Progressing in Work

It has really been months. Many changes in life though many things stayed the same too. It was no doubt that I have become busier with all the new job scope (although nothing was written in the promotion letter). I have endless fitting sessions for the uniform, and nope, I am not done yet. I hope it will be by the end of this month, so that we can really get this over and be done with, because I have soooo many other work waiting to be done. Now we also have 6 musician positions (2 are the same instrument) to fill. I have never headed 1 audition, needless to say 5! It is definitely giving me a headache, given the tight timeline. Almost forced to the wall, and still have many other matters to manage at the same time. As much as I think I should let musicians do some of the work themselves, I feel a little more at ease to help them do it to know that it has definitely been done. So actually I brought it upon myself. 

It also didn't help that the colleague is not no longer in lead for the orchestra portion and will be waiting for me to voice out concerns so he can help. In a way it is good because then I get to make the decision but it worries me sometimes because I'm also not quite good at decision making. Actually, neither is he. 

And worse, he was out of action for almost the entire first quarter of the year. Poor thing regarding his health, but I would appreciate more if I was told earlier that I will on my own most of the time. We also had a temp staff for 2 months, and I thought I will receive help. I even briefed her on the rehearsal procedures and said will probably need her help. But never did she appear once without my exact instructions. I was too tired to deal with this so I just do everything myself. 

I know it is a bad habit because I seldom call for help and I sometimes do not know when I should call for help, unless someone asked. This is something I definitely need to learn. The problem also lies that I only trust my own work and sometimes I'm probably too shy to ask as well. 

So very drowned in work, although there is still a sense of accomplishment as I feel that I have grown again in this job and environment. I feel that I'm able to give more constructive recommendations and involved in more important discussions. It really helps to stimulate more brain activities to keep things going, even though it was really really tiring. :')

In the nutshell, I'm still happy to be here for the past 7 years (on 4 May), and I will maybe continue for at least the next few years. ◡̈ 

Affinity with CO

This may never be shared publicly on the company profile because l really suck at this. But as I read many of their entries, I do realise how attached I am to the company. If not, I wouldn't have tried so hard.

Honestly, I felt that anyone who is a fan of CO would have dreamt of working in this company before. I learnt of Sco in primary school when our instructors changed and they were all from SCO. I had to beg my mother a few times before I was allowed to attend a SCO concert back then. That was before the current home of SCO - SCH was ready; concerts were held in VCH back then. Obviously I don't remember the programmes anymore but if I see the poster I might have impression that I have attended some of them. That was how I connected with SCO.

With encouragement from my then Erhu teacher - Mr. Low, I joined the SYCO in 2005 and stayed till I had to "graduate" in 2013. From the orchestra, I have met many many likeminded friends, whom not only did we attend more SCO concerts together, we also hang out a lot in a large group before and after rehearsals for dinner or supper, watch movies, organize our own annual EOY chalet.

Aside from the fun, I also experience a whole range of good and challenging repertoire, got the chance to play alongside SCO musicians once a year, and also witnessed how a team worked behind the orchestra to make a concert possible. I knew I wasn't professional musician material but I'm still passionate in the Arts, so I gone to do Arts management instead.

Can't say I excel in the studies, and I'm also not exactly well-liked, and although my interest in another aspect of the Arts industry grew throughout my study, there's still this part of me that wanted to join this company, esp. at the end because I just want to show that I'm capable of doing it when the others didn't believe in me. Took me a few attempts across different job titles and honestly, after a while, I was not that keen anymore because I had tried too many times so I didn't feel like doing it again and again, like shamelessly. I also wanted to try other arts forms, esp. I was enjoying working with band and symphony orchestra at that time too. Fortunately or unfortunately, this final chance came up and it was quite a perfect position. (Maybe half perfect, I have always wanted to do programme, but I also wanted to do artist management). I only got the artist (internal) management part. But I was all grateful as I've been in the company for 6 years, which is the furthest I've come, yet. 

“你可不能走哦”，是我听到最安慰的一句话。差一点就要哭了。不管我做了多少麻烦他们的事，多少不好听的话，他们还是希望跟他们一起工作的是我，这就是信任。谢谢他们这几年下来愿意信任我，愿意和我分享事情，愿意跟我抱怨，愿意请我帮他们的忙，愿意带我一起做很多事情。很荣幸，很开心他们不嫌弃我。对我来说，与很多人都是公事，是公事就不会随便，但公事外还是可以是同事。其实我不需要他们喜欢我，我需要的是互相配合，互相尊重，但这些就是靠‘喜欢’换来的。工作上我问心无愧的平等的对待每个人。需要做的就得做，我只能表示同理心。

“同理心”应该是我最好的特质了。不一定一直做的好，但有着同理心总会让人感觉到我的真心。

With this, I also received my best present for the year. I just need to thank everyone for being patient with me. They could have complained about me for everything I did not so well. 

