Our section mascot has been frognapped!

So I was trying to introduce Si Kai and Dhruv (not Druth!) about the mascot. Couldn't find it in the store room though. Here's a snippet of conversation between me and Dhruv:

Dhruv: So what's the section mascot?
Me: I'll ask Brian to show you...
Me (hollering): BRIAN!!!
Dhruv: The section mascot is Brian?
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As if the timpani jokes weren't enough...

Brian: Piani exam!!!
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Yay maybe next year Jerald can juggle Centuria's bass drum, snare drum and maybe even cymbals on the drumset! xD
Oh and with Eugene around the drumset, me, Kinchun and Wentao do not have to play for Bandwagon anymore. 3-in-1 coffee mix!!! Er... percussionist.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Ché Sera (how do you spell it again?)

Wentao: It's keI særa not t∫eI særa.
Wentao: Read the katakana (???)...
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Brian: All posts in the blog must contain at least 50 words...

Brian: Placed a note at the end of the photos. [9 words]


And yes, I've totally screwed up my piano exam. *cry cry* Bad piano... or pianist?

I'm not exactly in a mood to write, but if not now, then I'll never post.

Yesterday was.. surreal. I had gone through three Investitures before this one.. And I can only remember bits and pieces of each one. 2003, all I remember is not being told to bring civilian clothes, and going to the Grassroots' Club somewhere near Yio Chu Kang for a long a la carte buffet dinner. I think it lasted till about 11. I was the quiet one then.

I remember more from 2004. We gathered as a section on the main level of the band room. Adriel gave out his gifts and message cards. Instead of names it had descriptions of each section member so we had to guess which was who's. Mine read 'the "I'm lovin' aux!" one' because I was supposedly obsessed with auxiliary instruments. And I remember George giving out his corn to the UD members. For section dinner, we went to some place in Bukit Batok for a cheap buffet. Shared a cab home with Adriel, Wei Ren and of course Kin Chun.

We didn't have section dinner last year!! Must have a replacement one before it becomes a reunion dinner X_x

Yesterday's section dinner was short.. It lasted an hour at most.. Not a buffet, and no round table, so not much interaction.. Lanning was quite silly. A few other sections were in the same building as us and we didn't even know. And there was supposedly no space where the clarinet section was.. Would have been much more meaningful and fun if we were owning other sections instead.

But I guess it only struck me once I got on the cab. The feeling of "it's over". We're still friends, still in contact with one another, but it's just different. We were the most close-knit section in the band, that's for sure. Never before have I had such a great group of friends.

I didn't want to listen to any more of our Prometheum XI recordings for a while.. But I did, and I recalled memory after memory of playing, teaching, learning and practicing each piece. Drilling Ben's Fossiles part. Practicing offbeats on the marimba. Teaching how to play the crash cymbals and doing fun crash exercises xD. Practicing Army of the Nile over and over again while giving instructions in silly accents. Playing Jalan-Jalan over and over again as a section a week before competition.

I guess I could say all of us are rather skilled in our playing. In fact, we are very skilled. I used to brainwash all of you during sectionals. But yes, we have done very well in our playing. I mentioned that we were the most close-knit section, and I think there's no doubt about that. Everything just works out when we enjoy playing with one another.

Why did we get one stick for each person, not a pair? Besides the cost factor, it's significant because.. we ar- we were (argh!), and you are, a section. How beautiful can the music be if you make it with one stick? Compare that to many sticks played by a group of friends.

I will miss being in this section with all you wonderful juniors. I already am. What we had, what we made, was just indescribable. I wish I could get it back, I really do.

Investiture Pieces

Yikes. Comic Sans MS is too large. Shan't use it in this blog anymore. Also made some changes to the template, namely font and alignment. Hope you don't mind Eugene! =D

And I forgot to talk about investiture pieces! Sec 1s were very messy. Yuchen and Sikai looked really lost in the middle, but at the end Yuchen covered it up well. Well, their batch piece isn't easy, and drumset and congas are pretty ambitious.

Me and the sec 2s... shan't comment. What else but lousy tuning and last minute changes?

