☆Bass Trombonist!♥ :)

Monday, November 2, 2009

Band practice

♫♪I'm a happy 2nd Trombone!!♪♫

Like a perfect flower that is just beyond my reach, gone too soon...

(Warning: This post is long. Anyone who does not like words or reading is advised against reading this)
Band practice today. Starts at 3pm. I finally brought back my bronze bass trombone today. I had to wait for new bus, because the old bus has steps and not enough space. So I missed 3 291 buses and I reached the bus stop at 2.30pm but waited till 2.55pm -.- and I was late. And that's a valid reason ok! I looked through the little window at the door of the band room and saw Mr Yu! And he saw me and motioned for me to come in so I did. Ding Cong and Benjamin were there already, Kevin not yet because he had HMT lessons. I brought the scores that I forgot to bring last practice too, haha. They were doing warm ups, by the time I settled down it was 3.15pm. We continued warming up. After a while Mr Yu told us to go sectionals, but Sec 4 seniors are having O' Levels in the hall, as Rebekah told him, so some went to the music room and we stayed here. But before we start, Benjamin asked for slide oil. In the end, DC's the one who needs it -.- Yeah, so Benjamin went to the store room to get a stand and I made DC go in and oil his slide.

Then we started sectionals. I had to stand between the two of them (while they sat) since it's so noisy inside. Mr Yu said practise Procession To Peace (I was already at that page) and Big Bands Play Folk Songs. But we only did Procession To Peace because not enough time. We started at 3.45pm and end at 4.30pm. I taught them in 4/4 time. Someone opened the door, and when I turned to look, my jaw dropped. Cliff saw me and waved hi, and I smiled back. Of course I thought of Darryl Kor Kor too. Quite surprised he came, must be the exam finished. Kevin came but didn't teach them, he was cleaning and oiling his slide. Oops, forgot to tell DC must clean with tissue first. I'm not sure what time he came, I was teaching them so didn't check my watch like I usually do. His lesson ends at 3.30pm, he came at... 4pm maybe. It's actually only the first time I take 2 juniors together without Kevin. Last time there's once I thought I'd have to take them alone, but Kevin came later, and Mr Yu came also. This time also I'm not entirely alone, but considered since Kevin didn't teach. I haven't even finished the whole song but it was 4.15pm already, so I let them practise by themselves while I practise on my own, because I haven't even practised yet. Then Mr Yu came and it's so noisy I can't hear anything he said, so he had to like come right beside my ear and talk, haha. Percussion is behind. He asked me to teach them I said I teach already. Then he asked me to play together with them, but I said I also can't play properly, so even if I play with them it's like... But he said they'll have more confidence if I play with them. Really? Never knew that, I was never like that in Sec 1. Ha! Kevin only settled down when sectionals was over. Mr Yeo came.

We didn't even touch on Big Bands Play Folk Songs today, just Procession To Peace. So before sectionals it's Mr Yu take, after sectionals is Mr Yeo take. He did in 2/2 time. He asked what accidentals is, no one knew, even if they knew, they didn't say. Well, everyone he asked didn't know. Then he asked Jaslyn's junior to open the Essential Elements book. Accidentals is any sharp or flat (or natural) in the song that's not stated in the key signature. Ok. Then before we played he said whoever cannot play he'll send them out with Mr Yu and Mr Yu will whack them, haha! Then half way in the song he send my juniors and Jaslyn's juniors out. Then I said they go out and Mr Yu whack them, but Kevin didn't hear, and I didn't repeat, hehe. They were out for quite long, just to practice the main melody. Then we came to the trombone + eupho part F. He said I never relax enough when I play, and he can see my neck moving or something when I play. :O Ew. Aiya, because my braces la :'( (Don't worry I didn't cry) DC came back first (yay) and Mr Yeo immediately asked him to play. Not the best sound he can give, sounds... like me now... I bet that's how I sounded when Mr Yeo said I didn't relax enough. His position 4 is so wrong, and I told him and it's still wrong. I think Benjamin improved since the last time, which was more than a month ago -.- During sectionals his rhythm is better, but still got a whole lot to improve. So DC played and Mr Yeo took a tissue and put at his water key, it's leaking. I told them before to always put a tissue there. I told Kevin "Remember, like Darryl? Addicted to tissue paper." Mr Yeo asked if there are other trombones with trigger that we sent for repair the other time. I said bass trombone, he asked for tenor trombone, Kevin asked if it's the one he used last time. Mr Yeo said yes. Kevin say "Got, without slide" I say "What without slide?! Hahaha" "Eh! Without trigger" Mr Yeo say to let him use that one next time. Then Kevin say he was like "Trombone without slide.... Why?" Haha! Trust a trombonist to say that :D We ended at 6.30pm today, Kevin's complaining, he thought it was 6. Haha, bye!

