SJIMB Horn Section Blog

mozart's horn concerto no.1 k412

2010-04-02T11:51:00.004+08:00

@joshua: this will probably help you for the audition on monday.
@thaddaeus: don't bother listening...sounds just like you...
@karan: the time will come for you to play it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AYTuOLQp1M

Samuel

Some Inspirational Stuff

2010-02-23T23:01:00.003+08:00

This is how it's SUPPOSED to sound like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnRyUM3hr2g&feature=related

Have fun trying (and failing half the time like me :P )

P.S. This is one of the songs some of you have been trying to play recently, maybe you should take a look at how that should sound too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HatvXyMaxaQ&feature=related

A Message of Great Importance

2009-10-09T17:55:00.001+08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSZx2lM5tHY&feature=related

Guys, please practice hard.

Section's Challenge 2

2009-09-16T22:19:00.005+08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAxQ6n9dgUE

Seeing how you guys constantly practice the PotC series, I've decided to try something that may be even more fun than the previous challenge....

Study that piece above, particularly from 5.18 to 6.08 . In there, I think you'd find an interesting duet, needless to say of which section. Two parts, the upper one with rather challenging notes, the lower one with an interesting note variation, one that took me some time to grasp.

My challenge?

1. Listen to and appreciate the piece. (Don't think that would be too hard for you people)

2. Find what key it is in and what the parts entail--mood, rhythm, melody, etc.

And the bonus this time?

PRESENT that duet, to the very note (Only the duet, of course, those 50 seconds). No mistakes, no errors, not even the slightest deviation from the piece. (Ok, just joking, there'll be an acceptable range of error, but the notes MUST be correct, at the very least)

Being the smart people you are (*wink*) you'd realise that since this is a duet, you would need to work together to get the parts done and presented.

So, from now until, say, the end of term 4 (The actual week 10. Ample time, I'd say), work together to work out the score from listening to the piece. DO NOT search for the actual score on internet, library, or in any way--use your ears and listen. I've tried it, written the score down without any external aid. It is possible, and you are more than capable of doing it.

Start now, and Good Luck!

PS: Please do not let this stop you from mugging for your EOYEs. Study first, then do this in your free time. Don't want ANY complaints from your parents or teachers saying you're spending too much time on the project. Need any help, look for me.

thought you guys needed a laugh

2009-09-03T18:20:00.002+08:00

haha check out this video! top ten ways america would be different if britney spears were president!

have a good laugh. we all need it once in a while.

signing off,

glen koh.

My Answers

2009-09-01T11:16:00.002+08:00

1) This piece has a very gentle and calm nature and shows warmth and peacefulness of life in the shire. It also portrays a sense of belonging.

2) The first part of the song is in D major, changes to B major and finally back to D major.
I'm not very sure if there are any other changes in key in the middle of the song. The major key is used as it sounds more gentle and warm as compared to a minor key which sounds mysterious and does not suit the purpose of this song.

3) The purpose of this song is to portray the tranquility of the Shire and what life was like there: peaceful and happy. Everything was carefree.

signing off with much hopes that my answers are not too far off,
Samuel

Something Fun

2009-08-13T19:18:00.004+08:00

While you're all busy studying for the exams, want you to look at this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK6KK7NhdQU

Lord of the Rings. The Classics of the future. If you can't appreciate something like this, you don't know what it means to be a musician. Listen to how the music blends together, how the different voices build upon each other and intertwine in perfect harmony. Observe how the musicians move with the music, how they let it flow through them, and how they enjoy and savour every note of it.

And while you're listening, answer these:

1) What is the mood of this piece?
2) What key is it in? Is it in the same key always? Why choose that key?

And the bonus:

What is the point of this piece?

Answer them well, but make sure it's not too long (2-3 lines will do). Answer the bonus correctly, on the dot, and you'll get something from me. (Yes, there is a fixed answer, and no, you won't find it anywhere but in my head, and no, I'm not telling anyone.)

Answer by the end of the term, under separate posts.

ASL

so that's about it huh

2009-07-22T16:44:00.002+08:00

well, AP's over, the sec 4's probably won't be coming back till band camp.

isn't this exciting?

it's the closing of a new chapter and the epilogue of a new one. the next page is left blank for you guys to write on it. it's been a great 2 whole years [whoohoo longest running] being your ASL. okay, maybe when we were starting out things weren't so great at all. but after a while i suppose it got better, not sure about what you guys think. 2011 people! take aim and starting striking that match! gotta match up the GWH we got this year okay? I'm really sorry that aside from the outing before AP, i wasn't really able to take a gracious and proper leave from band. instead i abruptly left once SYF ended. it's not that i don't love the band anymore, it's just that things... got in the way.

don't make the same mistakes i did. and not only that, don't make the same mistakes any of the previous batches made. look at our failures and find out why things went wrong. look at our successes and find out why things were so right. keep moving forward.

