14th September 2008
Sunday
Sunny Sunday never fails to bring a back of sweat of the people toiling about their everyday chores. Even the short bus trip to Pasir Ris and back brought about a steady stream of complains.
After enrolling in NAFA, I get increasingly irritated by people who misspell NAPFA (National Physical Fitness Award) as NAFA. Why can people get club names like MOS, DXO correct, and yet screw up something so simple as NAPFA?
In Singapore, NAFA means Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. If you are indignant at that, go look it up in the research-is-so-damn-easy website - Wikipedia.
The correct spellling is NAPFA okay? N-A-P-F-A with a P in it.
Oh. And I forgot who told me LASALLE-SIA meant Lasalle - Singapore Institution of the Arts. It is actually named that way because Singapore Airlines (SIA) donated S$15 million to construct new buildings to house all Lasalle's activities on one campus. So much for that intellectual who got me fooled for so long.
But since 2007, LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts has been re-branded as LASALLE College of the Arts.
The lesson behind this post? Never take third party information at face value. (Think wikipedia)
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
End of term break
12th September 2008
Friday
End of term break
Whilst many other institutions are busy having examinations and regular lessons, we are blessed with a one week holiday. Though it sounds nice, the one week break is actually an excuse for lecturers to flood us with make-up lessons and mock exams.
I had a lesson with Mr Richard Adams today. He fixed my embouchure, shifting the anchor point to right below my lower lip. The sound was immediately in focus, though near the mid-high range, some distortions in the sound came through. This is my third embouchure tweek in the past one year. About time I stabilised and start making some progress.
Then there was sight singing lesson, which was a total bore. It tore up the rest of my motivation and energy for the day and the end of it saw me in a grumpy mood. A short nap put some life back into me but it was not until much later when I returned to my normal energy level.
CNL concert is tomorrow. Nothing much to be said about that, save a few word of thanks to Dax for asking us down to play. All the best to the performers tomorrow.
Friday
End of term break
Whilst many other institutions are busy having examinations and regular lessons, we are blessed with a one week holiday. Though it sounds nice, the one week break is actually an excuse for lecturers to flood us with make-up lessons and mock exams.
I had a lesson with Mr Richard Adams today. He fixed my embouchure, shifting the anchor point to right below my lower lip. The sound was immediately in focus, though near the mid-high range, some distortions in the sound came through. This is my third embouchure tweek in the past one year. About time I stabilised and start making some progress.
Then there was sight singing lesson, which was a total bore. It tore up the rest of my motivation and energy for the day and the end of it saw me in a grumpy mood. A short nap put some life back into me but it was not until much later when I returned to my normal energy level.
CNL concert is tomorrow. Nothing much to be said about that, save a few word of thanks to Dax for asking us down to play. All the best to the performers tomorrow.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
11th September 2008
Thursday
It has been a long time since I last wrote something in here. Or more specifically, typed something.
As always, school has been occupying bulk of my time. But with the portfolios all subdued and placed behind me, the stress coming from assignments has been decreased dramatically. Of course, the remaining portfolios will have to be done sooner or later, and if left to my choice, I'd pick the latter.
This day marks the 7th anniversary of the September 11 attacks which fell the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, affectionally known as the WTC. Seven years after this history changing event, the world still has not moved on.
World issues aside, today I had lessons with Laurie Gargan, Principal Trumpet of Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Initially expecting a group lesson, it turned out to be a major traumatising session in the form of a mock exam. Scales and pieces (I played Concone #5 and a few lines from Clarke technical studies) were quite badly done. I had more confidence for Concone though.
Oh, not forgetting choir practices. Sang Nila (Composition by Dr Goh) is pretty cool. Though memorising the piece proves to be slightly difficult. But it is an interesting piece.
The Wind band and the choir will be performing it on 14th of October 2008. Please try to catch the concert if you can. Details will be up shortly.
Thursday
It has been a long time since I last wrote something in here. Or more specifically, typed something.
As always, school has been occupying bulk of my time. But with the portfolios all subdued and placed behind me, the stress coming from assignments has been decreased dramatically. Of course, the remaining portfolios will have to be done sooner or later, and if left to my choice, I'd pick the latter.
This day marks the 7th anniversary of the September 11 attacks which fell the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, affectionally known as the WTC. Seven years after this history changing event, the world still has not moved on.
World issues aside, today I had lessons with Laurie Gargan, Principal Trumpet of Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Initially expecting a group lesson, it turned out to be a major traumatising session in the form of a mock exam. Scales and pieces (I played Concone #5 and a few lines from Clarke technical studies) were quite badly done. I had more confidence for Concone though.
Oh, not forgetting choir practices. Sang Nila (Composition by Dr Goh) is pretty cool. Though memorising the piece proves to be slightly difficult. But it is an interesting piece.
The Wind band and the choir will be performing it on 14th of October 2008. Please try to catch the concert if you can. Details will be up shortly.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Trumpet Recital
19th August 2008
Tuesday
Just a quick update on an upcoming recital by my teacher.
Commuter Concert Series 08/09
Date : 25 August 2008
Time : 6.30pm
Venue : Lee Foundation Theatre NAFA Campus 3 151 Bencoolen Street Singapore 189656
Email : music@nafa.edu.sg
Admission : S$8 (plus $1 booking fee)
Buy your tickets on www.GATECRASH.com.sg, any SingPost Post Office counter or S.A.M kiosk island-wide! For Credit Card phone bookings, dial 6222 5595 for the GATECRASH ticketing hotline.