What surprised me more was during my appraisal, my boss asked me if I have plans for the years to come, and if I have imagined myself to be a HOD. Never. ever. Because I actually know that I can't lead well. I can't make good decisions on my own, I don't really know how to delegate jobs to other people and I prefer to do many things myself and my way. So I may end up like one of the previous HODs, which I think better not lah hor. Then again, this also led me to think more about what I should and need to do in future, and probably I need to plan for myself as well. This is a scary moment but also an exciting moment because I can now handle things on my own without hindrance (which is also the scary part because I cannot shun away from anything anymore OMG!). I'm more scared than excited definitely. But I hope it will be good. Definitely looking forward to doing more shows, and I also need to pray everyday that things will be fine - I will not be late; musicians will not be late; musicians can fit in their uniform, musicians remember to come to work, etc. 

With that, I hope for a better year ahead! ◡̈

Music being the Center of my Life.

If anything is blog-worthy in my life, it must be the concerts: either those I performed in, or those I went to watch. And just so happened that they happen to me quite often to me. HAHA!

Ever since I don't remember when, there are times I just won't be able to meet anyone on saturdays because I have a concert to attend. LOL! But it's not really my fault, is it? :)

A few to name these few months. (Actually I might just list all)

1. Our People, Our Music 2014 (OPOM)

I don't know why I signed up for it, but well, it has to be memorable somehow even though I'm not part of SYCO anymore. It made me seems like I'm still part of sy, at least for a while. Haha!

It was a lot of waiting and waiting, standing and sitting around, oh wells, I asked for it right? Haha! nonetheless, we are already the lucky lot. So I shan't complain. And aren't all of us proud of breaking the 2 Guinness Records? I guess that's worth it then. :)

2. "孫天后" 孫燕姿的《克卜勒》
全民共樂過後的一個禮拜, 又回到了國家體育場, 參加第一個在那個場地舉行的流行音樂演唱會. 因為前一個禮拜才去過, 所以知道裡面的空氣不流通, 也許會很熱. 只是沒想到, 隔一排的差距就是前一排較高價位的位子有手扇, 從我們這一排就沒有了. -.- 而且早就知道那個場地的音效是沒辦法做到很好的. 況且沒想到, 舞台搭建在很遠的地方, 所以我們離地上的座位和舞台都非常的遠, 少了的是親近感. 就少了一些'身在其中'的感覺. 但是, 感覺天后的表演又比上次好了許多. 不知道是不是因為當了媽媽, 幽默感多了一些, 膽識和信心也多了, 所有的演唱都平穩. 況且, 那天她是帶病上陣的. 真的辛苦了! :) 幸好沒有因為上次的小失望而這次沒去! 還有, 真的喜歡新專輯裡的《克卜勒》，《天使的指紋》，還有《尚好的青春》! 太好聽了!

3. MCO Beautiful Sunday 美麗的星期天
隔天就是自己的演出了. Haha! 很久沒有這麼緊張的上一場表演. 說實在, 我要是真那麼棒, 早就去讀音樂了. 我就是知道我沒有那個料, 所以只可以玩玩. 在樂團這麼多年, 我沒有一次逃不過拉板胡的, 除了這一次. =.= 而且我有的時間是如此的短啊! 還有一段高胡solo, 差一點沒死掉. Haha! 我得承認, 板胡是我比較緊張的部分. 還好, 最後的表現還是可以的. 沒有我以前需要獨奏的時候那麼緊張. 不知道是不是上了年紀, 心情比較平穩, 呼吸不會那麼急促? 或者現在慢的東西我還是應付得來的. 哈哈! 最近聽到錄音才第一次聽到那天的表現. 不能說非常好, 但至少, 我在錄音中聽到了讚嘆聲. 哈哈! 而且, 香港的朋友還私訊說我拉得好! 真的非常高興. Hehe! :D 結果那一段我自己聽了好幾遍. (自我小陶醉一下沒關係吧) 其他的就別說了. Haha! 心知肚明就好. 第一次感觉自己赞自己到这样不要脸. (说真的，现在脸皮好像真的厚了很多). 还有开心的是，和那边的朋友聚一聚. :)

4. SSO @ Re-Opening of VCH
Very exciting event as we all re-visited the site, with everything refurbished so nicely, to give us a modern yet classic feeling of the place. Some of the things may have changed, but it feels really good to be back to place where many concerts were held at. A pity that I have never performed there before, and I don't know if I ever will have the chance to, but I was definitely privileged to be there on this occasion. But I have to sit, sitting under the covered area on the stall seats is still not satisfactory and doesn't justify the sound from the stage properly. A pity. I still remember the days it was the performing venue for SCO, East zone camps, and other schools/community centres concert. We spent so many weekends there. Even though toilet queue has always been a problem and there's absolutely no food around as well, and that the seats were in bad condition nearing the end before the renovation, it was the memories. I still remember the concert I watched someone I liked perform on stage. I still remember the watching some talented people I admired at some concert. The memories of secondary school life. And you haven't realised, but I haven't said a thing about the concert. Other than Ng Pei-Sian, I don't really know what else to say about the concert. HAHA! :x Oh ya, I already talked about the sound. Hopefully I will get to perform there one day.

5. The Sound of Music Musical @ MBS Theatres
One of my favourite films since young. Probably because my sister always watch it, all the lovely songs, and me listening to the soundtrack countless times. I was a little confused with the plot and songs selection/sequence, only to find out that was closer to the original broadway than the film. Oops. Looks like we were all brainwashed by the film. Nevertheless, most of the songs remained the same and it was a joy to be there.

