice too :) But later he said we're not performing tomorrow :( I want to play YMCA!

Then after trying YMCA, we did Total Training for warm up. Kevin came at 2pm because it's written on the schedule 2pm and he didn't come last practice, he had flu... After Total Training, Cliff told us to go outside and tune but out section doesn't have the new tuner cum metronome. Ms Leong told us to do sectionals, so sectionals it was. From I think 2pm to 4pm sectionals. I told them that just now Cliff told us to decide for Genting which hand to hold the instrument, how to put it at rest position all that. (Darryl was looking for the scores in the store room and Kevin wasn't here yet) Darryl said use left hand to hold and rest position. He used imaginary chair :D By leaning against the wall (he really looks like he's got a chair) then put at the left side. I was thinking, then why do we always put it in front during practices? Darryl was telling Karl that Ms Tiong is going to Genting with us. Kevin and Darryl both don't like her. I asked "What's wrong with her?" He said that time during the tapestry, the band was holding their instruments with the right hand, and they held the trombones on the left, then she asked them to hold it with the right hand -.- That's ridiculous. And, if that time the whole band decides on which side to hold, how come this time it's within the section only? Anyway, it'll still be fine if within the section it's the same but not the whole band is the same.

We practised Singapura Medley first then Novena. Darryl and Kevin keep getting distracted by what's happening downstairs and by themselves -.- They keep arguing! Darryl put tissue paper at the water key and it tore -.- Just now in the room he asked a tissue from me, then it tore and only a small part left on the trombone. Actually can just take and put it back, but he go ask another one -.- Then during sectionals (opposite) a small piece tore off. I went "Why your tissue keep on tearing one?!" He say he stepped on it, and this time the bigger portion is left so he didn't ask another one.

Kevin: Why you still put tissue paper?! This one also don't need already, you addicted ah?! Darryl: Leaking what!
Me: It's not leaking!
Darryl: Then you...
(I know what he wants to say. Last practice I told him there's saliva on the floor, from T3) Kevin: Ya la, it's not leaking! You addicted la! You addicted to tissue paper ah?! First time see people addicted to tissue paper. You go Malaysia (Genting) then come back with one roll of toilet paper.
Me: (Laugh, hahaha!)

Darryl was pretending to be Mr Tan (one of the discipline masters) and shouted "Eh! Student!" at particular people in the store room, imitating how Mr Tan shouts. (We're having sectionals outside the store room) And another funny incident... Kevin kept leaning against the wall, then Darryl tell him not to lean and even push him but he kept resisting. Then also sometimes he stand near the wall, and Darryl say he will lean later but Kevin doesn't want to move forward. That's how they waste time. That's not the funny part. I got influenced by them and started leaning against the wall too -.- Haha. Darryl ask me not to lean then I get up but didn't move forward. Then he ask me to move in front, but I don't want. Haha. Then he say I will lean later, it's a natural habit. Then I said "No..." right after, that I lean, but quickly got up after I realised I was touching the wall. HAHAHAHAHA!!! Then Kevin started laughing and laughing and laughing. And I think Darryl still didn't know what happened, because he wasn't looking behind and also my movement wasn't that big because I was still near the wall (I didn't move forward when he told me to). Kevin burst out laughing. Kevin: No...then..(leans) Imitating me, and still laughing. But Kevin's further so he can see behind. Then I said "That was ac-ci-den-tal!..." Darryl: Ya, accidents happen!... That was really accidental la Darryl & Kevin!! I didn't lean, I just touched the wall, and moved after I realised I was touching the wall. Because my body swayed a bit but I was so close to the wall that's why it looks like leaning la! You expect me to stand still and not move at all is it?! I wasn't leaning la! Haha, that was funny. I didn't resist as much as Kevin ok! I only didn't want to move that one time. There's also another time where I move a bit then he ask me to move some more then I move a bit more, but that's all! Other times I listened to him as usual because I'm a good junior! :D

I think I'm better today ^_^ I pitched high F for Novena, and not just once! Yay! But later I got tired already... And in Singapura Medley, there's one bar I'm supposed to play A flat, but instead I keep playing high C which is 1st trombone's part. I keep playing C as if it's my part... maybe it's because we won't have 1st trombone in Genting. It doesn't matter if I play C does it? We're supposed to have a C anyway... DL gave us a 5min break in between (they wanted to drink water, and I also but didn't say it) oiled the slide again, because it was still stiff after oiling yesterday. Then later he gave us 10min break but we're called in because Mr Yeo was here. I took pictures during the 10min break! :D

See, how neat & nice. All our trombones in a straight line, gold silver gold ^_^ If only the stands and wall weren't so close, and the tissue wasn't there, it'll be perfect!

