Hours left till the end of the year. A new beginning. A new year. Reflecting on the 365 days of this fading year, I vaguely remembered the fights and arguments experienced. Arguments have a purpose to serve, just like every single thing that happens. Fights are for us to learn from, on how to improve our character. The many fights I have gone through this year, most of them are caused by stubborness. Think back and you might agree with me. If people were more relenting and not so stubborn, things might not be the same. Thinking back about the good times, I am reminded of a line from Lord Of The Rings 'I would not say do not weep, for not all tears are evil'. Yes, there has been much tears of joy in this past year. Real happiness is being with those that you care. Time is running short. The year is almost over. And finally, to everyone who is reading this post, a very happy new year and enjoy yourselves.

*W*E*L*C*O*M*E*

*2*0*0*4*

Life in lower secondary has been full of fun, laughter and mischief. But there were sad times, tears and pain too. As time flew by, I found myself looking at the yearbook and missing the class. Memories of the past flew back to me. I saw myself in class having lessons, during breaks, having our daily routine like nothing will ever change. 2 years later after I first stepped into Secondary school life, much has changed and nothing was the same as before. Missing my childhood when I was still young and mischievious. Running off to the playground and having fun. Nothing seemed to matter at that time. Life during primary school was full of fun, always playing around and enjoying life. A very happy-go-lucky guy was I at that time. Now in seconday school, I learnt more about life. Life is not all about playing and wasting time. It is about using your time wisely and doing what you like to do. Choices are there to be made. Problems are there to be solved. Reminded by the line, "there is no free lunch in the world" , I have learnt to work hard for everything I want. No one is born talented. It all takes motivation and hardwork.

Pissed off. Last night wrote a long entry, but my computer suddenly hanged. In the end everything gone. Anyway, I'm here to re-write everything I wrote yesterday. Yesterday I went to Jurong East in the early afternoon to meet Aizat and Patricia. Aizat was late (as usual?) and came with his friends. We hopped onto the next train and headed for Buona Vista to go to Ulu Pandan (correct spelling?) Community Centre for the SWS Youth Winds practice. Once we reached there, I took a quick look around the rehearsal room. It was spacious, with ample space for players to sit comfortably. Different mutes were placed in front of the players and the equipments were in top condition. I quickly setted up my trumpet and started playing with Aizat. Very quickly, other members of the SWS Youth Wind arrived. Kai Qing came soon. I started chatting with the other members and waited for Mr Famih (dunno whether spell correct anot) to start the practice. The practice started with warm ups. Warm up was totally different from our school's. After warm up, a piece was given to us to sight read. That piece was Firestorm. Firestorm was quite difficult. I played the third trumpet with Kai Qing. Although I was playing third, I was struggling to keep up with the rest. After the tedious practice, me Aizat and Patricia went to Plaza Singapura to catch Lord Of The Rings - The Return Of The King. The show was nice. After the show, it was quite late, so we headed back for home.

Trumpet, brass wind musical instrument of part cylindrical, part conical bore, in the shape of a flattened loop and having three piston valves to regulate the pitch. Its origin is ancient; records of a type of simple valveless trumpet are found in China from as early as 2000 , and it is mentioned in the Bible and in Greek and Roman history. It attained its present shape early in the 15th cent., at which time it became an important ceremonial instrument. It was used in the opera orchestra as early as Monteverdi's Orfeo (1607) and became a standard orchestral instrument later in the century. At this time the trumpet lacked valves, and a highly developed technique existed for playing in the upper register of the instrument, where a complete diatonic scale was available. The trumpet parts of Bach and Handel were written for such a style. Later in the 18th cent. this bright quality was not desired, and the trumpet was used more in its lower register. The instrument will accept a mute, used to repress some of its stridency. Crooks, additional lengths of tubing, were added to the natural trumpet to allow the adjustment of pitch. This was a fairly clumsy method, however, and was superseded in the early 19th cent., when valves were added. A transposing instrument, it is now most often in B flat. A bass trumpet in C was first called for by Wagner. The trumpet is an important member of most dance and jazz bands.

Long time no blog... Went for Catholic High's concert yesterday. Frankly speaking, I think we did a better job at Xinfony III and IV. The brass quintet was so so. Players were not listening to the others. Uncertainty between them resulted in a messy entrance into the songs. l'm not saying I can do a better job. Catholic High School Band members has the techniques.. but not the musicalities. Instead of supporting the section with the melody, they try to outdo each other, wanting to be heard by the audience. Music should not be this way. Orchestra sound should be blended together, forming a soothing, calm and serene sound. Pleasing to the ears. And not with individual instruments or sections sticking out. Even if playing a solo. The soloist should listen to the lower sections and not blast away him/herself. Having members with high egos often result in serious intonation and balance problems for the band. They tend to overblast or play not in tune with the band to make themselves heard by the audience. When technical faults of the instruments are known, extra care must be taken to compensate for these faults. For example, trumpets playing in the higher range tend to be sharper. That's why players should make use of alternate fingerings or the use of slides.
Signing off here.
~H~a~N~y~O~n~G~

PlAnNiNg To BuY a MeGaToNe MoUtHpIeCe SoOn...

Which band instrument are you?
brought to you by Quizilla