6. 苏打绿's 十周年演唱会 AIR Singapore
名字非常長, 就這樣吧. 可以說這場演唱會絕對是這年最最最迫不及待想看的演唱會. 自己一個人很早就到了會場, 可惜這裡的氣氛果然不比台北的, 沒有人這麼早就去排隊買周邊商品啦. 所以很快就買到了. 值得高興的是演唱會並沒有延遲很久才開始. 沒有AIR watch 兼螢光棒的手環,  但有贊助商的熒光棒和一些贈品, 也算不錯. 他們場的每一首歌都好喜歡喔, 對我來說, 最興奮的莫過於那個360度旋轉舞台. 之前看到台北場視頻的時候, 他們唱著《相信》, 旋轉舞台突然升起的那一刻, 我眼淚直接流了出來. 沒想到可以在新加坡場看到它. 真的非常棒! 好像那也是暐哲最驕傲的事. Haha! 但新加坡這場, 不管什麼時候,'高興'的感覺都勝過了一切. 我好像只有一直大聲的笑, 還有對自己傻笑. 哈哈! 尤其是小威bai kah 的事, 就一直拿出來講. 太好笑了! 當然, 還有演唱的部份啦! 大概喜歡的歌都唱了吧. 或者說, 反正我沒有什麼不喜歡的歌, 他們唱什麼歌我都很開心! 雖然主唱大人真的不喜歡大家說他們很好笑, 比較想聽到他們唱的好好. 可他骨子裡就喜歡有點搞笑. 明明自己總是忍不住要搞笑, 然後又說我們不要什麼都笑, 會不會太過份了一點? 哈哈! 尤其拜託我們說因為演唱會結束硬逼我們說'YAY'的那段, 任性極了! 但, 是我不會忘記的一場演唱會.

7. 香港中樂團 @ Esplanade
期待已久的音樂會, (是不是很跳tone? Haha) 反正因為去年十二月到香港去的時候朋友就說了, 所以真的等很久. 演出, 就只能說, 很喜歡閻惠昌! HAHA! 還有演出的曲目. 可惜我們的位子也許比較不好, 在3樓, 音樂廳的音響沒有調好, 所以弦樂的聲音無法完整的傳達上來, 管樂就略為大聲. 不過後來聽坐在一樓的朋友說, 他們聽到比較大聲的是弦樂, 管樂則比較小聲. 看來管樂的聲音都被打上來了. 確實有點浪費了這樂團的實力.

除了看演出, 還有當導遊帶朋友到處走. 在香港的時候就答應了. 而且不管我們誰去, 他們都熱情招待的. 結果我們安排了三天的環島吃喝玩行程. 說真的, 有些地方我們自己都沒去過. 哈~ 而且吃了大概一整年才會吃到的量的本地食物. 結果, 朋友回國後, 我完全沒有想吃任何東西的慾望.

8. Ruan Chamber Concert @ Esplanade Recital Studio (by SCO)
Only went to watch because of Minhui. Seems like many things have changed in our lives, but not the music. It's always been a pleasure to hear some of the musicians play: Minhui is one of them :) The music, though simple, is very captivating. Just like how she played Yu Hou Ting Yuan. Could only say, I went there just to watch her. <3

9. Kalakan @ The Voices by Esplanade
Not really knowing what we were in for, I went because Ekjun and Yvonne recommended them. Saw a short clip of theirs when dymc went to Sarawak for Rainforest Music Festival. It turned out that they were really good. Even though they are from this small country called Basque, I have no idea where that is (somewhere in or near Spain), and can't understand their language. But, music really doesn't depend on language. With some simple explanation on the numbers, and the power of their vocals, it's not difficult to feel the music. Couldn't resist but to stand up, clap along and sing along. It was not a long concert, but definitely an enjoyable one. :)

10. MCO 10th Anni Concert @ Esplanade
My last performance for the year. Never felt I put in so much effort into a concert before, I wanted to make it the best one, but then again, it's always about everyone, and not just 1 person in the orchestra. Or even, majority. You just need 1 person to ruin it. (just a saying, not pointing at anyone). No matter how many practices I went to, (actually all the practices since Oct) and a number of extra practices on weekday night, it doesn't make a difference if the section hasn't even come together once until the rehearsal. Yup, I understand that everyone may have their own commitments in life, I used to have mine as well. And I burnt all my Saturdays to go to practice at somewhere so far even though it's my only free day all week. What I'm saying is, well if you have so many commitments, you ought to choose the priority, and give up some of them some times. It doesn't hurt, really. More so if in the end you tired yourself out and also drag the others with you. There's a possibility of finding more players at an earlier stage rather than every week having hopes that this person will come, and the person just doesn't turn up at all. It's an issue of responsibility. An orchestra isn't an orchestra if the players don't play together most of the time. And that's probably why we need to add practices and tired everyone out and had so many 'surprises' at the end of the day.

有時我覺得是老師太縱容大家了. 如果是我, 至少最後一個月的練習大家都應該來, 不然就別上了. 這是以大局為重, 而不是因為個人欲望的事.

