hi guys!
haha in case you're wondering, im that looney senior who went back today :P
so sinyi has kindly invited me to post some of my comments on the band blog to encourage you guys yah.
BEFORE THAT, LET ME SAY GREAT JOB FOR COMING THIS FAR! YOU GUYS SOUNDED PRETTY GOOD JUST NOW.
but as always, there's always room for improvement.


okay firstly, must tell you guys that Singapore Conference's Hall's accoustics is not as good as VCH's.
so most prob your sound is not gonna ring, nor is the hall gonna help you cover up for the mistakes you made, erm in short: you're gonna be pretty damn "exposed".
but fret not lah, make an extra effort to play full value especially for holding notes.
this may help alot to make the band sound more full instead of choppy.


secondly, i notice that the band tends to slow down when playing quavers.
for example, the woodwinds in the beginning of Escape where the saxophones tend to lag behind the upper woodwinds.
also in Safari, the tubas and some others like saxophones tend to slow down at the quavers(i think is around figure14 ba).
try improving by listening to one another when playing the quavers den accomodate to play together as one.
also, you guys can try sub-dividing when counting the rest bars so that you'll be able to play accurately.


thirdly, the soloist like Wan Zhen and Sinyi must try to play more confidently okie!
be it a few shot bars of solo, you can make a difference to the whole piece.
dont be too nervous thinking that you'll be playing the solo, im sure the whole band is behind you :D
oh yah woodwinds pls be confident of your running notes, dont let the judges catch you being scared of the running notes yah. (DONT KNOW HOW TO RUN ALSO MUST RUN! DONT CARE PLS GO PRACTISE HOR!!)


okie thats pretty all lah..
but one observation is that the lower voices tends to cover the upper voices, making the music sound abit too heavy at times.
so the upper voices, like flutes, trumpets and horns can try coming out a little bit more den at least more balanced ok..


now let me share something with all of you.
i heard from somewhere that THE STANDARD OF THE BAND IS EQUIVALENT TO THE STANDARD OF THE WEAKEST PLAYER.
there's no use in having only a few section working hard, and some others taking the back seat.
if you guys want that bloody gold, you have to push yourself and work really hard.
ALL OF YOU.
if you do have parts that you are still unsure, please please please make an extra effort to go through and practise them(but of cos dont over exert yourself k)


i can already imagine all the parents shaking their heads in disagreement, wahhaha but im gonna say this, if you guys can just take your mind off studies for just these 3 days and focus on the SYF '07.
be mentally prepared, be physically fit, be musically prepared as well.
faith is very important, so if you guys believe enough, im sure you guys can do it~!
when you go on stage, pls do not let your anxiety take over you.
pls focus on making good music, put yourself into the music and listen out for one another.
put aside all those politics, put aside all those silly rivalry thingy and play together as one because im pretty all of you wants to clinch that Gold medal yah.


okie lah shall end here.
wish you guys all the best and i'll be there to support you guys.
TAKE CARE AND DRINK LOTSA WATER :D


cheers,
yiyang

11:02 PM
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