Bass trombone. The bell is so big!

We did Singapura Medley first then Novena. I think the band sounds beautiful today! :) Mr Yeo likened the song to an aeroplane for Novena :D There's once where the woodwinds have the melody (56)(that I also have but later) then when it came to that past, Mr Yeo did some action like an aeroplane flying then Gaby laughed. She's always laughing a lot. He said the percussion part before bar 56 is when the aeroplane's taking off. Then bar 56 the 8 bars is like in an aeroplane flying. Then when it came to our melody at 80 (same as 56) he said we're not flying, we're crashing -.- There's one part later where we have loud then immediately soft then get louder again. He said it's the turbulence, haha. Yay, we play the turbulence part! That part is cool. There's one part he says the plane is landing, then Kevin said "Taiwan!" Hahaha! I'll say that when I reach Taiwan :D (I'm going to Taiwan too!) Mr Yeo left earlier than Ms Leong. She tried the SYF set-piece with us.

Cliff asked if there's bass trombone. Kevin took it today so I said Cheng Heng but explained it's because of me. He said just give him anyway. So I did, but later Darryl say it's for me, because usually I play bass trombone part or 3rd trombone part, which is lowest. It's Overture No.1 and Overture No.2. Difficult! No.2's harder so we gave Cliff back the scores for No.2 and kept No.1. I only played the part that's all crotchets. She said it should be grade 4 or 5 but the notes are not that high so it can't be considered as grade 4/5. After trying the whole song, we're dismissed. Darryl help me keep trombone today :D I kept it in the case already then I look at the cupboard then he help me, haha. Chien Wai ask me to pass his bag then after I did, Darryl went "You bully my junior!! How could you?!" Hahaha. ??? No wonder he said if the custom pairing is not only for customs but for everything else also, sure die one. Haha, people never bully me then he scold, they bully then he never scold. Last time at 2nd National Band Competition, Sec 2s help seniors carry bag, I carry Chien Wai's bag so heavy like there's bricks in it-.-

Then while going home, I was walking down the stairs and talking about that, then I turned around and saw Darryl come out from the door! Then I walked faster and suddenly shouted "Jaslyn hurry up! If I go home late my father will force me to quit band!..." hahaha! Seriously la, last practice ended later so I reached home later, he nag like shit. Anyway, we went to Tampines Mart to buy bubble tea, then when I was waiting for them to make my drink, again I thought it was Darryl there, and it was. This time it's the black sleeve. He's wearing band T-shirt. I want band T-shirt also!! I'll wear it as much as I can hahaha. Bye!

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

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 8:28 PM

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Band practice

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

12 November 2008 Wednesday

Band practice today! :D From 1-6pm. When I was walking to school from the bus stop, Yi Hui tapped me and I said hi. She asked why I come so early, I said I always come so early, haha! Then in school we went separate ways. I was going to SMS Xue Qi to ask if she's in school already. Then Rebekah came and said can go up already (I was at the staircase. When I reached the room, I just stood outside and the railings... After a while I went in to set up my instrument and all.

I opened the cupboard and saw that me & Darryl's trombones were not there, which meant that they're sent for repair already! I remembered Cheng Heng said I could use his since he's not going to Genting. I thought: If I use his (which is gold but no trigger) Darryl will have to use T3. Haha! But I never played that trombone before so I want to try. So I took out T3 which is in front of Cheng Heng's trombone. Then I took out his trombone. The case wasn't zipped and the whole case opened and everything dropped out!!! (Except the slide) And what's more that cupboard is the highest one! Why wasn't it zipped?!?! The bell dropped out! :O The 2 mouthpieces also. And a metronome. The back cover of it broke. Germaine said that's a very old metronome. I didn't know the case wasn't zipped! Then after Jaslyn and I kept those things which dropped, back in the case, I happened to turn around and saw Darryl! He wasn't there when it dropped... Oh yes, Cliff was back today. Cheng Heng didn't come today because he has class chalet. But someone said he's sick...

