♫ violists from hciso ♫

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2011-07-10T21:56:00.001+08:00

TIME TO REVIVE THIS BLOG PPL! we need to add all the juniors and transfers from v2, but still...KEEP THE VIOLA HYPE GOING!

Random Music Jokes

2010-03-27T22:23:00.001+08:00

OKAY so I'm going to try to revive this blog by posting some random lame jokes about music

I'll start with one about conductors:

May I speak to the conductor

A musician calls the orchestra office, asks for the conductor, and is told that he is dead.

The musician calls back 25 times more and gets the same message from receptionist.

She asks why he keeps calling. He replies, "I just like to hear you say it."

A first violinist, a second violinist, a virtuoso violist, and a bass player are at the four corners of a football field. At the signal, someone drops a 100 dollar bill in the middle of the field and they run to grab it. Who gets it?

The second violinist, because:

No first violinist is going anywhere for only 100 dollars.
There's no such thing as a virtuoso violist.
The bass player hasn't figured out what it's all about.

What do do with a horn player that can't play?: Give him two sticks, put him in the back, and call him a percussionist.
What do you do if he can't do that?: Take away one of the sticks, put him up front, and call him a conductor.

What's the difference between alto clef and Greek?: Some conductors actually read Greek.

A conductor and a violist are standing in the middle of the road. which one do you run over first, and why?: The conductor. Business before pleasure.

A Player's Guide for Keeping Conductors in Line

by Donn Laurence Mills

If there were a basic training manual for orchestra players, it might include ways to practice not only music, but one-upmanship. It seems as if many young players take pride in getting the conductor's goat. The following rules are intended as a guide to the development of habits that will irritate the conductor. (Variations and additional methods depend upon the imagination and skill of the player.)

Never be satisfied with the tuning note. Fussing about the pitch takes attention away from the podium and puts it on you, where it belongs.
When raising the music stand, be sure the top comes off and spills the music on the floor.
Complain about the temperature of the rehearsal room, the lighting, crowded space, or a draft. It's best to do this when the conductor is under pressure.
Look the other way just before cues.
Never have the proper mute, a spare set of strings, or extra reeds. Percussion players must never have all their equipment.
Ask for a re-audition or seating change. Ask often. Give the impression you're about to quit. Let the conductor know you're there as a personal favor.
Pluck the strings as if you are checking tuning at every opportunity, especially when the conductor is giving instructions. Brass players: drop mutes. Percussionists have a wide variety of dropable items, but cymbals are unquestionably the best because they roll around for several seconds.
Loudly blow water from the keys during pauses (Horn, oboe and clarinet players are trained to do this from birth).
Long after a passage has gone by, ask the conductor if your C# was in tune. This is especially effective if you had no C# or were not playing at the time. (If he catches you, pretend to be correcting a note in your part.)
At dramatic moments in the music (while the conductor is emoting) be busy marking your music so that the climaxes will sound empty and disappointing.
Wait until well into a rehearsal before letting the conductor know you don't have the music.
Look at your watch frequently. Shake it in disbelief occasionally.
Tell the conductor, "I can't find the beat." Conductors are always sensitive about their "stick technique", so challenge it frequently.
As the conductor if he has listened to the Bernstein recording of the piece. Imply that he could learn a thing or two from it. Also good: ask "Is this the first time you've conducted this piece?"
When rehearsing a difficult passage, screw up your face and shake your head indicating that you'll never be able to play it. Don't say anything: make him wonder.
If your articulation differs from that of others playing the same phrase, stick to your guns. Do not ask the conductor which is correct until backstage just before the concert.
Find an excuse to leave rehearsal about 15 minutes early so that others will become restless and start to pack up and fidget.
During applause, smile weakly or show no expression at all. Better yet, nonchalantly put away your instrument. Make the conductor feel he is keeping you from doing something really important.

It is time that players reminded their conductors of the facts of life: just who do conductors think they are, anyway?

Donn Laurence Mills is the NSOA contributing editor. He holds music degrees from Northwestern University and Eastman School of Music. A conductor and music educator, he is also the American educational director for the Yamaha Foundation of Tokyo.

Definitions:

string quartet: a good violinist, a bad violinist, an ex-violinist, and someone who hates violinists, all getting together to complain about composers.
detaché: an indication that the trombones are to play with their slides removed.
glissando: a technique adopted by string players for difficult runs.
subito piano: indicates an opportunity for some obscure orchestra player to become a soloist.
risoluto: indicates to orchestras that they are to stubbornly maintain the correct tempo no matter what the conductor tries to do.
senza sordino: a term used to remind the player that he forgot to put his mute on a few measures back.
preparatory beat: a threat made to singers, i.e., sing, or else....
crescendo: a reminder to the performer that he has been playing too loudly.
conductor: a musician who is adept at following many people at the same time.
clef: something to jump from before the viola solo.
transposition: the act of moving the relative pitch of a piece of music that is too low for the basses to a point where it is too high for the sopranos.
vibrato: used by singers to hide the fact that they are on the wrong pitch.
half step: the pace used by a cellist when carrying hi instrument.
coloratura soprano: a singer who has great trouble finding the proper note, but who has a wild time hunting for it.
chromatic scale: an instrument for weighing that indicates half-pounds.
bar line: a gathering of people, usually among which may be found a musician or two.
ad libitum: a premiere.
beat: what music students do to each other with their instruments. The down beat is performed on top of the head, while the up beat is struck under the chin.
cadence: when everybody hopes you're going to stop, but you don't.
diatonic: low-calorie Schweppes.
lamentoso: with handkerchiefs.
virtuoso: a musician with very high morals. (I know one)
music: a complex organizations of sounds that is set down by the composer, incorrectly interpreted by the conductor, who is ignored by the musicians, the result of which is ignored by the audience.
oboe: an ill wind that nobody blows good.
tenor: two hours before a nooner.
diminished fifth: an empty bottle of Jack Daniels.
perfect fifth: a full bottle of Jack Daniels.
ritard: there's one in every family.
relative major: an uncle in the Marine Corps.
relative minor: a girlfriend.
big band: when the bar pays enough to bring two banjo players.
pianissimo: "refill this beer bottle".
repeat: what you do until they just expel you.
treble: women ain't nothin' but.
bass: the things you run around in softball.
portamento: a foreign country you've always wanted to see.
conductor: the man who punches your ticket to Birmingham.
arpeggio: "Ain't he that storybook kid with the big nose that grows?"
tempo: good choice for a used car.
A 440: the highway that runs around Nashville.
transpositions:
1. men who wear dresses.
2. An advanced recorder technique where you change from alto to soprano fingering (or vice-versa) in the middle of a piece
cut time:
1. parole.
2. when everyone else is playing twice as fast as you are.
order of sharps: what a wimp gets at the bar.
passing tone: frequently heard near the baked beans at family barbecues.
middle C: the only fruit drink you can afford when food stamps are low.
perfect pitch: the smooth coating on a freshly paved road.
tuba: a compound word: "Hey, woman! Fetch me another tuba Bryll Cream!"
cadenza:
1. that ugly thing your wife always vacuums dog hair off of when company comes.
2. The heroine in Monteverdi's opera Frottola
whole note: what's due after failing to pay the mortgage for a year.
clef: what you try never to fall off of.
bass clef: where you wind up if you do fall off.
altos: not to be confused with "Tom's toes," "Bubba's toes" or "Dori-toes".
minor third: your approximate age and grade at the completion of formal schooling.
melodic minor: loretta Lynn's singing dad.
12-tone scale: the thing the State Police weigh your tractor trailer truck with.
quarter tone: what most standard pickups can haul.
sonata: what you get from a bad cold or hay fever.
clarinet: name used on your second daughter if you've already used Betty Jo.
cello: the proper way to answer the phone.
bassoon:
1. typical response when asked what you hope to catch, and when.
2. a bedpost with a bad case of gas.
french horn: your wife says you smell like a cheap one when you come in at 4 a.m.
cymbal: what they use on deer-crossing signs so you know what to sight-in your pistol with.
bossa nova: the car your foreman drives.
time signature: what you need from your boss if you forget to clock in.
first inversion: grandpa's battle group at Normandy.
staccato: how you did all the ceilings in your mobile home.
major scale: what you say after chasing wild game up a mountain: "Damn! That was a major scale!"
aeolian mode: how you like Mama's cherry pie.
bach chorale: the place behind the barn where you keep the horses.
plague: a collective noun, as in "a plague of conductors."
audition: the act of putting oneself under extreme duress to satisfy the sadistic intentions of someone who has already made up his mind.
accidentals: wronng notes.
augmented fifth: a 36-ounce bottle.
broken consort: when someone in the ensemble has to leave to go to the bathroom.
cantus firmus: the part you get when you can play only four notes.
chansons de geste: dirty songs.
clausula: Mrs. Santa Claus.
crotchet:
1. a tritone with a bent prong.
2. like knitting, but faster.
ducita: a lot of mallards.
embouchure the way you look when you've been playing the Krummhorn.
estampie: what they put on letters in Quebec.
garglefinklein: a tiny recorder played by neums.
hocket: the thing that fits into a crochet to produce a rackett.
interval: how long it takes to find the right note. There are three kinds:
1. Major interval: a long time.
2. Minor interval: a few bars.
3. Inverted interval: when you have to go back a bar and try again.
intonation: singing through one's nose. Considered highly desirable in the Middle Ages.
isorhythmic motet: when half of the ensemble got a different edition from the other half.
minnesinger: a boy soprano.
musica ficta: when you lose your place and have to bluff until you find it again.
neums: renaissance midgets.
neumatic melishma: a bronchial disorder caused by hockets.
ordo: the hero in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.
rota: an early Italian method of teaching music without score or parts.
trotto: an early Italian form of Montezuma's Revenge.
lauda: the difference between shawms and krummhorns.
sancta: Clausula's husband.
lasso: the 6th and 5th steps of a descending scale.
di lasso: popular with Italian cowboys.
quaver: beginning viol class.
rackett: capped reeds class
ritornello: a Verdi opera.
sine proprietate: cussing in church.
supertonic: Schweppes.
trope: a malevolent neum.
tutti: a lot of sackbuts.
stops: something Bach didn't have on his organ.
agnus dei: a famous female church composer.
metronome: a city-dwelling dwarf.
allegro: leg fertilizer.
recitative: a disease that Monteverdi had.
transsectional: an alto who moves to the soprano section.

Maestro (to Horns): "Give us the F in tune!"
Violist (to Maestro): "Please can we have the F-in' tune too?"

Why is the French horn a divine instrument?: Because a man blows in it, but only God knows what comes out of it.

What do you call someone who hangs out with musicians?: A drummer.

Why are orchestra intermissions limited to 20 minutes?: So you don't have to retrain the drummers.

How do you know when a drummer is knocking at your door?: The knock always slows down.

Why do bands have bass players? To translate for the drummer.

What do you get when you drop a piano on an army base?: A flat major.

What do you get when you drop a piano down a mine shaft?: A flat minor.

Why is an 11-foot concert grand better than a studio upright?: Because it makes a much bigger kaboom when dropped over a cliff.
Why was the piano invented?: So the musician would have a place to put his beer.

How do you get two piccolos to play in unison?: Shoot One

Concert stuff...

2010-01-30T23:37:00.003+08:00

GREAT JOB TO EVERYONE FOR CONCERT!!!

so far the exchange is not bad...
in terms of playing i think we did fairly well,
but we din really interact with the guests...

This concert has ended...
it went quite well
(except for vivaldi)
Ms ting told me hon said it was good....
shld be becoz of the sch song ba....

anyways...
the concert has ended,
well we all have regrets,
but we played our part well...
and that's all that matters...
for many of us,
this end of the concert would be a new start...
a new start for friendship,
a new start with a new conductor
a new start to some who turning to seniors this year...

i'm sure many of us are quite stressed out by this concert...
like many ppl having tests these few days
and missing out alot important lessons
but hey, it was fun rite? :D
playing in a totally new environment,
shld be a new experience for most of us...
i bet this is also the first time we get to have desk partners from hk (some of us)
which brings me to my next point...
we are having another combined concert in march hols
with St Nicks strings...
it would most likely be the seniors' last concert,
and we want to make it count...

our viola section isnt known for good soloist,
but rather we are super bonded and united
we play as a section,
as an orchestra,
that's why it's important to us to look at each other and listen.
aft the sec4s leave,
u guys still hav each other to depend on...
get bonded with the new sec1s,
they are the future of the viola section

i guess by now u guys shld noe abt mr sze's standards?
as u may observed, he is damn smart
he is a good conductor,
but he nids an obedient orchestra...
plz listen to him
and REMEMBER wad he says
we want hciso to improve,
hopefully by march we wont lose to snso....

sry for such a long post,
hope u've read all...
i left 1 last impt pt for this para...
aft this concert,
aft all we've been thru,
try asking urself,
Do you have the passion?

sidenotes: err dudes who hav guest partners, can we like add them on fb or smth to at least remind us of this event. it's stupid having an exchange and forgetting the guests immediately aft they leave...

regards,
zy

2010-01-28T20:02:00.006+08:00

Hi guys,

This is just a desperate attempt to revive the dead blog. Even the chat box is dead. After today's rehearsal with the Mr. Siu, I believe we all need to work harder before the concert, right? Here are some stuff to take note in the upcoming rehearsals.

1) Try to get all the notes right
2) Take note of the speed Mr. Siu is going, especially in the 1st movement. Must know where there is a ritard and there's not.
3) Don't lean back on your chair
4) LOOK UP at Mr. Siu when playing.
5) If you really can't play the notes, then fake PROPERLY. At least get the bowing right.
6) Get your SYF attire ready by Friday, the day of BEFORE our concert
7) Listen to other instruments' parts when playing. Don't just listen to yourself.
8) Don't look at the brass people like you're going to kill them for being so loud
9) REMEMBER TO BRING EAR PLUGS!
10) Lost? Then fake as u look at front desks or look at desk partner or listen to the other sections
11) Try to hold up ur viola even though the piece ended/or put it down when others put down and MAKE SURE MR. SIU NOT LOOKING
12) We all are tired, but try not to show it
13) Do NOT tap! It may not be the same tempo as Mr. Siu and may lead to confusion of the section. It can sometimes be heard by other people, making u seem unprofessional
14) DYNAMICS are more important then notes.
15) STOP when the conductor stops
16) Try not to talk, but if necessary whisper
17) NEVER EVER SLEEP during prac
18) Remember, u are NOT soloing! look around u, listen to all the other sections

Ok, so let's work hard for the rest of the days and all the best at our concert on Saturday!

btw, we are taking Sect pic on Sat morning, so come orc earlier
and for those reading this blog, plz spread the message and tell others about the blog...

