Where the Pulse resides

2008-07-13T23:24:00.001+08:00

GOLD!!!!!!!!!!
I AM SO PROUD OF ALL OF YOU, ESP SEC 1s!!! GOLD GOLD GOLD GOLD GOLD GOLD GOLD GOLD GOLD GOLD GOLD!!
GWH FOR SYF OKAY!! IRIS!!! :D :D :D

2008-06-01T22:27:00.000+08:00

13 PRACTICES TO NBC!!!

2008-05-07T17:30:00.000+08:00

HELLO EVERYONE!!!
BAND STARTS TOMORROW!!!!

Ello hello

2008-04-15T21:41:00.003+08:00

Omg yay I remember the password! :D

Hello hello how are you peeps? Me and XL came back about twice already.. and we're glad that everyone is getting along fine. Plus the new ppl who joined, our family is growing. And time passes so quickly, the Sec 4s have stepped down. Ok random.

Anyway you all have probably realised that we NEVER had a section outing before. Unless you count those "breakfast at macs" as one... but we never had a proper one! Like whole day together! And since the June hols are coming... I was thinking of having it. My batch + Di,Rach,Gret + the current main band batch. Dunno la. Try asking the juniors first? Just go cycling.. or play some sports. Ahma will definitely love it (ha ha ha ha).

I miss band and percussion. Treasure your time in band yeah. Seniors come and go quickly. Have fun while you can. And good luck for mid-years!!

Oh, and keep yourself free for Etude (June 7)! :D

- your old, and probably forgotten, Daddy

2008-04-12T22:16:00.002+08:00

hey hey hey everybody!
band has stopped alrd, and i really hope you all practice! if not you will not be able to play when we come back.
when band starts, its only 2 months left to NBC!!
and we really want to get a gold right!
so better work hard ah, all of you!

but for now, concentrate on your mid years, do well and make me proud!

2008-04-06T10:24:00.002+08:00

HI EVERYONE, ITS ME AGAIN! -.-

combine yesterday was just tuning, but i think shermaine improved alot, must be because of me right!

nothing to say, practice with metronome (sp?).

2008-04-04T17:10:00.004+08:00

as everyone can see, i am trying very hard to keep this blog alive!
EVERYONE THANK ME AGAIN.
"thank you, the great keziah"
you're welcome!

okay, combines on thurs.
DO YOU ALL FEEL INSPIRED!
must learn to play like that japanese band okay!
i shall comment.

shermaine: MUST WATCH CONDUCTING AND COUNT!!! i know he was taking very fast the other day, but still, you cannot just like anyhowanyhow play, like come in wherever you think it is correct.
on the other hand, your solos are improving! keep up the good work.

joan: your variations improved quite alot the other day!! but you must always COUNT! and ANTICIPATE.
solos 6 onwards, not very good, practice. triplets sometimes uneven.

qihui: nothing much to say, you're very good alrd, but still must practice!

hongyi: sometimes lagging at allegro con brio (sp?), but now not muting the timpani, i guess its okay. your solo!! triplets going too fast, must follow conducting! and i am playing almost the same thing as you, when you hear me, just play the exact same speed!!! roll is improving, and i can see that you are working very hard to get your solo right, i am sure you can do it!

janice: sometimes some notes missing when you play the temple blocks, never aim properly is it!! but it was okay after playing afew times with that speed. and i know your part is really very difficult to play. so quite good alrd!!

i feel so mean commenting on everyone but not myself.

me: cannot play grace notes fast enough. not coming in on time at the last few pages (start of the "percussion" solo), always loose count there too. crash sometimes pop, cannot change in time from triangle to crash at 68 or from crash to triangle at 53, must move faster!

everyone: solos and chrochet (sp?) to semiquavers are finally together!!!!!!!!!!!!!
great job, sec ones more daring to ask permission to join in, and following rules, was quiet during combine too.
pack up timing always below 2 mins!
our record was 1 minute 18 seconds, lets try to beat that okay!

nothing to say alrd, bye.