Anyway, after setting up the trombone, I went out and we did warm ups. I found my section's Total Training (in a box with my section's stands and files) :D I used the stand with Cheng Heng & Samuel's name as I couldn't find the one I always use,,, I brought out the Total Training. We did Chromatic Low Tones first. Then they used a new warm up book. I don't know if my section has it or not, so I moved to sit beside Jaslyn. It's a book of scales. Then when we're half way through that book, Darryl came back from his lunch break. He went to the store room of course. While we're doing E flat Major scale, playing in thirds, he sat beside me (without instrument/stand/file, in other words, nothing with him) Then I stopped playing as I wasn't sure then he ask "Rebecca, any idea where my trombone is?" Me: Sent for repair la. Mine also sent for repair, then I use Cheng Heng's trombone. Darryl: Then Cheng Heng leh? Me: Cheng Heng...class chalet. Darryl: I have no trombone for today. Me: You use T3 la. Darryl: (Just laughs and ignores) Actually I was serious when I said that... Then I sat back at my usual place and Ms Ong gave us our itinerary for the Genting trip! :D She went through it with us.

There's also a custom pairing, for when we're at the custom checkpoint so we can help each other. People with small instruments help those with big instruments. I'm paired with Chong Jin, but what's the point? Her bass clarinet isn't that small. So how can she help me or vice versa? Some names were in capital letters. "DARRYL LIM KANGFU" Haha, don't know why. Cliff said something to Ms Ong, then I looked at the custom pairing list and people started laughing, hahaha! Mostly it's the Sec 3s, but me too, because I know his last name is Tirtamaya and not Tirtaraya! They laughed like mad, haha. Some of the pairings were pointless. Serene and Shimei and paired when they're senior & junior and have the same instrument, Alto Saxophone. Another is 2 clarinets together. Then there's me and Chong Jin. Pointless right? Why not pair me with a clarinet or someone whose instrument is smaller than a bass clarinet (which is about the same size as my trombone)?! Darryl's paired with Chien Wai. The wake up call and breakfast timing is 15min away for one of the days, I saw. How can people get ready in 15min?! Then during the workshops, we'll be separated into our sections and we'll be with people from the same section from other schools. So I'll be with Darryl only...

After the briefing, which ended 2pm+ Taufiq came and sat at Kevin's place. He asked Darryl where his trombone is and he explained. Then he asked him to use the silver one, "better than nothing". So he got up and I asked whether he wants to use this one, he said "Never mind, I try T3....You wanna use T3 right?" (I ever asked to change back to T3) Me: No...I don't want!! Haha, then he got T3 and left it at his place and went to wash mouthpiece. Last time, that day I changed trombone, I said I didn't wash mouthpiece the last practice. He said never mind because the next person to use it will have to wash it. Who ever thought the next person to use it would be Darryl himself! Haha! Then the conductors came. Mr Yeo: Are you alone? Me: No, Darryl go wash mouthpiece... Mr Yeo: Where's Darryl? Me: Go wash mouthpiece. He asked me so many times where's Darryl -.- Then he stared at T3 and asked "Who's using that?" Me: .......Darryl...(with a laugh) Then when he came back he asked him why he change trombone -.- I also changed trombone. We used Total Training. Actually Ms Leong came earlier and did till Lesson 3 no. 1 then he continued.

Me: I suddenly find this trombone so small...

Darryl: Hi Senior.... I'm surprised and look at him)...Hi...

Me: (Just laughed because I can't call him "Junior" right?!)

My senior called me "Senior"? Haha, but I cannot call him "Junior", that's not respecting him. I'm not like those people (the 3 fat idiots) who have no respect for their seniors. I respect my seniors a lot. We then did Singapura Medley first. Mr Yeo said we were gonna play both songs without stopping, if we cannot play, we cannot play. But half way through SM he stopped -.- And stopped many times after that. So actually we played it a few times. Then finally Novena, but only a bit, we didn't play the whole song. Why's this slide so stiff at the top? Oil already still so stiff! Darryl said T3 also, then I just say ya that one also. He asked how I managed to survive with it for don't know how many months. Aaaahhh..... don't know. Actually I wanted to say because your junior pro what, haha! Then we had sectionals. I want one section only, NOT bi-sectionals (2 sections) Why must practise with eupho?! When they play wrongly we have to play again. I tired eh! And the whole sectionals doing 8 bars only -.- And YAY I can empty saliva again! Third time only though. Because earlier during warm ups, Mr Yeo told me to play high B flat for tuning and I heard saliva in the sound :D And when Darryl emptied his saliva, it was grey, haha! I went "Why is this one grey?!" I never had much saliva in T3, sometimes had a few drops, other times nothing. Anyway, went back in after sectionals. Oh yes. When Ms Ong finished briefing us earlier, I put the itinerary between pockets of my file. Then I was adjusting my file on the stand and the itinerary dropped out! The saliva bowl was right there!! But luckily it didn't spill and my paper didn't get wet.