On a side note, the profile page on our blog is updated.

the ART of FAKING XD
~~it's a tradition for seniors to teach this to juniors~~
violists must learn this....

when u fake, u must look up
look confident
folo the bowings of the 1st desk (hope that they not faking too)
look pro or try to blend to the surroundings
posture is important: chest up, viola up
go on the CORRECT strings
move ur fingers
bow must NOT leave the strings (or it would look like u're not playing)
vibrate / fake vibrate
stop faking as soon as possible

disclaimer: faking is NOT encouraged and must be used only during appropriate times. It is only meant to reduce out-of-tune playings, therefore make the orc sound better.

Cheers,
Terre Chua and zy

2009-12-15T22:16:00.003+08:00

to keep this blog from ~~dying~~ continue being dead,

i think i'd like to post wad sze said today here,

as a reminder to all,

and to inform those ABSent...

play near the bridge
if the sound cracks (not too much), get used to it
no slouching
when sitting put one leg at the side of the chair and try make it vertical (the thigh)
ensure ur bow is straight
when looking at the mirror ensure the strings are parallel to the mirror
hold ur viola up
use the back of the jawbone and the shoulder to hold the viola
use palm to check 3rd position
twist ur elbow and use thumb to check 5th position
make sure when u shift all ur fingers can press down on the strings easily
move ur body when moving ur bow to make the sound louder
muz hav alot of determination and put in hard work

ok tat shld be abt it,

if i left out anything,

plz edit this post,

or kindly tell me

thx

regards,

2009-10-30T22:29:00.002+08:00

hi ppl,

despo attempt to revive blog...
anyways most of you shld noe tat sze will be (most likely) taking over our orc next year...
only the sec3s & 4s noe him though,
but believe me he's scary...
i only tanked him for one orc prac (sectionals too),
and i dun think i could forget the stuff he drilled tat day...

brief intro abt him,
bassoonist,
but he plays almost every instrument u can name...
he will shout out individuals' names to scold them,
and he likes ppl playing solo
he never forgets assessments,
and be prepared for extension of practice
he has a variety of torturing technics to help u sound better...
and trust me,
u dun wan to be a victim...

so we better practice and mug like crazy...
i believe we hav heard the lower sec during sects,
and the sec2s are way below standard...
reminder: faking wont work with him..
he will make sure u practice,
and he would not hesitate to use wadeva humane/inhumane methods to do so...

so the moral of the story is:
mug! mug! mug!
he will be coming to conduct some time in dec (i think)
and everyone of us MUST be able to play thru Mendelssohn, Elgar, and the SYF pieces at least
no faking, no wrong entries...
try to memorise as much as possible to make sure you can look up...
he will kill u if u dun....

ok so let's try to appreciate chan
though not much time left XD
u will miss him dearly aft sze comes...
so let's all do our best,
and improve the viola section

Cheers,
zheryin

P.S. try to ask the other section members to read this blog as well

viola exam scores

2009-09-11T22:53:00.003+08:00

Viola exam scores!

Candidate	Subject	Grade	Mark	Cat
GAO WENQI	VIOLA	05	125	M
CHUA GENG RUN TERRE	VIOLA	04	121	M
LEONG ZHAO HONG	VIOLA	07	116	P
NG JIA QUAN	VIOLA	06	102	P
TAN ZHER YIN	VIOLA	05	114	P
YIP HAO MENG	VIOLA	05	117	P

well done ppl!

can be better lar...
next year jiayou lor...

Blog Skin

2009-09-01T21:42:00.001+08:00

Hey guys,

If you don't know, our blog skin screwed up. So, i've changed the blog skin to this.
Do comment in the chat box. =D
And, we'll be taking a group photo on friday to use it as the main picture of our blog. Ya, the one up there. So, DRESS WELL!

Cheers,
Terre Chua

Viola exam!

2009-08-29T23:41:00.003+08:00

Hi guyz,

Viola exam on monday!!! good luck to zhaohong, lala, gao, hao meng, and myself!!! mug mug mug...

Anyways, this is smth for u guyz to laugh at and relax a little while after muggin for viola exam or eoys. (thank wenqi for this idea)

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

Regards,
Zheryin

Outing

2009-08-23T11:22:00.004+08:00

Hi guyz,

Here are some photos! (plz add more if u hav)

2009-08-12T22:09:00.004+08:00

Hi all,

Terre here. Guess i'm going to write something here. Please don't mind the length of my post. I guess i'm going to write something long again. What i'm going to talk about now concern all of you, but i take this chance to spill out my feelings as well. Hope you guys take some time to read it.

I sat down in front of my desk last sunday, contemplating about stuff like school work, string orchestra etc. When i went to think about my life in string orchestra, i realised that this year, 2009, has been rather disastrous for all of us. We have gone through various events that are mostly unpleasant for all of us. However, i believe every one of them offers us something to improve on and something to learn from.

First event, SYF. I believe all of us are extremely disappointed by the result we receive in SYF. Complicated feelings we must have had. Disappointment, depression, unfairness, feeling confused by the result. Why had we received such disappointing result at the SYF, despite our exemplary performance? We worked so hard for it and is that what we deserve? Had our efforts gone down the gutter? No. As long as we tried our best, we know we have made tremendous achievements. As long as we believe in ourselves, as long as we believe that we have done very well, as long as we had played our hearts out on stage, we have achieved a lot. It doesn't matter how the judges see us because we know in our hearts we can do it. We are good.

Hence, the first event has indeed given us something to improve on. Improve on our playings, prove the judges wrong, perform even better in the next SYF two years later and achieve the GwH that we should have received two years back.

Second event, march camp. This event is not as bad as compared to others but we do learn some stuff from it too. Firstly, for the sec 3s (although most of the people who read the blog are you guys), i do have some stuff to say. I remembered vividly what Alwyn said for our OT debrief. He said not all of us put in equal efforts into organising the camp, some did lesser while others did more. However, i feel that the reason resulting in this is the formation of core OT. Because of this core OT thing, most of the work were allocated to the core OT, the others didn't get to do much. Or rather, this is what zhihao had assigned the workload to. Yes, the others caould take the initiative to offer help to the core OT and this is exactly what i did. BUT, zhihao rejected my offer to help (in writing the proposal), sadly. Hence, i could only by providing ideas. Besides, when carrying out the activites in the camp, the core OT are the ones doing most of them.

Hence, i propose that the workload be spread out more evenly between the OT in future. I believe my fellow peers share the same sentiments. However, through this camp we have learned a lot of things and made much improvements. Through the camp, we have learned the value of teamwork, our relationship with one another have improved and we got to know one another better. Besides, our playings have also improved through the drillings in the camp.

Third event, concert; Amore D'estate. The decision to postpone this concert was utter disappointment to each and every one of us. We practised hard for the concert. Our section had extra sectionals so as to be able to play better in the concert. However, due to H1N1, it was postponed and this decision was only made after we had sold most of our tickets. Yes, there was disappointment. However, we should look at stuff optimistically. Postponing the concert will give us more time to prepare for the concert, to improve our playings and perform better in the concert.

Hence, from this event, we must learn to always look at stuff optimistically. Let nature take its course. Even if the event is that unpleasant, looking at it optimistically will make us feel better.

Fourth event, choosing of next EXCO. It hurts me the most to write this part and i believe others in our section feel so too or maybe i'm the only one who feel so depressed. I don't know what to say about this. I'm still feeling very low and there are some parts of this event that i do not understand, so i cannot really give you guys much advice on how to feel better.

Hopefully we, or rather, i will feel better as time past. However, i think that it's very hard to do so, for me at least.

Last event up till this date, the leaving of the sec 4s, our seniors. After they leave, we do have a lot more to do so that we can play better and sound better as a section. For this part, i think you can refer to zher yin's post. However, the main thing is we have to play much much better and improve a lot.

In conclusion, I do hope that you have taken time to read my long post and i thank you for that. However, the main thing i want to tell you guys is that we should always deal things with a postive attitude. No matter how unpleasant, no matter how hard the challenge may be, tackle it with a postive attitude. Furthermore, we must also improve in our playings.

Be postive. Be optimistic.

Finally, I hope for a brighter future and a better path for us to walk on, to move forth, as one united section.

Cheers,
Terre Chua

2009-08-09T21:52:00.000+08:00

Hey juniors,

Nice to see the violist blog still so lively (: I'm here to talk about Dr Yeo.

I've heard that some parents complained to Ting saying that Dr Yeo is slack, giving 45 minutes lessons instead of the full one hour, playing PSP in class, taking long toilet breaks etc. I'm quite disappointed, not with Dr Yeo, but how some of the violists cannot fully appreciate Dr Yeo as a truely wonderful teacher.

Keep this in mind. Dr Yeo never teach more or less than what the student deserves. Every student is different, the frequency of practise, talent, etc, and hence the student sets the pace for the lesson, NOT Dr Yeo. If he decides a 45 minutes lesson is enough, it is enough, there is nothing more he can do for that week. If one wants a full, fruitful 1 hour of his lesson, what you can do is: practise harder.

Don't ever blame a teacher for not giving what you don't deserve. Help me tell the rest if you are reading this post now.

Cheers,
Choong

Goodbye!

2009-07-31T23:32:00.002+08:00

After 4 years in the orc, all our dear sec4s are leaving us. Today marks the last official day you play with us, as an orchestra, as THE viola section.

All of you had been great seniors. With your guidance, the viola section has become the most united section. You guys were always there, when we needed help, when we needed an outlet for ranting, when we were emo and down, when we were happy and high. You guys were great leaders, leading the viola section to perfection. Although perfection have not been reached, but I believe that all of us have improved tremendously with all your help.

You guys have left a legacy, and it is up to us to carry on the tradition. You've set the standards, and we shall fulfill in, and maybe even surpass it! I remember when Chay Choong's batch left, he set 4 targets for the viola section. If I remember correctly, there was one about being the most discipline section and another about loving music.

I believe the loving music is a common trait every music player shares. All of us really can't survive without music. We practically go to orc room everyday (except for Sundays) to have sects or practice. I think we would have no problem achieving this.

The 2nd target was being the most disciplined section. Indeed, the viola section have been known to be the most disciplined section. However, this tradition is being neglected from one batch to the other. Therefore, I hope that we can work harder to achieve this.

I would also like to set a new target for ourselves. The viola section shall be the most bonded section. That means we shall not neglect our juniors. We shall try our best to ensure that our juniors woould feel a sense of belonging here. I also hope that through this, we can improve the standards of the violists.

Well, that's all for now. Though you guys are no longer part of the orc officially, you will forever remain as a part of the viola section. Hence, your names will still remain in this blog, and your permission to post will stay as long as the viola section remains. We will ensure the doors of the sacred orc room is opened for all of you. The next official practice with you guys around, prepare to witness a whole new viola section! This will not be a 'goodbye' but rather a 'see you later'. Lastly, let's all remember this question to ask ourselves. Do you have the passion?

Regards,
zy (sorry for the length of my posts)

(shld be posted in the last post)
Zi Cong, our imba guest player. Being in violin 2 for about 4 years, you've adapted to the viola section fast and well. You were able to play and join the orchestra, despite playing with a new instrument. You are a very responsible secretary, that never fails to collect orc funds and ticket money in time. Your efforts to blend into the viola section can be seen in many different occasions. Although you won't be with us in the upcoming concert, we will still remember you as part of the viola section.

2009-07-07T21:59:00.002+08:00

Dear Seniors,

This will be your last two to three months in HCISO, viola section. Though the time we spent as a section may not be very long, but these moments will forever be remembered in our hearts. You all will be leaving soon, so will we. You have done your parts as seniors guiding us, and we shall fulfill our part by working hard. Here, I represent the whole section to show our gratitude.

Zhao Hong, you've always been a good SL. You lead us, teach us and help us. You treat us as friends, and help us to succeed. In everything you do, you want to help the section and the orchestra. You decorated the sacred altar, the notice board and done a lot for the orchestra (with a little help from Alvin). You lead the section, and feel responsible for everyone. You are the one who make the viola sectionals the most productive ones. You are truly the best SL we could have.

Cong Ning. Thanks for being a good ASL. You are the one who organises outings and galvanises the section. Although there are a lot of failures *ahem* Sentosa *ahem*, but you never give up. You would TRY very hard to keep sectionals productive, and hope that we would improve. You dislike us niao-ing each other from the section, and wants to keep our team spirit high. You like to see us as a section, as an orchestra. We would have to learn this from you.

Jia Quan. You are not as good as Zhao Hong and Cong Ning in terms of playing, but you are the one who keeps are spirits high. You niao everyone, and make everyone happy. You like to crack jokes and find humour, and you care for the section. You treasure everyone in the section, and would not hesitate to help us when we are in need. You are a listener. You listen to our complains and such. Even though you are the vice-chairman, we can approach you as a friend, not as a subordinate. We apprieciate your existance very much.

Thank you all of you. We shall give you our full co-operation in these last few weeks. We will ensure a pleasant memory for all of you. We shall and we will make this concert a success. This is the last time we will shine together, as one viola section, in HCISO. You have left a legacy for us, and we will continue this legacy. We shall raise HCISO viola section to even greater heights. We would part, but it won't be long before we meet again. But before that, let us cherrish this last moments, as section buddys, as cca buddys. Let's make the upcoming concert a success together!

Regards,
zheryin

2009-06-11T13:32:00.003+08:00

Hi, ppl.

This is to clear up any confusions.
Mendelssohn symphony no.8 - 2nd movement arrangements:

Viola I:
zhaohong
zicong
aaron

Viola II:
congning
jared
terre

Viola III:
jiaquan
wenqi
zheryin

Once you've got this sorted out, better mug like *$&# yeah?
And gud luck!

IMPORTANT: plz cooperate as much as possible during sectionals.
(i'll get the names from cn when i get back and these ppl are gonna ~~die~~ suffer..)

Have fun. (:
zhaohong

2009-05-31T23:17:00.008+08:00

Hi, people!!
Since the blog is getting abit~ ya know...
So lemme share wif u last saturday's performance!

U all muz be getting envy.
So for sec1s and sec2s.. ESPECIALLY aloysius and han cheng
u all better start working harder.
set a target for urself: to be able to play through our july concert

WORK HARD!

cheers,
zhaohong

2009-05-01T14:40:00.007+08:00

Hi all,

I guess it's time for me to post something here as well. As you all might have guessed so, i would be talking about syf. I know you guys have seen many posts about this topic. Probably, some of you might have become sick of this. However, i just want to talk about my feelings about our syf performance, gratitude to you guys and this is the best platform for me.

I would certainly like to express my sincere gratitude to each and everyone of you.

Thanks to Zhao Hong for the guidance that you have given us throughout our past practices for syf, and thanks for your patience in doing so, even for the extra sectionals we have. Because i know you want us to perform better and play as 'one'. I believe we all have benefitted from the sectionals and certainly have improved a lot. Thank you. You are indeed a good leader.

Thanks to Cong Ning for your guidance and patience as well. Although you are the ASL of our section, you gave us guidance on how to play better just like our SL did. You too have taught us to be united, playing as one. Thank you. How fortunate are we to have the equivalent of two SLs.