2008-04-01T17:00:00.010+08:00

HELLO SECTION!! it me, again.

anyway, had council investiture today, and i'm really really really really really proud of you all!
we took 15 minutes to move the timpanis, drumset, conga, bongo, snare and bass drum, tambourine, stands, files, sticks, vibes, xylophone, glock, crash etc up.
although the band helped us, but you all were moving really fast! :D
so yeah, KEEP IT UP!!

our playing was not bad either.

janice: your school song snare was okay! really! i didn't hear any mistakes. conga for stand by me was good too!

hongyi: your crash for postcard fanfare and school song is as good as gretchen's, seriously. and your mallets for stand by me was great! and you learn it quite fast too! good job! great improvement!

qihui: your bongo and tambourine for stand by me was the best! and your school song bells was LOUD :) timpani for postcard fanfare was :D

next big event up is NBCCCCCCCCC. we can do it right! remember, AIM HIGH (90%)!! (sounds like joan)

ohhhhhhhh, and we updated section board, please go see it, its really funny, but we are going to take it down soon, so hurry!

[Edit]
i changed it alrd, low hongyi. hahaha, and i didn't hear any mistakes what! actually i only heard the xylo, cause like the vibes cannot really hear. maybe my there too noisy. and you were so far away from me! cause of ms A hahahahahaha. anyway, ms A says our section have to SMILE :) more!!!
[/Edit]

2008-02-16T19:24:00.002+08:00

HELLO EVERYONE!!
i bet no one is reading this, but anyway,
we've got 2 juniors!
one just joined us today, and the other one, her surname is seow too!
and she plays very well, you know, its in the genes.
HAHAHA, i have nothing to say, all the best to everyone for variations.

2007-12-04T22:52:00.000+08:00

can we have a section outing @ EAST COAST?? go ride bike, rollerblade and have picnic!!
who wants?? hurry go and tag so that i know who is interested.then i can organise.haha.im being bored stiff already.

miss the section

love,
ahma

2007-11-27T13:18:00.000+08:00

Good luck to the Sec 1s, 2 and 3s for today's Musical Evening!
Good luck in your percussion ensemble too. :P

We'll be watching cloooosely from the circle seats. :D

belated birthday treat

2007-09-15T00:41:00.000+08:00

happy belated birthday!
to our pet monkey and mouse-worm!

daddy was away mugging, heh.

Woops,

2007-08-22T00:10:00.000+08:00

I know it's late... but..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LIFEI!

2007-08-07T22:16:00.000+08:00

this, my friends, is what you call.....

water jugs.

basically, they are just water jugs filled with water.

and the next picture would be called

...

ocean drums.

they are similar to those malay traditional drums (kompangs)
except, ocean drums have sticks for you to hit on.
and it produces some water-like sounds.
following would be...

a brake drum. :D

the brake drum isn't really a drum.
it is a part of a vehicle's (car/bus/lorry etc.) wheel.
it produces a steel like sound, like those when you hit a pan.
also, we have the...

ship bell. :D

it's like a regular bell which you can find on ships.
commonly placed outside long john silver.
and also at our obs campsite 2.
usually rang as a sign of warning.

now,now, don't you tell me that you have no clue what the 'instruments' are like.
cause i'll just chop off your heads.
unless, of course, the informations that i've given are wrong.
which i hope is.
cause i can't imagine performing with water jugs and wheels.
but come to think of it, it's kinda cool.

we still have end of year to prepare, so cheer up!

The Procrastinators

Percussionation

The L.A. All-Star Dumline

i really really really reccomend everyone of you to watch this.

i repeat.

i really really really reccomend everyone of you to watch this.

thank you.

kudos to all the pro drummers out there.

-diana kaswadi :D

Copacabana!

2007-07-29T13:44:00.000+08:00

Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl
With yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there
She would merengue and do the cha-cha
And while she tried to be a star, Tony always tended bar
Across a crowded floor, they worked from 8 till 4
They were young and they had each other
Who could ask for more?

At the Copa (CO!), Copacabana (Copacabana)
The hottest spot north of Havana (here)
At the Copa (CO!), Copacabana
Music and passion were always the fashion
At the Copa....they fell in love

(Copa Copacabana)

His name was Rico, he wore a diamond
He was escorted to his chair, he saw Lola dancin' there
And when she finished, he called her over
But Rico went a bit too far, Tony sailed across the bar
And then the punches flew and chairs were smashed in two
There was blood and a single gun shot
But just who shot who?