And kids nowadays, have to be spoon-fed with answers. They are supposed to be smart, so it's not that they don't know, more or they don't want to try. We the seniors were practicing hard even though we already know our stuff and trying to perfect it, but they just sat there and did nothing. They didn't even attempt to try on their own when the scores were given months ago. Don't understand why we are still teaching them at the last week before the concert. I was practicing right beside the girl just to motivate her to practice also, but she just sat there and did nothing. Hello! I don't even need to practice anymore. -.-

In the end, can't say I didn't make any mistakes, in fact, I made quite a few, though not major, but I feel bad enough. I would have played much better if it wasn't for my sore back. :/ Need to remind myself to get muscle patch the next time I perform because sitting straight-backed for a whole day is a no-joke.

But this concert has made us bond better, think of solutions to savage and not immerse in the so-called good image from people who doesn't play the music at all. Happy that at least we get to play some traditional music, although a mix will bring more audience. Well, I've done my job. I used to be quite hack care about such things because I'm just someone who plays occasionally in the orchestra, I don't know where the sense of responsibility suddenly come from. Perhaps I just wanted them to be more efficient. Super waste time some of the time. Glad that it's over, but then again, kinda miss the music playing time. Till the next time! Hope it's not too soon, so that I have more free saturdays.

With the year coming to an end, just 1 more concert to go! i.e. Jay Chou's Opus II, which was supposed to be on 8 Nov, but it's going to be tomorrow! :D Excited! But not crazy over it. Well, first time, just to experience it. :)

Ok, maybe that's not the last. The last will be on 31st Dec in Taipei! ;)

And due to budget constraints to save up for the much awaited trip, I resisted and had to give up a few other interesting stuff this year, like Mamma Mia musical. Oh well, I'm sure I will get to catch it in future, maybe in London? Who knows.

Till then! Good bye for the year! :D

我愛台灣 (2013年版, 第二篇)

Yup, the anticipated trip since the friends started become closer in SYCO few years ago. It's a pity that those people have already left the orchestra for various reason. But still, I was still looking forward to it, because there's won't be anymore chance. HAHA!

It's not an easy trip to come by for this one. And I appreciate every effort. I would love to ask if this trip had happened last year or the year before, would it have been very different from what I have experienced? Answer is most probably! Why? The people, maybe the repertoire, the end result.

HK Camp 完zor :(

Sometimes I do not know if that was a really good decision to go to the camp. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have so much feelings about it and wouldn't have this real feeling of missing it again. But if I hadn't, I wouldn't have met so many nice people, wouldn't have so many new friends added to my life.

回來後，有一種空虛感。有一點小遺憾，一點不捨，一點小傷心。很多事，我清楚我知道的。就好像一場夢一樣，沒想到我真的還能有機會回去，沒想到能遇到一些舊朋友，也認識到這麼多新朋友。真的很高興，我並沒有白去。但，我也知道，夢終究是要醒過來的。夢做完了，就要回到現實。

現在，我得回來了。

4 things to do in half a day.

Today marks the end of SCO 10/11 Season. One very good concert I say, however, I only watched the 2nd half of the concert because I have too many things going on today.

But the concert was decided 1 year ago, while the rest of the matters just came in. Then it was Von's birthday party. I was really apologetic that I couldn't stay through. Initially I even wanted to back our from my attendance, because I must go to the concert. But she's already so nice to shift the cake-cutting forward! Omg. A friend I want to keep forever. :) So in the end I agreed to be late for my concert. And I think it's worth it. :)

Then before that was movie and high-tea/dinner with my buddies Via and Mel. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2, the much awaited one. I would have watched it earlier if not for the early arrangement. Haha! Many might have felt that it wasn't up to their standard, but I think it was good! I have my anxiety moments, my touching moments, my happy moments. Seriously I have nothing much to ask for. And don't you feel like watching Harry Potter all over again?

Then a meal at Sun and Moon @ Wheelock Place. Nice! Everything we had tasted good! Great sushi, sushi mixed rice (it's really damn good), and dessert!! The crepe cake is really nice!! I still have a slice of it in my fridge. Haha! Next time Hokkaido fair must buy more. :D Ok, we can always go back to Sun and Moon to eat it. Heh.

Ok, back to the concert. The pianist is totally too awesome! His fingers are like so fast! And played so clear. Omg I love the 4th movement. I was totally looking at how his hands move over the keys. How did he even do it. I wished I had learnt a bit of piano last time. Never could do it myself. He was quite nice too, took a group photo. Reminds me of the Lang Lang concert too. Hais, why are these pianist so zai?!

All rights. I have my share of fun these days. Shall update more soon! :D

SYF 2011 - 2

两年一度的中学中央评审就在今天‘放榜’的时候画上句点了。今年因为有时间，所以三天都准时到场，56所中学，只有一所没看/听，因为太累，太饿，所以先跑了。

Like my FB status, "OMG. 3 full days at SYF is likea crazy. I listened to 55 征s, 3 秦兵s, 3 movements of 拉萨行, 3 out of four seasons, 2 太阳s, 2 飞天s, 2 阿佤山s etc etc. Yup. There's only 1 school i didn't catch. HAHA!"