Thanks to Jia Quan for the support and guidance that you have given us. Although some people have said that you are not serious in doing things, i would like to tell these people that they have not seen how serious you can actually be. I've seen how you deal with serious matters and you can also carry them out efficiently. Besides you are always the one who spur us on even when our feelings are down. Thank you.

Thanks to Zi Cong for being so understanding and supportive. Even though you have not been in the viola section for a very long time, but i realised you adapt very well to our section. You seem like you have been in the viola section longer than anyone else and understand us so much that you seem to be a very wise person. Your advices to the section have been very useful and meaningful and this shows your constant support to our section. Thank you.

Thank you seniors.

Thank you Aaron. Even though you talk a lot at times or some people will put it "can't seem to shut up", but it is because of this that you have constantly give us encouraging words. Besides, you always seem happy, or in other words, seldom depressed. It is because of this that even when we feel down, your spirit has cheered us up. Thank you.

Thank you Wenqi. No offense, but you seriously slack a lot at times. However, it is because of this "slack" attitude that you make us feel like we shouldn't feel so stressed out at times. Even though you niao me a lot of times about my playing, i would like to say thank you because your "niaoing"s have informed me of my weaknesses and that i should improve. Nonetheless, i realised that you can also be serious at times and because of this you tend to give us encouraging words when we are feeling down. Thank you.

Thank you Zher Yin. I feel tempted to call you "pen-ese" here but i'm not going to do that because i want to make this post more formal. Thank you for your "never say die" attitude. Because this tells us that we should also be 自强不息 and not give up. Besides, you are also a very encouraging person, supporting us when we feel down. Thank you.

Thank you Jared. Thanks for the fun and laughter that you have brought to this section and because of this you have certainly boosted our morale. You helped us to be more lively and the fun and laughter that you have brought to us certainly raised our spirits frequently. Thank you.

Thank you my fellow peers.

Thank you Han Yi for your resilient attitude. Because it helps us to improve, always trying our best to reach our goals. You are a good player too. So, 加油 and thank you.

For Han Cheng and Aloysius, I know that you can certainly perform better if you work harder. So, don't give up because i will give you my support, just like others in our section will.

Thank you juniors.

Our performance in syf is certainly excellent, especially violas. We have been improving massively, not by individuals, but as a section. Even though we did not get GwH, but after i listened to our recordings i certainly feel that we are the GwH standard. As you all know, the judges have raised the bar, so don't feel too disappointed.

However, because of this, we have to work harder and prove to those judges that we DESERVE a GwH. Make them regret for not giving us GwH. In two years time, sec 2s, it is your show. Work Harder. Perform your very best and get us the GwH back that we should have received two years ago.

Well done violas. We certainly could be heard in the recordings.

Well done violas!
Violas all the way!
HCISO all the way!
Violas PWNS!

Cheers,
Terre Chua

*edited by zy*
Thank you Terre! Though would like to call u terre-rist, but i will save it for other days... u may not hav any violin background, but this reiterates the fact that u've put in the most effort and improve the most! ur jokes keep our spirits high and u r very encouraging! u r very critical and noes every of our mistakes, use this gift and help improve HCISO! you never failed to encourage us. I've never had a better desk partner and I could nvr ask for a better one! Thank you Terre! I hope you will catch up and improve (no niaoing here)! ur effort is much apprieciated!

SYF 2009

2009-04-30T22:21:00.004+08:00

Now that SYF is over and we all know the results, I feel that there is a need for me to post something here.
Let me start with a quote from a HCISO member, "Last year, whenever ther was practice, we would go, 'Practice? sian....' But after SYF, everyone is like, 'no practice? sian....'" From this simple words, we can see that many of us have actually poured our heart and souls into this SYF and into orch.
While i'm sitting here posting this, i'm also listening to our SYF recording. I must say that, even from a more objective view, our performance was the greatest that we ever managed. And this is despite the fact that normally orchestras only play up to around 80% of the real ability on stage.
Our A. Williams was great, we managed to make a seemingly boring piece into a what i can say is an almost perfect piece of music. I personally think that our Britten owned that of SNSO, no offense, we showed more details and possibly more spirit (?), well mr chan probably said it all...
But as the teachers and alwyn have said, we must move on from this, and show the world that the judges were wrong.
We will show everyone that we not only can play the music but also can enjoy it. We will take this setback as a motivation to work even harder.
BECAUSE, in our hearts, we know we are Gold with Honours, and we know what HCISO is made of! I know we have the ability, we have the spirit, we have the commitment
COS WE DO HAVE THE PASSION!!!

wenqi

Silver

2009-04-29T22:08:00.001+08:00

wad does a silver means to u?
something to get niao'd?
something that make u proud?
something to disappoint u?

to me...
it's juz a medal,
a paper with words in fact...

we got a silver,
not because we couldn't make it
not because we werent good enough
not because we deserve it
it's juz because we did not get the recognition,
of an experienced judge, an aussy, a canadian guitarist, and another angmor,
who judge us based on a set of rubrics,
gave us shitty results
a says you've played very well...

MUSIC
it's a form of art that should not,
could not
and must not
be judged based on a fixed set of guidelines,
i am not questioning the legitimacy of the judges,
but i seriously feel that they should judge based on their own feelings...

according to the MC,
we got the highest % of *supposedly* GWH ppl in the whole SYF,
but coz too high,
we kenna downgrade...
juz like last time...
they change the standards and expectations as they like...
clearly they do not noe how does this medal portrays us,
and how much effort we hav put into this...
in S'pore... everything is based on results....

but we,
HCISO,
know that we had played well,
and we deserve a GWH
in all our hearts,
we are GWH!!!

i dun believe in the Machiavellian views,
coz this end did not justify the process...
the process itself have prove us to be GWH medalist...

for all those suckers who thinks we are noob...
u havent heard us play,
u havent seen us practice,
u havent enjoyed our music,
u havent feel our hearts...

HCISO!
we know that we may not have the recognition of the 5 judges,
but we hav the recognition of everyone else who heard us play...
we know we improved!
and we will continue to strive on!

we hav the passion...
and we know we rock...
we will continue to strive...
we dun want anyone to sympathise us,
we muz stand up ourselves
2moro is a new day,
HCISO will shine!

Countdown to SYF

2009-04-23T21:57:00.002+08:00

Hi guys,

As you can see, SYF is less than a week away. So far, the other performing arts had been doing relatively well (with the exception of EDC and CDC). I bet none of us wants to lose to CO and band rite?

I think all of us should noe wat is it like if we fail to get GWH. Like Chairman Loy said, we want to make the judge so impressed that, even if we kena 'lucky draw' and can onli get gold, the judges will still give up GWH. we dun wan wad happen in 2007 to happen again...

So what can we do?
cooperate more with the Exco,
play with enthusiasm,
do wad Mr Chan say
VIBRATO!!!
listen and look at each other...

oh yea... and we seriously need to LOOK like GWH players,
dun go up stage on stage with sian looks...
especially those outer players...

i m none of u wants to let all our practices go to waste...
so let's endure these last few days!!!
prove to everyone that HCISO is good!!!

Do you have the passion?

zy
aiya juz some random crap coz chaychoong ask us update blog

2009-02-21T16:41:00.001+08:00

Hi violists,

I will be going down to ABRSM (main office) next wednesday to register for viola exams. If you wish to take the exams together, please take note of a few matters:

1. Download, print and fill up the entry form: http://www.abrsm.org/regions/fileadmin/user_upload/_temp_/singaporeEntryForm08.pdf

Don't fill in the part which says address and date preference. I'll put in the same address and preference for everybody so we can take the exam on the same day and all the certs will be mailed to one place. my house. haha.

Check and ensure CORRECT details, any changes after that will result in an extra cost of $20.

2. The exam fees for ABRSM practical exam (2009) are as follows:

Grade 1: $138
Grade 2: $168
Grade 3: $184
Grade 4: $202
Grade 5: $218
Grade 6: $263
Grade 7: $302
Grade 8: $357

3. If you're taking Grade 5 or higher, please bring a photocopy of your Grade 5 theory certificate.

Please bring the exact amount together with a copy of your theory Grade 5 certificate (if you are applying for Grade 6 practical and above) and your completed registration form with accurate and appropriate details filled in during the next rehearsal on TUESDAY (24/2/2009). I will be around then to answer any of your queries.

Registration must be done by next wednesday because the last date of registration is Friday (27/2/2009) and we all have EP3 on that day. Please cooperate. I'll check through all your forms before i pass it to the office.

More information can be obtained from the ABRSM website www.abrsm.org
Pls diseminate the info to everybody... remind them horh.

Working hand to neck, commitment sometimes.

SLIM jiaquan.

Hey ;]

2009-02-16T21:22:00.003+08:00

Hey violists ;]

It has been more than a month since we implemented this Practice-A-Passage-A-Week programme. I really hope that this programme did help you all to improve your playing. Here comes the last Practice-A-Passage-A-Week for A.Williams.

Tm1Wk7 (16/2~23/2): A.Williams From Figure 7 To The End:

1. When you play the semiquaver-2-quavers rhythm, let them ring
2. MAKE A DIFFERENCE between the sonoro and the and play the pp part SHORT
3. See the quaver REST 7 bars after Figure "7"? PLAY THE QUAVER REST.
4. For last note before page turn (high E), STARE at Mr Chan and RELEASE STRAIGHTAWAY (which means lift your bow up vertically).
5. STARE at Jonathan Voon and releast straightaway for the last note of the piece (remember to put on mute AND REMOVE IT AFTER THIS PIECE)
6. That's all.. the rest are pretty much the same. Next is Britten ;D

Jiayou!
cn

2009-02-09T14:47:00.005+08:00

Yo Violists!
Hope it's been fun for everyone mugging away.. (either for viola or for tests)
jiayou! (:

This weeks aPaW shall consist of 2 parts..
Press on! 1 more aPaW b4 we move on to britten!

4 bars after Figure "4" - right before Figure "5"
Things to note:
1) as previously stated, practice the *cough*easy*cough* ACCENTS
2) play off-string (yes.. just do it.)
3) check ur intonation
4) and rmb to LOOK UP at mr chan when he's slowing juz b4 figure 5!

Whole of Figure "5"
Things to note:
1) ACCENTS.. (Zzz getting boring repeating this)
2) get BOTH ur note changes AND the accents correct =P
3) TWO bows for each quaver drawn on the score please.. [from 1st to 6th bar of Figure "5"]
--> Please refer to [from 6 bars before the end of Figure "5"] for the following.
4) FOUR bows for each quaver drawn on the score
5) i know it's fast.. aim for the two Cs (the one on the A-string and the one on the G-string) O.o

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appealing to all of you to practice regularly (not asking u to spam) even amidst the tests..
Do expect EXTRA SECTIONALS to be held just for violists after test week
(will be confirming schedule at later date)
plus.. we will be holding your beloved ASSESSMENTS!

fyi, there will be 2 rounds of assessments (1 assessment for each piece/round)
we'll be assessing you and giving comments for improvement after the first round
and your seating arrangement for syf will be decided based on the 2nd assessment
hope all of you will do well!

On a side note, do listen more to recordings & try to understand the 2 syf pieces well
here's a video of Britten.. the version closest to what we're playing that i can find. EnJoY!

Best of luck,
zhaohong

Hey ;]

2009-02-02T22:24:00.003+08:00

Hey violists ;]

Here's this week's Practice-A-Passage-A-Week

Tm1Wk5 (2/2~8/2): A.Williams From 3 bars before Figure 3 to 3 bars after Figure 4.
Things to note:

1) Intonation - Watch out for all the sharps and flats here. The only way to come around this is practice practice practice.
2) Accents - Remember the accents on the fifth note of each bar. Once you've gotten all your notes right, start working on the accents.
3) Off-String - Play this passage off-string, not legato. When you go off-string, don't lose the accuracy and clarity of your notes.
4) Volume - Remember what Mr Chan said about the crescendo that takes place in segments? The volume is the softest in the segment from 3 bars before Figure 3 to Figure 3. Then increase the volume in the segment from Figure 3 to Figure 4. Finally, the volume is the loudest in the segment from Figure 4 to 3 bars after Figure 4.

I'm not going to continue saying practice practice practice because I know it will not work. But please bear in mind, SYF is coming.

Gold with honours or not, YOU CHOOSE.

The choice lies in your hand,
cn

2009-01-28T20:22:00.002+08:00

Hi ppl

Happy belated CNY!
As angpao for everyone.. a CHOIR joke!
ENJOY!

this post is inspired by my room mate who HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY SINGING:
1) completely out of tune
2) with completely no reference to the song's mood & rhythm
3) faking the lyrics
4) with unnecessary accents (even when compared to williams)
5) at 12.30am in front of his com
6) until his voice break (donnou how to transpose songs 1 octave lower to suit his voice)
[try listening to 洋葱 by 杨宗纬. he's singing this song right now]
7) in the wrong key (when singing wif music)
8) in front of the mirror at the room entrance, styling his hair [frequency: twice per minute]
[8 characteristics shared. auspicious number mah]
____________________________________________________________________

In order to measure your level of proficiency as a choir member, the following test has been carefully developed by experts. Read and reflect on each situation and then select the option that will enhance the quality of the performance.

1. You are entering the choir loft on Sunday morning and suddenly trip and fall down. You should:

a. Assume a kneeling position and break into fervent prayer.
b. Pretend that you've had a heart attack.
c. Crawl into the nearest chair.
d. Begin speaking in tongues.

2. You are a soprano and count incorrectly. As a result you boom out a high "C" one measure too soon. You should:

a. Slide into an inspired "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing."
b. Look triumphant and hold on to the note.
c. Stop abruptly in mid squawk but keep your lips moving.
d. Sink to the floor in shame.

3. After all those long hard choir rehearsals, you show up twenty minutes late for the Christmas musical. You should:

a. Climb into the back row of the choir from the baptistery.
b. Enter pretending to be a soundman checking cables and then suddenly slip yourself into the choir.
c. Turn the lights out in the church and slip into the choir during the blackout.
d. Read M. Stephen's pamphlet "Techniques for Tardy Appearances."

4. While singing, you discover you have only one page of a two page hymn. You should:

a. Hum for your life.
b. Sing "watermelon, watermelon, watermelon."
c. Try to get another hymnal out of the choir rack with your feet.
d. Sing the first page over again.

5. Inevitably that dreaded big sneeze occurs toward the end of the choir special. You should:

a. As you sneeze, come down hard on your neighbor's foot to create a diversion.
b. Try to make it harmonize.
c. Sneeze into the hair of the choir member in front of you to muffle the noise.
d. Sink to the floor in shame.

Count the number of A's, B's, C's, and D's you checked and find your proficiency rating below:

4 or more A's...there is nothing more you need to know to be a first rate choir member.

4 or more B's...your church choir reflexes are fully developed and you should do well in choir.

4 or more C's...your church choral experience is spotty but your team spirit is on target. You will be an asset to most any choir.

4 or more D's...it is recommended you take soccer or group therapy counseling.

your evil SL,
zhaohong

2009-01-25T15:33:00.003+08:00

hey everybody.