Anyway, we continued Singapura Medley. At 3.40pm we had 15min toilet break. I only drank water. When Darryl came back from toilet, he tried playing the melody part that we don't have :D We only have the chorus of the melody "Chan mali chan oi oi..." that part, he played in front of that :D Reminds me of myself! :D After break, SM some more and finally a bit of Novena. We started from the back. We ended after 6pm today and Mr Lim (band teacher) told us to bring school tie & black shoes to Genting. The Majors said we're gonna perform for Saturday's Student Learning Festival. Asked whether we want to play Mamma Mia then they didn't want. They all wanted YMCA which they play every year for Outdoor Learning Experience (OLE). I saw Mamma Mia score in the pocket of my trombone case... And I don't know how to play YMCA! Have to learn it on Friday. So they decided on YMCA, the Majors said Sec 2s and Sec 3s play then Sec 2s do what? Sec 3s: DANCE!!! DANCE!! Haha, no, I want to play! Apparently when the Sec 3s were Sec 1s, they danced while their seniors played! :D Then Mr Lim wanted to see some students.

First name already wrong. "Adam Tan...(says next name)" "Huh?? Who's Adam Tan? Who's Adam Tan??" Then I remembered Sherina is Tan Sherina Adam. Haha. Last name also wrong. "And...Germany!" "Hahahaha...!" It's Germaine! -.- What's wrong with him?! Then we're dismissed and we went to keep instruments. Darryl didn't help me keep the trombones into the cupboard. It's so high how to lift the trombone?! But Jaslyn helped me with Kevin's trombone. She carried one side, I carried the other and lifted it into the cupboard. Thanks :) T3, I think I did it myself. How can Darryl bully junior? :( Poor Darryl, have to wash the bowl though most of the saliva is from Taufiq's eupho -.- After practice, he was like, take out one slide and empty, then take out another one... There's 4 altogether. Suddenly there's so much water on our bowl. Then Mabeline from the back also come and empty. Shimei earlier on also. So many people -.- By right he shouldn't wash the bowl. Then when he came back, he just threw the bowl at the back of the cupboard. It's so high, Kevin won't be here next practice as he's helping out in the Sec 1 Orientation. So who's gonna take the bowl? Darryl himself can't! Haha! Bye!

Labels: Band, Break, Chats, Competitions, Concerts/Performances, Events/Occassions, Names, Overseas, Seniors, Slide oil, songs, Trombone

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

Monday, November 10, 2008

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

I just ate my breakfast a while ago. I know it's afternoon now, but I woke up late so I think I ate at almost 12pm. I ate bread with Nutella spread. I realised that when I use the knife to scoop up the Nutella, it'll be like dripping from the knife, so I had an idea. Look at this! :D

TROMBONE ♥

Then I edited my favourite picture of T T3. Look at this! :D

T T3 :D I added a frame and the words T T3 :D

I love T T3!♥ I love gold trombone!♥ Bye!

Labels: Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 12:44 PM

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Band practice

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

Band practice today! :D The shutters were not open again, and Liang Rong has the key?!?! He came and opened it, haha. We went upstairs and set up our instruments then went downstairs for marching! :D Before we went down it was 8.20am. How in the world does Cheng Heng know we'll be marching?! He was there when I went down. Then we went to the area beside the classroom block and at first we just made rows of 3, then they arranged us according to height. I don't understand how they arrange... First they arranged us in 1 line according to height (Kevin right at the end :D) Why am I so far to the left?! I'm not that short! I'm taller than some people on my right! Then we have alternate numbers 1 2 1 2...number 1s step in front, number 2s step behind. Then the row of number 2s go behind the row of number 1s. Yeah, then from there make the rows of 3. I'm somewhere in the middle -.- I'm not that short ok! I shouldn't be there! I'm beside Faris (the shortest person in band) and Mavis.