Labels: Band, Juniors, Seniors, Slide oil, Trombone, Tutor

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 10:45 PM

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Band practice

♫♪I'm a happy 2nd Trombone!!♪♫

I took cab to school today. In class I got the practice schedule for this term. OMG 4 times a week! Tuesday and Friday combined practice, Thursday (2.30-4.30pm) and Saturday sectionals. Then Takashimaya performance on 29 July and the Friday and Saturday after that, and it ends there, the schedule. I think it'll go back to normal after the performance.

After school Jaslyn walk past my class, without her bag and instrument, supposedly to the canteen for lunch. After my class ended I called her and she said she left it in class, so I left mine in class too. I saw Xue Qi, Camilia and their friend so I sat at the next table and after that went to class with Xue Qi. She helped carry my file upstairs. Then I did Science workbook homework there with her help. Jaslyn came, and with my stand :D Thanks! At about 2.36pm the door was unlocked. Jaslyn and Xuan Lin went first and said Mr Yeo was here, then I was shock like :O The schedule said 2.30pm but yesterday Rebekah tell me to set up before 3, so a bit confusing. And Sec 3s end lessons at 2.30pm too. When I went in it was so empty, 5 Sec 2s only. Mr Yeo wrote 5 songs on the white board for the performance. Ponyo, Sesame Street, Kokomo, YMCA, The Incredibles. I thought he didn't want Sesame Street? And YMCA is old already. I don't have The Incredibles score, but it's not bad, got trail :D What about the other songs? :( I went in and out the store room so many times, haha. Yay, slide oil :D

Kevin came. We shifted things to the Indoor Sports Hall which is just next door. Very hot there. Then we took attendance then temperature. My thermometer like spoilt. I saw 37.1 when it beeped but when I took out, blank. So I took again. 37.2, took out blank, so I just go with that one. Then Rebekah called my name, I said "37.2" and I heard Mr Yeo say "37.8?" Then she also "37.8?" I repeated and even some people including Kevin said for me, but she cannot hear. Then I show 2 fingers. "32?!" Hahaha! "37.2!" My trigger got stuck (it did at home also) then I tell Kevin. When press, sometimes will move sometimes won't. He said shouldn't be like that, because it'll only get stuck when the part go too far behind but it's not. So yeah... he said tell Mr Yeo. But we didn't, haha. Anyway later during practice he unscrewed some part covering the trigger and asked me to. I said cannot, then he try, first try out already. Hahaha! He's stronger what. And he press, can already. But I think before that it was alr ok, I think.

Warm up Bflat scale only. Then Kokomo! :D Mr Yeo asked to hear us and eupho at the beginning. Then he want 1st trombone, but Kevin takes 2nd for this, because when we first got it Darryl wanted 1st. So Kevin said no first, Darryl take. Then don't know why Mr Yeo's like "Darryl took it?!" although he didn't shout la, but he sounds shocked. So he told him to use the original. As for me, heheh, Kevin gave me his 2nd score :D It's only a bit different, like Procession to Peace, the notes are 2 notes higher, but of course not all like that la, most notes.

After Kokomo, Ponyo. At 5pm we had sectionals till 6pm. Only for 15min we were practising together. After that... usual la... even when we practise together also not good. Darryl came at 5+. I almost couldn't recognise him, he changed school bag. His taste and mine are opposite... And very lame eh, he come for about 10-15min then go off. Actually it's more than that but before that he was at flute section with Cliff and Faris what. Then he come here 10min play Kevin's trombone then go -.- He's not participating in the performance la -.- The back of the schedule says 28 students and the number from each level. Sec 4 only got one, the one who's still in band cos he's going Sec 5. I thought there were some who wanted to perform... No 3rd Trombone!!! How can there NOT be 3rd Trombone?! 3rd Trombone stayed with me for so long, she's my best friend, other than Trombones T3 and 153671. Now I'm taking 2nd no one's taking 3rd?! NO! I feel like I abandoned her. NO! They must be allowed to perform la. Ms Ong said they could last time ok! Don't believe go see the tag board of the band blog. I love 3rd Trombone!!! I miss 3rd Trombone!!! :'(