but always remember empathy. that is the one thing i've always feared would disappear from being in an UG. remember that whatever you make people do, whatever you do to people. put yourself in their shoes. the best way for you guys to work together is to be able to first understand each other well enough to be able to respect each other mutually.

of course, the respect can't just be kept within the section, respect everyone. and never feel afraid to speak up for what your moral values tell you is right. be strong, be confident and lead this band to new heights. i set this challenge for you. my batch managed to get the GWH. i challenge you to do better [omg i feel like i'm in star trek] get the GWH (who knows, top 3???) and raise the fitness standard of the band. we used to be the fittest UG around. now look at well, ME! -.-

good luck to all of you. i'll see you around school.
[WHOO! IT RHYMED]

signing off,
who else could it be? :D

Sectionals

2009-06-03T17:00:00.003+08:00

After a two-month hiatus, let's revive the section blog, starting with its most important thing:

SECTIONALS

Sectionals are fixed on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday. Make sure you're available on all three. Timing for each one to be set after we settle when the Bandroom is open during the holidays. Otherwise, on normal school days, ALL of you will sit for a 2-hour session at least from 2.40.

Any questions or problems, post on the tagboard by Saturday. Otherwise, I'll take it you all will be able to come down and anyone late or absent without proper excuse (Nothing other than MC or Teacher's excuse with proof) will be dealt with by me.

We've had it easy for months before, it's about time to spark the plug again.

ASL

DUDES....

2009-04-20T21:19:00.001+08:00

hey guys. this blog is like, extremely dead. can we liven it up a little?
HAOTENG. I WANT THE SECTION PHOTOS! post them up here or something. i'll save it from here.

blah blah blah.

GLEN.

we are blessed

2009-04-03T18:54:00.002+08:00

hey guys. i don't know if you guys even read this blog anymore. but anyways, i'll still blog.
i'm sure you guys read the sms i sent all of you about today's SYF. now i'm not going to say anything about it. because i personally believe something's really screwed up about it. but that's just my opinion. then again, that's not the point of this post.

i think today's events should be a clear indication of exactly how blessed we really are. it's events like this that allow us to remember just how the big man upstairs works in such unpredictable ways. just as the band began to become so joyous and perhaps even arrogant, God gives us events like this that shock us and remind us all about humility once again.

horn section, feel blessed that we performed at time that we did. because i have a strong feeling that if we had performed at any time, we would not have achieved that great result we achieved.

i'll talk about this more another time after band. for now, feel blessed. and praise god for the blessings he's given us for the past 2 years. Mr Tan Thiam Hee, Mrs Chua, Ms Ong Hwee Ling, Mr Colin Lai, Mr Sirhan, Ms Tan Sia Hui, Mr Ng Shuh Lit, Ms Adeline Tan, Mr Terence Fong, Mr Alan Wallace, Brother Jason, Zhibin, Ian Chai, Kevin Chung, Dominic Chia and all the other alumni that came down to support and help us, all the people from the Japan trip including the Maestro, Everyone for the other schools who's supported us so much since 2 years ago, namely Marsiling, Woodgrove, Nanyang Girls, Tanjong Katong and Tanjong Katong Girls, Montfort, CHIJ[Toa Payoh], CHIJ[St. Nicks] and a lot of other schools whose names escape me for now.

we need to be thankful. and there's no better time than now. you know what to do.

SL.

381 psa

2009-03-24T14:05:00.003+08:00

381 psa

hey guys. pray for my grandfather. his cancer just got a lot worse and now he's wheelchair-bound.

basically, he's on the verge of death.

SL2009.

the last masterclass

2009-03-22T11:14:00.003+08:00

the last masterclass
haha. it rhymed.

anyways. i'm just here to say that we all just got to push ourselves for these last 11 days to SYF. so let's do it. let's work to make ourselves better than we already are.

comparing to 2 years ago, you guys, have improved so drastically. i'm really, very proud of you guys. and i'm glad i had the honour to be your section leader thus far. so i'm not gonna care about what we get at the end of SYF. i'm just glad that i had the chance to go through this journey with you guys. this will definitely be my third and last SYF. and it has never meant so much to me before. i know, i might not be the best horn player there is. i know, i might not be the smartest person around and i know i might not be the best leader there is for this section. but, i don't know, what else can i say?

right about now, i think it would be proper to tell you guys that i've been on the verge of a total psychotic breakdown for a while now. you guys were the only drive i had to keep me going for band constantly. so thanks. and you probably will never hear me say this is real life so you'd better keep this blog. haha.

keep on going. i know you guys are gonna be great.

The Path to Success

2009-03-07T19:30:00.005+08:00

No matter how far we've gone so far, we still have a long way to go. As we've been reminded countless times of various suggestions to improve ourselves for the competition to come, none of us have ever noticed the true key to success. All this time, we've been looking at how we have to handle our equipment, how we have to behave during parades and what materialistic things we have to prepare as keys to success, yet we've never noticed the truth beneath it all.

