Hey everyone. This shall be my last post for all of you on this blog. Firstly, let me tell you my past experiences, in other words my band life. But before that, just to give all of you something to think about --- the band world is tough but yet, satisfying.
It was like just a few days ago when I joined the band as a Secondary 1 student. I could still recall vividly almost everything that I gone through, when I first stepped into the melodious band room, who was once a total stranger to me. When I set my first foot in, I was like many of you in secondary 1--happy but afraid. Happy to be in an all new environment, but frightened that the upcoming tasks would be torturous. Indeed, it was hard, but somehow, I managed to tighten my jaws and got through it. I could remember clearly when I saw those new scary faces of the Majors and those friendly faces of my seniors, Kit Jang and Samantha. They had taught me well in terms of my basic playing skills and of course, I feel grateful to them. It was then the first time I saw this long, amusing at that time, instrument called the Bassoon. And it was then the first time I finally managed to produce a sound on it after a few tries. I was over the moon and overwhelmed with joy and laughter. The band camp was memorable, as for the very first time, the current Secondary 4 members really did one solid bang, and I really mean one solid bang, not once, not twice, but thrice CONSECUTIVELY. Seeing the amazed expressions of our seniors then, we really felt a sense of accomplishment. It was satisfaction beyond description and we felt that all our tough training has been really worth it. Right before the Secondary 4 seniors stepped down; I had my very first performance at the Nanyang Girls High School Auditorium. The Showcase of the pieces played during the important competition. I could still recall the exact names of them, named ' Imperatrix Overture' and 'Glasgow Fair'. That was a performance I really enjoyed. However all good times have to end and soon, we were already waving goodbye to graduating batch.
Then comes Secondary 2 life. A brand new start to another chapter of my journey in band. This petit, quiet boy once again was playing his bassoon. This was the year i improved the most and learnt the most. From knowing how to figure out rhythms, to knowing how to read notes, to knowing how to play scales, to knowing how to develop a better sound. I was simply glued to the amazing instrument of mine. Of course, the next batch of leaders had to step down and pass on their positions. I then got my very first position as the Principal Player of the Lower Woodwinds section. I was after that, forced to become an independent learner as my senior had stepped down, and that was when i gained another companion, Amirah. Then comes my first competition, the 2nd National Band Contest where we clinched our very first Gold with Distinction in history with our two pieces, 'March 'Blue Sky'' and 'Kanata Spring'. Yet for the huge achievement, we weren't overpowered by complacency and continued to strive for another achievement. The Silver award in the 21st Century International Festival in Genting Highlands we got with 'Dream City' and 'Funiculi Funicula', was another motivation to the band to work even harder to attain better results. Also, like many others, I’ve enjoyed the Genting trip very much as it was my first time going overseas together with the band for a competition and for instrumental workshops. Secondary 2 was also the year i made many strong bonds with my seniors of other sections and we could hang all day. It was very much of a help as they could help me in my school work and also the improvement of my sound quality on the bassoon. A fruitful year indeed!