Even I'm amazed by myself. LOL!

SYF 2011 - 1

Even though it's only after the 2nd day of CO SYF Central Judging, I have to say that CO standards in Singapore is really increasing like don't know what. We no longer have the situation whereby you twitch at every other school because of their super out-of-tune suona. Most of the schools could handle their suonas decently. Definitely a good thing. I'm totally not a fan of the instrument, but since it's inside the orchestra, it shouldn't be bringing the overall down. Luckily, we have quite tremendous improvements in handling the instrument now. I'm quite surprised actually. Apparently some schools performed out of our expectation! Usually good. Wow.

But of course, here, we are excluding the fact that they practice for this SYF only and they might not be able to play any other songs. At least it shows the potentials.

We'll see the last day, it's where a number of past Gold and GWH schools meet together. Almost the whole day is like exciting!

It's really tiring to listen to all the schools. The judges are really li hai. haha!

Nights

Aug Long Weekend

I hope i wun be just having 1 post per month. Which is quite sad. I love to pen my thoughts down. In whichever method. Because i'm such a forgetful person. I like to have everyone done in words.

So far, it's almost half a month into August, and, I have to say that I still got my share of enjoyment. :)

First weekend was a quite crazy one.

Jojo's Bday
Started with jojo's 21st bday party. It was like wow! It was at this super nice villa of The Sentosa Resort. But i reached there quite late lah.. Missed all the food. Which was quite sad. Looking at pictures makes me drool lah. Tsk. Anyway, it was still quite an event and he has very cool cake! And they are nice! :)

The guys are having some fun thinking of different stuff to do in the water. They sure are energetic. But of them had their shirts and pants on when they were thrown/pushed/pulled/jumped into the water.. Poor mothers and maid of their got to wash them. Tsk tsk.

Sitting by the pool is a relaxation too though. I had moments of undisturbance at the pool side just listening to music and thinking. It was nice moments.

Stayed over with most of the GGG, while they were giao-ing late into the night and after that ALL of them *pah* and slept wherever they could. And unfortunately, i dun have a place to sleep AT ALL. So i went for a long bath. Shower, bathtub. Another nice relaxing moment. But at 6am. At least i got a place to sit in there. Lol. After that was some camera moments. Haha! Then finally i have some space to sleep when some ppl left. :)

SCO Gala Concert
Went home and after a while out to teach.. And then after that met them again for the jazz concert - 1st of 2 concerts for this month.

It was quite a cool concert. The jazz pieces which they played were nice! Like a total diff exp with them compared to the chris brubeck last time. Cos diff instru after all. They were really good, the bass and drumset and of cos the piano. Damn zai.

The SCO musicians were good too lah.. a few of them had improvisation with the jazz music. Not bad leh... Just that it's unlikely that they really improvise on the spot lah. hahaha! But yea. still cool. Gives a totally different image on some of the instruments. And CO. :)

December rain 雨季
Watched on 8aug night show. Totally love. The first of 2 musicals i'm watching in this month. I was totally waiting for it since the day we bought the tix. Erm. More than 3months ago? Haha! It's like fulfilling something. I'm so happy to be able to listen to kit chan sing again! :D Somehow i miss Forbidden City again. Heh. Anyway she's totally awesome!! Her voice is still as good as ever and it sends goosebumps!

The songs are ALL so nicely written too. Fav is still the theme song - 请你告诉他. Must be written by liangwenfu. As the show goes on, i was like thinking, 'wow! It's so obvious which song was written by which composer!' and ALL OF THEM are nice! 渺小的我 has really nice lyrics.. [edit: Ok. I actually guessed 1 or 2 wrongly. -.-]

“是我选择了被人遗忘，还是遗忘选择了我?”

 :) And somehow reminds me of If There's Seasons again. LOL. Like if they ever gonna stage it again. I might watch again. Depending on the cast this time.

Ahh... so during the show, it was half sensitive nose and half touched, I kept have to take out tissue to clear my nose. And tears. haha! There were parts the singing are so tear-inducing it's hard to control (or at least to me).

I think this is the first time i watched a Toy Factory production.. Although i've always wanted to watch some of their older productions like TiTouDao. Hmm... next time i know who to ask to go for all these if my sis doesn't want to go. I nv knew the sy ppl are like into such too. haha!

So anyway, the stage setting, the costume, some of the scenes are totally contemporary. It's most obvious when only 1 person is singing in front of the string-curtains. And there will be a dancer in the backdrop. Dancing to the song and the actor/actress' inner feelings. I've nv watched the first run of this musical, but from what sis described, it is totally different too. I think the artistic directions changed so ya. Everything changed. Not very elaborate sets, but good enough to represent what they want to represent.

Anyway, managed to grab hold of liangwenfu before the show to get his autograph on the prog booklet. No luck in seeing yeliangjun ard though. :(

“请你请你告诉他
  我永远爱他
  就算大雨一直下
  心中彩虹长挂
  彩虹尽头有他”

Omg.. It's been stuck in my head since i first heard the song on 933. And still stuck whenever the words appear or when i'm not listening to any other music. So catchy and meaningful.