First we have to welcome the latest additions to the viola section! they have kindly downgraded help us sound better so obviously we should thank them right? Its the cny holidays and we sure do have some time to practise, don't we? (*hint* i know the answer is no but just say you practised). I gotta post this week so just read even if you're already thinking of ignoring it.
A-Passage-A-Week activity.. in short aPAW.

So the aPAW for this week is A Williams figure 2 with focus on the first four bars.

play the three doted chrochets after the cellos play their pp note.
play them Sfz. meaning with vigour and suddenly.
Note the second bar of figure 2 does not have SFz.
After the third note, quickly resume the original rhythm of 4 quavers and 1 crochet. Ignore the cellos if they play 5 quavers, alternatively you can tell them the violas are right for the first time.
During the dim bar, start with F first then you can P properly later. If you don't start F-ing then you can't P.

Thanks. for reading.

Happy cny, enjoy your holidays and ignore what I just said if you don't feel like practising.

i love you,

jiaquan the hot.

Hey ;]

2009-01-19T22:10:00.002+08:00

Hey violists ;]

I think last week's sectionals showed alot. All of us here have quite alot to work on, so jiayou ba~! Okay so here's this week's assignment :x I sound like a teacher eh.

Practice-A-Passage-A-Week
Tm1 Wk3 (20/1~23/1): A.Williams Entire Figure 1

Things to note:

1) INTONATION..
Ways to work on this are:
-Check wif open strings
-Match wif piano [if u have]
-Tuner
-Approach any friendly sec 4 violists ^^
Common mistakes here are:
-G sharp and NOT open g string

2) still, rmb ur last notes of each bar has to be longer, with accent & vibrato.
Common mistakes:
-This part is in twos instead of threes, so count CAREFULLY

That's all for this week ;D Practice this part repeatedly (without neglecting other orch pieces + lesson pieces too).

Work Hard!
cn

2009-01-10T18:28:00.005+08:00

Hey, violists!

All of us (hopefully) know that this year is a very important one coz of SYF
Let's REALLY aim for a Gold With Honours, shall we? (aka practise hard!!)

don't mean to give u all stress, but just to ask for all of US to practice (at least) regularly before SYF comes.
yes. sec 4s alike (:

So, to facilitate ur practicing, i have decided to have PRACTISE-A-PASSAGE-A-WEEK programme!
Therefore, everyone must check back regularly, at least once a week. and PRACTISE!
Yes. that includes you, HC.
so stop niaoing already (even if the jokes never get old) =P

let's start with A.williams first
since it's already decided

PRACTISE-A-PASSAGE-A-WEEK (i mean it..)
Tm1 Wk2 (9/1 - 15/1): A.Williams bar 1-6

Things to note:
1) start FROM the string! confidently and together
2) hold the last note longer, accent it & vibrate slightly~
3) start crescendo from bar 3!!!

that's all to practise for 1 whole week. perfect it.
(besides dr yeo's lessons...) XD

happy practising,
zhaohong

2009-01-04T10:13:00.003+08:00

Yo ppl,

i suddenly feel like posting coz i dun think i will have the time to post anymore

anyways, this is to wish everyone HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! (abit late though)

a new year means alot...
new class, new teachers, new classmates etc etc...
and dun forget new sec1s!!!
let's all hope that this years sec 1s are different from the previous batch
and we should take the initiative to teach the sec2s to play...
coz syf is coming...
tat means no more fooling around,
no more faking,
no more poning etc...

so let's try to get GWH... with the ALL the sec2s playing...
and jiayou to everyone in this new year...

p.s... sec2s enjoy sch life while u still can...

zyin

2008-12-13T20:54:00.008+08:00

Yo violists,

My 1st post ever, so i shall attempt to post something more interesting so u don't have to stare at chay choong's random post when u come to the viola blog.

I happened to chance upon this website with jokes about the string instruments and i found it quite funny (damn, the viola jokes are 3 pages long). So i post abt some violin jokes cos viola jokes will make this blog ironic.

Why are viola jokes so short?
So violinists can understand them.

How many second violinists does it take to change a light bulb?
None. They can't get up that high!

Why is a violinist like a SCUD missile?
Both are offensive and inaccurate.

Why don't viola players suffer from piles (hæmorrhoids)?
Because all the assholes are in the first violin section.

Why do violinists put a cloth between their chin and their instrument?
Violins don't have spit valves.

"Haven't I seen your face before?" a judge demanded, looking down at the defendant.
"You have, Your Honor," the man answered hopefully. "I gave your son violin lessons last winter."
"Ah, yes," recalled the judge. "Twenty years!"

lolz...

Sorry if i'm being random but i feeling very emo nao...

Update:
Addition from zy: What's the difference between a fiddle and a violin? No-one minds if you spill beer on a fiddle.

An edited viola joke: Q: How can you tell if a violin is out of tune?
A: The bow is moving.

A cop was walking down the street, and in front of a theater he came across a strange scene. A tuxedo-clad man was repeatedly kicking another man who was down on the sidewalk.

"'Ere 'ere, wot's all this?" the cop said, or words to that effect.

Tux: Well, see, officer, I'm a violinist.
Cop: So???
Tux: It's like this-- during a break, he came down from the audience and detuned one of my strings!!!
Cop: That's all very well, but I don't see why that entitles you to be kicking this poor gentleman.
Tux, Well, you see officer, he won't tell me which string!

Btw, good luck to all from the viola section for Sul Ponticello (wtf?), especially for Brandemburg 3rd mvt.
For those who still don't know all their notes (including me), here's a piece of advise (something like a viola motto): Never fear when u can't do something, just fake it! (sorry, just couldn't help it, must be the after-effects of 3 pages of viola jokes)

wenqi

2008-12-13T05:08:00.002+08:00

Hi guys,

Since I'm bored overseas now (its 10pm here) (ie. 5am in sg), I shall write a random post on the viola blog. For those who read "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" most of the stuff here will sound very familiar.

This post will be on Responsibility and Proactiveness.

If you are reading this sentence, scratch your nose. *pause* . Ok now think about what just went through your mind. Did you really scratch your nose? What were you thinking at the same time? "Why the heck does he want me to scratch my nose? Is he retarded?" If you are thinking something along this line, congratulations, you are a self-aware individual.

Humans are by nature self-aware, but many people don't use this skill to their max. Many don't even see the importance of self awareness. Think about this, if you don't even know how you think about yourself, how are you able to know what others think about themselves? How would you be able to effectively communicate with others well? More importantly, one must be aware that you are not your mood, feelings or thoughts. If you can think about your feelings, thoughts, etc and control them, "you" and "your feelings, thoughts, etc" are two different stuff altogether. Making this segregation is a very important step towards proactiveness.

So once you've acknowledged that you have feelings and you are aware of it, lets think about what really affects our feelings and thoughts in our daily lives. Stephen R Covey calls it the "social mirror" where people around you reflect what you are. This reflection is hugely biased and although many of us know that we should not listen to these reflections, we still respond to them like self-aware idiots.

When someone says you are slow, or you are stupid, what will you do? Box him? Turn emo and hide in a corner? A large misconception about stimuli is every stimuli will generate a standard response. VERY WRONG. Have you ever tried insulting Larry? Or insulting me? Do both if you doubt my statement. Both of us have very different methods of handling stimuli. Ok just kidding. Back to serious stuff. What makes humans smart and dominate the world is: self-awareness and self-programming, imagination, conscience and independent will. We are in control of our actions.

It's just like a MCQ: What will you do if someone insults you? A) punch him B) punch yourself C) jump building... etc. Each response towards a stimulus will generate different consequences. Between stimulus and response is human being's greatest power: the power to choose. And that is proactivity. Proactiveness means more than taking initiative, it also means being responsible for our own lives. Our behaviour is a function of our decisions, rather than our conditions.

Responsibility - "Response-ability" - is the ability over your response. People with responsibility do not blame their environment or conditioning for their behavior. They know it is a product of their own conscious choice based on their values rather than feelings.

Choose what is best for you. Be proactive, not reactive. Take the recent fight in the camp for example, both Jason and Tianhao are reactive people. Should you be in their shoes, what would you do? Allow your feelings to take charge of your actions and deliver the first punch (or return the punch)?

Thats it for now. lol...

Cheers
Choong

Concert this Sunday

2008-12-12T23:29:00.002+08:00

Hey violists

My first time posting something serious here.

We're having our concert this coming Sunday. And for those who have never gone to Esplanade Recital Studio before (esp. Sec 1s), let me tell you that the chance of faking is very LOW. It'll be real obvious from the audience, as the stage is actually not raised. It's just like looking down to the speaker in our school's LTs. So BEWARE. Yeah we're sitting in the centre, unlike violin 1s and cellos, but it's still gonna be obvious. So if you want to fake, you must fake well (don't go move the bow as if you are playing the melody when the rest are playing semiquavers).

Mug hard guys. Jiayou!!

Han Yi

2008-12-11T22:49:00.003+08:00

the 2nd half of 2day's outing can onli be summed up by this:

Enjoy! (courtesy of Wenqi)

zy

Viola Outing'08

2008-12-10T23:23:00.001+08:00

Hi violists!

details of combined viola outing is out now!

HCISO-NYSE Viola Section Outing’08

Procedure:
· 10.00am
-Meet at harbourfront MRT control centre.
· 10.10am~10.30
-Take monorail/cablecar to sentosa.
· 10.30am~11.00am
-Setup for picnic etc
· 11.00am~4.00pm
-Slack around/Play Games
· 4.10pm~4.30pm
-Travel to vivocity
· 4.30pm~8.00pm
-Movie/Dinner

Packing list:
1. Money Money Money
2. Extra clothes to change
3. Waterbottle
4. Food
5. Sunblock
6. Anything you need

Enjoy yourselves!
cn

Hello =]

2008-11-26T14:30:00.002+08:00

Hi violists =]

Got some things to clarify:

1. Aaron, Zher Yin, Hanyi please tell me whether u have any dietary preferances. A nil response is appreciated. U can just tag on the tagboard or sms me.

2. Those going for camp please bring $25 for camp fees this coming friday.

3. There's sectionals this friday at 10.00am please be present. Attendance is compulsory.

Practice hard guys!
cn

bond concerto

2008-11-17T12:13:00.003+08:00

Yo violists~
Another attempt by me to revive the blog...

Some of us HCISO people in BSC came up with smth very interesting.

Presenting to you: Bond Concerto (a better name for this?)

Movement I - Exposive; Andante più appassionato ; with saxophone solo, jazzy..
Movement II - Explosive; Presto molto energico
Movement III - Exhaustive, Adagio meno messo; with violinist solo

lol xD
zhaohong

<3

2008-11-15T19:40:00.003+08:00

Hi violists~!
i shall attempt to revive this blog...
some things to address here:
1. i strongly encourage u guys too come around 20 minutes earlier before practice and setup for rehearsal.
2. please check if u have ur practice scores, if u dont, tell me NOW (although it's already quite late to do this).
3. pleasepleasepleaseplease practice ur parts! as u guys know there'll be an assessment to see who can play for syf.
4. those who havent sms me if they are going for the camp do it NOW.

Enjoy your holidays (while you can),
cn

2008-10-18T11:18:00.001+08:00

hi Violists :D

I shall attempt to keep the blog alive by making an announcement:

DR YEO IS CONDUCTING SECTIONALS FOR VIOLAS FOR HCISO-NYSE CAMP

lol wish I could attend.. you ppl so lucky lor

cheers,

Choong

ps THOSE WHO WANT TO POST, just do it! and those who dont have access, tell me on MSN or tag on the tagboard :D

2008-08-17T17:05:00.003+08:00

Hi,

This shall be my last post on the viola blog. A super short post too....

Personally I think the standard of the viola section isn't too bad, even after the sec4s left. After attending last Fri's sectionals, I could see that viola section can do pretty well for next year's SYF!

I hope that HCISO Violists 2009 will...

Be the most disciplined section in HCISO.
'Traditionally, viola section is the most disciplined section in HCISO' --- quote from Nancy Tay. Being in a 'despised' section, you people must learn as fast as possible in order to catch up with the rest. Bjorn once said, 'since we can't play like a violinist, we might as well be more disciplined than they are.'

Be the strongest section in HCISO.
No. I don't mean all of you should get a diploma at the end of the year. Being the strongest section does not mean everyone of you gotta be as pro as Voon. To be the strongest section in HCISO, there are three things you need to do.
1) Practise for Dr Yeo lessons dilligently
2) Practise orchestra pieces.
3) Practise your orchestra skills during rehearsal instead of talking among yourself.

Love music.
I don't care what kind of music is your idea of 'fun'. It's different for every year. For example, during Tiap Yang's time it was the Shostakovich 2nd mvnt. During Albert's time it was Tambourine. During Bjorn's time it was Telemann. This year it was Passacaglia. The idea is you people must learn to have fun making music together. Music IS fun. Especially if it's exciting music.

Be the most fun loving section in HCISO.
Heh.. traditionally, viola section house the strongest DotA players... lol just kidding
Besides that you people must have strong teamwork. Find your best friends in the viola section. Go for section outings frequently. Tell viola jokes during rehearsals. Bond each other during sectionals.

That's about it. Only four goals. Cool right? The key idea is to have fun while being disciplined at the same time. Honestly, after these years in HCISO, I learnt that being disciplined as a group is the first step to have fun together.

So... GwH for SYF 2009? You can do it!

All the best, Violists 2009 (:

Cheers,
Choong

2008-08-10T12:49:00.002+08:00

Yo, violists!

My first post, finally! haha! :P

As you all know, we'll be off without the sec 4s from probably the next practice onwards. It is inevitable for the standard of the whole viola section to drop, but it's up to all of us to make the section recover from the post-sec4-farwell state and to strive harder for next year's SYF!

Wilfred! violists will miss your water-proof hair and the emo look on your face whenever you stand in front of the orchestra silently demanding silence! ;P and I must admit that you look humorously-serious during those moments!! haha! an oxymoron to match your HP language!! yay! and we'll most definitely miss your sectionals! (not much sectionals this year, are there?) haiz.. such a pity..

Larry! (the horniest ASL that ever lived) see this familiar?? haha!! ya! we'll sure miss you too! you never fail to cheer the viola section up with all your jokes and funny acts! we'll also miss the sexionals that you and wilfred conduct! haha~ you brought so much joy to the section and is always encouraing us to strive better.. we'll miss you for sure!

Chay choong! we will also miss you and your diploma-standard-understanding of music.. (or have you already reached diploma??) :P thanks for your farewell note.. though you are using the 2/3-for-1k viola, you are still able to play well along with your own interpretation of the pieces.. lol~ i know i will miss you a lot! yay! desk 2 pwnz~

Hao Meng! you are probably the one who cared for the violas' welfare the most, giving off tic-tacs and all those sweets when rehearsal starts to get boring.. hahaz.. and we'll definitely miss your hilarious playing of Big-Foot-Joe (or smth like that..)! we'll miss the kind of welfare you provided for the violists, though aaron might be your successor~ ;P

I'm sure the violists will not let the sec 4s down.. let's practice harder to pull our section's standard back up to where it is with the sec 4s! We shall prove ourselves worthy of being called "the most disciplined section in the orchestra"Mrs Tay lol~ let's all strive for a gold with honours next year! Violas 加油! (hehe.. i bet i'm the first to use chinese in the viola blog~)

Oh! and one insider-joke for the sec 4s and sec 3s..