Then we started with the marching! :D Today the Sec 1s weren't separated from the rest. But we didn't know some commands, so we just followed what the others did. We haven't even learnt marching on the spot yet, we've only learnt turning (on the spot) and some other on the spot commands. Today marching's very fun and funny! :D We started with those that I already learnt. The ke kanan lurus we've been learning is wrong! :O Liang Rong said it's just tilt the head right and bang, there's no lifting up the right hand. Rebekah said when she did that in the NCO Camp, everyone looked at her, haha! Then the first command that I didn't know was march. I see the others start marching so I follow. Then also there's the commands for turning while marching (there's turning 90 degrees and turning left and right). Oh yes, Rebekah and Liang Rog are back from NCO Camp so they taught us marching. Then when we turn left while marching, I'm on the right, then I have to take super big steps because we're taking big steps in the first place, so when we're turning left I have to take bigger steps -.- Which I couldn't do, because it's way too big, I'm not Cheng Heng. Haha, we kept taking steps too big, it's supposed to be smaller. And not many people were counting, only a handful. I was also not counting out loud, only counting to myself, which is useless. Yay, I learnt a lot of new commands today! :D I recognise them by sound. Liang Rong demonstrated the turning 90 degrees one and another one which is quite funny...March half way then bang on the right leg. Huh, what's that for??? Then he asked all the Sec 1s whether we're clear. Then when he asked me I shook my head then he move on -.- Luckily Rebekah was observant enough and said "I thought Rebecca not sure?" Then he showed us again -.- There's a room there that I think CO uses, then the door kept opening and closing by itself with an irritating sound. Then Rebekah go there and I think slammed the door, then Liang Rong was like "What you doing??" She said "Very irritating!!" Haha! Oh yes, half way in between there was a break, then I was tying my hair, and then suddenly they ask us to get back in position -.- Haha! Then at 9.20am we went back upstairs for sectionals! :D

After we went upstairs, there was a break from 9.30am to 10am. I stayed in the room. Then later Cheng Heng came back and when Liang Rong asked us to go for sectionals, it was 10.10+am already. But Cheng Heng was seeing Ms Ong so I waited for him. Then we went for sectionals near the place we had sectionals last Saturday. Ok, so now I know, Darryl has sectionals on the right, Cheng Heng has sectionals on the left. We did Chromatic Low Tones for warm up, then he taught me Singapura Medley. We played the whole song first. There's once he asked me to play high C then I pitched high E flat, then I thought it was wrong, so I look at him then he say "Ok you rest first" Haha, but why? See, my seniors so nice, let me rest in between playing :D What nice seniors I have! It's even better that all of them are nice :D I think he's a lot better at teaching than when we first saw each other, haha!

I heard someone call "Trombones" then I looked, oh it's Germaine. She asked if there's any problem with our instruments. Then we said Darryl's and my water keys are leaking. Then she told us to take out all the spoilt instruments, then Cheng Heng asked exactly what I wanted to know "Then those spoilt but no one using the instruments leh?" Haha, she said just take out all that are spoilt. She also asked if we have other trombones to play if it's sent to repair. Cheng Heng said the silver trombone-exactly what I was thinking (T3) :D Then Darryl...don't know. He also said I could also use his trombone since he's not going to Genting. So happy!! Our instruments are finally going to be fixed!! Yay! Now, what about new files? :D Hehe (I don't even have an old band file) Then we continued with our sectionals! He asked me to draw breath marks later. He said draw a big V. How big? As big as his (which Ms Leong drew) but don't need so thick. Huh..?! Never mindd la, nobody's going to see the score. Haha :D Cheng Heng asked me to play one part very loud and I "Huh...?!" Haha! Then there's once we were at the second last bar then lost. He play one note then stop, then I play one note then stop, then we look at each other, haha! I think because we didn't play properly before the 2 count rest so we got lost together, hahaha! Liang Rong said sectionals until 11.15am, so it's about an hour. Then at 11+am, Cheng Heng said now we just wait for them to call us back in. Then I draw breath marks on my score while he tell me where to draw big V or comma. Then it wasn't 11.15am yet, but the clarinet section started going back, so Cheng Heng ask me to go back also, haha. We're early! :D