(Eh my mother just spotted our school in today's newspaper Straits Times! About using MSN for lessons)

Labels: Band, Homeworks/Work, Slide oil, songs, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 8:53 PM

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Band practice

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

Band today! I went up to the band room but no one's there, and the lights are off, but I pulled the door handle anyway. And surprisingly it's open! But I didn't go in, I sat outside and did CL homework! Xuan Lin came up. She went in then out again. Cliff and Darryl came. Cliff said something about the door, don't know if he asked or said it's open. I think he asked. I said it's open, then Dar thought it's locked and went in through the music room, say what very easy go in by there, haha. Cliff was like saying he crazy one, the door open then wanna go in by there, lol! There were Guzheng people inside I think :O Xue Qi came, soon after, 3 of us went in. The spoilt instruments are still here! Yihui said they'll be sent on Monday which was ytd! Then I later heard that 'she took the clarinets'. Probably Ms Deepa, cos I've seen her dealing with instr repair before. The door to the store room was stuck. I kicked it and it opened! :D I set up my trombone. I saw a countdown to SYF and it was 7 days so I changed it to 6, haha. Then, since the chairs were stacked up, I help to arrange, mostly unstack only. Wth, people take the chair for their own section one, then some people just take it without asking while they're still holding onto the chair. Even worse, another section, the chair already put at their section alr then some people just take from there, wtf la. Cannot go get it themselves meh? Handicapped people also can they cannot means what? -.- Anyway, after that take stand and file. I unlocked the back door to go out and wash mouthpiece then I finish alr then Jas go. I lock her out and make her go by the other door. While she walk there, I unlock the back door, and when she came in I open it, haha!

Oiled my slide! :D Cliff sent us out for sectionals, but I stayed in the room first because CH go refill water, Darryl wash mouthpiece I think (he was holding it) He tuned tubas, then ask me where's the rest. I say they go toilet. Then he tuned me, a bit sharp then I pull out tuning slide then ok! :D When they came back after a few minutes, he tuned them. Yay, I'm still pitch perfect :D Then we went sectionals outside. The left side, on the other side of the corner alr, means no one can see us, which isn't very good. CH's file pockets tore :( If he hasn't asked any Quarter Mistress then I'll try getting some pocket from them. We all practised on our own. You know what Dar say? He said nothing much to focus on so just play again and again. He makes so many mistakes in each song that could cause us many points! Long he play short, short he play long. Accent he play normal, his dynamics almost no difference. I was playing really really soft (softer than I'm supposed to be) because earlier on before tuning, I was playing the start of Overture No. 1. I was trying to play softer, working on it. I played quite loud, then I was gonna play softer, but before I could even correct it by playing softer, he tell me to play softer -.- Hello, he also play that loud when it's not his melody. After a while, he went to the side and can see the corridor where the rest are. He tell CH to go and see. I was thinking "Don't tell me they all go in alr" then CH said something like that, lol. He go see, really, they all gone. So we walked back. CH say they 'country-cist' lol. I heard ppl make up the word 'nationalist' but not 'country-cist' haha! Then he said they're 'Darrylcist' lol?! And Dar said that to CH then say they are 'trombonecist' or something like that. -.- CH said "Don't tell me Mr Yeo here alr" but I thought he would if not they wouldn't go back. Dar tell me go by back door, so I did. I look through the 'window' on the front door when I past. Mr Yeo there alr, then I saw Ms Leong behind us! :O Suddenly appear! She asked where we're going. I said by the back door. Mr Yeo was tuning them. When it came to trombone, I was still pitch perfect! :D Why so perfect today? :D