Sec 3 performance was quite deceint, with Druth and Ferdian playing, at least to my opinion. Kinchun should be congratulated for daringly taking up the drumset parts, even though his psychomotor skills were quite far off (see Magnificent Men)

Sec 4s rocked!! I don't remember last year's sec 4s playing so many songs anyway. Heard from Eugene that they made a last minute decision to play Utopia. Eugene's first time touching the timpani for a song, not bad. Then Jerald was questioning me (during the first song) "where is Wentao?". Brian was... nice with the really loud enthusiastic bass drum rolling and playing the timpani on the other side =P

And you can tell that Mr Oura likes chubby and cute sec 1s like Yuchen. During cert presentation you could see him touching Yuchen's head. So affectionate... too bad Yuchen was sitting beside Mr Oura. Perhaps he'll be nice to Yuchen, who knows...?

And to add on to Jerald's post, well... I guess that this year has been the golden age for us, besides our year 2008. Not because of Prometheum, or a birth of a new competition (NBC), but rather our great seniors who led us all the way though the year. Perhaps I treasured them a little too late...

So yeah. That's what makes investiture 10x 100x more depressing and sad for us and our section.

And yes, our sec1s change at the circular area. They apparently are early leavers, and yay I love dota! Kinchun really owns "whoa crit 1000" and guess who he did that on... while for me, I love scavenging on low-HP eugenes. Though my team lost both games.

Lilies on the river coming up! Hoep the sec 1s don't fool around, and sec 3s are competent enough. And hoping that I won't rely so much on mallets...

Investiture ' 06

It's over! My short tenure in RIMB is over. I never realised how much it meant to me. But now I do. I feel sad. I will miss you all alot! The batch songs were so beautiful. I'm sure all of us are sad as this would probably be the last chance to play together like that.

Benjamin! You are so cute. Although sometimes I don't see myself fit to give out advices so much, because I joined so late, I still hope that you'll listen to it. Some advice to you for now is to relax while playing music. Music should be graceful, not rushed and jerky. Do keep in mind that in any future songs.I'm very grateful for your guidances for my inexperienced self earlier on. Ben, you are the very essence of a true band member; devoted and hardworking. Rock on!

Jerald! Once again, I am not all that qualified to give advices , but I will give my thoughts. For you, I don't really know what to say. Your only problems are everyone's problems, but you have the aptitude to practice and perfect it. That's the best. You're crazy! I love seeing you and Ben's reactions when I start on weird stuff (sex-ed?). Thanks also for your help in my early days as a member of RIMB. Oh, you're cute as well.

To Ben and Jerry, although I probably can't play with you 2 anymore, I'll never forget because the band had become such a big part of my life.

To KinChun, the new SL, congratulations! I must thank you as well for all that help. I know one problem you have is the psychomotor thing, but just keep at it. Practice it everywhere you go. Watching the tv, on the way home on the bus, in your toilet shitting. You will get it, and it will come naturally! I also have to apologize for the many times that you got mad with me. Me naturally loudmouth-speak-my-mind and you naturally bottle-up-emotions-and-then-explode, it was rather bad. But I admit that it was very much my fault for that. Strive on and lead percs to greater heights! Good luck for the Sec 1s. *shudder* XD

To Brian, you are so stoned sometimes, haha. But I know it's because of stress, since you care for band so much. Sometimes, must loosen up. Just like me. To tell the truth, the way I deal with defeat is to laugh it off, or at least I try to do that to lighten the mood. Of course, I get damn depressed when I fail my tests and all, but still, try. I'm not asking you to laugh it off, but at least don't act like a wooden piece of wood. As long as we put in our best when practicing (which I know I do) defeat is only secondary. Those who should be really ashamed and sad are those who heck care during prac. Hmm, I think that I can count on seeing you next year. If I join RJCSB. We'll see. Once again, thanks for the guidance. Without all your help, I would never be at this standard today.

To Wentao, you are some super slacker and really get on my nerves sometime, because of your total heck care attitude... XD But as seen from the speech at the band camp, you can have some sense in you. And your totally stupid humour is great too. Anyway, I don't really know much to say to you, but, have fun in whatever cca you join in jc!

RIMB PERCS 2006 FOREVER. May the future generations preserve the prestige and reputation of the percussion section.

investiture. :(

the same feeling when i was sec1 but amplified 10x. i want 2006. and i dun want it to go. nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. :'( the moment i dread for like since prometheum or even earlier.

Investiture 2006. Wasn't it just a week ago when Invest 2005 happened?

To everyone else on this blog.

Happy Investiture! =D

My apologies for not being there >< and missing your performances. RAWR.