We saw Rebekah teaching Brendan note values for rest and play notes (notes that aren't rest, haha) Asking him how long the note is. Then there's a semibreve (4 counts) with a dot beside it. Dot beside it means add half the value of the note. (Eg, crotchet (1 count) with a dot is 1.5 counts) Then Cheng Heng said "Where got 6 counts one? :D" Haha! Then there's also a 4 count rest with a dot, haha, 6 counts also. Then I asked him "Got 6 counts one meh?" Then he said not unless the key signature is 6 4 or something, haha! Then we just sat on the floor and waited for the rest to come back. I think we're also on better terms than last time, haha. And I mean really last time, the first few months. (And he's back to calling me Ri-beh-kah, haha) Today he called me a lot of times... While we're doing nothing, he call my name in a kind of whisper then when I turn around, he take the saliva bowl and keep in the store room??? Then everyone came back and we combined for Singapura Medley. We stood instead of sit today, haha! Liang Rong said "If you wanna stand then all stand except for those who need to sit" and kept repeating it. And when he asked, we said we want to stand, so we stood :D My section loves standing :D Actually that's me and Cheng Heng, for Darryl, Cai Yan and Samuel, I don't know.

After practice, I remembered what Germaine said, so I left the trombone in the room and didn't keep it in the case. Cheng Heng wanted to get Darryl's trombone, he took the case in front (which is mine) Then the files resting against it slid down and he went "Oh shit" hahaha! That's the problem when I keep my case, have to hold it up first. Then he was gonna open it I said "Not that one, behind" I thought he heard but apparently he didn't because he opened it and said "Nothing inside..." Haha! Then later I asked Germaine, she meant don't keep in the cupboard but keep in the case, haha! Then I went "Ahhh!..." and went to get Trombone. When Cheng Heng and I was keeping my trombone, Germaine said only send those that are spoilt and we're using for repair because the repairman might not have enough time to repair all. Know what Cheng Heng said? Give him more money. Then Germaine and I look at each other and she said "You think the repairman's Superman ah? Then he say no. -.- :D Then we left the trombones outside the cupboard (but in the case) then I went off. Bye!

Labels: Band, Chats, Competitions, Concerts/Performances, Events/Occassions, Overseas, Seniors, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 2:01 PM

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Band practice

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

Band practice today! :D From 1-6pm. I cannot find my section's Total Training file. My row got 2 extra chairs. Then actually I sat at the correct place, but then the euphonium section go leave one space between then and trumpet section, then already moved one place, but then someone go take Cheng Heng's chair then I move again until the last chair -.- I sit so far how to see the conductor? Anyway, before that, Assiddiq (he's in charge yesterday and today because Rebekah and Liang Rong went NCO camp) realised we don't have the originals because it's being photocopied, so we did Chromatic Low Tones. After that then Darryl and Cheng Heng came, and take our Total Training -.- Where in the world did they put it? Or rather, where in the store room did they put it? Haha. Then Mr Yeo came. We practised Novena. Er...I forgot some things that happened already... Practised until 3.20pm then had 30min break until 3.50pm. I took pictures! :D

Our practice room :D Mavis & Sherina (both percussion) came in just when I took this, but I knew they were coming so I didn't get the door in. Those 3 chairs are my section's :D I'm sitting on the left, Darryl in the middle and Kevin on the right. The blue file on the floor is Total Training, the red bottle belongs to Kevin and the small bottle beside it is our section's slide oil :D

My Singapura Medley score-Singapura Medley Part 1 Chan Mali Chan trombone 2

Darryl's trombone! :D I was chatting with him on MSN then I asked him if he knew whose trombone this is. Then I send the picture but I forgot that the name will also be shown. Shucks, I shouldn't have renamed the photo yet

My trombone! :D

I oiled my slide again. I just oiled it on Monday... Then after our break, we had sectionals! :D Yay, I help them hold the door! Helping people makes me happy. We were facing outside as usual, but then the wind kept blowing so we faced left. I could use more common sense, haha. The wind blew and my pages kept flipping then Darryl take the pencil that I clipped on the file, put it at that page, and done! :D Then 3 people there in one line and we block the way, hahaha! Then Brayton came and "teach" us. He was teaching another section before that, euphonium I think. Then he played his parts while we played our part but then he and Darryl took so much time figuring out the speed for one part -.- And then after that Brayton sat on the floor and slept. I cannot pitch high notes... -.- Why can't it be like last Saturday, I managed to pitch the high F more than once.

