I guess today's blog's gonna be a rather long one...please bear with me as I reminsced the events that happened the past few days...
Band Camp
Thursday
Arrived in school at 12:30pm and found the flutes practising their ensemble piece Canon in D...well...in terms of rhythms and notes, it's rather ok. The most important thing is to blend in the music because each player enters at a different time...lol...being a Sec 4, I should say other than O Levels, is quite enjoyable. No need to stay overnight in hot, stuffy classrooms instead of the usual band room I had in the past 3 years, better still, we get to settle our own meals instead of eating those packed meals. Had practice till 6+ and then proceeded home. Didn't stay for games.
Friday
Reported at 10:30am after having breakfast at MacDonalds. Annerson came today to help tutor us and to shape us up for our ensemble performance tonight. Well, actually it was "theirs"...but because the tutor said that having 5 people distributed among 3 parts was rather unbalanced, I then joined in to sort of..."balance" it...What disturbs me is that I still feel nervous even though I should be unfazed about it since I was just there as a "background supporter". After our ensemble, Mr Tan described it as "the worst performance ever"...lol...this is something I should question...I mean, we can't be that bad...he then told Cladys "I had lost my trust in you." Whoa! That left me flabbergasted...despite Cladys remaining calm, I know her heart must have shattered to pieces. I mean, if I were her, I would have broken down into sobs...Mr Tan should take note that we were only given 2 days and not 2 months to work on our pieces...given the juniors' calibre and capabilities, it was already a job rather well done. He shouldn't have condemned them to a state as the worst piece played in AMKSS band history. I should have known things would turn out to be this way. It's not that I didn't express my concerns about this piece. That it was too long, thus causing the players to lost count in the middle part since they come in at different places. Till now, I still preferred "Whistle While You Work" or "Chim Chim Cher-Ee". At least they were shorter...oh well, what's done cannot be undone. I didn't stay for long...went home immediately after the performance. Watched Spirited Away...a touching story.
Saturday
Woke up at 6:30am. And the sun wasn't even up yet...it shouldn't even be said as the "crack of dawn". Daddy fetched me to school at 7am. Prepared for our Sec 4s & 5s recollection concert and proceed down to the parade square to rehearse our Passing Out Parade. It was fine till afternoon when the sun was right above our heads. Despite the scorching sun, we relentlessly continued our rehearsals. Heard from Cheng Song that the previous night, the 3 leaders were given 100 pushups as punishment for their inefficieny and lack of initiative to lead the band. But it wasn't their fault. They (Yunxi, Winston and James) have just assumed their positions and still have lots to learn. We can't expect them to "soar" when they can't even "walk". I know time is of the essence since we'll be stepping down but this is also what they need. The poor Sec 3s too. And I thought waking up so early was pure torture. I soon changed my mind when I heard that they were called at 7am and given only 15 minutes to wash up and gather at the parade square. From there, they were made to run 2 rounds around the school compound. So we, as gruaduating students, were requested to show our concerns to them to help boost their morale. Cladys said she had an intuition that we would win the Best Section Award when we were on the way to the wash room to dress up. After all, she deduced that last night Mr Tan spent more effort on us in shaping up our playing. During rehearsal, he even spent slightly more time in correcting our marching...especially mine. I think I'm the worst. I don't even know which leg to start with. Pick out any Sec 1 or 2 and I can assure you 100% they'll do much better than me. So embarrassing to be called a Sec 4...lol...
True to her words, we were really called for the Best Section. I was so shocked I was at a loss what to do. I immediately placed my flute down and lined up together with the other juniors. From there, I was totally a messed...kekenang also do wrongly...even took the prize away until Cheng Song called me...so sia suay. After parade, we headed up to the hall for our concert. Played through till the last note...and then all of us had the usual "crying parade" as always, started by the emotional Cladys. I, influenced by her, then continued. Even Xue Yi also cried...so ironic! It's like, suddenly, in a flash, everything's over. Faster than I expected. Before that, I awaited for this day for so long and when it finally arrived, I wished time would hasten its speed, so reluctant to let go. I guess this is just me...
So now, I just want to thank all of my juniors in the flute section and wish them all the best in all that they do.
Cladys: Thank you so much for having faith in me during the concert...when I said I would help you in the last page of the 3rd movement of Postcard since we didn't couldn't find the score at the last minute...lol...don't ever do that again...ha ha...better to arrange scores in the file than to have it flying all around during the actual nerve-recking performance...don't fret if you come across new pieces. Ask those whose music is good to teach you the rhythms...and lastly, strive for the best as the SL. You can do it!
PS: And I still haven't taught you El Camino Real...lol...
Jaslyn: Thank you for being there through these years...must comfort Cladys if she's down or feeling depressed, thinking she's incapable of leading the section...especially when SYF is drawing near and the pressure is too great for her to handle it along.
Xue Yi: Thank you for all your lame jokes...they really cheer me up when I'm not feeling happy...and I'm grateful to you for sharing my laughter...ha ha... "Da Pao Zai Ding" (Canon in D)...
Joycelin and Marcus: Thanks for being there in the section...providing me a sense of belonging. Especially Marcus...as lame as Xue Yi...ha ha...being lame is not a liability, it's an asset...at least it is to me...
Also, to Jessica, an "ex-flute" member...thank you for being a friend and confiding in me...please don't ever entertain the thought of quitting. You're already a Sec 3...before you realize it, you'll be having your own graduating concert just like me. No matter how high the pressure is, especially next year during SYF...don't ever give up...press on...look to your section or close friends for comfort. If possible, I'll try to come back, I assure you...
Last but not least...
Mr Tan: Thanks for all the guidance and direction you've gave me for the past 4 years.
To the section as a whole, must strive for Best Section Award again next year...
To the band, must go for Gold With Honours during SYF...all of you have that potential...unleash it and you can do it!!