Korean Bbq
We went for korean bbq lunch buffet on national day as a form of celebration for da-jie and er-jie's bday. It was awesome! The meat is so well done. Ok actually the pork are better done than the chicken. But we are all pork-eater anyway. Haha. Although no beef, still not bad liao cos not that ex. Service was good too. So full after that lah! So much so it's was kinda nap time for the afternoon. Lol. Only woke up near to ndp time. Haha!

Managed to get some fireworks photo from home kitchen. :)

And that's like the end of the long weekend. Fantastic although not the kind anyone would dream of. Haha. And i guess there's still more to come?

Till the end of the month i still have like 1 SCO concert and 1 musical - Fried Rice Paradise. Looking forward too! Yeah. Esp. towards Sebastian Tan!!! Still my fav thus far. :D More than George Chan. Hahaha.

But till the end of the month, i have 2 close friends leaving sg for studies. 1 is going to china for 2 years (at least he is cfm coming back). And the other is going to canada forever! :( i'm damn sad.

Update the rest next time.

First time on Pri Sch Kids Erhu.

Last fri went to help laoshi teach his pri school kids... all beginners.. Like wow! My first time and... Really difficult to control them. I almost died.

I asked them what do they know and what did they learn last week or before. They say they dunno! Best, i went over to the other erhu instructor teaching the bigger kids for syf if she knows what the beginners are learning, she doesn't know! And she said that they have been hun-ing all the while. Ok fine, she's not the one who teaches them anyway. Luckily we have a parent volunteer there to give me some hints.

First got problematic students dun want to prac, dun want to play when i say play together. I ask them why are they not playing, they either do not answer me or say that they dun know. Pengs. But there are a few nicer and clever students as well, picking up the stuff pretty quickly. Although not perfect, but the idea is there.

But the students really lack discipline. Super noisy, super dun listening, super playful. Super want to go break and super dun want to come back after break.

If he ask me to go again, I will, but have to use better tactics liao. Must make them listen, practise, and learn more things.

Then i recall myself in my schooling days, i was like super fierce and serious when i teach the younger ones. I nv had trouble making them listen to me. Or rather they are all scared of me to begin with. Ok... that was more of the primary school days. And probably some of sec school days. I was already not so fierce in sac. lol. But i dunno, very hard to be fierce nowadays leh. Maybe old liao. haha!

3 Concerts in a row

Really haven't been updating diligently lately ya. =x

Went for quite a few concerts lately... Haven't been to 1 for a long time too... and at 1 go.. i went to 3! Chengsan, SCO featuring New Oap Uk!, Hsinghai. Erm... of cos.. in terms of standard.. the other 2 cannot be compared to SCO lah... and surprisingly box office for hsinghai wasn't good. But i think overall they have a higher standard. But anyways... both are quite dominant of guess players... that's something really sad to say. plus for hsinghai some of the players' name were not in side the prog booklet at all. lol.

Gada Meilin and No. 2 Symphony were quite a disappointment for the 2 orchestras as their last piece of the concert. Was expecting more than what they played. No offence.. but ya. probably becos of the lack of practising tgt. It's really difficult lah... some ppl only go for the prac at the very last min before concert. that doesn't help in building up the orchestra. for hsinghai i can only say.. i'd rather those guest musicians watch the concert instead.

On the other hand... i'm really proud of our SYCO ppl. haha! All the soloists for chengsan and hsinghai are from sy lor... Yea. And i think they all played well!! :))) 雨后庭院 and 西双版纳 are really nice songs... and 喜 and 梁山随想 are both classics. They really did well lah. my sis says jingwen like no need to use much energy to blow suona. (although a few mistakes made) Yea... Joyce was very steady as usual. sheng mu like... omg(odness). haha! And minhui. dun need to say much lah. =x

Yea.. SCO concert.. Love the songs. nothing much to say... But Ku laoshi asked 你现在在做什么? and i like.. '我在这里上班'. haha! And he said he didn't see me at all.. Ya true.. cos he nv come up 5th floor. plus i nv go say 'hi'. i scared he dun rmb me. haha. The rest also take turns to ask if he rmb them -.- He like... 当然记得! Yea of cos... Saw him some days after the concert... and spoke to him a little. not bad. :)

I think next concert i would be working anyway... hahaha! can shun bian listen. This fri? hopefully i'm not in for this week's concert... =P Eh actually anything lah. got free tix for this fri lor. lol!

Publicising Concerts! :)

It's going to be a tiring day.. 45 times of 江南春色... But dun think i will be listen to all.... Poor judges. =x

I should go and sleep soon so that i wun fall asleep later.. HAHA! ZHIWEN!!! GOOD LUCK!!! :))) Actually i dun think she will see this cos it will be too early.. haha! But i heard zixin got in.. So Congrats!! :)) Have to go support her yea!

Anyway.. before i forget again... Have to advertise a bit lah.. NYCO performing for Beautiful Sunday on 14th Dec. 3pm at Esplanade Concert Hall. (Free Admission) Although it's only 1 song... but i'm sure it will be cool! Cos the alumus are performing too! Yeah! lol.

