Quote time.
"Ok on to more serious stuff... The band got "lectured" by Rizal, an old boy, a percussionist from the batch of 88. He had come in the morning and watched us all the way to when we fell out. He started off with saying how he had been disagreeable to the band changing its name from "Military Band" to something else. But after examining today's band prac, he thinks that we are not fit to carry that name. The name of the band which has won 15 consecutive SYF golds. Then he went on to talk about our lack of discipline and our lousy playing. Jonathan thinks we're at Gold standard but Rizal said we're still at Silver.
It was really quite a blow to hear him say that his section, percussion, played terribly. I guess he formed his first impression from sectionals, which he observed quietly. We were, of course, not very serious, as usual... Concert with Mervyn conducting was not very good at all. Perhaps he noticed my playing of the timpani, which was initially off-tune... He was, after all, right behind me when I was playing. Perhaps he noticed Faizin's disastrous crashing for Vogelhandler. Perhaps he just noticed the general attitude of the percussionists. And the other sections. We're not very serious at all. Which is bad in a way, I guess...
I don't think he has a very good impression of us, watching only one practice. I mean, would anyone in the band actually think the clarinetists are a well-disciplined bunch? But even though he might not have an accurate impression, I have to say Rizal is mostly right. We are not fit to carry the name "Raffles Institution Military Band" if we don't uphold the standards. We aren't focused enough.
Obviously, I myself am (is that gramatically correct?) not that committed to the band, but... we have to buck up..." --quoted from http://maeglin.blogspot.com, as requested by the writer for me to do so =)
He strikes again today, coming in the late morning and not departing till prac ended. I'm quite touched by how he's still visiting us even though he graduated like almost 20 years ago. Of course we were expecting trouble from him. Our standard has considerably dropped since '05 and '06, and for the first time Mr Oura is expecting a silver.
But no. Rizal actually had a few praises for us. He said that we had potential to obtain the GwH, or at least the Gold. He just said that we lacked focus, which is seriously imparing the whole band. As Mr Oura said, we lack discipline, and because of that, we have no hope. Devestating but true. Such discipline includes fidgetting during band, and not having the right posture. Small little things make a big difference. Hmm doesn't that sound familiar?
Extended prac today. First half we struck with full force (well, everyone was present). I guess we were lacking the spirit to play, such that by the time we reached Sunrise (later half of prac), we got a hell of a time with Mr Oura. Second half was better though, way better. By the end of prac, I was feeling happy. A feeling I've haven't felt for the past months of pracs. At least Yuchen stayed for some time before going home in the afternoon, along with James and Ferdian. It's pretty sad to see only me, Kinchun, Jerald and Si Kai left standing at the end of the day though. To Dhruv, Ferdian, Yuchen and James... hopefully you can justify why your afternoon activity was more important than the second last prac before SYF, your only SYF.
We should, we must, we can, we will. Haven't heard anyone mention this, but hopefully we can keep our band motto in vision during these 40+ hours left. Rizal said we had the potential, and I believe we do have it, if we only try.
If we only try.
"Ok on to more serious stuff... The band got "lectured" by Rizal, an old boy, a percussionist from the batch of 88. He had come in the morning and watched us all the way to when we fell out. He started off with saying how he had been disagreeable to the band changing its name from "Military Band" to something else. But after examining today's band prac, he thinks that we are not fit to carry that name. The name of the band which has won 15 consecutive SYF golds. Then he went on to talk about our lack of discipline and our lousy playing. Jonathan thinks we're at Gold standard but Rizal said we're still at Silver.
It was really quite a blow to hear him say that his section, percussion, played terribly. I guess he formed his first impression from sectionals, which he observed quietly. We were, of course, not very serious, as usual... Concert with Mervyn conducting was not very good at all. Perhaps he noticed my playing of the timpani, which was initially off-tune... He was, after all, right behind me when I was playing. Perhaps he noticed Faizin's disastrous crashing for Vogelhandler. Perhaps he just noticed the general attitude of the percussionists. And the other sections. We're not very serious at all. Which is bad in a way, I guess...
I don't think he has a very good impression of us, watching only one practice. I mean, would anyone in the band actually think the clarinetists are a well-disciplined bunch? But even though he might not have an accurate impression, I have to say Rizal is mostly right. We are not fit to carry the name "Raffles Institution Military Band" if we don't uphold the standards. We aren't focused enough.
Obviously, I myself am (is that gramatically correct?) not that committed to the band, but... we have to buck up..." --quoted from http://maeglin.blogspot.com, as requested by the writer for me to do so =)
He strikes again today, coming in the late morning and not departing till prac ended. I'm quite touched by how he's still visiting us even though he graduated like almost 20 years ago. Of course we were expecting trouble from him. Our standard has considerably dropped since '05 and '06, and for the first time Mr Oura is expecting a silver.
But no. Rizal actually had a few praises for us. He said that we had potential to obtain the GwH, or at least the Gold. He just said that we lacked focus, which is seriously imparing the whole band. As Mr Oura said, we lack discipline, and because of that, we have no hope. Devestating but true. Such discipline includes fidgetting during band, and not having the right posture. Small little things make a big difference. Hmm doesn't that sound familiar?
Extended prac today. First half we struck with full force (well, everyone was present). I guess we were lacking the spirit to play, such that by the time we reached Sunrise (later half of prac), we got a hell of a time with Mr Oura. Second half was better though, way better. By the end of prac, I was feeling happy. A feeling I've haven't felt for the past months of pracs. At least Yuchen stayed for some time before going home in the afternoon, along with James and Ferdian. It's pretty sad to see only me, Kinchun, Jerald and Si Kai left standing at the end of the day though. To Dhruv, Ferdian, Yuchen and James... hopefully you can justify why your afternoon activity was more important than the second last prac before SYF, your only SYF.
We should, we must, we can, we will. Haven't heard anyone mention this, but hopefully we can keep our band motto in vision during these 40+ hours left. Rizal said we had the potential, and I believe we do have it, if we only try.
If we only try.
Ben sticked around @ 9:22 pm
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