I think we did Overture No. 1 first, then A Monmouth Overture until 6+ then Overture No. 1 again. He went slow for Overture No. 1 so for the 4 semiquavers I could tongue every note clearly, but oops, it's supposed to be slur so soft tonguing. A while later, A Monmouth Overture. 1st time quite fast, but not too fast for us. After that not so fast alr. Lol, CH really quite... funny eh. Dar rub his eye then CH ask 'Why you cry?' lol, I know it's just a joke la. I think he said ytd he open his case then smth flew into his eye :O CH start talkin nonsense after that, hahaha! They v intimate, I dare not see, haha. He say what 'you open big big I see' cos he wanna see what happen to his eye. Ew, haha. He say some lame things la, like what, 'Too small, open bigger... later open too big the whole thing drop out' and 'Take out half (of the object) then the other half stuck inside' and other stuff I forgot. Lol. Mr Yeo was singing one part, forgot which part but not our part, he was doing some hand action & grinning. Then CH say "Look like 'chee koh peh' " I found this damn funny! It was alr 6+ but Mr Yeo went back to Overture No. 1. I think about 6.30pm then he stop. I think we should put bags outside the room cos there's damn many bags blocking me today. No space to keep instrument even. CH now puts his bag outside. And again, nice bag :) Hand in SYF consent form. Saturday prac might be extended till mid afternn or evening. Bye!

Labels: Band, pissed, Seniors, Slide oil, Trombone

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

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Band practice & Founder's Day rehearsal

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

Band practice today! Actually it's Founder's Day rehearsal. I went upstairs very early. Xue Qi came later so only the 2 of us there and we did homework. Then the 4R1 people came. Cliff go climb through the window, haha. Then I said we (me & XQ) so hardworking then Darryl came and say wah so hardworking, haha! "I know, I just said that." Then later Cheng Heng climb out the window, I didn't even know he was here until then. Then later, Jaslyn open the other door (nearer to me & XQ) and suddenly "Hello." haha! At 3pm we went in. We went to the hall first and sat in concert order on the floor and did nothing. I didn't even know why we're there. I think to set up chairs but only needed some people. Cheng Heng go sit with other people, then left me and Dar. Then never talk one, so I go to Serene & CJ to see Serene's phone and get 2 songs from her. I found out she's Christian. Then Dar also go sit with other people. (I 'abandoned' him, haha).

Then go upstairs again and do warm up. Oops oops, Dar how can you be so careless :( Now you have to use the bass trombone with stuck water key, haha. I didn't con you 2 because you 2 know I'm using tenor -.- CH say CY say they bully me, haha. He's like "You tell her one right?" "She found out herself!" Haha. After warm up, we went downstairs to hall. We're not using the stage eh, we beside the stage to the left of it. Guzheng on the other side. Trombone and trumpet (4th row) stand up, yay! Cliff conduct, we play Overture No. 1 too. I thought Monmouth only. CH, you also, how can you be so careless? The instrument is precious! The Media Club take our pic eh! Right beside me :O haha. I think... today was... unlucky, but somewhat fun too. Bye! Band practice tomorrow! :D

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

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 7:39 PM

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Clean & Polish instruments! :D

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

28 January 2009 Wednesday

Clean & polish trombones today! :D Yesterday and Monday no school because it's CNY, so no band practice yesterday :( My whole section came! So hardworking! :D Darryl is "evil senior"? Nah... After we set up we went out and clean.

I don't know which oil to put where and everything :( If I become Section Leader like this, I'll need to call him back when we clean trombones. Then suddenly Cheng Heng pop his head out the store room window and said hello. Darryl also thought he wasn't coming. Faris was with us too, helping clean the inside of the slide. I didn't know slide need to put cream... And I don't know the names of the creams/oils/liquids. There's a pink liquid! For the 2 tuning slides. I never touch the 2nd tuning slide before. I polish my trombone.! :D After that supposed to be sectionals according to SL DL but very boring, no sectionals. I go out and practise myself. Inside so damn noisy and irritating. Then CH came out and asked me to go in for combined in Overture No. 1. After that A Monmouth Overture. "Trombone so loud!" So after that, it was about 4.30pm. I kept my instrument and left. Bye!

Labels: Band, Polish, Seniors, Slide oil, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 11:50 AM

Saturday, January 17, 2009

OLE and band practice

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

16 January 2009 Friday

There's OLE (Outdoor Learning Experience) today. Our school hosting old folks. Our class was supposed to be one of the performing classes but the trainer chose 5 to be befrienders and bring the old folks to the hall. I was chosen -.- So I didn't perform, and learn the songs for nothing. Boring. I of course didn't talk to them. After performances in the hall, they went to play games downstairs, then they went for lunch. Then we went for lunch. After school, I was already in bus 27 then I found out there's practice today. So I went to the other side of the road to take 27 to Tampines. Nadhirah there already, Jaslyn came later. Then Assiddiq, he saw us then went don't know where. Then me and Nadhirah went downstairs to look for Ms Ong, then Assiddiq came with the key, just nice.

