Media wit? Simply a case of trying too hard.

22nd November 2008
Saturday
Nothing-to-insert (no, not dildos)

Pardon the lack of witty one liners. Cliche as it might seem, one liners still do a fantastically great job in opening a presentation, or conversation - in this case, a blog entry.

Lots of things have been happening in the past week. First the masterclass right after Xinmin's band camp, then birthday celebrations where I got totally wasted, and the practical examination.

The masterclass was pretty alright I guess. But I played horribly. Due to nerves I guess. After playing loud and letting lose my lips, the sound eased up. Matthew Harding is a great trumpeter. His sound is strong and focused. Much like most of the great trumpeters that are around. Initially I was reserved about my opinions on his ability as an orchestral player since he comes from a marine band. But into the first quarter of an hour, all my reserves were gone. Absolutely fabulous player.

After the not-so-disastrous masterclass, came the birthday celebrations for four members of the X-bro group. Details can be found elsewhere. Probably one of the blogs. But the ultimate unglam moment came in the form of a white liquid. Vodka, from a freshly opened bottle right in the living room of Gabriel. Let's just say I got drunk and did a couple of pretty ridiculous things without my knowing.

Monday was the long awaited practical examination, otherwise known as THE examination. Somehow things turned out well. Many thanks to my accompanist, Jieying, who did an amazing job staying together with me. Hopefully, the last minute changes added some colour into the piece.

Then the rest of the week flitted past, like a butterfly in a summer breeze. And finally I am here, blogging a mundane entry on the happenings of the past week.


Away from mundane stuff, I'm pretty much sure that the main media body in Singapore believe that rapping is the 'in' thing now. Some of you might have caught it as well. MediaCorp Advertising Enquiries (MAE). I was left speechless after watching it on television during one of the commercial breaks. Draw more business? Maybe not.

Here is other recent feats that have been featured.

Creative? Yes. Courageous? Yes.

But I'm so sorry but this will not work.
Period.
Why not hire someone competent enough to know the current hype?
Rap is definitely out of the question.

Shouts of freedom

13th November 2008
Thursday
Screams of victory!

History is history! Finally the dreaded papers, namely harmony and history, are over! The smell of freedom never smelt so much like a... practice studio. What on Earth? Oh well, since the Principal Studies examinations have not yet passed, what else to do other than coop yourself up in the practice studio and breathe trumpet.

Now comes the complaints. Why is that other instrumentalists can afford to practice lesser, and do as well as, or even better than those who spend so many hours a day practicing and frustrating the shit out of themselves? Is it simply because our instruments are tougher to master, or even work to an efficient level? Or are we simply too dumb to do what we do?

I think I should take up yoga lessons. But that will mean lesser expenditure on food and other materialistic stuff.

Here's more videos to end off the post.

I Can't Get Started. Performed by American entertainer, Sammy Davis, Jr.



Look what happens when that lovely piece falls into the hands of a trumpeter, specifically Doc Severinsen.




Amazing.

Vincent

11th November 2008
Tuesday
Starry study night

Pardon the parody of the opening lines of Don McLean's song 'Vincent'. A song written in tribute to artist Vincent van Gogh, the opening lines of "starry starry night" makes references to Van Gogh's work - "Starry Night".

Will someone remind me that the exams have barely begun? Alright. Not that I need the reminder. The problem with me is that I lack the fire to start studying. Not so much of starting, but more of the continuation of it that totally defies me. How can anyone read and understand something so remotely related to anything they have experienced?

Now then. Taking a short break from the dreary history notes (history has never been so boring), I am here with a few more book recommendations, namely those by Mark Frost. Can't really say how good it is, but upon completion of one of his book, I immediately went to the public library to grab another of his.

Did I mention about my thoughts on History? I believe quite a number of people share my exact sentiments right now. History should be left in the past where it should be left alone, and not disturbed and reviewed over and over again.

Here's another video to drive away the boredom. This one is entitled Vincent, by Tim Burton. It makes us wonder what would it be like if we were not who others depict us to be, but rather, someone else.





Food for thought, while I go grab some real physical food to quell my hunger.

Let freedom ring!

11th November 2008
Tuesday

Once in a long while I decide to post a video to supplement my posts. Regulars would realise that in five years or so of blogging history, I have not put in any single video on my blog. I guess there's a first time to everything. Dump the words and pamper the ears right?

Enjoy this fabulous video I somehow stumbled upon while clicking randomly on Youtube - I was initially watching Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream' speech.

You have to wait for the lady to finish speaking in the beginning though. I assure you, the wait is definitely worth the while.