Then 2nd one... MCO (Marsiling Chinese Orchestra) having our concert on 26 Dec 2008. Songs include 茉莉花 (our gold song from genting competition), 龙的传奇, 打鬼, Super Mario, Abba Time, Barbie girl (cello and bass ensemble), 驼铃向叮当 (gold song too), To Zarnarkand. (eh.. can't rmb how to spell.. dunno correct or not). There are other songs lah... but these are the ones i think super attractive. Hee. But anyways.. i thought the songs are quite interesting too! And the tickets are at $15 and $25.. Can order from me or any MCO members. Support us! GOH will be President Nathan. (Although that is not the main point... but most ppl are making this a selling point too... so i shall mention it) =P So! COME LAH! :)

Ok.. off to sleep. Nitex.

Weekends whole day out!

Been a rather busy but enjoyable weekend... And ironically, i thought work was much more enjoyable. haha!

It was the usual prac on sat... this week with charmaine instead... we really like taking turns huh... Prac wasn't really bad... but not the best too... I felt that we are not as prepared as we were for the concert 2 years ago... and i can't really figure out what's the problem.. it could be that they started planning much later this time... and i rmb we really had many long saturdays for the last concert... whereas this time practice time is really precious to the whole orchestra. But... i will do my best de lah... somemore this time got 2 gaohu less! like dotx...

Then took laoshi's car down to SCH. Finally i'm not late for the concert... but anyway.. the concert wasn't really up to what i expected.. or rather.. we expected... didn't really understand the wayang song... For 红楼梦... i was only attracted to the first and last song they played... -.- but i really like zhao laoshi's playing... Like no matter under what condition he can always produce the finest sound from his erhu... at least that's what i hear till now... But butterfly lover wasn't as great as i thought it would be... sians... first part already keep speeding... then fast part also speed... Plus i was already super tired... i didn't really have the energy to listen to everything.. haha! Anyway i didn't really like her violin sound... it's VERY soft even thou i'm sitting like super in front.. the sound is only bright when she plays the high notes... at first position... all very soft and kinda muffled. She played encore also! And it's like super obvious the soloist and the orchestra wasn't tgt. DOTX. But still went for the autograph after that.. but could see that most people can't be bothered. -.-

Sunday was work lor... stayed a bit later to finish up some work... then went over to vivo to find yushi... thinking that she can go off at 10pm.. then we can go eat.. in the end.. waited for them to finish packing up everything! And by the time we reached 85 market... it was almost 1am!!! And i was hungry like dunno what already. haha. But the process was quite fun.

This weekend

Went mco ytd... really like one month go once.. actually i dun think it's really enough... but very tiring leh.. haha!

One thing i'm so proud of myself ytd... I wasn't late in the morning!!! And in fact i should be considered the earliest cos i was ahead of them on the route... HEE. Then i didn't sleep on the bus trip despite the 4h sleep the night be4.. due to gaming till late with sis and my cousin. like she bu de to go and sleep. haha! Anyways... in the end we end early also lor... after quite a while then got ppl come after we got to the room..

THEN. i got to go back to gaohu again... dotx.. after almost half a year not touching it... But surprisingly... i was able to get some of the things right.. haha! Or maybe becos the songs are easier for gaohu... whichever way... i think that's the reason why i was being asked to play gaohu. hee. BUT ahh.. have to re-practise again! (not like i'm fully prepared for erhu lah)

And today.. went to woodlands agin! for my mum's graduation from senior citizen school. Cool but a bit messy lah... like everyone walking here and there lor... my dad says like kindergarten graduation like that.. uncontrollable. hahah. But could see everyone is really like super excited lah... And proud too.. I mean.. i would be proud too.. Haha. Congrats mummy!!

Then went to MOF at bugis for lunch.. took quite long to get there cos we were like touring in circles in woodlands. dotx. not a familiar place after all... then after that come home le... And napped. Hee!

Music Ties

I think that the concert was awesome!!!

Although the first song was more difficult to understand... the rest of the songs were very nice. Esp. the solos by the Huangs. Maybe becos i'm not so much of a Pipa fan lah... Of cos her skills are like superb... but the song is a bit too long. I'm still wondering why didn't the couple had a duet song? Anyhows.. HuangChenDa's 酒狂 was nice... very unique and interesting... his father's 天山 is better.... everything... his 音色 is really very ear-catching (i know there isn't such a word)... it's really very 悦耳 lah... Yupx... plus the song is nice too. So no complains about that. But of cos... the highlight of the night is really the 广东音乐 double concerto by the Huangs... Their skills are really like... unbeatable. haha! Then they played 赛马 for encore... So expected.. But cool lah. cos it's double melody mah.. haha. But i thought it could be some other song that can like surprise the audience. Oh wells... nvm. Overall... A concert really worth watching!! :)

Omg... I really regretted not buying the dvd i saw at bras basah once... featuring HuangAnYuan playing Butterfly Lovers with accompaniment by HKCO. After that i wanted to go back and buy another day but dun have already!!! And i haven't seen it since then. Dotx.