And there's once Darryl was teaching Cheng Heng for quite a while, then I locked my slide. Then when I was supposed to play, it's rest F high B high C (the first bar of our melody) I played: rest F Bb - Suddenly stopped because I pushed the slide to position 3 but the slide was locked, I forgot to unlock it, hahaha! Also, when we weren't playing, a cleaner with a broom and dustpan walked past, and I found that funny, haha! Kevin's paper kept flying away and almost flew downstairs. It even went under the railings but he caught it in time! :O Kevin is seriously...nothing better to do, haha! He wanted to blast at Brayton when he was sleeping, luckily Darryl didn't allow. Then when Assiddiq walked past, he said "Excuse me Mr..." then he go and block -.- Then Assiddiq was like "Mr Kevin...Mr Cheng Heng...what's his surname?" (Darryl) "Chuang" "Mr Chuang...Cheng Heng..." hahaha! Darryl say "Assiddiq! Camouflage!" Then Brayton said "...Obvious...it's a white wall..." Then Darryl say "...The railings la" Haha, the railings are brown. Brayton woke up to tell us when we play that part (the melody where I locked the slide) we shouldn't use tu to tongue, we should use either D or L, du or lu because it's a slur. D or L, later become DL, haha. Then we went back in, but Brayton went toilet, so we just left his things there. The percussionist (Sherina, Mavis & Azra) went to 3rd level to walk -.- haha. Mr Yeo said might as well go to Tampines Mart and Brendan (percussion) went "Ya la..."

Then we went back in later and went through the whole song of Novena and Singapura Medley. During Singapura Medley my hands were aching! Because we usually play parts of the song only and not the whole song, so I didn't know my arms would ache :( Better get used to gold trombone soon. Mr Yeo also gave us a paper which we're supposed to refer to so we can play better. Chong Jin passed me 3 for my section then I didn't take and passed to them. Then Serene asked to pass her 1, then I don't have, haha! I thought one for each section -.- Mr Yeo went through every point. There's one that says always follow the section leader and when Mr Yeo read it out, I knew Kevin would look at Darryl. So to make it more dramatic, I also looked at him. Then we both look at him at the same time, one left one right, then he look away, hahaha! At the end of practice, we got the parents' letter for the Genting trip and the Edusave deduction from... Then dismissed. I couldn't lift the trombone high enough to put back in the cupboard, haha. Usually after trying a few times can already, but since Darryl was there, he helped me, haha! Thank you :) Bye!

Labels: Band, Break, Competitions, Concerts/Performances, Events/Occassions, Overseas, Seniors, Slide oil, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 8:41 PM

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Rain...

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

It was raining just now, heavily, very heavily. But just for a short while. But it wao so heavy until it looked misty. Look at this!

By the way, that's not a church, it's a school with a big cross in front

I captured the rain drops while they were falling! :D

And today I read Darryl's blog. He wrote "Time and Tide waits for no Man". Then later after that, I took out a bookmark and guess what it said. Time and tide waits for no man. Wow!

Labels: Rain, Seniors

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 8:45 PM

Monday, November 3, 2008

Band practice

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

Band practice today! :D From 1pm-6pm. I was actually very early, but I waited so long for the bus 27 and 291. Then while I was still in the 291, it started raining -.- And I didn't bring umbrella. So when I reached the bus stop, I called Jaslyn. When I was waiting for her, Xuan Lin and Nadhirah (Clarinet) alighted from a bus 28. (They're senior and junior) They took the same bus but didn't see each other, haha! So I shared with Xuan Lin, they both had umbrella and both wanted to share with me :) Then before going into the school gate, we turned behind and saw Jaslyn. I was just calling her to tell her that I share with Xuan Lin, haha!

By the time I reached the room, it was almost 1pm. The room is neater now :D But then, the tubas are in a straight row in front of the cupboards so I set up my trombone in front of the cupboards because I have to lift the trombone over the tubas to get past and I can't do that. We did Total Training first for warm up. I don't know where my section's file (photocopied version) is so I sat beside Jaslyn, which is Kevin's seat, and share book. Then Kevin came while we were still doing Total Training, he sat beside me, at Darryl's seat, but I still sit beside Jaslyn. When he emptied his saliva. After we were done with Total Training, Mr Yeo asked me to change place with Kevin then I changed. I sat back at my own seat, then he sit beside Jaslyn. Last time Mr Yeo say "You're playing 3rd trombone right?" then ask me to change place. Now he say "You're playing 2nd trombone right?" then ask me to change place. Anyway, I'm playing both 2nd and 3rd trombone, see Seniors, your junior so pro :D For Novena I'm 3rd for Singapura Medley I'm 2nd with Darryl. When we're doing Total Training I was good at the low notes (low B flat downwards)! :D I love the low notes! Mr Yeo said it was good. I think I played quite loud also :O But that's only for the low notes...