Trumpet Treasures : David Lyndon Smith (NAFA Department of Music) and friends. Music by Bernstein, Nyman, Gershwin, Rachmaninov, Arutunian, Ibert and more.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Self expectations
16th August 2008
Saturday
...a degree more severe.
Yes it is officially saturday now. But the way I see it, it feels like a late entry from the Friday mood.
School is getting pretty stressful, and the true colours of each classmates are beginning to show. (Since the cohort is so small, I refer to the entire cohort as a class.) For some, the colours are really vibrant and sweet. Others, not as pleasing to the eye, nor to the mind. I guess it really is better to stay a tone down and lay a low profile within the campus.
Certain lecturers are getting on my nerves now, as with certain classmates. Schoolwork is starting to pile, especially Dr RK's portfolios. Self expectations has gotten a degree more severe, as with the pressure that comes along with it.
I have been in a rather reflective mode recently, and my mood tends to swing negatively. Sorry to worry everyone. I hope things will get better soon.
To end things off, here is a quote I picked out from an article I read. "What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure"
-Samuel Johnson
Saturday
...a degree more severe.
Yes it is officially saturday now. But the way I see it, it feels like a late entry from the Friday mood.
School is getting pretty stressful, and the true colours of each classmates are beginning to show. (Since the cohort is so small, I refer to the entire cohort as a class.) For some, the colours are really vibrant and sweet. Others, not as pleasing to the eye, nor to the mind. I guess it really is better to stay a tone down and lay a low profile within the campus.
Certain lecturers are getting on my nerves now, as with certain classmates. Schoolwork is starting to pile, especially Dr RK's portfolios. Self expectations has gotten a degree more severe, as with the pressure that comes along with it.
I have been in a rather reflective mode recently, and my mood tends to swing negatively. Sorry to worry everyone. I hope things will get better soon.
To end things off, here is a quote I picked out from an article I read. "What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure"
-Samuel Johnson
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Predictability
3rd August 2008
Sunday
Predictability
Maybe the world remained as it is, with the only change happening being me. Quite a selfish way of thinking. But surprisingly, some people do think in such a manner. And by placing all the blame on themself, they think they can appease the world and everything will be fine. Purely being naive? In some cases, I think simply "being naive" is an understatement.
The weather is getting pretty unpredictable these days. Just a few days back, everything was nice and cooling. Today, the whole place feels like an oven set to overheat. There will probably be hailstones tomorrow or the day after. With the varied weather that we are getting recently, even snow won't come as a surprise.
Sunday
Predictability
Maybe the world remained as it is, with the only change happening being me. Quite a selfish way of thinking. But surprisingly, some people do think in such a manner. And by placing all the blame on themself, they think they can appease the world and everything will be fine. Purely being naive? In some cases, I think simply "being naive" is an understatement.
The weather is getting pretty unpredictable these days. Just a few days back, everything was nice and cooling. Today, the whole place feels like an oven set to overheat. There will probably be hailstones tomorrow or the day after. With the varied weather that we are getting recently, even snow won't come as a surprise.
comme il faut
3rd August 2008
Sunday
The proper way, as it must be.
It is 5am local time, I am losing sleep primarily because of sore muscles.
Comme il faut. Literally meaning 'as it must', is a phrase adapted from the French language. It means that one should do things according to local norms, or accepted conventions.
Looking at it, I get reminded of how the 'norm' path of education is like in Singapore. Primary School, Secondary School, Junior Colleges (JC), University (Uni), Workplace. Of course, that is what is expected of us, being the only resource of our nation.
In Singapore, it is considered a major loss of pride if you fail to follow the education route for the "elites". If you fail to get into the elite primary school or secondary school, you get labeled as a Neighbourhood School Kid (NSK), and is generally believed to be a failure in whatever you do.
If you fail to get into JC, you will be believed to be inferior to those who are in JC. If you fail to get into Uni, which happens to most Poly graduates, you are believed to be useless.
And when you raise something up about the mainstream education system, you are either, rebutted, accused of being jealous, or accused of knowing nothing and then having your whole "embarrassing" education history hauled out.
There is a problem with the system, but no one is willing to do anything about it. It is not that no one sees the problem, it is just that no one wants to acknowledge the problem.
Sunday
The proper way, as it must be.
It is 5am local time, I am losing sleep primarily because of sore muscles.
Comme il faut. Literally meaning 'as it must', is a phrase adapted from the French language. It means that one should do things according to local norms, or accepted conventions.
Looking at it, I get reminded of how the 'norm' path of education is like in Singapore. Primary School, Secondary School, Junior Colleges (JC), University (Uni), Workplace. Of course, that is what is expected of us, being the only resource of our nation.
In Singapore, it is considered a major loss of pride if you fail to follow the education route for the "elites". If you fail to get into the elite primary school or secondary school, you get labeled as a Neighbourhood School Kid (NSK), and is generally believed to be a failure in whatever you do.
If you fail to get into JC, you will be believed to be inferior to those who are in JC. If you fail to get into Uni, which happens to most Poly graduates, you are believed to be useless.
And when you raise something up about the mainstream education system, you are either, rebutted, accused of being jealous, or accused of knowing nothing and then having your whole "embarrassing" education history hauled out.
Some others, as you can see from yours truly, fail to meet the stringent demands of the norm in society for different reasons, and wind up changing courses in life.
These few "delinquents", as many would quickly surmise to be, will generally be looked down upon by the general public, families, and friends. Most will simply become known to others as "that guy who dropped out".
There is a problem with the system, but no one is willing to do anything about it. It is not that no one sees the problem, it is just that no one wants to acknowledge the problem.
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