At the Copa (CO!), Copacabana (Copacabana)
The hottest spot north of Havana (here)
At the Copa (CO!), Copacabana
Music and passion were always the fashion
At the Copa....she lost her love

(Copa. . Copacabana)
(Copa Copacabana) (Copacabana, ahh ahh ahh ahh)
(Ahh ahh ahh ahh Copa Copacabana)
(Talking Havana have a banana)
(Music and passion...always the fash--shun)

Her name is Lola, she was a showgirl
But that was 30 years ago, when they used to have a show
Now it's a disco, but not for Lola
Still in the dress she used to wear, faded feathers in her hair
She sits there so refined, and drinks herself half-blind
She lost her youth and she lost her Tony
Now she's lost her mind!

At the Copa (CO!), Copacabana (Copacabana)
The hottest spot north of Havana (here)
At the Copa (CO!), Copacabana
Music and passion were always the fashion
At the Copa....don't fall in love

(Copa) don't fall in love
Copacabana
Copacabana

Does anyone have the song? It's so cute. I remember one of the bands played it at the fiesta.

Anyway, we should make the juniors watch Drumline!

Of Birthdays and Banners

2007-07-22T20:29:00.000+08:00

Happy birthday Daddy! Now we're even. =D

Sorry for the horrible colour scheme, but I was never good at aesthetics. Anyway the background makes up for it! Nice, innit? =D

-you know who

Happy Birthday

2007-07-20T18:57:00.001+08:00

Photos

2007-07-16T21:10:00.000+08:00

Band fiesta photos!

[[CLICK HERE]]

Send me photos if you have too (esp diana's cam).

2007-07-12T20:17:00.000+08:00

im posting here because no one have been posting.
so i post lor :/

anyway, hmmm. sunday, band fiesta!
i hope everyone can turn up (esp the sec4s)
yeap, our performance is at 5pm,
and we're playing disney spec, i could've dance all night,
shrek 2 and high school musical.

wowee and oh,
what about section lunch on sunday! HEEE((:
we need to report in school by 2pm,
so hmmm, what about meeting up at 11am?
I WANT MACS BREAKFAST!):<

and i hope per 06 07 can make it for our sectoin dinner.
yeap!must must must okay.

we miss being in auxi gang.
we miss the old times we had.
we miss all of you.

Brighter Than Sunshine says:
oh, hsm does have the whistle
Brighter Than Sunshine says:
first beat every four bars
Brighter Than Sunshine says:
i mean, every bar.

Danse Diabolique

2007-07-08T17:41:00.000+08:00

Download Danse Diabolique here.

http://geostaphio.multiply.com/music/item/10

Note that you have to sign up for an account before you can download.

2007-06-19T00:20:00.000+08:00

How is your OBS? :D

Btw, uploaded Persis Overture. Thanks mummy.

:)

2007-06-09T00:49:00.000+08:00

Listen to the Disney Spectacular's + Highlights from Shrek 2 recordings to improve on your playings please.

They're @ Multimedia >> Quintessence 2007.

D:

2007-06-05T22:05:00.001+08:00

Sec 1s, it would be extremely helpful if you'd tag in the tagboard to ensure that all of you know that this blog actually exists, and so that we know we aren't talking to a wall. :D

Anyway, I've just received news from a secret informant (heheh) about the current situation of the section.

And I'm sure all of you know that it is not a very pleasant one.

The sec 4s have stepped down, but we can't help but worry whenever we heard from the seniors that the section isn't doing very well. Y' know, it isn't only a matter of playing well, but your attitude is also very important. I've heard about some people coming late etc. And I've also known about the fact that Ms Low has been giving the sec 1s a hard time. I don't care whether the problem lies with Ms Low, or the sec 1s themselves, but it just makes it clearer that THERE IS A PROBLEM.

Sec 1s:
We know that your batch wasn't exactly very well-looked after especially when the band had our SYF this year and you were sorta neglected. But honestly, that doesn't give you a reason to cover up the fact that you don't play well enough. I'm not saying that you are bad; you guys are good, but just not good enough. I don't know what to say because it's impossible to make you super percussionists within a day but just one word of advice: PRACTICE. It really helps, I GUARANTEE. And that's how we got to our standards today. You might think that "Oh, I practise everyday, and that's enough" but no, it's never enough. Even till now, Tama Goh (Singapore's best percussionist and our part-time instructor) practises for at least 3 hours every day (from what he told us).