Ex-SACCO

*AHEM* ATTENTION TO ALL EX-SACCO MEMBERS: SAC open hse on 1pm to 5pm on Sat, 1st March 08! I think each ticket is $5 (for charity purpose). Huishan (our sacco senior) is hoping that we could come together for a gathering in conjunction with the event.

If anyone of u see this.. just send me a msg to let me know if u can go and want to go.. ok? :)

She suggested a dinner after the thing in SAC. Anyway i think some of u might have heard about the school going to be renovated (or rebuild)... i not very sure which it is... so we could go back and take some pictures ard the school to keep as memories. Wonderful right?! :)))

Think i'll just forgo prac for a week.. HEE! =x

CO CO

Ytd was spent in CO and more CO.

Went back to nyjcco in the morning.. erm. dunno most of the ppl there! haha! a few familiar faces but dun really know their names. anyway... luckily there was some company - jon and ds. haha! Still quite fun to be back in co room... miss the times? haha. i think so. i think it's miss the times after co. lol. guess they are much more efficient now... we used to take eons to leave the room... cos we are the ppl who lock the room... so own time own target lah.. haha.

Then went for nusco prac... er-jie came! haha. and we coincidentally wore the same shirt of different colour. lol! Anyway... prac was er... a bit dry ytd... was quite sian-ed cos not much of challenging parts. haha. a bit fan jian right. lol.

After prac slack outside for a while... er-jie went off first... then i went dinner with the rest. sit there and chatted till 10.15pm then took train back to bedok... wah. sian. haha! but was still fun spending time with them.

Later going out... to celebrate maine's bday. i think it will be good! :))) Like everyone is going to be 21 this year. sure it's going to be a tired year. haha! Oh! i actually won like a pair of tickets to Tanya's showcase at st.james. but it's tonight. haix. hopefully there's next time cos friends are still more impt. :)

JOEL! We meet when u book out next time!! (i hope)

Back from genting

HI all! I'm back!!! :)))

First would like to congratulate all the 3 grps for getting GOLD for the competition! YEAH. not like it's going to affect me very much.. but it's the effort of everyone. :))

I think the trip on the whole is pretty fun... esp. with the ppl that we have actually known for a few years... i guess most of us had a great time... thou home is still the best place. It's freezing cold there lah... luckily i brought like 2 jackets. haha! but i spent quite a lot of the free time sleeping in our room as well.. haha!! =x

Ok.. cos unfortunately i fell sick after 2nd night... voice already start to fade on 2nd day.. but got worse... so third day which we have the most free time... half of those time were spent sleeping to regain some energy... i think i caught a cold... and result of not having enough water on first day also.. =x

Nevertheless... didn't waste our trip... still did quite a lot of fun stuff... esp. on the last night... tonned! haha...

Will update more soon.. :)))

Back to CO

Wow.. i didn't realise it was this late already! hahaha...

Had a great day today.. went to many places... walked a lot.. and talked a lot. haha! But i'm still tired yea... was out for almost 12h... from mco to giant to ikea to courts and back to ikea again.... spent the whole afternoon there.. but wow... had new ideas for my room... Yeah! Think we are going to implement it... cos apparently they think my table is useless too... i proposed to remove a table and give me just a shelf to stuff all the books in... True lah... actually my er-jie's table also can bye-bye already lor.. she dun need the table anymore as well... what for right... and like that we'll have more space to move ard in the room at night or in the morning... :) At least... i found something to do in ikea.. (other than eating their meatballs..) lol!

Oh... i skipped the mco part.. lol. Ok lah... it wasn't very bad... still a little messy thou... but i guess everyone is trying their best (somehow i just want to think so)... Actually i felt quite bad cos i haven't touch my erhu for 2 weeks. while everyone else (i hope so) is so hopeful abt the comp... i think i'm of no help at all... Anyway... YEAH! Jason got the solo part... actually he deserved it.. cos i know that he put in a lot of effort and is certainly very honoured to get the part... as for me... it doesn't really matter cos i know i'm not as committed as the other ppl in mco... and hello.. how do u expect someone who nv prac (me) to play well yea? but ya... jason jiayou k!! :)))

Tmr is yet another day of prac... not really complaining.. cos i know it's really not going to be enough... not just for me.. but for everyone else... the whole co doesn't seem to be prepared enough for the comp... it's quite sad cos even when the 2 of us dun always go for prac... we could be more adaptable than some of the ppl there... but well.. we are more experienced... so couldn't blame them as well... oh wells... i think i need to sleep... haha!

Wish us all the best then... another week to go! :) (for sy audition as well). DEAD. =x

Pre-ShangriLa Perf

I think i have extremely little time to do this...

Anyway. today is mco's performance at Shangri-la Hotel. Hope that it will be a success*! :) Will be going to woodlands to take their bus on our own cos laoshi will be rather late since he has to work today. oh wells. time for some reading on the buses. Little did i know the last day will be spent like this.

And tmr morning.. have to reach airport at 9am. Ok... fairly reasonable... so by tmr this time.. i should be on my way already. :)

In case i dun have the chance to say it again... MISS ME! :)) ok.. got to prepare to go woodlands!


*Success means i dun play anything wrong during the performance itself. haha!