There is a time for sorrow, and a time for joy. There is a time for tears, and a time for laughter. There is a time for play, and there is a time for work. And in all the countless endeavours we have in our...eventful lives at school, we must find the courage to do our best in all of them: To work hard and to play hard. And how do we do just that?

I've had many friends who've come up to me and asked the path to success, I'm sure many have gone to you as well. I've never really answered them, as I've never really found out the true answer to their question. At a time of peril and a time of need, I've found the answer.

The key to our success is not charging each other for not putting pencils on our stands. The key to our success does not lie with bringing home our files day by day, hoping it looks convincing enough to prove self-practice. The key to success does not even lie on coming down to the bandroom every day, or practicing every day, or living the band every day. The path to success lies in one thing and one thing only: Discipline.

Discipline makes you attend the sectionals your heart tells you you can afford to miss. Discipline makes you practice when you have only just enough time to play your computer games. Discipline makes you put your pencils on your stands without being told, makes you look at Mr Tan when you must, makes you what you are--A Bandsman.

Want to get that gold at the end of the rainbow? Get the discipline to run there first.

USL

2009-03-06T21:22:00.005+08:00

Sorry thadadeus..I know there alot of photos of you...and sorry SL...didnt have any photos of you....

Samuel

new layout

2009-03-06T20:45:00.001+08:00

hey guys. i updated the the blog layout.
one of my old layouts. yeah.
anyways.please update this more often. and please check this more often too.
i'll be typing here my debriefs after every parade. so you guys don't have to keep staying back yeah.

glen.

Today's Performance

2009-02-19T21:34:00.004+08:00

Hey guys, today you people are seriously not bad, the balance was well, and I could actually hear the lower horns! Keep it up! Just a few points to note, when you play, don't come in too rough, today's tuning is proof of that, please come in cleanly. now, for Joshua: control your air, a broad sound doesn't mean a loud sound. Take note of your volume and the air passing through, not everything is to be gung-ho. Plus your hand position. Samuel: during band or section talks, be more serious. I've already said since last year, there's a time and place for everything. While playing your horn, please keep your air steady, else the frequency of the note will be compromised. Daniel: Be more confident in your playing, you can afford to be louder and your sound should be broader to support the section. Everyone has their roles to play, and yours is crucial. Glen: take note of phrasing. Its mainly because of your embouchure, its very difficult to create a steady and broad sound, as such, you usually sound thin. Also, it makes it difficult for you to tongue well. That style of playing is not really advised as the lips can't be tight enough, hence the problems. Therefore, find a way to overcome that problem. I've problems too, such as stamina, pitching and stuff, so I'm working on it now and really hope that you guys work on yours too, thanks. Remember, a Gold this year is a must, we'll not settle for anything less than that.

Haoteng

SECTIONALS.

2009-02-16T19:00:00.002+08:00

hey guys. good job at today's sectionals.
but please, i'm BEGGING, let's not have a repeat of the disgusting behavior?
also, taking notice of Daniel's extremely late arrival because of his wanting to play with an ipod touch in class,

please la guys, just because i'm not there, doesn't mean that sectionals can be taken for granted. don't come and say that "oh glen's not gonna be there right?" and think that you can skip sectionals and get off scot-free just like that.

ok, from now on, let's have a new arrangement. after ever sectional, i will post your attendance here and give a review of how sectionals went. if i wasn't there for sectionals on that day, then either Hao Teng or Thaddaeus will do so. If you are unable to make it for sectionals on any stated day, then you will have to give me at least 2 days of prior notice. if you happen to fall sick, you will sms me about it. if you do not intend to come to the bandroom in the first place, you will sms me and i will talk to you at a different time. if you are late, i expect a proper, valid excuse. on days when there are sectionals, you will take a heavy recess and not take lunch, i want you guys in the bandroom immediately after school.

It's just another 5 weeks. just 5 weeks. push yourselves horns. we're getting there. we just need to settle all the tuning issues, tonality issues and rhythm. so please, you need to be there for sectionals. and yes, i mean YOU Daniel. and Samuel, and Joshua

the 4 of us need to work a lot more than Hao Teng and Thaddaeus do. so PLEASE. come down whenever you can.

signing off,
SL.

SECTIONALS

2009-02-13T19:13:00.002+08:00

HELLO HORN SECTION!
this is your overlord here.
haha joking, but yeah, it's glen.
this is just a little subtle reminder to you guys.

SECTIONALS ARE THIS MONDAY.
GET YOUR BUTT DOWN AND WARMED UP BY 1430HRS.
I WILL START EXACTLY AT 1430HRS AND YOU HAD BETTER BE WARMED UP AND TUNED BY THAT TIME.

please. sectionals are only one hour.
if you can endure 7 hours of lessons, 1 hour of sectionals won't hurt.

Section Outing

2009-02-11T22:59:00.003+08:00

Hey guys, there will be a section outing this sat at Great World City. Attendance is compulsory.

Haoteng

2009-02-11T13:14:00.000+08:00