Saturday, July 26, 2008

Jinjun's quiz

1. The person who last tag you is:
Jinjun
2. Your relationship with him/her is:

Friends.
3. Your five impression of him/her:
He's musical, lame, funny, carefree (in a good sense) and nice
4. The most memorable thing he/she had done for you:
Lots of stuff I guess
5. The most memorable thing he/she had said to you:
"Thanks, you're a really great friend"
6.If he/she become your lover, you will:
Jump off Tojinbo
7. If he/she become your lover, thing he/she has to improve on will be:
His taste
8. If he/she become your enemy, you will:
Probably not likely
9. If he/she become your enemy, the reason will be:
I defect to North Korea
10. The most desired thing you want to do for him/her now is:
erm... finish typing the scores I was supposed to
11. Your overall impression of him/her is:
nice
12. How you think people around you will feel about you?
I'd love to know myself, you know?
13. The characters you love of yourself are:
erm characters? you mean characteristics right?
14. On the contrary, the characters you hate yourself are:
see above
15. The most ideal person you want to be is:
the best friend to others I can be

16. For people that care and like you, say something to them:
ありがと ございます
17. Pass this quiz to 10 persons that you wished to know how they feel about you:

1. Paul
2. Chester
3. Zi Guang
4. Shuyi
5. Shuotian
6. Shuhui
7. Bertrand
8. Jerald
9. Samuel
10. Meiyi

18.Who is no.6 having relationship with?
no. 9
19. Is no.9 a male or female?
male, but questionable
20. If no.7 and 10 are together, will it be a good thing?
Hardly likely
22. What is no.2 studying about?
BCMEGP
23. When was the last time you had a chat with no.3?
Last night
24. What kind of music band does no.8 like?
RIMB
25. Does no.1 have any siblings?
2 brothers
26. Will you woo no.3?
Why would I want to do that??
27. How about no.7?
Eh I'm straight, please.
28. Is no.4 single?
Hmm, dunno
29. What is the surname of no.5?
Chen
30. What 's the hobby of no.4?
listening to random disney songs
31. Does no.5 and 9 get along well?
Quite, yeah
32. Where is no.2 studying at?
RJC
33. Talk something casually about no.1:
He's a cute best friend for me
34. Have you tried developing feelings for no.8?
Yeah... feelings of friendship, what were you thinking?
35. Where does no.9 live at?
Eunos, in Karen's estate
36. What colour does no.4 like?
Purple
37. Are no.5 and 1 best friend?
Hmm, possible
38. Does no.1 have any pets?
Many many plushies
39. Is no.7 the sexiest person in the world?
*vomits*
40. What is no. 10 doing now?

Online MSN

SIBF 2008

Well, SIBF was my last performance under Mr Oura (unless I come back as a guest player), it's not a nice feeling. We left school later while waiting for a PW teacher and came to the hall.

After a period of waiting we made our way to the tuning room, and began warming up and touching up some pieces. We then made our way up on stage to deliver the opening pieces of the Open division.

Now, I had been warned, but I still didn't expect it. The hall makes the SCH's acoustics look like the combined quality of VCH, the Esplanade and Fukui Harmony Hall. I couldn't hear anything except the echoey percs, and various problems kept cropping up. It sounded like there was another timpanist playing at the back of the audience. The lighting conditions were sucky as well, I had to strain to see the conductor and the scores. I can't comment on the pieces because, well, I couldn't hear them.

We went back to RJ after that, had dinner, and went back. On the way, Jinjun said that if both RJC and ACJC didn't get into the finals, we would go for a sushi buffet on Saturday. Then we laughed at the thought that neither band would get in. We weren't confident ourselves of getting into the finals, but the thought of ACJC not getting in was unthinkable.

Surprise surprise... ACJC and RJC didn't get in. We did quite well though, given the circumstances. An 86%, silver, but an SYF gold with honours.

I'm not unhappy with the result. I think we all did our best under the circumstances. What I'm disappointed with is that the school won't recognise our contributions as anything significant.. as usual.

Also, for my last concert, I was hoping to soak in the music, enjoy it, and let my emotions run, especially during Monument, with it's soaring melodies and music. Instead... I had to struggle to barely hear anything.

I' m very proud of RIMB though, and I envy the Sec 4s. A joint third with RGSSB, which is no mean feat considering the competition. Their batch was so happy, and I'm happy that I could bring them such good news, and by reading their blogs, I sort of wish I could have that batch spirit among us.

I really hope to wear the uniform of RJCSB/RIMB again, to play under the baton of the best conductor a band could possibly have. Thank you.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

We interrupt the Japan report to bring you...

SIBF. It's tomorrow. I'm not overly nervous. My heart isn't pounding away like an enraged timpani. It's a bass drum. Slow, soft, but foreboding. A sensation of ominous feelings. Will we play well tomorrow? Yes, we will. I'm confident. Am I overconfident?

RJCSB is sounding good, we should be able to do well enough to get into the finals unless something bad happens, and if that does happen... well it's unavoidable I guess. Uncontrollable stuff happens. So let's not let stuff that can be avoided happen.

Ultimately, the only reason I want to get into the finals is to extend my time under Mr Oura's baton for just a while longer. I can't describe my feelings for him. He's been a conductor, of course but more than that. He's taught me music, teamwork, respect, discipline and so much more, acted as a teacher and a friend, as much as a conductor. I can tell how much he loves our bands, sacrificing a dinner meet to make sure we got the practice. I remember having chats with him in Japan, at Prometheum. But most of all I remember playing under him during Prometheum X and XI, A Tempo XVIII and XIX, and so much more.

UNISONO concert

I am 43 now. how long, how many years, how many times I will conduct the bands?
10years? 5more SYF? 30 major concert? Or more?

UNISONO was one of the best concert, I have ever conducted. Technically, it was not the best performance but the way students put their effort, shining eye balls!! moved audience's heart. When conducting "It's a small world" my tear almost dropped Trumpet played bright fanfare, horn screamed, band suppoce to play much softer for the song but everybody just play from their heart, and saw juniors singing out loud with happy face, saw rgs alumni singing joyfully and etc
almost tear dropped.
I was the happiest man in the world.

I'm going to share this joyful life with my students for another ten years or more.


at the SYF, let's send our message to the people with love.
music without message is really boring and it is not music , just a sound (or noise)
if the message doesn't have any love in it. something awful.

only the message with full of love makes people happy.

i believe our music will give them the best message ever.


Do I really have to say anything more than how much I will miss this guiding light, this inspiration to all of us?

RIMB, I have the utmost confidence in all of you to do your best tomorrow. It's not the award that matters, as long as you can play your hearts out. RJCSB, likewise.

We Should, We Must, We Can, We Will!!

RAFFLES BANDS