It seemed just yesterday that i got promoted to Secondary 3 when my secondary school life had a turning point. This dude, yet again wearing his usual yellow T-shirt was already in the second final year of secondary school life. This year, i started to open up more and was more outgoing. This was perhaps due to the leadership workshop i participated in the previous year by Tim Lautzenheizer, maker of the Essential Element. I was a little louder, but still as quiet during band hours. Then about the third month, I was offered the Major post under probation. There and then, I was excited but also, scared of the massive responsibility to bear. Of course, getting reprimanded by the Majors, Mr Ong and the teachers was inevitable. Honestly, I made many mistakes, but I was brave enough to own up and apologise for my mistakes. The Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) was not long away. I had to practice my parts and at the same time, learn to be a leader. It sure was pressurizing, with tons of school work adding on to the load on my shoulder. However, with encouragements from many, I stood up to my feet once again. This is the power of encouragement. The power of a band, a team. The competition finally came and I could remember that we were all nervously ready to play the two unforgettable pieces--'Overture no. 1 for Wind Band' and 'Funiculi Funicula'. After we played the two pieces, I saw many of us crestfallen and some even started to tear. I too, was not satisfied at all, as I felt that I could have done a lot better. Nevertheless, we managed to clinch a Silver Award, which was overall, still satisfying. I can proudly say that we did a great job because we put in our best efforts, did our best. SYF Showcase was one of the memorable events in my journey with the band. On that day, many shed tears of joy and sadness. I too, could not bear to leave my seniors. We practiced hard for that day and when it finally came, we put in all we had and I am sure all of us enjoyed our last performance with our seniors. An inspiring performance indeed! After that I was then officially given the Drum Major position. Everyone was looking up to me, and all I felt was pressure and pride. But what was waiting for me ahead was never ending tasks that put me into test. It starts with simple tasks of falling in and out of all of you, to advanced tasks of working with Mr Ong, administrative committee, and executive committee. From advanced tasks of calling all of you one by one to ask for concert responses, to difficult tasks of calling parents up, advising some of you to come for band and motivating some of you to practice your parts. You know who you are, the usual few sitting at the first row. Life as a Drum Major has been rather challenging, but I always had the administrative committee to lighten my load. Miscommunications had always been a critical problem among us. And so we had to cross-refer with many other people to ensure that the news received was accurate and reliable. In this year, I was somehow pushed to conduct the muster parades and I gladly took up the challenge. My first time was difficult but still, I think that I gained a lot.
Secondary 3 life as a Drum Major was as such till the start of November period where I had to attend the Non-Commissional Officer (NCO) Camp at the Co-Curriculum Activity Branch (CCA Branch). It was a day camp that lasted over five days, from 8am to 6pm every day. There, I learnt a lot. I learnt about many new drill commands that even I had heard for the first time. Also, I got to socialise with many of the Drum Majors all around Singapore. I’d also learnt how to execute mace drills to lead the band. It had been a fruitful camp as there were many lectures and unforgettable moments. Almost every day, we, the Drum Majors had to do an hour of consecutive foot drills and straight after that, we had to rush into the lecture room soaking. It was really the kind where water would drip naturally without you doing anything to the shirt. On the last day, we had an NCO passing out parade in the night, and I remembered vividly ONLY TWO PEOPLE from the band came to support your Band and Drum Majors. I would like to extent my gratitude to the two people. The last major event that happened in the year was the band camp. I was rushing day and night for the camp proposal as it received rejections after rejections. I found myself doing most of the proposal. However, without the contributions from the administrative committee, I wouldn’t have been able to summit a splendid proposal. Although it was just a short 2 day 1 night camp, I could see the effort shown by all of you. The dance, the performance, all the fun and hardship we went through was awesome, seeing the turnout of the camp. It was a success for you and for me. Through the camp I see leadership qualities emerging from many of you, and many of you turning from a boy to a man, a girl to a woman. It was another achievement.