In the spirit of unnecessary and superfluous prediction I have psychically determined that Kin Chun is the new SL. Congratulations to the new SL and have fun and do great deeds in your new leadership role.
Well done, Brian and Wen Tao. I hate to admit this, but maybe your batch led the band somewhat better than ours did.

Have to rush off now ><. Have a happy section dinner. (Another superfluous sentence. Wheee) Post lots of photos.

1

Guten Morgen Nacht.

Ich bin sehr traurig.

But anyway, more quotes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jerald: My stick was chipped off!
Ben: Mine's corroded =.=
------------------------------
Book: I will paint my car red. My daddy likes it red.
------------------------------
Yuchen playing the bows in Sikai's classroom. Conclusion: he's a bowman in Maple.
------------------------------
Yuchen & Sikai: Sure fail prac test!
Me: O_O
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YAY 1P classroom has a copy of the Periodic Table! And it has no element names, only chemical symbols, so you have to find out the element names for yourself!!!
------------------------------
Gaaaah I only won Kinchun by only one line! And I had a handicap of one page (4 lines)! At least I won...
------------------------------
Ferdian thought that investiture was next week. Ouch.
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Jerald forgetting the rest of the quotes I meant to put here. Grrrr...

Placed a note at the end of the photos.

2
First time there were so many percs coming for extra practice! I'm glad, but where was Ben -.- Ok, the people who came were namely, SiKai Yuchen Jerald Kinchun and Brian.

Well, 2 days left and not much time to practice. Hope the extra prac has helped the sec 1s! Come more often too, next time. That includes you, Brian =)

Whee my turn!

3

Wheeee Sec 1s get the band room today. So lucky =.=
But of course they were far from investiture standard... *glances at title of post* *faints*
Hmmm and all I could do was to sit by the side and wish them good luck... even that was my 1st 2nd time playing the congas, and both drumset and conga parts look difficult... even though the drumset part was dramatically cut and Jerald had gave the sec1s a lesson on note timing...

ARRRRRRGH CAN'T GET MY DYNAMICS FOR TIMPANI RIGHT...

Okay sorry for lapse of sorta randomness.

When did Druth come? I thought he should have gotten his sticks by now. And isn't it way too late for him to join? He has only one year left with us... and Sec 1s take 1 year just to master strokes. So unless he's at lightning speed (eg. Eugene), he'll have to stroke away. But will he be performing in the main band next year?

Okay checklist: BrianWentaoEugeneKinchunFaizin-
*deep breath*
-FerdianDavidDruthBenJeraldYuchenSikai
How many was that? 11? With Faizin it would be 12. And if that sec 1 perc didn't quit it'd be 13... how unlucky. Superstitions aside, there will be only 3 experienced players next year in band. NOOOO! Usually there are four... two Sec 4s and two sec 3s...

Q: Name a company which sells drumsticks. (Scroll down for answer)








A: KFC!!! Ahahahahahhaha... =)

4

only 4 days left. graghaghaghahgahga

that black tambourine, that black photo album. no idea how much that means. to me.

anyway, snow caps is as retarded as aerodynamics. gg.

5

More memorable quotes:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Percussion Wohnspaβe... near the mallets =)
Attendance: 12/13. Technically, Faizin is not one of us... anymore!!! (in Mrs Aileen Chor voice)
------------------------------
Brian: What was my last sentence?
------------------------------
Brian: Kinchun is going to be SL (o.O... not)
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During concert...
Irritating Yuchen throwing a bent paperclip at my foot... and smiled when I turned back.
Si Kai sitting down right after Wentao sits down... dunno if it has to do with his foot.
------------------------------
Brian: For investiture we play our batch pieces...
Jerald: LOOOOOONEELLYYYY FEEAAARR LIIIIGHTSSSS UPPPP~
Ben: Shut up! *pushes Jerald*
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And almost everyone in my class seems to think that I am CCAL. Weird...
/me runs from Computer Lab 4 in Jr. Block to Band room...
Classmate: Ben! You CCAL ah?
Ben: ......
Classmate: You going for CCA is it?
Ben: Yes, that's why I'm running... (well actually half-running)
/me curses that from now on NIE surveys should be done at home, or not at all. I think more than 70% of the questions appeared on previous NIE surveys.
------------------------------
Ben: Hey Brian "Raffles!" is inscribed on your... pants!!! (in blue ink)
/brian shows perc section the three areas of... inscription...
/me thinks that brian should have inscribed "percs!" along with it...
------------------------------
And on a final note, Brian when you get to RJCSB implement table rules!! i.e. Double-stroking and er... paradiddling. And QTS-sing and alternating your strokes and making your strokes firm and as such... or maybe when Jian Wei becomes SL... he's a live example of what happens when you don't spend one hour in front of the table during sectionals.

