greetings! =)
Thursday, April 3, 2008
good analogy, annabel =)
it'll really be great if everyone goes for competition together. it'll be v memorable. and it'll be a remarkable breakthrough. 35 people. nice and decent number that will produce impressive volume with proper accompaniments that portray outstanding standards - if we practise hard enough.
doesn't this sound exciting? it excites me much. but too bad i can't be part of it. i can describe myself as being emotional attached but can't be physically attached. lol.
Contributing to the whole ensemble doesn't just include practising hard. it involves commitment and cooperation as well. so during practices, help one another, improve on skills, work on movements, 培养默契. that's important ya =)
i must say my guzheng skills aren't that good afterall. but you all can still look for me with regards to academic stuff hehe =p so later in the year if you all don't mind, we can study after guzheng practices. prepare for end of year while preparing for syf next year =)
lol may i have one guzheng tee too? haha i don't really have one ya...lol can't wear the one i bought in sec 2 already wahaha. and for the chalet, if you all want to plan, have it after 12 june ok! i'll be back from china by then. haha!
fyi, those in sec 1 are the 10th batch =)
and fyi, this is shu wen from the 3rd batch. WAHAHA hehe =)
Looking ahead for SYF 2009.
See how fast 2007 went past? Our beloved seniors graduated and now, it's up to us (what is our batch again?). That is how fast 2008 will go pass as well. And before you know it, it's SYF again. This post is dedicated to all Sec 1s (if you all ever read) and those who are equally bored as me, or, those who feel that our ensemble needs some motivation and you're seeking for that.
This post is also a part of what I said on Wednesday's practice. So maybe only those who were present would understandApril 24th 2007, we got Gold for SYF. Still, we performed for people and showed what our standard really
was. Then came the CCA Open House 2008, we recruited like 17-20 sec 1s, which was really a tremendous leap for us.
Practice starts. The sec 1s strolled in and their eagerness wasn't as sparkling as what we use to have. Instead, we're now lowering our standards. We're just recruiting for the sake of getting more people for SYF. That was Ying Laoshi's intention
at first. But seeing the sec 1s behaviours and attitude, it's getting more redundant to have more people. We should really aim for quality, not quantity.
This is my first time seeing Ying Laoshi being so lenient towards our Guzheng members (
in my own perspective). I'm not saying she's right not wrong either. But people start to take Ying Laoshi for granted and we slacked. Honestly, we did slack, didn't we? Regardless of the countless attempts from Laoshi, telling us to move and show our expressions, we failed to do so. Some of us did, though. We're a team, not a solo (like Audrey said). If one person moves and shows expression but the others didn't do it, we're not living up to our expectations. It's not apparent at all.
My analogy of our Guzheng Ensemble is that we used to be a stable
speedboat. Speedboats are always fast and moving-forward, with vast control and great insight. They never sink and they sometimes skid off the waters. We used to be like that, no matter what conflicts we had, we managed to clinch a Gold. But now, we're a
ship. Ships are majestic, grand but you don't know what's happening on the inside. It's so difficult to see through it, unless you're Superman lah. We can capsize and sink anytimes, which shows our current state of mind. We carry the wrong attitude during our practices and who to blame? US.
So, if you think SYF is a simple task to complete, think again. If you think you can't handle the hardships ahead, no one will stop you from leaving. All I can say is it won't be easy for us ahead already, we'll be starting our SYF practices, and this time round, Laoshi wants
all of us to be in the performing group. INCLUDING THE SEC 1S. There are already some budding players in the sec 1 group, which is good. So I hope we can continue to live up to our mark. And who knows, try for Gold with Honours ( 99% impossible, but we shan't give up that 1%). Yes, you may think it's like so ridiculous, giving our standards nows, we get GWH.
We have to prove alot of people wrong. Show them our true standards. Be a speedboat once again. So change your attitude towards learning the guzheng, and don't slack so much. Don't get so emo over small criticism, it's for your own good.
Maybe we might be doing a new Guzheng shirt for 2008, plus dedicate some time to the sec 1s during the June holidays. Hold some day camps or chalets or whatever. Seniors, feedback?- Annabel (:
Achiever's Day 2008
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Achiever's Day 2008
28th March 2008, 6:30pm
Tanglin Secondary School,
Multi-Purpose Hall
The Fusion of Chinese Instrument in an Ensemble.
Guzheng and Pipa.
Girl on the left is Abigail Foo, the leader of Tanglin Secondary School Guzheng Ensemble. She also learns the Classical Piano.
Girl on the right is Ng Bi Yu, a student of Tanglin Secondary School. She learn the Pipa in the Nanyang Academy of Fine Art (NAFA). She is also in the People's Association Youth Chinese Orchestra(PAYCO)
TSS Guzheng Ensemble performed 2 pieces:
1st piece is Ju Hua Tai.
It is a chinese pop song composed by Jay Chou, a famous Taiwanese Singer.
It is a sorrow love song. It melody is beautiful and enjoyable. Together with Pipa a plucked string instrument like the Guzheng with 4 strings attached.
2nd piece is Dance of the Yao Tribe.
It is composed by Liu Tie Shan. It is known to be a famous chinese orchestra piece in China. It is a dance song of the Yao minority.
Together with percussion, it liven up the music with its drum beat and cymbal.
Girl on the left is Abigail Foo, the leader of Tanglin Secondary School Guzheng Ensemble. She also learns the Classical Piano.