I didn't bring my file. Set up baobei trombone and looked for Darryl's file but couldn't find, so just took CH's file. Mr Yeo came and said he'll come around teaching us. Anyway, I remember my Overture No. 1 notes but only a bit of A Monmouth Overture. Mr Yeo came and teach me, then he lend me conductor score, which I didn't use because I memorised. I didn't learn anything. I played from CH's file :D And I played CH's parts too :D I so nice help him to write "Bb scale" and "Eb scale" where there's key signature change in Overture No. 1 :) Mr Yeo teach me twice eh -.- Boring. Got break, after going toilet, I went to walk around the school. Then went back to the room. I was telling Jaslyn one of the befrienders of my class don't know Hokkien then the "How are you?" he said it as "Lu hobo" hahaha! Then I said I never say anything but better than saying 'lu hobo' then Mr Yeo said I just said a lot of things, never heard me say so much before. Then obviously he hasn't hear me argue with Darryl. I argue with him better than CH argue with him. They 2 always argue non-stop last time. Then continue playing. I oiled my slide too :D 6pm dismissed, I wash the bowl and mouthpiece. I don't remember the last time I washed mouthpiece after practice. Bye, shouldn't have gone for band practice.

Labels: Band, Break, Games, People, Seniors, Slide oil, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 3:33 PM

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Band practice

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

6 January 2009 Tuesday

I was late today. I walked into the school after 7.45am then the guy stopped me -.- I turned around and saw Cheng Heng, haha! His long pants so long! The guy told us to stand 5 in a row, I & CH first row (but not beside each other), which means we're one of the earliest latecomers. Yesterday I also came after 7.45, and it was Mr Vincent Lee there. But he just stood at the staircase and didn't stop the group of people what. Isn't he a discipline master or something? I don't even know who that guy is, if he's even a teacher. He doesn't even look like one. Went to class with my mood affected for the whole Maths period. Later Mdm Jamilah came and asked for some people. They were late so their attendance wasn't marked. But she didn't ask for me, so maybe she already marked my attendance :O Band practice today. Assembly ended at 2pm so I went to eat lunch then do a bit of homework for a few minutes then went to the room. The store room so cramp. Tuba cases blocking the cupboards. I set up my trombone and took Total Training, not the file photocopied one, the pages put together with a blue transparency in front one. Darryl and Cheng Heng came :) Rebekah took attendance. She said she'll call the section then we tell her who's present in the section. But when she said this, Darryl was in the store room. So when she called "Trombone", Darryl just stared at her without saying anything, haha. That time Cheng Heng came already but in the store room. Don't know whether she marked him or not. But in the end his attendance should be marked la. Then we did warm ups. Germaine conducted?!?! The way she said "instruments up" is like... so different, first day at band also will know she doesn't usually do it. Never do Chromatic Low Tones, only Total Training. During Total Training, Mr Yeo came. After that, we played Kokomo I think. Anyway there's a part we the trombones have melody, together with eupho and Mr Yeo asked us to go out and practise for 5min. Before that he also sent some sections to go out for 5min. Taufiq wanted us to practise together, haiy...'sian'. I'm tired of practising with them. Then we went back in after more than 5min. Mr Yeo asked both sections to play that part then he counted 1 2 3 4. We're supposed to come in on the n after 4 but nobody did, and only Darryl came in on 1 after the 4. He came in only a quaver, then Mr Yeo went "aiyo" haha. There's once Cheng Heng raised his hand but Mr Yeo didn't see, busy singing the trumpet part while looking at his conductor score. In the end I found he wanted to get slide oil. So he did in the end. Mr Yeo was talking about Sec 1s. He said those who just finished Sec 1 would know how it's like when we just joined junior band. Then he started 'suan-ing' (insulting) people, starting with Larry. He play sound like cow. Then Andrew, Xue Qi and Xuan Lin. Then he look at me and say what another cow. See the seniors play then moo moo moo (while changing position but he sang the same note) eh where to put the hand ah? What crap, since when I don't know my positions. And how to have the same note when playing different positions, exaggerate also at least have to make sense right? Darryl still can laugh. Not sure if Cheng Heng did, probably did la. He suan them I not only never laugh, I also very annoyed. Then he suan me wrongly and they can laugh -.- Not funny la. I tried to smile to make it seem like I found it funny too, but just couldn't. Today I'm so lonely, nobody talk to me. Only near the end of practice then Darryl talk a bit. I was emptying saliva before we started on Sesame Street where we have to share score then he ask if I can see, only. When practice gonna end then he suddenly asked me "How long is your hand ah?" I simply shrugged then he said "Stretch out" so I did and he stretch out his hand beside mine. Then he said "Ok la, quite long. Ok I'm short." Haha! Then Cheng Heng said "Wait, again again." So again. Then he look at the shoulders to see whether the starting point is the same then Darryl said "Parallax error la" Haha, Darryl's hand longer than mine of course. We kept our things first then went out again. That Andrew, shoes too big or got problem walking, go kick my section's saliva bowl then say he never kick. Then I tell Yihui her junior spilled it she say "Then you clean la" What crap, assholes. He spill then I clean for what?! Asshole. When I came out after keeping my things the mess was still there. So I cleaned it la -.- Then James or who say Darryl irresponsible senior. He say Andrew should be the one cleaning it, then I turned around and said "He don't want to clean what!" Damn irritated. Darryl actually asked me to leave the tissue there, but since there was a dustbin there I threw it away. The saliva soaked through the tissue and I touched it, eeeee. Then I said "It's our own saliva right?" It's our saliva so never mind. Then after that went home.

