Hey Band(its)!

(For most of you), your band test would have just ended and most of you might be really curious about how much you got or how good/badly you did. If you’re expecting results in this posts, then I’m sorry to disappoint,  results will be released next week :)

As opposed to what most of you might think, the result is NOT the most important part of this band test. You know how much effort you put into practicing for this test and if you managed to improve and confidently say, “in these few weeks while preparing for band test, I’ve improved so much as a player”, then you’re the band(it) that has taken away the most from this experience. Feel the accomplishment of staying back on those non band prac days, playing that scale again and again until it has changed from something impossible to something you know in the back of your. That accomplishment of bringing your instrument home, lugging it all the way back and practicing (you have awesome neighbours if they don’t complain about the volume) and coming back to school with a better tone or faster fingers.

How you view the band test is directly proportional to.. not the results, but how much you take away from the test:

a) I passed but didn’t need to practice at all! Ha I practiced lesser than all of you and still got higher.

b) Yes can’t believe I passed! I thought I’d be dead! Looks like those extra practices were worth it!

c) Grah I failed. But who cares, I improved so much.

Which one are you .

We’re in band not as students, but as musicians making music. If all we can focus on is just the mere marks we get on that piece of paper, all we’d do is just for the sake of those marks. Whats the use? Think about how much you practiced, how you managed to overcome that difficult rhythmic passage, how your ears became more sensitive to pitch after these few days and weeks. If we’re able to shift our focus to how we can better improve our music, with the motivation of the band test to help us achieve that goal, only then will the marks be of use. When the band test is over, its not the marks per se that are important, but the changed mindset that sticks with us.

If you ask me, I’d rather fail and improve loads rather than get 78/100 and not improve at all. So, to those who worked hard, good job guys, it doesn’t matter what mark you got cos you guys worked hard for it. To those who didn’t, I hope you’ll reflect and ask yourself why didn’t you put in the effort.

All the best! :D

JIAYOU

Hey everyone!

For your viewing (more of hearing) pleasure :D The pieces we sight read for fri band prac and another random vid i found on youtube :D

The Cowboys

Lassus Trombone

Lassus Trombone (2)

Can’t find a concert band version of sakura on youtube =X

Date: 20 Aug 2010

Venue: Various rooms @ SALT Centre

Time: 2:30pm – 6:30pm

Tested on:
1) Set Piece [30(20)]
2) Scales & Intervals [30(20)]
3) Sight Reading [30(15)]
4) Instrument Knowledge [10(5)]

Passing Mark: 60/100

Sec 1s:
Set Piece:
Double Bass: Big Fun In The Sun
Tuba: Big Fun In The Sun
Euphonium: Saint Anthony Chorale
Trombone: John Williams Symphonic Soundtracks
Horn: John Williams Symphonic Soundtracks
Trumpet: Hobbits Dance and Hymn
Bassoon: Noahs Ark (Selections)
Saxophone: Hobbits Dance and Hymn
Clarinet: John Williams Symphonic Soundtracks
Bass Clarinet: Big Fun In The Sun
Flute: Mononoke Hime Medley
Percussion: Mr Ramu’s Exercises
Scales & Intervals: Bb, Eb, Ab, F, C

Sec 2s:
Set Piece:
Double Bass: Little Mermaid Medley
Tuba: Little Mermaid Medley
Euphonium: Simple Gifts: Movement 3
Trombone: Virginia
Horn: John Williams Symphonic Soundtrack
Trumpet: Flight: Adventure In The Sky
Bassoon: Noahs Ark (Selections)
Saxophone: Little Mermaid Medley
Clarinet: Little Mermaid Medley
Oboe: John Williams Symphonic Soundtrack
Flute: John Williams Symphonic Soundtrack
Percussion: Mr Ramu’s Exercises
Scales & Intervals: All 12 Major Scales

The set pieces are tentative, and will be confirmed when your SLs pass you your pieces. Meanwhile, work on your tone, tuning, and technical stuff. Please practice hard for the promotion test as it will determine whether or not you get promoted to main band and your opportunities to perform for the concert. The marking will be of a reasonable standard, nothing too impossible or nothing too easy, so please challenge yourself and I hope to see you all improve as musicians over the course of this test :)

Even though we might not be playing for the Youth Olympic Games, we’re still going to to play beside The Merlion! Even though in school, we do stuff like Marching Together for outdoors, we’ll wow the audience with our all rounded-ness and awesome music and make them feel like they’re in a Fairytale! Of course, don’t forget, to make good music and sound as ONE band, you must tell yourself, “I Will Follow Him“, or else we won’t be together at all. Let them realise we’re not just a High School band, we’re a more than (Abba) Gold band! Please don’t forget that while making music, we’re gonna have some Big Fun in the Sun, so have fun! Just make sure you don’t Accidentally damage any instruments because you’re so In Love with them. Lastly, please be reminded that we need to report to band in full concert attire by 12:30pm even though our performance is around Five-O clock, Singapore time not Hawaii time :D

Its going to be our performance at The Merlion today! Amidst all the alertness and discipline that we expect, we also want you guys to have a super fun and great time! Enjoy MAKING music as a band and give it your all! If anyone makes a mistake, just smile and carry on and continue MAKING music! EXPRESS what you want to play and ENJOY playing it! I cannot emphasize this enough. So, give it your all and lets MAKE MUSIC as a band!

IMPORTANT: NOTE THE CHANGE IN TIMING. BASICALLY EVERYTHING IS BROUGHT FORWARD BY HALF AN HOUR.

Hi all~
Here is a detailed schedule for the Merlion Performance on 31/7/2010

12.30 pm: Assemble at SALT centre in FULL CONCERT ATTIRE(Black long-sleeved shirt, black long pants, black socks, black leather shoes and school tie. A uniform check will be conducted this Friday.)

12.30 pm to 2.00+ pm: Full band.

2.00+ pm: Help to move percussion instruments and the stands down to where the truck will be.

2.30 pm: Load the percussion instruments and the stands onto the truck.

2.30 pm to 3.00 pm: Get ready to move(Final check of files, scores and other equipment)

3.00 pm: Bus comes. Band leaves for the performance.

4.00 pm: Arrive at performance venue

4.30 pm: PERFORM!

5.30 pm: Performance concludes.

6.00 pm: Bus comes. Band returns to school.

6.30+ pm: Debrief

7.00+ pm: Dismissal

As you can see, we will be moving the percussion instruments and stands a lot, so please be very alert on that day and listen carefully to all the instructions given to you. When the band is told to do something, do not hesitate, dot not wait for others to do it. Be the first to do it and execute it quickly and accurately. Take innitiative when loading/unloading percussion instruments and when setting up the stands and chairs at the performance venue. All in all, just be very alert and attentive, we certainly don’t want another screw-up like NBC, do we? Besides that, look happy, sound happy, feel happy. We are going there to have fun and I am sure it is going to be a very fun experience for all of us. So just enjoy every second of the performance.

Stay alert. Have fun. :D

This notice goes out to all Sec 4s who wish to take part in the above stated event.

For this group of people, you are required to attend high school band practices for THIS FRIDAY, NEXT TUESDAY AND NEXT FRIDAY to practice with the sec 1s to the sec 3s.

Also do take note, these practices are an addition to your JC band practices, and will not take over the JC band practices. Your attendance will still be taken for JC practices.

Regards
Joseph