Absolutely fantastic, I must say. Not so much of the religious side, but the sheer intensity of the music and wonderous voice. Listen for yourself.

Inspiring? Well, I must admit, there are quite a number of compelling personalities around us. Politicians, reformists, artistes, writers.

Okay. End of break. Back to blasted harmony. *Imitates Dr Goh's voice* "You better study hard and score As!"

Smashing the Red Button

7th November 2008
Friday
When life gives you shit, go to the toilet.

When life gives you a bunch of sour grapes, use them to make wine.

With all the exams coming right in my face, I have no other choice than to cram my face into the books and start smashing the panic button. Yes. I am panicking.

As usual, at the very last minute (probably the second last minute instead - I started earlier this time), all the late nights appear, and the padlocks on the cupboard goes up. All the games are locked away, as best as possible, and painkillers scattered all over.

Such an irony, to be studying about the Well Tempered Clavier, in an absolutely ill-tempered mood.

With all due respect, I think the materials tested in the examinations are just pure rubbish. Not that the historical value is worthless, but the situations where you actually employ the knowledge are close to zilch. Unless you include wowing your non-musically educated friends with technical jargon and useless trivia.

Given a choice, I would gladly do away with History and throw in something more exciting, probably a compulsory assessment on ensemble skills - sextet and below. Afterall, since performance majors produce half-assed work as history majors, might as well make them do something relevant.

Better get going now. Or else more shit will come, from all possible directions and in all possible ways.

Reading off the strokes

27th October 2008
Monday
Deepavali

Done a online handwriting analysis, link gotten from Kosin, here are my results.

i) Han Yong is moderately outgoing.

• kind, friendly, affectionate and considerate of others. He has the ability to put himself into the other person's shoes.

ii) Han Yong will be somewhat moody, with highs and lows.

• Sometimes he will be happy, the next day he might be sad.
• Has the unique ability to get along equally well with what psychology calls introverts and extroverts. Psychology calls Han Yong an ambivert.

iii) Han Yong is a "middle-of-the-roader," politically as well as logically.

• He weighs both sides of an issue, sits on the fence, and then will decide when he finally has to.

iv) Han Yong doesn't write too large or too small, indicating a balanced ability to be social and interact with others.

v) Han Yong will demand respect and will expect others to treat him with honor and dignity. Han Yong believes in his ideas and will expect other people to also respect them. He has a lot of pride.

vi) He is basically honest with a tendency to lie in certain circumstances.

• This results from a combination of secretiveness (the desire to keep things private) and self deceit (the desire to not accept something in his life at the moment).
• He feels the truth is not what he wants people to know.

vii) In reference to Han Yong's mental abilities, he has a very investigating and creating mind.

• He investigates projects rapidly because he is curious about many things.
• He gets involved in many projects that seem good at the beginning, but he soon must slow down and look at all the angles.
• He probably gets too many things going at once.
• When Han Yong slows down, then he becomes more creative than before.
• He has the best of two kinds of minds.
• One is the quick investigating mind. The other is the creative mind.

viii) Han Yong is a practical person whose goals are planned, practical, and down to earth.

• He needs to visualize the end of a project before he starts.

ix) Han Yong is sarcastic.

• This is a defense mechanism designed to protect his ego when he feels hurt.
• He pokes people harder than he gets poked. (Sounds wrong.)
• These sarcastic remarks can be very funny.
• They can also be harsh, bitter, and caustic at the same time.

x) Han Yong allows many people into his life because he is accepting and trusting.

xi) Han Yong has a vivid imagination.

xii) Han Yong is open to some very new ideas sexually and is willing to try anything once.

xiii) The right side of the page represents the future and Han Yong seems unwilling to face the fear of getting started living now and planning for the future.

• Han Yong seems to be clinging to past events, withdrawing, and spending lots of time thinking about what happened or what might happen in the future.
• Get a move on!

That's it for the random analysis.

Creator.

18th October 2008
Saturday

I used to believe there was a superior being somewhere, watching over us. Always compassionate and caring and full of love. I used to think that a creator created us all, equal amongst one another and full of brotherly love. I used to think that love built bridges from one soul to the other. I used to believe in a fairytale.

But I came to realise that even if the creator exists, he did not create us equal. He did not give all of us equal opportunities, and some of us were doomed to fail even before our paths begin. Some others, life is a smooth sail down penny lane.

But the talk about nothing being a coincidence and everyone is here for a purpose is ultimately true.

Like an Role Playing Game, every hero needed to have sidekicks - extra characters thrown in to elevate the main character. Like every novel, victims had to glorify the antagonist and in turn, the antagonist raises the status of the protagonist.