Labels: Assembly, Band, pissed, Seniors, Slide oil, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 6:56 PM

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Band practice and Suky's concert

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

Band practice yesterday! :D It was already 8am but both Darryl & Cheng Heng not here, so Cliff asked me to call them. I call Darryl, never answer. I call Cheng Heng, never answer. In the end, Cheng Heng came but Darryl didn't :( Warm up with Total Training until 8.30am. Then sectionals until 9am, 30min. Cheng Heng teach me Overture No. 1. Our parts are very different! There's one part, my notes are at the bottom of the staff lines, his notes are at the top of the staff lines, he's like "Why your part so low?" Haha. Oiled my slide! :D We learnt the first page today! :D Yay! 9am already, he told me to just wait for them to call us back in, but I continue practising and try the second page too. Then Shimei came and call us back in because Ms Leong came. We went back in and played Overture No. 1. I'm not that bad at it now :D Then at 10.30am we had 30min break until 11am.

I asked Chong Jin for all the Overture No. 2 scores. Oh yes, before break when we're playing Overture No. 1, Ms Leong said she hears trombones playing some notes so loud suddenly. That means it's like "Da...da...da...BAA!!!" Hahaha! I asked Serene and she said she could hear me doing that. After Overture No. 1 we tried A Monmouth Overture, not easy. Then Sesame Street, supposed to be easy. But isn't it too childish to attract Sec 1s? Anyway, I didn't really know the order. There's a lot of repeat signs. Then Cheng Heng explain already I still don't know. "This part first time we play then second we rest. Then this part we rest rest rest rest rest until here "play both times" then we play, then second time then we play. Then this part..." ??? He was getting faster and faster, even he finds it funny.

After band practice, they said there's Band BBQ on 30 Dec, each person must pay $8 -.- Then went home. I went to Suky's concert. I met Mabeline at Hougang MRT station then we went to Dhoby Ghaut station and then Raffles Place station to meet the others there. The others met at 5pm at Tampines station. Then from there, we walked to Victoria Concert Hall. The band is Philharmonic Youth Winds. At 8+ there was a 20min intermission. After a while, Suky came and I gave her the present that Liang Rong bought before we went there. It's a bear in a bouquet. You know, a bouquet of flowers? Just that in the wrapping is a white bear instead of flowers. Then she was like, so happy, haha! :D After the intermission, the band continued playing until 9+ when the concert ended. The people started shouting encore and they were prepared for an encore. Some off them took out Christmas hats and they played a combination of Christmas songs. The concert was nice I think. It's a big band too. Reached home at 11+, tired already. Bye!

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

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 4:18 PM

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

21st Century International Band Festival

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

27 November 2008 Thursday

Today is a free day actually but I had to go for a workshop with Darryl. Yesterday during the debrief after the results, Mr Yeo chose 2 people from every section to attend a workshop conducted by Professor John Howard on next year's SYF set piece, Overture No.1 For Wind Band. Mr Yeo said "Trombone Section, Darryl & Rebecca, because you're the only 2 in the section." Haha. The workshop was from 10.30am to 12.30pm. I brought the booklet, my file and my trombone. Darryl asked "Need to bring that one meh?" (booklet) Actually can just take notes on the score -.- Why didn't I think of that? Actually I wanted to borrow slide oil from him, he said later. But later there was no time, so my slide haven't oiled yet.

