Hey all reading my blog!( I bet theres no one now, since my blog has been so dead)
Its been very very long since i last post. And yes im posting now because I have nothing better to do since tomoro's a public holiday!
The previous few months or weeks have been pretty hectic for me and the Maris Stella Symphonic Band :)----> Whose having practices 4 times a week, and everyday from 2weeks ago... Time Flies...
I can still remember the TPJC band exchange held during the Nov/December holidays.. Our band was still learning our choice piece, To My Comrades. At that time, Me and Lucas were lucky to have attended Mr Tama Goh's Drumset masterclass. Saw and Mark wasnt so lucky as they had to be overseas.. I also remember the day we had our concert at TPJC, We had lots of fun. And at that time we haven't felt the heat of the SYF.
After that, Our band started practicing for our SYF. At that time our band had practices on wednesday, friday and saturday still..
There was Band Camp too. Where I had to struggle by making up a play for the Percussion Section. It was very last minute >.<''
But in the end, i guessed we made the band laugh. And Although we didnt get the Best Section award.. Don't worry Percussion Section. In my Eyes, U guys are the Best Section in MSSB :) And of course, the trombone section deserves the Best section award.
After the Nov/December Holidays, Our band started practicing real hard for SYF.
Practices became 4 times a week. Poor Fredy had to come back on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Fredy also had to deal wif the ''Not so good Brass Section then(no offence to any brass players hor!) On these 4 days, He had to help the brass+percussion section and the woodwind section(Which is the whole band!)I believe he has put in alot of hard work for the band, and Percussion section and i would like to thank him for that :)
Although Fredy didnt focus much on we, Percussionists, compared to the previous SYF, I guess we would have understood the reason behind it. To My Comrades isnt a Percussion song. Unlike With Heart and Voice where there are more harder parts of percussion to settle. Thus, The big contrast in focus on our section between 2007's Syf and 2009's Syf.
After that, I can also remember that I fought with Raymond Gan in the Pri School Canteen.Haha Sorry man!
I can also remember the Exchange at Chong Boon. Where all of us,Percussionists(from both schools) are being drilled by Fredy. We were really panicky and scared to play something wrong at that time.(Its been a long time since I was so scared to play something wrong, perhaps i wasn't ready for SyF den..)
After a few long practices, The CA break arrived... And the whole band took a long week rest. When the band came back.It was the March Holidays.. I dunno why, But the Whole band started falling into pieces.. Everyday after Band was scolding after scoldng from James,Joshua and Fredy.
The practices everyday were long and tedious..I guess everyone was very tired..
One of the days, the sec4s were asked to give their thoughts over the band...
Saw cried..(Yes, he cried for those who didnt know)
Saw had to sacrifice alot for this Syf..
For those who didnt know: He had to rush back from his grandmother's funeral in Malaysia to Tpjc for the band exchange then..
He also had to cancel the Malaysia trip in the March Holidays.Just to attend Band Practices.
After the 3 days of practice, there was the Sentosa Chalet..
Me, Lucas, Fredy, James, Justin, Amos and Jun Xiang went.We had quite alot of fun...(To the rest except for Lucas, I bet he still doesn't know!!! lol...)
After the Sentosa Chalet, was our band exchange at Ang Mo Kio secondary school.. We heard many bands who have improved alot..
When it was our turn to perform.. Our band screwed up.. Stopping at J, during the performance.. I, Myself screwed up too..Dropping sticks in the beggining of To My Comrades..
After the performance, Fredy brought us to the classroom to have a scolding.. Fredy cried. Our band still wouldn't wake up..
When we were back at maris stella, Fredy cried again..James also cried.. I guess this was the time when MSSB woke up.. ..
After that day, Our band's attitude towards practices were improving again. Back to the times when it all started.. Every practice were getting better and better, and every practice we became better and better..
When it was 2 weeks before our Syf.. We all practiced like mad.. Practices everyday. Fredy came back everyday... It was really tiring..
One day before Syf... Our band was allowed to skip lessons in the morning for extra practices.. Our band had practice from 8am till at night at around 9.30pm..
Our teachers were very encouraging and They gave us a great treat with the 22 boxes of Canadian Pizza!!!! Not forgetting all the drinks and the HONEY DRINK MADE BY MR HOUSEMAN.Mr Wu.
On SYF day, I met nic chew.. And we walked to the band room together. Discussing how anxious we were.. I told Nic Chew not to worry and play his solo well.. When i reached upon the band room. I reminded Nic Soo, Zhi hui and lucas to control themselves for the competition.. 4 of us ran through F till M again.. Practicing last minute parts.. We were all Nervous i can tell..