Okay, to put it simply, PRACTICE is the key.

-

I know I nag a lot but still, if you want me to stop nagging then please, please somehow... (you know what to do).

Miss the section. D:
Cya.

EDIT: Check out the Multimedia section ----->

Hello (:

2007-05-26T14:22:00.000+08:00

Updated the blog. Changed the links and the picture etc. :D

Has anyone told the Sec 1s about this blog? Anyway, listen to Noah's Ark everyday okay, esp the Sec 1s. Just tell them to. Hope you will have more improvements the next time I come. ;D

Ohoh, and thanks loads for the flour-balls and the animals. :D

- Daddy

Noah's Ark

2007-05-17T19:23:00.001+08:00

I've uploaded Noah's Ark into a public hosting site. :)

http://h1.ripway.com/Geostaphio/NoahsArk.mp3

Right-click and 'Save target as'. Listen to it at least one time a day and better, listen with you reading your score(s).

Noah's Ark is a very challenging piece, maybe not much for the seniors, but the Sec 1s are gonna have a tough time learning the parts. Work hard, practise hard. The Sec 4s believe in all of you. Good luck for Noah's Ark! :)

Daddy :D

edit: Right I just realised that this layout doesn't permit right-clicking. Just click on the link and wait for it to load, then click 'File' and 'Save as...".

2007-05-12T22:27:00.000+08:00

forgot to tell you.

i am AHMA. (:

memories

2007-05-12T22:16:00.000+08:00

PERCUSSION 2006
9 OF US = 5 SENIORS + 4 JUNIORS
1 SECTION = 1 LOVE = I HEART

SEC FOURS WILL BE STEPPING DOWN ON 15 MAY 2007
GO CHECK MLG FOR THE DETAILS OF BAND PHOTOTAKING.
~~~~~~ :D :D :D :D :D ~~~~~

To dearest AHMA

2007-05-08T16:31:00.000+08:00

To our dearest AHMA.

Happy 16th Birthday! :)

!!

2007-04-19T18:10:00.000+08:00

Another band-but-no-band day. I'm actually quite enjoying the large amount of time I have after school, like omg, I can actually reach home this early. xD

anyway, monkey i already invited you more than 3 times la. see screenie!

2007-04-17T21:48:00.000+08:00

alright, all results are out. 19/ 150 gold bands, including honours. top 12.7%. =D cgssb!

:/

2007-04-16T21:34:00.000+08:00

yeah, it feels weird. it's like something's missing but actually it's not. like the whatever-whatever syndrome ahma mentioned. ~_~

i'm sorry for constantly changing skins, but i find this one really satisfying. editted the sidebar a little. i like the little notes! <3 and updated everyone's links too! i'm off to tweak the CBox colors.

GOOD LUCK FOR MYEs EVERYONE!

daddy.

2007-04-16T21:08:00.000+08:00

it is really weird not to go for band today.

this is called the conditioned reflex action. [biology term]

LOL. don't all of you think so.

im not used to this...

xinliang(:

2007-04-16T13:05:00.000+08:00

finally i can post here :]
i dont want 14 may to come.
i hope time stops.

haha im still reminiscing about SYF
<33333333333333333333
<33333333333333333333
<33333333333333333333
<33333333333333333333
<33333333333333333333
<33333333333333333333

rachaelyeo

2007-04-15T01:09:00.000+08:00

send me the recordings!!!!!!

ersalina2318@hotmail.com

2007-04-14T08:26:00.000+08:00

rachael sent me the syf recordings. i think they are awesome. =D or maybe i'm being biased.
-guess who.

edited: okay, the gong sounds really ugh.

edit number two: listening to noah's ark. have fun, guys. heh.

:)

2007-04-12T20:46:00.000+08:00

now that the SYF is over, it's time for us to settle down and focus on our studies.

to the sec 3s:
as you may well know, the sec 4s will be stepping down soon. we are handing this baton to you and soon, it will be up to you on how to lead the section, and if possible, the band to greater heights. you can't rely on your seniors anymore. you have to learn how to be independent, how to make decisions that would be the best for everyone. you will have to know how to differentiate and prioritize. and most importantly, know how to improve on your own as well as your juniors' playing. no more fooling around. it's time to get serious. make sure you train your juniors really hard and don't be lenient to them! xD ha ha, i know i'm mean, but seriously our discipline is really lacking. all of you must know when to be serious, and also shut up when the need arises.

for now, relax, and focus on your studies. good luck for MYEs!

-daddy 06/07
PS: how were the cards? ;D

SYF 2007

2007-04-10T20:35:00.000+08:00

we did it again.

GOLD.
(no honours, too bad ;P)

still uploading the photos. i'm too lazy to resize them and post them here. will edit with the link ASAP. ;D

edit: PICCIES! ;D

we didn't let anybody down. :)

!!

2007-04-09T19:39:00.000+08:00

1 DAY
TO SYF!!!!!!

BELIEVE.

2007-04-08T10:26:00.000+08:00

2 DAYS

TO SYF

bloody hell.

2007-04-07T17:38:00.000+08:00

3 DAYS

TO SYF

by the way, this blog is quite pathetic. =D just an observation.

-guess who.

edit: today's practice was... sleepy. xD
i don't know, i just felt dizzy all day and couldnt really concentrate. maybe it's cuz of the morning exercise. AND DIANA AND GRETCHEN AH! T_T made me run so much. zzz.

2007-04-06T23:00:00.000+08:00

the psychological therapy by shermin was powerful!!
it really makes me reflect a lot.
hope it does to all of you too!!

thursday was a great day for perc. cos of the gretchen's crashing joke
i couldn't stop laughing.
that ah........ choo crash was powerful!!! made the whole band laugh. LOL.
well...see all of you tmr!!

the last lap before SYF!!

love,
ahma(:

2007-04-06T16:25:00.000+08:00

4 DAYS

TO SYF

2007-04-05T20:16:00.000+08:00

5 DAYS
TILL SYF

how was the psychological therapy by shermin today? :D
remember the quote of confidence!

dare to play. play confidently.

and listening again and again to your own playing, realising your mistakes help too. most importantly, make sure you do not repeat the same mistake again! and remember, watch mrs chua as closely as possible! treat her like a god or something. stare at her. follow her conducting! xD

keep it up, and good luck for SYF!

D:

2007-04-04T18:35:00.000+08:00

6 DAYS
TILL SYF

only 3 people turned up today. zzz.

2007-04-03T21:30:00.000+08:00

7 DAYS

TO SYF 2007.

2007-04-02T17:52:00.000+08:00

SYF 2007
10 APRIL

(:

CATCH OUR AHMA IN ACTION

2007-04-01T00:42:00.000+08:00

more pictures here. ;D

Summarisation

2007-03-20T21:06:00.000+08:00

okay i think i'm too naggy but i can't help it ya noe! i see you all (any myself) can't play properly i panic and start yakking. (i know, i'll try to shut myself up for the next few practices...)

okay basically, here are some brief problems we have right now..

ahma: tend to rush/slow down in Da Pacem Domine. watch conductor. focus more during Sunrise.

daddy: can't do double-stroke triplets properly in DPD. sucks in playing the suspended in Sunrise. kick daddy pls.

mommy: generally no prob la. only sometimes got hiccups in the dynamic of the gong. overall: OKAY. :D

abirami: i forgot who is she but anw, sometimes late at [12]. watch conductor!!!

monkey: as usual, grace note at [17]. and must focus more la, work closer with crash. Sunrise ok.

rabbit: suspended ok, just end more precisely on the 1st beat of the bar. good dynamic.