We went to the Grand Ballroom but the people there said we can only send one person from each section to the stage due to space constrains. At first I think Darryl wanted me to go. He said "You go la. Or I go?..." "You go la..." So he went. So I, and those who didn't have to go, went into the waiting area (where we waited before our performance on Tuesday) and sat in a row behind people from the same section from different schools. Then later we went out to watch them have workshop. We put our instruments in front of the stage. I took my file and sat somewhere. I couldn't see trombones :( The workshop is Professor John Howard conducting them and they play. If they've never tried it before then they have to side-read. I followed with my score. Haha, when he asked trombones to play, I keep saying "Darryl!" but not shout, just say only, and quite soft :D Once he asked 2nd trombones to play, I did that again. I only heard one trombone at first, then later I heard 2. One person kept coming in early. I think that at first, the one person who played is Darryl. I also think that the person who came in early was the other trombonist. I think only, I don't know because I didn't ask him. They learnt the whole song in 2 hours. It's an honour to attend a workshop by that professor I heard. The woodwinds got to send both representatives from the section to the stage. Not fair -.- Then after it ended, me & Jaslyn were waiting for our seniors. Waiting and waiting, wondering why they haven't come down yet. Then (Jaslyn) "There!" (Me) "Oh cheh! Hahaha!" Haha! Darryl said it's actually very easy, just learn the rhythm then very easy already. Go back to school he play for me the rhythm. He said it, so if he cannot play I whack him! Hahaha!

Then went for lunch. At first me and Jaslyn only, later Yi Hui, Germaine & Serene joined us. They went for the workshop too. Then we went to the outdoor theme park. If my birthday wasn't over yet then I would have been counted as a child and my ticket would have been cheaper. My birthday just passed by 4 days, haha. We went to the roller coaster first, called corkscrew. I think I've never been on one. There's 2 parts where the whole thing just go completely upside down you know! And when it goes down or turns it feels as if you're gonna drop out. Freaky. I kept looking down. At least I'm not in front where everything can be seen. My neck hurt after that-.- And I had headache. I didn't scream, haha, or cry. I thought I might cry. Serene was also not feeling well so when the others went for other rides, the 2 of us just watched them. I ate ice cream too, haha. I wasted money. I only went for the first and last ride, both roller coasters -.- I should have stayed in my room and learn Overture No.1. Anyway, after theme park was dinner, then the Closing Ceremony. The top 3 schools performed. Hmm...I can't remember anything after that... Bye.

Labels: Concert Band, Events/Occassions, Overseas, Seniors, Slide oil, songs, Trombone

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 12:43 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

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

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

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

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Band practice

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

Band practice today! :D 8am to 12pm. It was raining in the morning. I took a picture of the old school beside the new school because they look so different.

The stair case shutter wasn't open so the band waited around that area. 8am already and I still didn't see my seniors. I thought Darryl was late and Cheng Heng was maybe still sick, then I remembered Darryl doesn't come on Saturdays. I thought I'd be alone. Yesterday Liang Rong said he and Rebekah wouldn't be here today and neither would Cliff who's gone back to Indonesia for some matters. But he and Rebekah were here. Then he asked us to make rows of 3 (actually he said 3 rows) and took attendance. He said if he doesn't hear a loud 'yes' he won't mark our attendance. First name he called was Germaine, she said 'here', haha! Then when he called me I also said 'here' haha! We always say 'here'. I thought there'll be marching, but he said to use the 3rd stair case (which one?) so we did, and went to the room but it was locked. By the way, it's not a CO room I found out -.- Then he came and unlocked it. When I was inside the store room and almost done, Cheng Heng came. We warmed up with Total Training and after that had sectionals all the way.

Different sectional place today, it's on the left side of the room instead of the right. Yesterday I talked to Darryl so today I talk to Kevin, haha! We practised Singapura Medley first. He also made me play the high notes, haha! But he also made me play loud. He go stand at the end of the corridor and I play B flat scale and change note when he tells me to. Some notes he couldn't hear...which means not loud enough... Then continued with the music. He went to the room I forgot why then I was practising by myself when Ms Leong came.