Then Mr Yeo started asking one by one whether we're going to Genting. When Kevin said no, he was like "Why you not going?! We need you to go so that we won't get lost! Just get you to wear a red cap..." -.- Obvious reasons, he returning to his country. Then shortly after Total Training, at about 2pm Darryl came. We did Singapura Medley today. From 2.15pm till 2.35pm woodwinds went to Music Room with Ms Leong and brasses stayed in the room with Mr Yeo to tune. Then at 2.35pm Mr Yeo gave us a break until 3.05pm because he wanted to eat something, haha. As usual, I didn't go for break. Darryl also didn't go, for the first time, since he had lunch break after EAP. I'm so hardworking, draw breath marks (just a small comma not a big V) and lengthen the notes that Mr Yeo asked us to play longer. I actually wanted to take picture of the green coloured saliva in the bowl, hahaha! But never mind, since Darryl's there. There's solids in the bowl, eeeee....

After our break, we had sectionals. Since the usual area (just in front of the door) was taken, we went all the way to the end, near the classroom block. We practised the ending part of the song. But even before we started Mr Yeo came and ask me to play, then I play not loud enough and not fanfare enough. So most of the time is Mr Yeo teaching me -.- Ok...so my section has to change embouchure. We always blow the air downwards, now we have to blow it straight. And, my teeth problem -.- Argh...!!!!! My teeth are not just uneven, the top layer is also in front of the bottom layer and he said when I play must make it even so that the air can go straight, it can't go down and up again. Stupid teeth problem -.- I don't mind that much if it's ugly la, but I mind a LOT if it affects my playing. Why everything also follow my father one?! Damn ugly -.- My teeth, my face, even my irritating character. All from him la, why cannot follow mother?! I'm female, mother also female what! Anyway, Darryl and Kevin can never seem to stop arguing, haha! At least it's no the fierce and angry kind of arguing. Seems like Kevin argues with everyone...last time when we went to SCH for the RGS band concert, he and Cai Yan argued all the way. Going there, when we're there, and coming back. But he doesn't argue with me, haha. And also they keep talking, but never talk to me -.- So sad. Then Serene called me and sai can go in already. This is funny, man. When I went back in, the timpani's left little walking space so I had to carry the stand above the timpani and my whole file dropped. When we're going out just now for sectionals, Kevin dropped some papers, haha! We are one section! And thanks Darryl for helping us pick up the stuff, haha!

We combined at Singapura Medley. We haven't played the whole song yet except for the first 2 or 3 times when we side read. Mr Yeo go take some don't know what instrument (they said it's CO instrument, he said it's snare drum) sounds like snare drum and keep hitting it so that we'll stay in time. He said the CO always does that, haha! Why in the world will they do that?... -.- It's so loud, but it's just to keep in time. Mr Yeo said for Sec 1 Orientation, he wants us to play Umbrella so it'll attract more people. But, HUH?! Umbrella is a rock genre, it's not classical! Last time, his band had a concert and he said rock songs are difficult. A lot of flats and sharps :O When we're still in the room I remembered that the Sec 1s haven't gotten back our change for Standard Of Excellence. Then after keeping instrument, I forgot -.- This is corruption by the way. I'll have to remember it, because I want my mother's money back (and return it to her of course).

Cai Yan put a tagboard in her blog finally! :D And Darryl's got a blog :O I actually told him on MSN "You and Cheng Heng very cute leh!!!" Oh my gosh, was I out of my mind or what? I never ever call guys cute and at once I called both of them cute?! Why did I say Cheng Heng's cute anyway? He doesn't act cute. Ok, bye bye! See you on Wednesday if you're from band :D

Labels: Band, Break, Chats, Competitions, Concerts/Performances, Events/Occassions, Overseas, Rain, Seniors, songs, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 7:47 PM