Then comes Secondary 4 life, the hardest of all times. It was the crucial year of our glory or failure. It started off with the Secondary 1 orientation which was exciting. It was successful, attracting many Secondary 1 students. My aim for the year was to brush up all your foot drills, which apparently could not be fulfilled. My vision was for the entire band to march during the passing out parade, and shut those mouths of the people who have been constantly criticizing us. This was a challenge I made for myself and at the same time for the band to scale greater heights, but still, my attempts was futile due to the time constrain and also partly due to the standard of your foot drills. Thus, I had no choice but to abort the plan. But still, I look forward to the day where you all can help me fulfil my dreams. Then came the muster parade just 4 days ago. The student conductor finally got the chance to conduct! I too, felt happy for her. The muster parade was an extremely great job done, despite that it was a little screwed up because apparently, the emcee screwed up. But still, all of you continued to pay attention and watch the conductor. This is an action worth praising. Keep it up! And finally, Speech Day. It was the current Secondary 4 members’ last performance. Everything started at 1.45pm where you were all anxiously waiting outside the band room. After loading everything into the truck, we boarded the bus and set off for our destination. This day, I promised myself not to shout and reprimand any of you and indeed, I didn’t! All of you were listening and obeying our instructions and we did not need to scold. The school song was totally awesome and so were the other three songs! There was an overpowering sensation in me as we were playing the final piece, ‘Brass Rock’. Straight after that, many of us were already starting to break down. I thought that it was already an incredibly nice performance put up by us. The next moment, we were already in the wine lounge, where many of us once again shed tears that were uncontrollable. I must admit, I felt sadness beyond description too. It was just too soon to wave goodbye to all of you. I could not bear to leave all of you. However, what had to come will eventually come. Many started to take photographs of memento, and hugging one another. This showed the strong bonds we really had with each other. After dinner, we had to load up all our stuffs again. This time, I was very unhappy with the way you all did. Only 14 people came to help and among these 14 people, half of them were the Secondary 4 members. The rest were just sitting in the bus, waiting for things to happen. I certainly hope that this would not happen ever again. We then reached school late and thus had only 20 minutes of time and 15 of it was used up in the unloading and transporting of instruments, resulting in 5 minutes for the rest of the stuffs. We did not have time for a proper handover ceremony. I had something for each and every of you, but well, I did not have the time. It’s alright; I’ll just come back next practice.
This concludes my journey with the Chua Chu Kang Band. I’ve gone through 4 years with it, from being ordered to ordering. I’ve seen the changes in the 4 generations, from an immediate “YES SIR” to currently, a “huh... don’t want la”. I see the current Secondary 3 members mature into man and woman, and sorry, this is the time I had to let go. I was like the father of the band, showing care and concern to your welfare, but I could only help all of you till this point. From now onwards, you have to become independent learners.
Thank you all for working together with me for the past one year. My journey in the Band would not have been fun if not for all of you, and without you all, I would not have accomplished as a leader. I would like to thank the entire Band for everything. Thanks for cooperating, even though many a times u were shouted at. Even when u failed me, u know I love you. You were the most interesting band of people I’ve ever met and led. I've enjoyed the times spent together with you and I certainly hope you do too. All the best for the upcoming National Band Contest and everything else. Continue to cooperate with your new Majors. Do not make their life hard as they will do the same thing to you. I will surely be back if I have the time, alright?
To the future majors: It’s going to be a tough job but you have to bear with it for the sake of the band. We often have to burden entire responsibility for the mistakes of the band, but that is what our roles as majors are about. I’ve been constantly blamed for the bad playing of the band, since Secondary 3 during muster parades, reprimanded by the teachers for releasing the people late when they are the ones who are not cooperating, blamed by other Uniform Group chairmans for uneven drum beats during parades, receiving criticism for the playing of National Anthem, lectured by Mr Ong for the slow movement of the band, and of course all these are not known by the band. However still, I can say that I am proud to be the Drum Major of this splendid band!
Special thanks to Mr Wilson Ong Chok Yen, Teacher i/c, Mr Arvin, Ms Yen Chun Ting, Mr Gabriel Woon Wei Xian, Ms Vivian Lim Xin Ping, Ms Insyirah Hamizah, Ms Angeline Teo Yi Ling, Ms Kang Cai Ling, Mr Joseph Koh Yi Rong, Mr Lim Cher Yang, Ms Farah Hanna, Ms Putri Qistina, Mr Mhmd Irfan, Ms Syahirunnisaa, and last but not least Mr Loh Chuan Kui for working with me all this while.
Love: Mr Ong, Executive and Administrative Committee of 2009-2010, Alla turcas, and lastly, the CCKMB/CCK WINDS.
Yours lovingly
Samuel
~~Senior DSM~~
Saturday, April 24, 2010
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