6

what a year it has been. and it's about to end.

argh stupid angst! get lost~!

T_T

heh. time for me to add my share of randomness to this blog.


some time ago, in japan. haha

Competition Day

Thanks to Michael for bringing it up.

7

Going to thank Brian for making such a wonderful yet memorable collection of our percussion (percussive?) lives. Though it's a bit inbalanced because most photos were taken at the 2nd half of the year...
And me has one week left to prepare the two investiture pieces... how nervous does me feel indeed. Me just hoping that we sec 2s can get the band room *hint brian hint*
And I can imagine yesterday: one Kinchun taking on three Sec 3s + two Sec 1s. And all the while sec 2s and 4s having batch practice...

Prometheum X.

Thank you ...

for your invitation to the blog. Yup.
=D

There's this scene in Drumline that I particularly like.

Sean, the percussion SL and Dr Lee, the director, are talking. And Dr Lee recalls what he told Sean when he first made him SL, why he would do fine on the job.

"You told me you loved the sound of the (drum)line more than the sound of your own drum."

And another line, this one when Sean and Devon (lead character) are arguing.

"You're the man... So go be the man without the line. ...... You're the best, Devon! But when we're on the field, nobody hears you! They hear the band."

You really have to watch it to feel it. Just some healthy propaganda =)

Here =)

Zhufeng receiving flowers! And Boon in the background.

Waiting pensively?

AHHHH!

I shall make all of you mug this!

Physics and Training!

And other stuff at Rudimental Drumming.

I'm finally posting!

Isn't it funny that I almost totally forgotten the existence of this blog.

Isn't it even funnier that I'm posting around band prac time, sort of!

Okay larh, I didn't pon, peoples. I went to my gramma's house and only just got home.

Eeh why no picture of me.

Quotes

Everlasting Quotes:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jerald: Timpani!!!
Me: ...
--------------------------------
*sets pmsg to maple stuff*
Classmate: Ben, maple sux
Me: Er... whatever...
*sets pmsg to timpani =D*
Classmate: hey ben
Me: What? Hate timpani?
Classmate: No, what to bring for national day celebs?
Me: -.-"
--------------------------------
NewtonBrian's 1st law: If you roll a stick on the floor, the stick will keep on rolling until a net force is exerted on it. If you hold your stick casing containing sticks tightly enough, the sticks will stay at rest.
NewtonBrian's 2nd law: The greater the force you exert on a drumstick, the faster it will accelerate, towards the direction of the force.
NewtonBrian's 3rd law: When you hit a table with a drumstick, an opposite and equal force acts on the stick, therefore the stick bounces off the table. (Assume no other forces are present)
--------------------------------
Jerald: Sex-tionals
Me: ....
--------------------------------
Eugene: My dear Sec 2s!!! *runs towards me and Jerald*
Me: *cowers*
--------------------------------
Me: Congos and bongas!
Me: Marimba Bay!
--------------------------------
Okay my brain (anagram of brian) has been squeezed dry of quotes. I'll add more ... next time...

PRESSURE!!!

oh snap forgot to send some scandalous pics of jianwei and zhufeng (dun worry, they aren't on the same pic :D ) to brian ahahaha. ahem.

k here's a joke by ben:
i noe why the sec 4s last year played By Loch and Mountain, cuz it's By LocK and Mountain :P

ben's getting the aura from me

Bright!

I wonder where to get a pic of Eugene.

Anyway.. We have a new timpanist and a new snare drummer in the section (gasp)!

I think you two own all of us ><

Then again.

P.S. POST!!

Guest starring...

You don't mind do you? =)

Next up on our perc spotlight...

Guess who!

Remember to Review and Reflect. Recap: (hehe 4 Rs)

Investiture.
Eugene joining.
Ferdian and sec 1s joining.
Band Camp.
Exchange in RGS.
Myriad.
Band Fiesta.
NBC.
Prometheum.

Yeah..