Remember the teachers..
Though your sec 4 days in HCISO may be over,
Remember that you are still welcomed back anytime..
Remember too the teachers who have contributed
As much as you contributed for the orchestra:
Remember the teacher, who was facially-challenged,
Remember the teacher, who was horizontally-challenged,
Last but not least, remember the teacher, who was vertically-challenged.

Cheers,
zhaohong

Further Practices

2008-08-04T23:07:00.003+08:00

Hi Violists..

I have just received news that our performance item for teacher's day has to be vetted by the organising committee in charge of the programmes for the day. We need to practise before Next monday (11/8/08) so most likely we will be having rehearsals this wednesday (6/6/08) and friday (8/8/08). I need to confirm this again so stay tuned for latest updates. Please be alert and proactive and not wait for people to tell you whats going on. I know most of you reading this will be complaining but we just gotta tolerate. I'm sure you wouldn't want to screw up in front on your friends and teachers on Teachers Day right?

We need 4 desks to play for Teacher's Day. The list of people from the viola section are:

Zhao Hong
Jia Quan
Cong Ning
Aaron
Terre
Zher Yin
Wenqi
Hanyi

Plase inform Zhao Hong if you cannot play for this. Help to pass this message around

Hope you understand..
Jiaquan

2008-07-05T18:01:00.002+08:00

Yo Violists!

damm sian today so im posting at random...

Viola is pronounced as vee-o-le(the a is near silent)! haha :p

Piano is pronounced as Pee-ae-no for the musical instrument, and Pee-arr-no for p (soft).

lol...

right back to serious business.

1) sec 1 and 2 attendance is sucking. We need to appoint someone to contact the juniors if they are MIA for rehearsals.

2) after hao meng leaves the viola section, you ppl find another welfare to be in charge of distributing smarties and tic tacs

3) THIS ONE IS IMPORTANT: Since this is our (the sec 4s) last concert, we want it to be perfect. There are some viola parts you people NEED to memorize and play perfectly. Or at least, fake perfectly and play together. So here are the stuff we need to settle during sectionals

Sectionals/Stuff to practise at home

1) Mozart. Bowings. Direction of bow, amount of bow. Very important.

2) St Pauls Suite: First movement and last movement accelerando chords all memorized please. We can't afford any violist to look at the scores during the concert.

3) St Pauls Suite: Second and third movement. Viola solo parts and Vivace (you know which ones im talking about). Memorized and perfect our nice vibrato sound.

4) St Pauls Suite: Fourth movement. the stupid boring tune that keeps repeating. Stamina and constant harmonization with the cello/violin melodies is ESSENTIAL. we cannot lose control and rush individually.

5) Tchaikovsky: First movement. From figure A to figure D MEMORISED.

6) Tchaikovsky: Second movement the irregular fingerings portion. you know which one im talking about. MEMORIZED.

7) Tchaikovsky: Third movement. Get the fingerings and bowing all correct. Viola solo part until the end MEMORIZED.

8) Tchaikovsky: Fourth movement. First page MEMORIZED.

9) Tchaikovsky: Fourth movement. Running passages and chords MEMORIZED.

I think thats about it.

Cheers,
Choong

EVENT UPDATE: Friday the 13th

2008-06-13T00:00:00.001+08:00

EVENT UPDATE: Friday the 13th

Date:
Friday, 13 June 2008

Remarks:
Keep your luck with you, don't let it out of your body, don't do unlucky stuff, or watch your life fly away to Heaven (or dig down to Hell).

That was Han Yi. Please remember to sign off next time. (choong here)

2008-05-21T23:40:00.003+08:00

Hi Violists

Sectionals during the June holidays!

We will be working on difficult viola parts,

1) Tchaikovsky violin concerto 1st mvt
2) Tchaikovsky serenade 1, 3, 4th mvts
3) Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on the theme of Paganini ESPECIALLY 18th varation
4) St pauls 3rd mvt
5) Divertimento 1st mvt

I think thats about it

Cheers
Choong

2008-05-19T22:26:00.007+08:00

Heres a follow up from the previous post!!

After CN announced that HM has a girlfriend, theres a huge response from ppl from hciso!!

After getting daoed by kenneth, i managed to get this priceless screenshot:

Verdict: We are all jealous of HM

PS... Another priceless screenshot...Bjorn's confession!!

PS2: The folder titled 'secret' contains the movie soundtracks. Bjorn tried to accuse me of watching porn

PS3... ANOTHER PICTURE!! :D This time its albert doing some wierd stuff..related to dr yeo :D

In case you are wondering, here is the link mentioned

PS4.. ANOTHER PICTURE!! ALBERT's CONFESSION!!! (with evelyn's endorsement)

FHM NEWS [1]

2008-05-19T17:39:00.004+08:00

Hi violists!!!

ok, this post is just for the entertainment for the viola section=) specially dedicated to FHM.

Mr Yip Hao Meng, your typically assaulting tag (i.e. somehow easier than lala. no kick. lolxxxx) has brought your soul to incineration.

We present you, the long awaited, FHM M'sia GF sneak peak!

100% reliable with eyewitness jason around!

blehh~!

JY for all ur tchai vln concerto practice~!

Seriously, u dare me, i do it =)

Have fun!

2008-04-26T09:12:00.006+08:00

Hi ppl!

I think this will be the 1st post of sec 2s this year but hopefully not the last. I want to address on 2 issues here...

Firstly, most of the sec4s will be leaving next week, and we onli hav Chay Choong and Hao Meng in our section. I dont dare to imagine how will our section sound next week. We will onli have 9 ppl in the section, so everyone's full effort is needed. The sec1s still dont know how to read notes... Anyway, i hope that everyone will mug (but still rmb 2 study for tests), and play as loud as you can (although the notes are wrong...), it is still better than faking (quote from Wilfred). So i hope that every1 will try their best in saving HCISO viola section. The sec 4s will be leaving the orchestra very soon, so let's all mug to get Gold with Honours for syf next year!!!

Secondly, the sec1s. Can anybody teach the sec1s to play? It seems like they hav been slacking this whole time. Rmb, they will be playing for syf next year. They realy nid to catch up quickly and join the orchestra. Btw, can anybody tell the sec1s that we hav a blog? Thx

I really dun wan to hav Mr Chan walking out of the orc room every practice. The future of the viola section is in our hands (quote form Hao Meng)

(p/s) this is my 1st time posting, so pls forgive the mistakes i made...

Have fun mugging!

Zher Yin

Random Stuff

2008-04-17T23:10:00.004+08:00

Hi all,

Since Wilfred encourages us to post on random topics and non-musical stuff, I decided to address certain random and controversial issues in my first post for the blog.

1. Posting and Tagging Rules

Well, I feel that we should like impose certain rules and regulations when tagging or posting in the blog. For example, there should be no personal attack stuff like “hao meng has a gf” (quoted from wilfred’s post) as these kind of things -_- are totally false and thus should not be allowed in the well-respected viola blog, am I not right? Lol

2. Bonding! (Random lol)

lol here is some information regarding bonding in accordance with wilfred’s latest post and the recent bonding madness in 4I:

What is bonding?

A grp of ppl (usually friends) surround u, take u down, and do certain things. Some serious cases include spraying of deodorant all over body, hiding of clothes and taking videos of the process and upload them to Youtube afterwards.

How to prevent bonding? (quote from chay choong’s blog)

1) Find excuses to run off (eg. Lie that you have to see teacher in a few minutes), (not useful as they would not care about it)

2) Tell them you will strip willingly in front of them (not useful as they prefer the excitement)

3) Tackle one of them (not useful, as there are usually many participants)

4) Ask for help. If you see your friends or classmates around. (HIGH RISK FACTORS: 1) YOU FRIENDS MIGHT GET BONDED INSTEAD 2) THEY MIGHT JOIN IN THE FUN)

5) Struggle until they give up and change target

6) Let them bond you (this method is highly effective, CAUTION: 后果自负)

Known advocates of bonding: larry, chay choong etc.

Known victims of bonding: myself, jia quan etc.

Known locations for bonding: 4I etc. -_-

LOL

3. To juniors (ie. Sec2s and 1s)

I do hope that ur can improve ur attitude in orchestra practice from now on and talk less, play more. The future of viola section is in ur hands. Btw, do visit the blog and tag more often as the blog will be managed by u all in the near future and all the seniors certainly do not want the blog to become dead, rite?

Have Fun,

Hao Meng

Dots

2008-04-16T18:05:00.003+08:00

Hello ppl!

After re-reading the last few posts on the blog, somehow, I get the feeling that the blog seems to be viewed as some formal place? Except for the tagboard of course.

Hey!! Everybody has posting rights! No need for all those elaborate formalities you learn in English lessons. Dont even hav to spel your words corectly! Just post whatever you want! Like maybe a mathematical formulae that proves Hao Meng actually has a girlfriend. Or even your very own 'eureka' moment? Whatever -.- You get it... Right?

Bleh, anyway, one shouldn't preach without even doing what he preaches. Debates about hypocrisy aside, let me start, okay?

Random thoughts wizzing through my mind in the 5 minutes I have to post...:

Dots, I have nothing to write about...
Isn't this so reflective of life? What we hope to achieve often seem beyond reach and they present themselves annoyingly to us when we least expect and need it.
Like when I'm trying to look for something.
Like the Viola D1 Mozart scores which went missing for 1 rehearsal until I found it on the Violin 2's 1st Desk stand during break.
Stooobid.

Anyway, note to all: Do not visit 4I at Clock Tower during their recesses or lunch periods or even after school. You'll regret it. Seriously. After getting crowded around and owned. Ask Chay Choong if you don't believe. He had to lie that he had to meet teacher? lol! o.O

1 minute more... Well, leaving for China in 10 days! MSN me if you want to get anything. Anyway, Aaron, do you have MSN?

Got a shock. Some people are still leaving in the stone age.

Viola Rocks, Stones & Pebbles! (Because... I said that in sectionals... :P That was my random 'eureka' moment... For crap anyway... Rest assured, I won't run onto streets in the middle of my bath shouting "EUREKA!!!")

Wilfred.

LOL

first words

2008-04-13T21:51:00.004+08:00

Hi violist,

Im here to address on 2 issues.

First is the concert by hcse, im requested to re-advertise this coz i dun tink it went into all our juniors' ears. Here's the details for the concert--7.30pm 10 May, HCJC auditorium $7. All of u are strongly encouraged to go since they'll be playing pieces that we're playing and most sec4s will be at bsc...so they cant go. To order tix u all can either go to the jc seniors or just tell the exco/SL/ASL

See how desperate they're to sell the tix now...Lets aim for all violist who're available to go for this concerts kay..

Next is mainly for our juniors. Sec4s will be gone at the end of this month for bsc[other than cc and hm]. Plz co-operate with the seniors who are left. Instead of talking why not try to play? Talking dun gain u anything, playing does.

To be the best,

2008-03-29T23:41:00.004+08:00

Hi sec 3 violists,

Think about what I told you on MSN. You have to work hard to raise the standard of hciso violists. We dont want another Gold during SYF, we need a GOLD WITH HONOURS.

Remember what I told you people, especially the section bonding and how it affects discipline part.

Zhao Hong, you have to believe in yourself. Don't repeat the same mistake. This is your second chance to improve in this area. And you remember what I told you about climbing mountains. Don't hide at a side and absorb quietly.

Cong Ning, change your attitude towards others in your section. And you must practice constantly. Don't learn from me by picking up this habit only a few months ago.

Jia Quan, remember what i say about micro work. You have to understand what is going on in hciso. Understanding every little detail keeps you focused. You play as a section, and your section plays with the orchestra.

I don't want any of you, or any of our future juniors, to regret, and start to mug only when they reach sec 4. Make sure no more chay choongs appear in the viola section. Every member counts.

Without wax,
Chay Choong

Dr Yeo's funny moments

2008-03-24T23:23:00.011+08:00

A compilation of (funny?) Dr Yeo quotes

1. "What the...."

2. "Keep away from the fingerboard!!"

3. "Play that again I'll throw my shoe at you"

4. "Larry why are you so horny?"

5. "(talking about games..)Hey you know this game is darn cool, and... HAO MENG YOU ARE OUT OF TUNE!!"

6. "Match with your open strings!"

7. "Give me your viola. (follow up with demo)"

8. "Why are your nails so long? I am going to cut it with a scissor next time if I see it again!"

9. "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

10. "Heard that? It all starts with your scales." (Added by Wilfred, 31/3/08)

11. "Do you want me to lie or tell the truth?" (Added by Wilfred, 31/3/08)

12."Dig into the string!!" (Added by Hao Meng, 31/3/08)

13."Play this for me next time.(for those who failed to pass lessons)" (Added by Hao Meng, 31/3/08)

lol you are free to edit this post and add more quotes..

something funny happened today during Hao Meng's lesson

YJW: Im stuck at this stage
CC: Lemme help you
YJW pass PSP to choong and choong tried to do some lame stuff
CC: You should be able to get across once you activate the switch wad..
YJW: Heck la I'm having a lesson now.. (keeps PSP)
CC: Can I play??
YJW: NO..
around 5 mins later

CC: OH YEA I JUST REMEMBERED have you obtained the Zeus gauntlet thingy?
YJW: yea..
CC: USE IT TO SMASH THE DOOR
YJW: OHHHH YEAAAA!!!!!! (takes out psp while hao meng is halfway through a melodic minor scale) COOL I NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT!! haha i'll give you extra credit for you lesson!!

XD

In my (Wilfred's ) lesson...

Wilfred: Oh darn, I can't play all the scales yet. I only learnt 5. Bleh
YJW: Never mind, just play.
Wilfred: O.O

10 minutes later...

YJW: I want you to memorise all your scales by next week
Wilfred: HUH??!!
YJW: They're all the same. Once you know one, you know all of them.
Wilfred: HUH????!!!! There's a reason why they have different names for each scale!!

After playing Tchaikovsky...

YJW: Remember to memorise your scales
Wilfred: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.........
YJW: Do you have the Courante already?
Wilfred: Um, yes
YJW: Did you look at it?
Wilfred: Uh yea, I "LOOKED" at it.
YJW: Good, play it for me next week

2008-03-01T21:08:00.004+08:00

Hi violists,

You have just chanced upon the first viola blog post by a Sec 3 (haha), this is in accordance to my recent but short-lived success in the academic field of the humanities. Remember I said I would post if I got A1 for History test? It was totally unexpected and being a man of my word, I am somewhat compelled to post. Anyway, this wasn’t posted for the sake of posting; I felt that there was a need to motivate the sec 3s which includes me and my fellow juniors who should learn to start visiting the viola blog frequently.