When Kevin came back, she said she wanted to make sure our articulation is correct. So after that we kept doing Novena all the way. She also made us play the high notes, haha! I pitched high F!!! Yay! :D For the first time since I changed to this trombone, I actually pitched high F! Cool! :D When she was making us play the high notes, I rested on the trombone with my head down, then she said "Ok or not? Giddy already ah? Because you never take in enough oxygen, you're giving out more than you're taking. Take a break first, I don't want you to faint." Haha! Then after a while, Kevin also out of breath already and his actions showed it. Then Ms Leong was like "YOU also giddy already?" Haha! She told us where not to breathe and where to. She said "You're from the same family, so must breathe together...." One section is one family, haha! There's also one part where my score has slurs but his doesn't. Ms Leong asked why then I said Mr Yeo asked us to draw the slurs. About the breathing also, she made us draw breath marks. I drew a small comma then she said to Kevin "Instead of drawing one small comma like this, you should draw a big V" then after he drew the V she went "So small! Like this!" then she took his pencil and drew a big V, hahaha! Also at the bar with con moto, she said I shouldn't write so many words (I wrote 'watch conductor') because there are many other words on the score (eg con moto). And that "this one, 看, one word still can..." Kevin wrote that, haha! She said she would draw a pair of eyes then she drew on Kevin's score! Haha! Who ask him not to keep back in the file after drawing...

Kevin's scores for Novena (1st trombone-page 1)

Our sectional place with our things. Those on the left are his, those on the right are mine

Then we had 30min break at 10am. Those 2 pictures were taken during the break. After our break we continued with Novena. Then he said Liang Rong said we can clean our instruments, so he went to get the cleaning stuff. It's a tube with one end that has a small sponge and the other end has some round thing. It's supposed to be like this : Put the end with the round thing into the slide first, then push it out the other side. Then from the other side pull out the tube and the sponge will clean out the green stuff inside it. Every time he put in the tube, it got stuck at the bottom where the water key is and wouldn't go beyond that. He tried over and over again and finally it went through. He put it over the dustbin because the green stuff will come out...it looks disgusting, hahaha! Then he helped me clean my slide, this time didn't have to try so many times. I saw liquid come out of the slide, ew... I only saw solid come out from his slide, but I don't know. Maybe the green liquid is because he poured water on the sponge. I think so. And this slide gets rough more often than T3. I oiled it last week I think and today I did it again -.o

Then Ms Ong came and told us "Everyone can go in" then you know what he said? "No I'm not going Genting..." Haha! Then she said "No, everyone can go - in." We were the last few to go in so everyone sat down already and the door is on the right while we're sitting on the left so I suggested going by the other door. It's at the back on the left side, where the percussionists are. Rebekah's nearest to it. But the door was locked (to prevent the CO people from coming in) then Cheng Heng and I were knocking the door but I think it's soft, and it's painful. He called her name also but she didn't hear. We also pulled the handle (it makes more sound than knocking). Finally she opened the door, haha! Because percussion instruments are loud you see. Ms Ong talked about the Genting trip. About the cost, then she told us how much we have in our Edusave account. Brayton is rich! He has $1000+ and Chong Jin also, has $800+. 2 people have $1, haha! Last time I checked, I had $542.54 but now I have less... The 54 is cents, haha! Darryl's richer than me, haha!

Then she talked about the rooming. Someone said Xuan Lin has no roommate then I think Shenghao said "Xuan Lin and Ms Ong" then Kevin said "Xuan Lin and Mr Yeo" Hahahahaha!! :O Ms Ong said the rooming list is not fixed and we can tell her if we quarrel with our roommate then she'll change it. We won't want to sleep with someone we don't like right? Or else...(I didn't hear becuase they laughed so much) Hahaha! We burst out laughing :D After she was done talking about the trip she talked about the messy store room. She said she believes that if her students are not late, she has the right to scold other students from other schools who are late. Kevin started laughing and she said something about the Shenyang trip (school's exchange programme) She said "Cheng Heng and Liang Rong will know what I mean." The Band started laughing (the band's always laughing) then she said she doesn't mean it was them. So if we keep the room neat, she can feedback to the other CCAs. I think that's all, bye!

New hall. Taken before going home when I walked past

I brought back my mouthpiece today! :D

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

AT FIRST SIGHT MARKS ONES' DESTINY, 3:25 PM