We had Mr. Wu's honey drink.. And not long later.. We left for SCH.
Percussion was taking the same bus as the woodwinds.. Its been a long time since we took the same bus as the woodwins section.. Normall we would take the same bus as the Brass section..
On the bus, Saw and I listened to many songs played by the alumni... We played songs like, Chosen, Legacy of the Wood..etc.
Upon reaching SCH, Fredy started taking photos with people.. the Sec 4 alumnis took a photo with LUCAS and fredy.. HAha.. We were still suaning Lucas on SYF day..
After a few minutes of waiting. Our band went into the tuning room, while percussion stayed outside.. When it was our turn to perform... Norman told me that the crash cymbals stand was still with chong boon. I told Fredy and Fredy Chionged all the way to find Chong boon to get the Crash Cymbals stand. Haha..
When we took the huge cargo lift with the tuba section and double bass section.. Everyone looked scared.. percussion section went to the other side of the backstage. And Fredy started briefing us.. I reminded them to control themselves again. And we looked at HillGrove performing. We were amazed at their actions.. It was nice to watch and somewhat cool.. Finally, hillgrove percussionists came out. And it was our turn to perform.. I pushed the gong in with Xing yu while carrying the files and tambourine..
our band played the 2 songs. And i was kinda scared for the band because i heard some mispitches and i screwed up the ending chimes part.. Although happy that i didnt screw up the chimes part during the sax solo.. I was kinda angry with myself for screwing up the ending.
When we finished playing.. I walked out with the percussion section to the cargo lift.. Nic wu told me that yanzhi dropped his tuba during the sax solo.. i was like wtf..haha
Den -skip-skip-skip-skip-. It was time for the results! I sat with James and Lucas.. With Mr chiang, mr Surapol and Fredy in front of us.. The results were scary... the first 3 bands got bronze.. And when finally it was our turn for the results.. We got gold! haha i guessed all our hardwork paid off.. Although i was kinda sad that we didnt achieve a better result.. I relised after that that getting a gold was also quite a good achievement considering the fact that on the last day of SYF we were only one of the 2 bands that got gold on that day..
After that,we went back to the bandroom.. And I chatted with hui xiong and nicholas tan about their Jc Bands..
After that, 19 of us went to Toa Payoh for Sakae Sushi buffet.. The sec4s plus joshua sat together with Fredy..
The Sec 4s YAAAAAM SENG on being an official member of the alumni band..
It was a fun day yesterday..
Finally a few words to the Percussion Section:
Saw: You have always been my friend, going to alumni band together and we had much fun together!
Mark: Also, you were a great friend..We quarrelled that day, but i was glad dat we made up with each other so fast. And hopefully after we pass out from MSSB, we can still be good friends!
Lucas: Although i have always suanned you. I have treated u as a good friend too.. You know i suanned you jokingly right？
Nicholas Soo: After we sec 4s are gone. You will be the SL.. Hopefully you will understand how hard it is to conduct Sectionals man!! And dont worry. although the sec 4 percussionists are all gone.. You can still make the percussion section fun! Don't spoil our tradition of being the most noisiest and restless section in band!
Zhi Hui: After talking to you that day after band, I finally know why you play the Bass Drum for 4 Consecutive SYFs. Haha. Actually i know you quite zai one.. More Zai den me even. Haha =)
Wy Ton:After 3 years with you. I finally understand you.. You are not wierd. You are just like us. Only, your a little quiet. Work hard playing the piano :)
Norman: Although i keep kping u.. Its because of ur irritatingNESS! I guess you would have known by now. We sec 4s once thought you were our HOPE for the sec 2 percussion section! Cmon Norman, Work hard and be the 'PRO' percussionist we know u can be :)
Zu De:Jiayou Zu De! Continue Working hard like u are now and you will be a great percussionist someday :)
Xing Yu: You also! Work hard and become a great percussionist.
Fredy: Thank you for teaching us, the sec 4s for this 4 years and i guess its because of you that the 4 of us have improved so much since we were so luckily being chosen to join the percussion section. Although u said that u were sorry for not focusing on our section for this SYF. We understand the reason behind it. Also, thx for giving me and saw a chance to join the Alumni Band, where we gained lots of experience joining the NBC and SIBF.. Haha.
Lastly,I would like to thank all the sec4 band members who have been through this 4 years in band.. Attending 2 Syfs together for this 4 years.. Hopefully all of us would noe each other Even more when we go back for this year's Band Camp!
And i would also congratulate Maris Stella Symphonic Band for their 3rd Consecutive Gold!!!
Jiayou for Syf'2011 and achieve the Gold With Honours which you all would be aiming for :) Jiayou!!!