For my fellow Sec 3s, I am sure we would agree that Term 1 for you and me has been a stressful term. I can see that many of you are feeling pressurized in your academic areas, as well as your commitments to the orchestra. You’ll be surprised how a number correct to 3 significant figures (your msg) can cause you to be a totally different person. During rehearsals, I can sense a powerful competitive spirit and an eagerness to keep up to standards. Based on what I am going through now, I think it’s time should ask ourselves how much we are willing to set aside for our various commitments and how we effectively prioritize our work. On the whole, I think we are doing relatively ok and if we work hard enough and present a united section, we should be able to do quite well for concerts and SYF…

As for lower secondary violists, it would be good for you to know that violists have always been leading predominantly over all other sections in terms of our discipline. This is further corroborated when Mrs Nancy Tay highlighted to the orchestra that we have near 100% attendance. However, It is to my displeasure and a shared sentiment amongst the sec 3s to be hearing the Sec 2s pluck random tunes and some even falling asleep when Mr Chan was trying to talk to us on Friday. I feel that it is basic respect to listen to the speaker and not engage in your own private activities, definitely not falling asleep during EP3 times. Thus, I feel that there is a need for you to improve on your general behavior during orchestra as you are already sec 2s and should be setting a good example to the sec 1s who are joining us.

Heres to better terms ahead (: Hope you appreciate my post.

Great Music begins with Me…
Jiaquan’08

2008-02-25T23:40:00.003+08:00

Hi Violists!

Long time no post! I'm here to tell you guyz about your viola graded exams.

We will all be taking ABRSM Graded Exam syllabus. Seems that Dr Yeo prefers ABRSM over Trinity Guildhall.

Basically there's four parts to the exams. Pieces, Scales, Quick Study(Sight Reading) and Aural.

Lets talk about pieces first. Basically you are required to choose one piece each from three sets of music. There are 3 sets of 6 pieces of music in total. From experience, Set A focuses more on basic stuff like pulse-keeping and rhythm. Set B focuses on technical skills and Set C focuses on performance skills.
Here are some links to the repertoire
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Grade 6
or.. Complete

There are some General Regulations to follow so make sure you don't break any rules and fail before you even do it. Heres some important points for those lazy to open the PDF:
a Candidates are required to perform on acoustic instruments (electric instruments are not permitted). Aaron pls take note of this. lol
b In Grades 1 to 5 the teacher or accompanist may tune the candidate’s instrument before the examination begins. The examiner will not do so. In all other grades candidates will be required to tune their own instruments.
c Candidates should provide themselves with music stands and stools if they require them.
e Intonation, production and quality of tone, bowing and finger action, and posture will be taken into account in the marking of the pieces and studies, scales and arpeggios.
g Candidates should use their discretion in the choice of pieces in order to present a contrasted and balanced programme.
h A live piano accompaniment is required for all pieces, except those which are published as studies or unaccompanied works. Candidates must provide their own
accompanist, who may remain in the examination room only while engaged in accompanying.
i By Grade 5, candidates should have acquired some skill in vibrato.
l The tests of Playing at Sight will be given without accompaniment. Candidates will be given a short interval of up to half a minute in which to look through and, if they wish, try out any part of the test before they are required to perform it for assessment. Treble clef will be introduced in the Grade 6 tests for Viola.

The requirement for scales and sight reading for the different grades are stated in the respective PDF files attached up there.

For scales, the examiner will ask you to play some scales. And you have to play the scales he/she asks you to do. Duh.

For sight reading, you are provided with a very short piece. For grade 5 the standard is around a Herber Kinadsojfakc etude (screw the spelling). Good luck with this part. Ask Bjorn for advice if you dont know how to sight read to save your life.

And.. Aural! My favourite!!
Here are some links again:
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Grade 6
or.. Complete

The Aural test goes like this:
The examiner will play some music. You are required to tap the pulse, or sing a few phrases echoing the piano or from the score. You are also required to identify cadences for grade 6. The last part is the examiner play one long piece and you are to identify the features of the piece. For grade 6, you are required to identify the style and period, and maybe the composer. (the stoopid examiner asked me the title of the piece during my grade 8 aural lol!)

If you need help in aural I think me and larry will organize some practise sessions with you people! Dr Yeo is NOT teaching aural, but I have the necessary materials to coach grade 3-5 ppl.

Please perform well for this test. The marking scheme is as follow

Schedule of maximum marks for all grades:
Pieces:
1 30
2 30
3 30
Scales and Arpeggios 21
Playing at Sight 21
Aural Tests 18
Total 150

Pass is 100. Merit is 120 and Distinction is 130. Lets all try to aim for Distinction shall we?

Good luck!!

Cheers,
Choong

:D:D

2008-02-09T19:23:00.000+08:00

Hello,
This is Wilfred. :) Happy Chinese New Year!

Can someone please post? Because I'm not very good at elaborating about random topics which come to my mind despite the past year's worth of practice I've got in History lessons. Honestly.

Anyway, looking back on the past CHINESE LUNAR year ( XD ), I have to say it's been a fruitful year. Ignoring the ominous message below, we've improved a lot! :) Honestly, you don't really hear Mr Chan praising the viola section that much a few years ago. Even having a viola section being praised is a phenomenal feat in itself. So here's a "job well done" to all of us! (No credit to me of course XD)

That being said, there's a long way in front of us! In just half a year, the Sec 4 batch will be leaving. Such a sad truth, isn't it? But no need for any crying as you gaze upon our stout backs, while we walk step by step towards the door of no return. (Okay, I shall stop being crappy and melodramatic just for the sake of being that :P) But seriously, improving is what we have to do.

What Chay Choong said pretty much covers the basic part of what has to be done. But I would just like to add something... Music is a natural priviledge for all of us. As such, it should be both "natural" and a "priviledge" to you. When putting up your viola, if it feels unnatural and you feel like you have to contort your spine to do so, you're probably not doing it right. If you look in the mirror and feel that your image looks crushed and tortured, something has to be done. If your back hurts after you play the viola, something is probably wrong as well, and so on. Listen to yourself when you play. If you think you sound bad, chances are others will think so too. But why is that so? That's something that you have to work out by yourself. Lastly, have you ever played in a completely dark room? When you don't just concentrate on the images which make up your score, and you employ your senses, everything is different. Let your fingers feel their way around the fingerboard. Feel your fingers sliding over the strings. Feel your instrument vibrating upon your chest as you pull your bow across the C-string. Feel the strings' resistance. Listen to that lone sound resounding around you.

Wilfred

P.S. Can someone please tell the sec 2s that we even have a viola blog?

7/1/08

2008-01-07T23:05:00.000+08:00

Hi, this is the first post this year...

Rite, i'll start off by saying that this year is gonna be a tough year for the 2009 SYF participants. The three sec 4 violists are gonna leave this year, and so the only imba ppl left in the orchestra is zhao hong, cong ning and lala, but as compared to the three of us, you ppl are seriously not up to standard yet. YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD so that the next batch of violists who are taking part in SYF wun get niaoed by the other sections.

For Zhao Hong, i know you are an imba mugger. Your sight reading is quite good and the best part about u is your notes are darn accurate. The only problem you have to focus on now is your inability to play out loud and lead the other fellow violists. So tell u wad from now onwards i'll change seats with you and you have to learn to PLAY MORE. larry will have a spamming competition with you once in a while. hehe

Cong Ning, you are a very responsible good little boy who practises sometimes. I'm not too sure of your standard yet, but lemme tell u u have to practise more this year coz next year is SYF year and you wun have much time practicing in sec 4. You gotta improve alot. and pls mug dota i dont want wu tian hao to be our next dota champ. learn not to ks so much

Lala, Jia Quan, wadever... Go back to lesson one and learn how to hold the viola like tian hao. Heads up, viola pressed against your neck and stop bending foward like a hunchback. I've not much comments for you except you have the most expensive viola in the section, you gotta learn how to maximize your potential on that imba viola (oxymoron). When you do, you will sound darn nice like wilfred.

And darling sec 2s. Stop slacking and start practicing. i know im not in the position to say this but i think you are too darn slack when you ppl are in sec 1. i dont even know if you will read what im typing here.. nvmind..

So to wrap up everything ive said, MUG MORE. We need a good viola section to win the SYF Gold with Honours in 2009!! jia you!

Lalala

2007-11-27T22:22:00.000+08:00

Hey!

For those who still don't know... Concert is over!

Lol.

Ok, I wanted to post something, but I realised I have nothing that I wanted to post about... So I shall improvise!

Ooooooo. Ok. I just read a book - "Five People You Meet in Heaven" by Mitch Albom. It's quite nice and thought-provoking! If you want to have a look at it, just tell me and I'll try to pass it to you. But it's available at your nearest Popular Bookstore for around $10! If I remember correctly.

Ok. Something else..... Ahh!!! Dr Yeo is returning on 2nd December! Lessons will resume shortly after that. (He didn't mention how shortly or I forgot) So start practising!

And I found 41 etudes for viola online which are quite difficult! If you want them, send me a message on msn!

Ok. I'm quite tired now... Last point of the day:

Anybody want a viola outing. If so, let's do something different for this year!

Good Night,
Wilfred

Hols

2007-11-18T12:27:00.000+08:00

Hi all

No more practice! but naifu says those who feel like mugging can go to orch room on fridays

mug hard during the holidays for dr yeo lessons plus i think we might wanna have assessments when sch reopens

ps. wilfred any updates on THIMUN?

sian i failed sight reading.. even worse den my first attempt dammit

3 Weeks :D

2007-10-28T12:22:00.000+08:00

Hello,

We have 3 weeks left before the camp and concert.

I'm sure all of you can play very well already by now. Right?

But anyway, I think it would still be better if we have extra sectionals.

Tentatively, it would be on Wednesday 9am - 12pm. But if you guys have any other suggestions, feel free to voice it out on the tagboard.

By Monday night please.

Wilfred

Assessments

2007-08-17T22:46:00.000+08:00

Assessments results were released during sectionals just now. Here i want to provide a breakdown of your scores

Details of your scores is attached here, you can view it online using the Google Apps service.

Zao Hong, your average score out of 100 is 83.667
Cong Ning, your average score out of 100 is 74.667
Jia Quan, your average score out of 100 is 69.000
Hao Meng, your average score out of 100 is 61.667

Please take note that this assessment is too easy, hence rubrics might be changed

Most probably, future rubrics will be as follows

Technique (40)
-Rhythm (15)
-Intonation (15)
-Bowings (10)

Musicality (20)
-Music Understanding (10)
-Artistic Awareness (10)

Quick Study (20)
-Technique (10)
-Artistic Security (10)

Presentation (20)
-Sound Quality (10)
-Posture (10)

Marking scheme will be more strict and personally, if this scheme is used, i will not hesitate to give a zero to any section which is definitely not up to standard. For example, if you cannot even tune your viola so that it sounds +- one semitone, your intonation in 'techniques' will be 0. Or if your playing sounds totally dead, 0 for your artistic awareness and security.

Prepare hard for your next assessments, most probably held before MGS camp.

Cheers,
Choong

Farewell to Sec 4s and Welcome to the Year Ahead!

2007-07-18T21:34:00.000+08:00

Hey guys,

As I'm writing this, my voice is quite hoarse so I'm lucky I don't have to say this. Anyway, I believe it would be a lot more difficult to say this... Seeing as both Larry and Chay Choong have took their cue to bade the Sec 4s goodbye, I feel slightly compelled to write out mine too. But rest assured, I didn't just crap out this. It has always been forming in the back of our minds, and I'm just writing them out.

Looking back, I can still remember the day when our grand-seniors left the year before. We were like a ship wandering about in the high seas, with no idea where we were heading and where we were supposed to go. But that changed soon when the Sec 4s took over. Together, they gripped us with their enthusiasm and before long, we were no longer lost in that stormy world. Although it was true that we didn't have any idea what we were heading for, we knew we were advancing. We had been thrown into the crisis together, and we knew we were going to get through together.

On our journey together for the past year, we've experienced everything. We've gone through many concerts and camps. We felt the excitement and apprehension before SYF, the ectasy onstage, the relief later, and the disappointment for not obtaining gold with honours. We've emerged bonded and armed with these past memories. These memories shall stay with us for life, and when we go our seperate ways, we will still seek asylum in these memories, memories moulded by our dear Sec 4s. You never realise how much they've affected you until you realise that they're not there anymore.

This week, our ship has finally reached the harbour and our captains can go no further. But still, we have to set off and wander around the seas before we find our next goal. This time, we have new captains on board and we welcome new crews. The question now lies: Will you take the prow and journey with us? If so, welcome on board.

Wilfred

2007-07-16T23:51:00.000+08:00

Dearest Sec 4 violists,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the support, help and guidance that you have given me and the rest of the section. We might not be the most talented bunch of violists but it was with your determination and perseverance during sectionals and rehearsals that spurred us to practise harder and improve. So I can say that the viola section owes you all for what it is today. So I shall on behalf of the section thank you all for your hard work.

Bjorn Lee Hon Han (the horniest SL that ever lived)

Biong! Hahaha. Can’t stop making fun of your name, seriously can’t help it. It’s Scandinavian. But the point here is, thank you for redefining sectionals. Who in the world would think of conducting sectional with soo much humour that the whole section breaks down laughing even before we can play all the notes. Who would conduct a sectional online? And which SL would like go around touching balls of everyone in the section and just cannot stop niaoing ppl. (esp me) These are what make u my favourite SL or maybe even the bestest SL that I will have. You brought joy into what actually is supposedly a boring section. We’ll miss you sooo much. Oh, and hope you do better in college. No more high msg le. (:

Zheng Wei (Monkey ASL)

I think you are the first ASL with an animal nickname. (: but seriously, you are the closest ASL I ever had larh. And you are the first person in Singapore to hold a grade 8 in theory of football and Grade 1 in soccer(practical). Well bjorn gave you that title. Jking! You are the one that gel the section together with your zi niaos and sectional jokes bout Cong Ning (commonly pronounced CHONG NING) You might have came in with no musical background but I’m sure the viola section is proud that we have such an ASL who works really really hard for the section. Your mugging sort of spur me to mug and practise more. So you are my role model! ;D hmm. Wish that you have fun in JC! And live life to the fullest! No more bananas. (:

Jun Hong (Guy aka steven gerrard who is damn pro in piano, viola and soccer)

When I first met JH in sec 1, I remembered that he was quite shy. I actually initiated the conversation with him! (: I’m not really sure if you can still remember. Hahaha. But you are the one who has helped the viola section in terms of your musical capabilities and stuff and most importantly, I learnt some stuff that I would probably not learn if not for you. Here comes my favourite part, I love your ball techniques! Ball=soccer ball >< have to define this clearly if not later got misunderstanding. :p can you teach me how to control the ball like you after the exams? I really want to learn how to keep the ball soo low with soo much power and accurancy. Must teach me k? Hmm. All the best in your future endeavours!