gretchen: (i think my memory is deteriorating..) dont pop the crash la. and yes, play tgt with B.D

lifei: err just practise more on the double stroke k.

mouseworm: ???

with this. i hope i can shut up and stop nagging. :)

2007-03-17T19:18:00.000+08:00

Xinliang: if you are in for a band commitee position, would you prefer to be an SL or be in band comm?
Rachael: i will want to be in band commitee.
Xinliang: why?
Rachael: 'cos being an SL is much harder than in band comm.

Rachael
oh man....my tears came streaming down...not drop by drop..it's lines, rows and columns..
i don't know what other SLs or band comm think but i AM really touched by your words.it came from the bottom of your heart. you just blurted it out.

yes truly. i seriously feel that being an SL is much more challenging than being in a band commitee. i don't know why but it's just a feeling that in a band commitee, there's a bunch of people you can consult your problems with and share the burden. however, being a Section leader has taught me a lot. i was the leader of the percussion section. no Assistant Section Leader or whatsoever. no one to be officially share your burdern. being an ASL was much better during the dorothy's times. dorothy helped me with a lot of things and made decisions for the section. i just needed to ask her and she would solve it for me. that was effortless for me. being a section leader is different. i have never put myself in the shoes of an SL before and thus, never knew the heavy responsibilites that come with the post.

when i received my post last year, i had to start from scratch. first, it's the distribution of the scores. that was scary. dorothy and pris were looking at me, giving out scores. i didn't know how to allocate the parts; is it by level or by ability or anyhow give out and let them try different parts. this comes with experience. secondly, i have to be more alert in the section. i am really afraid of conflicts. in the previous batches, our section had some kind of conflict and i dont wish to see history repeat itself.

bonding the section is another challenge. people from different places and personal histories coming together as a SECTION to play music, to have fun. i really had a hard time narrowing the gap between the juniors and the seniors. it's really fortunate to have a percussion tradition of having section lunches and dinners. this directly brings the section closer.

lastly, the most important of all, it's the people that are in the section itself. without people, we don't even need to have a section not even a band. it's heartening to see people opening up and enjoying themselves during band practices. we laughed about embarrassing times, we took random photos and many more which i cannot recall straight away. all of you became more cheery especially christine!!! the juniors will never know how serious and straight face she was in sec 1 and 2. come to think of it, it was pretty funny. [right christine?]

let me tell all of you something that i am afraid of in band. that is SECTIONALS. you must be very curious as to why would i prefer combines to sectionals. to speak frankly, i can't take people well. i will go off beats and then back to track again...and i don't know how to like give comments.

FORTUNATELY!! thanks [esp: christine and ersy] and the rest of the section for being by my side and cheer one another on. i am sure you still remember the incident where i just broke down. seriously, i wasn't feeling hopeless for the section. the section was well and up. really nothing to worry about except for some coordination parts.

after syf, this 2006/2007 batch of people will be leaving. come to think of it, i have really enjoyed and suffered in band for the past 4 years. seniors' expectations were high and we are oblidged to always be better than the previous batch. we must improve in technics wise and social wise. without a bonded section, nothing could possibly be done successfully. am i right? we have gone so far and now, or even until mid april, it's time for us to pass the baton and let the next generation to continue this long stretch of marathon.

hopes for all of you: i wish that your grades can also improve a lot more better than before. i fervently believe that all of you have the potential to excel in whatever you put your heart into. don't underestimate your ablities and capabilities. help one another in times of difficulty, give on e another encouragement and many many HUGS!!

AIM FOR THE STARS, EVEN THOUGH YOU EVENTUALLY DON'T REACH IT, YOU WILL STILL FALL ON THE CLOUDS.

thank you all of you for everything that you have done for the sectionl. i and the section really appreciate it!! ps: must acknowledgement and appreciation to the band for being always there to help us carry our instruments.

PERC THE BEATERS [i mean rhythem beaters] CAN WE FIX IT?
PERC THE BEATERS YES WE CAN!!!

that's all for today. brain juice is depleting. don't ever be intimidated by the pressure and the consequences, think of today and live it to your fullest with NO REGRETS OF COURSE!!

those who want to give comments or speeches may do so in the new posts. don't do it in the tagboard. let's flood our posts!!

with lots of hugs and kisses,
your most RESPECTABLE,
your BELOVED,

AHMA.

Quickie

2007-03-11T12:45:00.000+08:00

changed the skin because the default one sucks. don't ask why "love is just a lyric in a children's rhyme". urm... because it's part of the lyrics??? owell.

monkey! re-draw/scan the cartoons you drew on us and send to daddy! daddy's gonna compile and make them into a skin. :D

Still in the midst of renovating...

2007-03-04T19:06:00.000+08:00

Aiyah, I'm still thinking up of a suitable skin. Maybe I'm gonna draw us in cartoons or something. xD