Lu Kuan (Spammer and basketball pro)

Hahaha! The life force of the viola section! Without your crazy and horny acts when you were gone for like one month, the viola section lacked power and laughter. You are irreplaceable, you are able to bring to us laughter when we are like extremely tired and exhausted. And not forgetting your spamming, without which the viola section seemed extremely weak and powerless. Hmm, all the best in JC and visit us often you treasurer! =pp

With this I would like to conclude my post, but this post isn’t enough to thank the sec 4s enough for whatever they have done for us. And to the sec 4s, whenever you are feeling down, think of the viola section! We all love you lots! (:

Bye Seniors

2007-07-16T23:39:00.000+08:00

Bit hard here for the sec 3s to say goodbye to our sec4s... thanks to all of u for making SO life interesting and exciting. Special thanks to Bjorn, and Jun Hong for making me realize that SO is more fun than playing DotA in com lab. Without all of you, we wouldnt have soooo much fun... despite niaoing, bonding and stuff likedat XD.
"remembering all the good times and even the bad, including the fights we always had. through tears and pain, friendship was gained. as we stuck together, through sunshine and rain, laughs and shouts, scoldings and pinches, syfs & concerts, rehersals and the dreaded sectionals. we found out what true friends were all about"
quote from kuan hua which truely expresses what i feel about you guyz... hope JC life for you will be interesting and exciting....
Thanks to you all for training us into decent violists!! yea hope the viola trios will own next year as much as u 4 did.

Choong

Your nice poem

2007-07-02T00:07:00.000+08:00

Don’t Pray/Play, FAKE! "the 10-minute poem"

One fine day,
Mr. Chan say,
“You wanna play,
Then you don’t pray-pray,”

Sit upright,
Butt on edge.
Pants too tight,
Will die on stage.

Light too bright,
Stage too hot.
Want to play,
Notes… forgot.

Flip the score,
See blank page.
What to do,
You’re onstage!

Then you remember
What Bjorn said-
Make no mistake-
You have to fake!

Bow on wood,
Hair on air,
Sure looks good,
Sound not there!

But monkey see
Monkey do
ASL fake
Everyone too!

Viola sounds disappear
HCISO gasps, loud and clear!
But guys, have no fear,
Cos now it sounds more pleasing to the ear!

Conductor smiles, whispers to us,
See what happens,
When you fake
Without any fuss!

You should do this,
Everyday
Faking’s good,
It’s the viola way!

As the audience shouts-
The curtain call
Encore, encore
Fake forevermore!

-Farewell present from your SL 07.
Muacks <3

The Art of Faking

2007-06-29T23:43:00.000+08:00

The Art of Faking
By: Ngia Jin Wei Wilfred

All violists out there (violinists and cellists too -.-), open your eyes wide! Have you ever wondered what you are supposed to do when you don't know what to do? Have you ever wondered about how you are going to play when you can't play it? The list goes on but the problems have to be fixed. So catch your horses and glue your eyes to your computer screen. (P.S not literally of course. Unless you want to try it)

Faking? What is it?
Answers.com says faking is "To improvise (a passage)" in Music. (Don't you just love the way they make it sound so nice and innocent!) But I prefer this version: "To take on a false or misleading appearance" Henceforth, faking is to mislead the audience, in which case refers to Mr Chan or you stand partner. (The latter should be the more difficult one to deceive, provided he is listening to you) So now that we know what faking is really about, let's get on to business.

A Step-to-Step Guide to Faking!
As with all things, preparation is required to ensure success. The same applies for faking. If you're getting the score for the first time, briefly scan through the score so that you know which part you are probably going to fake through.
(Hint: Look for bars containing over 16 running notes.
Bigger Hint: Rutter 1st Mvmt, Last 2 lines)
Of course, if you're not touching the score for the 1st time, meaning you have already left your fingerprints on it, you are legally b0und to fulfilling the commitment you have to the Orchestra. SO PRACTISE.

Anyway let's continue with our guide to faking. After garnering a broad idea of where you're not supposed to fake but have to fake, you need to mentally prepare yourself. Done? Good. On Ahead.

1 Line Before the Faking Part: By now, you should know you're approaching D' Day. Lol, just kidding. Anyway, you should have listened to the other sections playing and get a rough idea about the tempo, theme, tone of the piece. **Important: What you can't play might have been played by other sections in a different manner. Get a rough idea of the speed that it's supposed to be before you continue with Step 2.
1 Bar Before the PART: There are logically no more mental preparation you can give yourself. So tell yourself "Good Luck!", "All the Best!", "You Can Do It!", "It's EASY", "I Will Do It" and mentally cut a piece of cake for yourself.
Execution of Faking:
Tell Yourself "Nobody is Looking At You"
Look at the score if you just got it. Look up if you got it for 2 months already.
Stop yourself from tapping your feet, it's not going to help.
MOVE YOUR FINGERS. I mean, come on, it's common sense?!!
MOVE YOUR BOW. *yawn* How easy can this be?
Look at Bjorn/First Stand, make sure you're playing at the same part of bow and ... direction with him. Unless, of course, you know he's faking, but he should still be the best candidate.
Make sure you are on the correct string
Technical details (Easy so far? Read on!): Turn your bow 45 degrees until you're playing with 1, ONE, UNE, SATU, 一个 bow hair. Please try not to air-bow. I find that after the first few swings of your bow, you actions tend to become rather unnatural: Imagine someone chopping wood and you've got it.
Move to the fingerboard, not too far, not too little either. This is an exceptional case -.-
If you've got a mute, slide it on STEALTHILY.
Don't press on the string with your bow please.
No extravagant movements. Bjorn was kidding... Right?
Look CONFIDENTLY at the conductor but don't smile.
Don't look at your stand partner and stick out your tongue.

Okay... That's all I have for now. Faking might seem easy, but doing it perfectly is astoundingly difficult. Furthermore, that's like 15 things you have to remember and do in like 1 second? More importantly, that's 15 things you have to memorise. I think you would rather spend your time practising than mugging this.

Copyrighted. All Rights Reserved. 30 June 2007, 00.30.20 a.m.

Disclaimer: Certain statements in this essay, including statements concerning  plans, intentions and expectations, contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of Year 1 as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the time the statements are made and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," variations of such words and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements but their absence does not mean that the statement is not forward-looking. These statements are not guaranties of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date of this announcement. Factors that could affect 's actual results include, among others, the factors described in 's filings with the Neopian Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended the month of Eating, Year 2. undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

How to mug

2007-06-27T22:40:00.000+08:00

Larry posted sectionals on how to fake wow...
and now lets share on "how to do sectionals", the next SL/ASL will benefit from this..

Bjorn

______________________________________
Jun Hong

______________________________________
Zheng Wei

______________________________________
Chay Choong

Lemme add first... I always see Bjorn conducting sections damm cute lar... keep dancing around the room and, as Jia Quan says, "bjorn is the first guy who would dance to the music of volkman". Haha. Sectionals should be fun and gay(not jia quan, i mean happy).
But there are some other stuff I think bjorn always leave out -.- or some improvements i would like to see next year..
1. Tuning before starting to practise
I remember a memorable event when we are practising Volkman 3rd movement first 2 bars. Hahahahaaaaa... Larry and Zheng Wei's G string was like a 3rd apart la..

2. Everyone, especially the sec 3s and 4s, must know how to play the music. cannot be condoned if S3 or S4 faking if they dont know the music, esp next year have to mug for SYF le. I think if we hear something fishy we should test the S3 and S4 individually.

3. Ask for comments more often. SL/ASL is not always right when conducting sectionals. Sometimes SL/ASL MAY screw up our bowings when we are actually correct. This never happened while Bjorn was doing secs thou..

4. Assessments more often! This ensures the standard of the viola section remains, well, up to standard? lol nvmind

5. Regular check of practise scores. This is something I would like to highlight.. This is very important as if someone's practise score has the wrong bowing, or missing fingerings, at home how to mug?? Den go orchestra all the bowings screwed den Mr Chan niao us den how?

______________________________________
Larry

______________________________________
Wilfred

______________________________________

Hope u all cooperate and add in your views and experiences while conducting sectionals/how you think sectionals should be conducted.

2007-06-26T00:09:00.000+08:00

heyy (:

Guess what? I’m going to post an e-sectional on faking. Firstly, there are several kinds of a fake, you have those used during orchestra rehearsals, performances hmm and last but not least your viola lesson (:< hahaha. BUT, I’m not going to cover anything bout the viola lesson part. (later you all learn then don’t practise for lesson, Dr Yeo will kill me and I’m sure none of you want it to happen, do you?) (:

Faking during orchestra rehearsal

If for some reason you never practise your parts and end up having to sight read during rehearsals, this is the ultimate guide for you. 4 easy steps! (:

Make sure you have minimal rosin on your bow.
Remember to look up at Mr Chan and your SL and ASL to make sure you have the correct bowings. (Don’t be soo dumb as to stare at them throughout, it’ll be pretty obvious.) (;
Try to play the notes.
All the best, and may you not get caught (:

Now that we have come to the end of the faking during rehearsal part, I shall bring you to the world of faking during performance.

Faking during performance

Only applicable if you are as pro as me! Hahaha, yea lar, I know I broke my g 3 minutes before that gig and had to col legno all the way. Yea, soo the only thing left to do was to flip my bow the other way and use the wood and bounce. Boing boing! Oh and make sure you have all four strings, which means attach that bloody broken string back onto your viola. Yea, and remember to pray, pray that the camera don’t catch you. Well, I guess I survived last Friday. (;

Last but not least, Faking during lesson.

---------------SECRET----------------

That’s all folks!
Bye!

Your very very very very zhai section mate
larry =pp

ruttttttttttttterrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

2007-06-19T22:48:00.000+08:00

Hehe... kop larry's limelight... Shall cont with e-sectionals..

Suite for Strings by John Rutttttttttttttttttttttter

1. A-Roving..

Aiya... heck larry's post, my post will be much more direct to the point anyway...

Bar 5. Loud soft softer. not larry's style LOUD LOUD silence. Bar 7. Accented soft soft.

Bar 9-28. If you dont know how to pluck double stops, pls dont. and bjorn, watch out for bar 15 and 26, you ALWAYS come in abit too rush.

One bar before A. notice the cresendo is ON the note, not between notes. so the note starts from soft to loud, NOT soft at this bar, den loud at A.

Bar 33-43. Those wierd cute little symbols, play 4 notes only pls -.-. for bad example, look at wilfred. and we are suppose to play in sync, not a mess. solution: mug hard and when u know the notes well, while playing, follow your SL.

Bar 44. GG. Here's the fingering for BOT. Start first position 1, 4, 1, 4, 1, 4, 1, 4. change to second position 1, 3, 1, 3, 1, 3, 2, 4, change back to first position, 1, 4, 1, 4, 1, 4, 1, 4, 2, 4, 2, 4, 2, 4, 1, 4, change to second position, 1, 3, 1, 3, 1, 3, 2, 4, back to first position, 2, 4, 2, 4, 2, 4, 2, 4, 1, 4, 1, 4, 2, 4, 2, 4, 1, 4, 1, 4, 1, 3, 1, 3.
REMEMBER 4 notes 1 beat. haha happy mugging.

Bar 59. OMFG Bjorn set bad example. PLS DUN SPAM HERE. mp > p =.=

Bar 66. I recommend 1/2 position here as it is easier to play like that.

Bar 80. Bowings are down down, up up. At Bar 81 start DOWN UP.

H. Mug your triplets hard. bad example? wilfred.

Bar 156-159. Fingerings are (from lower note): 112, 234, 122, 012. cant play three notes like jun hong den stick to the stupid noob two notes, top two or bot two. bot two is easier :D

Bar 193-194. DOWN.... retake DOWN ....

LAST NOTE is a UP, wtf... sec 2s pls play the correctly. ESP YOU CONGNING.

2. I have a bonnet trimmed with blue (and larry says "oh really, really?" screw his *****)

PARTS WITH "poco rall." OR "rall" LOOK AT MR CHAN'S FACE (i mean, follow his beat)

Bar 39-42. scared of playing thrills? PLAY OUT LOUD. why is it that when you are suppose to play loud (eg bar 41-42), you play softer than those bars you are suppose to play mp(eg B)?

Bar 71. Start up bow pls. anyone who feels like challenging me... read the score properly.

Last note. CUT off with the bases' pizz.

3. O waly waly (whack larry's retarded face when he says this)

1st. Check what does Andante Espressivo means.

Follow dynamics here CLOSELY. play pp < p < mp < mf < sff. pls this is grade 1 theory.

At C. remember what Alan says about this part? play out loud. Do a Lukuan. check out what does sff means.

Solo viola. One word. Spam.
Gli Altri. Two words. Air bow.

4. Dashing Away

Bar 21-40. THIS time the cute little symbols means three notes. Haha. Bad example? Viola section.

Bar 57. Fingerings are (from lower note): 234, 122, 234, 112, 210, 223, 234

Bar 73. SCREW UP! SCREW UP! Mug this at home! Fingering: start with down, as it comes. if u find yourself retaking at three notes before D, you have played an extra note. Like what larry never fails to do.

NOTE HERE: Fingering from Bar 72: 1/2 position, 2, 1, 2, 3 (73) 1, 2, 3, 4, 0, 2, (74) 3, REST, 3, 4, 1, (75)2, 3, 4, 3, (76)3, 2, (77)2, 4, (78)3. Use half position to increase agility of your fingers.

Bar 98: Hooked bowings. down down, up up ... ...

Bar 114. Fingering (from lower note): 102, 234, 123, 234, 12, 22.

Bar 118. Pls dont spam. Its suppose to be soft. Contradicting Larry's style of playing, you can accent a note softly.

G. PROBLEMS!! BJORN READ THIS. when you end with the E, start counting AT E. 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2 den entry. so the rhythm is like this.

E o | o o | o c(START AT 130! THE THIRD BAR!)

so u count like this: E, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2A, E e,E e,F .....

Bar 172. sectionals. :D

So other than this i think the rest is fine. (what "rest"? nearly everything is highlighted). Good luck mugging

Choong :)

2007-06-18T23:37:00.000+08:00

Hi! :pp

Hahahaha, as requested, I shall post an e-sectional! Yay * Claps! *

Hmm.. Which piece shld I do? I know! I shall do John Rutter’s Suite for Strings. Let’s start! (:

A-Roving (themovementwiththeveryhighnotesattheend)

The movement starts with you needing to use more than 2 strings! So, for violists’ standards, hmm, playing 2 notes quite in tune is good enough. (:

Then you will get to the 5th bar, where there is a sharp contrast in dynamics with the first four bars, sooo play it veryveryveryvery soft. Softer than your whisper.

After that, you will reach the pizz parts, the rhythm’s looks kindda difficult but if you stare hard and carefully enough, it’s actually quite easy. Yea, and I meant stare at Bjorn, Zheng or Mr Chan. Not your scores. -.-

Oook, after some time, you will reach the part where u have divisi and semiquavers. Yeap, it’s fast but still mugging help. If mugging still doesn’t help(typical violist), slap yourself and fake that part. And when you fake, fake it in tune and with the correct bowing. To avoid suspicion and unnecessary trouble. After that ordeal, you will reach a part similar to the beginning, soo refer up pls.

flips page * basically, remain soft throughout the 2nd page, until the last entry of the page, spam! But come in like mendelsson. Like bah bahhhh bahhhh bahhhh. Get it?

Soon, you will reach the first solo of the piece, the con brio part. As violists, I assume you all dunnoe the meaning soo I shall enlighten you. It means with vigour! Soo you know what to do.

Immediately after that easy part, you reach your climax. I mean the piece’s climax. Where the upper player plays an octave apart from the lower player. And the higher player having to go up the a string and stuff, while the lower player slacks away! Wooohooo! (: for the upper players only, gd luck! (;

Then you will end the piece with some ascending notes and sooon you will find yourself at the highest d u can probably reach with ur A string. Yea, that part. MUG, mug still cannot because you are a violist, then look up, stare hard at you-know-where. Yea yea and I know chay choong will get all horny. Yea, just follow the bowings and try to play. TRY, it’s ok if u cannot, becoz I cannot get it every time also. yea and the mvmt concludes with some d notes on ur c string. Not very difficult, is it? NO, u are not forceful enuf, u nid to dig in. and chay choong suggestive eh? Relax. I know I’m hot but still. .so the point is play it hard, play it loud. (:

Hah, and I’m done with the first mvmt. And I’m like quite tired, soo I shall continue with the rest of the piece some other time.

Larry (:

viola section outing is canceled until futher notice

2007-06-17T22:58:00.000+08:00

The viola section outing has been canceled until further notice due to unpopular demand.

jia quan ):

post then post lor.

2007-06-14T23:50:00.000+08:00

Bjorn's comments are in blue
Chay Choong's comments are in red

hi =P

I'm still not sure if i can make it for the outing, boo. but since i don't really have much to say, uhm i'd like to be a hypocrite and tell you all to practise =))

lets recap our sects session shall we, i think that was really fruitful but we've got a bloody lot to work on in one month. so.

E-sects session 1:
Volkmannnnnnnn serenade in C ( aka the piece we've perfed more than we praced)

Maestoso alla marcia

-The problematic first bar.
Accent the first note. Emphasize the dotted rhythm. make sure your open string's in tune -_- and get your hooked bowing right.
Use a chopping movement, meaning the first note of the beat should always be louder than the next one. For dummies, what i mean is for these few bars, long notes emphasise abit more, semiquavers emphasise abit less. =.=

-The problematic second bar.
refer to 'The problematic first bar'.
and also sustain the sound of the dotted rhythm and accents especially. Don't run out of enthusiasm and energy in the following bars.

-The problemactic third bar.
refer to 'The problematic second bar'.

+

loooooonnnggggg crotchets. elongate them, make them stand out from the rest of the short ones, and you'll be doing it together as an orch so it should be LOUD.

... okay bar 4. uhm double stopping is not recommended cos you've got to do some finger crossing and you need fat fingers to press two strings at once. and i bet you can't get your octaves right. BUT if you're pro, like larry, then its perfectly fine to demoralize your standpartner cos you can spam (:
but I recommend inside player play top two and... lol bjorn =.=

4th line, 3rd bar onwards
get the bowings correct, its down up-up down ... ... again, first note of the beat play with more emphasis

fifth line bar 3/start-of-the-messy-triplets-cos-we-dont-look-up-cos-we-dont-know-our-notes-bar.
solution is,
cross your fingers and hope you play properly.
mug at home. starting slow, den practise faster lol duh.. i dont need to teach you all how to practise -.- and also make sure intonation and rhythm is correct.

seventh line (bar 28 onwards)
emphasise on the pauses. last two notes make them long and sonorous, not like lukuan make it sound like elephant fart. Do not play these two notes like as if this whole thing ended, be prepared for the following movements. The audience and sense the mood of the players and IF you DO play like as if this piece ended, they MIGHT start clapping and your performance is ruined. (but i dun think there are such retarded ppl out there, a movement last for 1 min 13 sec?)

Un poco piu lento (a ittlelessmoreslowlythantheprevmvt /a littlemorelessslowlythentheprevmvt) go figure.

Take note of bowings, its, up down down up down down up down UP down-own. wdv.
don't split the dotted crotchet and the quaver.

bar before first time bar, take note of change in rhythm, messy playing there.

after repeat, play softly so nick can be heard, even if he's hidden by the stand.
yes nobody wants to hear you. (:
play softly by using the tip of your bow, no need to be too short like 1cm, use like 6 or 7 inches also can. using 1cm of your bow is too... just play soft and dont dig into the string like in dr yeo's lessons. and larry, dun spam, or else mr chan gonna pwn you again

Allegro Vivo (mvt-with-triplets-wilf-can't-get-right-AND-LARRY-DONT-LAUGH)

You start off with three open stringed Gs. open G strings. bah wdv. so make sure you're friggin in tune. anything more than a fifth apart from your standpartner means you're an average hciso violist, more than an octave and you suck.

so you gotta accent them. and then on the fourth note its an sf (suddenly forte). and no accents on that. so you make it long and accented.

then you go along accenting all notes which have accents (this sounds incredibly stupid but then again, hello, violists.) until you get to...

the note just before the rest, remember to play short and accented NOT soft.

4th bar 3rd line. play it short, long isn't always better.

5th line, 7th line.
.......- .. rhythm remember to play accurately. mug this part

so play as loud as you can until bar. 121. isit. dono my score has not bar nos here. its the 'badabadabambambadabababababababambam' part. watch out for the horribly messy bowings here, thanks to our late viola sl albert. (did that sound wrong)

and ACCENT THE RESTS. the quaver rests are really impt. really. make sure they're in tune.
and lift your bow high for some stunning visual effects. just make sure the whole section does it or you're going to look pretty retarded if you... forgetit.

and when you get to the repeating triplets, all of you need to stare at wilfred for a negative demonstration. and accent when marked (stupid and unneccessary again)

Andante sostenuto (themvtwhichREALLYkeepstheaudience'sattentionsustained. totally. wow.)

its okay to fall asleep, just sway together with the section.
zzz.
zz.
z.
mood is the most important factor in this piece. play the mood of the conductor. the mood sustains throughout, so although you play louder at 3rd - 4th lines, the mood isnt changing.

AND do remember to follow the dynamics, they are the main part of the melody. for a bad example try looking at lukuan when he comes back

3 bars before poco rit.
COUNT, why ppl still get this part wrong -.- dun understand leh.. maybe those ppl are true violists...
and guys? check out what does poco rit means. (hint, whenever u see this words "poco" or "rit", look at chan and you will never go wrong)

Maestoso alla Marcia (mvtwhereyouflipbacktothefrontcosthisonedoesnthavebowings)

bad case of dejavu, or what.
recover from the mood as fast as possible. DONT slow down on the second bar's long note.
As for the last two notes, play it with the feeling that this piece ended, unlike the first movement.

OKAY SO THATS IT YES IVE DUNNIT THANKYOU.
I'll get junhong to print this out and distribute it. and you can pay me for all my efforts in compiling all the utterly useful rubbish that was mentioned during pracs. and sects. more like sects.

I really should title this 'Volkmann serenade in C for HCISO violists' but then i think 'Volkmann serenade in C for dummies' is a whole lot better. Less text space without compromising on meaning eh.

Bjorn (duh) =)
Chay Choong (not so duh) =)

2007-06-14T17:49:00.000+08:00

hahaha! Chay Choong! You forgot to sign off lar. I tot Bjorn posted that at first lar. You tooot! haha the cutest toot ever! =) soo back to the point, the vila blog isn't as lively as i've expected sooo I shall juz spammmmm! mm.. luncheon meat! =PP hahaha kidding lar.. errr.. Are you all able to make it for outing next monday? probably juz watch a movie, picnic blahblah at Vivo bah..maybe we watch the sunset together also? but wun end very late lar, unless u al decide to stay later.. By all means! If u wan also can spam bjorn's hse! hahaha jking! PM me on msn or tag on this blog if u cannot make it, k?

Details:
Date: 18th June, Monday
Venue: VivoCity (most probably)
Time: afternoon arnd 2?
Things we'll be doing: movie, dinner, watch sunset and do whatever u all wan.. no bondings pls.
P.S: It's gd to bring an extra set of clothings becoz i cannot guarantee u wun get wet. Vivo has some swimming pool-like thingy (soo maybeee.. *coughcough* wet some ppl? =P)

larry (:

Getting Screwed by Dr Yeo

2007-06-14T13:58:00.000+08:00

Just want to share my crazy experience in Dr Yeo lessons. Dr Yeo told me that I'm his student who cancelled most lessons, and always turn up on his lessons unprepared. (I seriously have no idea how I managed to match Flirto and larry's pacing, hehe) I sincerely hope none of the juniors follow my example. Sec 3s, your Grade 3 exams are coming so work hard ok?

Here are some quotes I compiled

"If you practise everyday for at least an hour you would get a Distinction for Grade 3 easily"
-- Dr Yeo

"Use more bow and dig into the string"
-- Dr Yeo

"Practise your thrid position by matching your first and second fingers with the open strings!"
-- Dr Yeo

"You can walk into the examination room and sight-read Tambourine and get a distinction, so stop mugging Tambourine la, Zheng... If I catch you mugging Tambourine again during sectionals and fail to get at least a 25/30 in your exam I will personally ************************ you"
-- Bjorn

Chay :)

2007-06-08T22:57:00.000+08:00

Hahahaha! decided to revive this blog! muahahaha.. After 5 hours of intense CPR, I have managed to revive this blog with a post from urs truly! =PP ohh.. I shall take this opportunity to ask ur opinions on a viola outing or chalet.. ookkk, hu wans something juz for the violas this hols, errrm pls raise ur hands? hahaha no lar.. respond in the tagboard or sms me or tell me whenever u see me.. =) ohh.. and zhao hong asked me to tell u all to have fun for the rest of ur hols! and the outing (if there is)

Last thing! violistssss! esp, sec 2s and 1s, giv me ur gmail, soo dat u can post on this very lively viola blog.. and i hate that autosave, kps lagging my com.. stupid!!!!!! hahaha.. bye~

larry

Hi

2007-05-30T13:37:00.000+08:00

Urg... wilfred juz sent me an invitation to join this dead blog... quite empty here ... ...

and now he tell me im the new admin, crazy wilfred....

one announcement... Please remind sec 1 violists to bring their violas every practise. There is one particular sec 1 violist, forgot his name... didnt bring his viola just because he thought he was too noob. Just bring your violas every practise ok?

2007-02-07T18:50:00.000+08:00

Yay, I changed the blog skin. The last one was weird... (sorry kuan hua :P)

Can somebody pls pls pls post!

Bye, I go mug for Bio test le... haiz

Wilfred

2007-02-01T22:50:00.000+08:00

Ni Hao!
I have decided to revive this almost dead blog by posting... hmmm.. wad should i post bout? I oso dunnoe.. soo maybe i post bout our section.. Our section rox! ok.. wad else? errr.. I LOVE ORGASMIC BALLS, MONKEYS, JH, LUKUAN, NATURAL HAIR, CC, HAOMENG, ZHAOHONG, JIAQUAN AND CONGMING(dis error was made on purpose =pp)!! Jia You for all ur assessments!

the guy who gave dis blog da CPR
larry

2007-01-03T16:57:00.000+08:00

Harlows everybody!
Yay! School finally reopened!!! Nice to see you all again...missed ya all during the hols.. I wish u all hav a good year ahead! Seeya on Friday!!!

larry

2006-12-31T23:39:00.000+08:00

Harlows all! :) It's like 15 minutes more to the new year! *excited* In a few minutes time, it's 2007! and i would like to take this opportunity to wish every1 a happy new year!! and I would like to specially thank KH for helping us do the blogskin although he is not a violist.. THANKEWS! Last but not least, i would like to represent the viola section to say a happy new year and a big thank you to our beloved viola teacher, DR YEO!!

wishing u all a happy new year :)
larry

2006-12-31T01:06:00.000+08:00

Hi everybody! This blog looks like it's going to be dead before it's even started. Anyway, it is currently the last day of the year, and I want to take this opportunity to thank all you violists and also to make the last post of the year. (Actually, priority goes to making the last post of the year but you didn't read this)

Tiap Yang: Although I doubt you remember me, but I still can faintly remember your face and Larry keeps reminding me of your words. Thanks for taking your time to teach us sec 1s when we just joined hciso. :D

Wai Peng & Joseph: Yup, thanks for teaching us and for the guidance for half the year and thanks to Joseph for accompanying me home some times, even though you never seem to remember i leave reasonably close to you.

Albert: When I think of you, the first thing that comes to my mind is you making me and larry go over a phrase is Shostakovich's 5th movement over and over again in ProEd room. That was during the PTG day. The next thing I remember is you drilling us in the ProEd classroom before we left for Goteburg Music Festival. Although it all seems to be negative, I'll always remember you as the 1st proper SL I had. :) Once upon a time... I still don't know why you keep saying that. :P

Guan Hui: I don't know what to type... Although you might not be always around, when you are around, you'll always lit up the room with that smile of yours. And your performances at the Ortus Nites are always highly enjoyable.

Bjorn: (lol, you're still my SL next year so I shall be careful with what I'm typing now) I remember the first memories I had of you was after SYF. Now that I think of it, it might be because you're always sitting in front and I was at the back. When you became the SL (not to mention chairman), I was unsure whether you would make a great SL because you kept telling lame jokes and made funny faces. But you went on to become a great SL and showed me that you could be both serious and funny. Next year is going to be your 2nd SYF (I still find it unfair that the sec 3s can play in 2 SYFs and we can only play in 1 :X), so KAMBATE and help us get gold with honours! and practice -.-

Zheng (a.k.a monkey/ASL): hi ASL and room-mate for the trip. Sorry for always not knowing what to talk about so we end up talking about what to talk about :P. Just want you to know you make a great ASL even though you didn't have any music background when you joined.

Jun Hong: Yup, the first rehearsal and I was sitting behind you. :D You're a nice senior and quiet too. If I remember correctly, in the play your class put up for some competition and ortus nite, you were the person sitting in the coffee shop reading the newspaper. Similarly, you are the violist and senior that makes the section whole. It wouldn't be the same without you in the section. Thanks a lot for your guidance these 2 years!

Lu Kuan: lol, stop owning me in dota!!! (seriously)

Larry and Chay Choong: First of all, I can't believe you're still in the same class as me. :D Thanks for all the agitation and aggravation etc etc. That really made me practice. :D Actually, thinking about it, both of you are sick. cc, I've learnt about you for sitting beside you for half a year I think but I shan't complain because you made my school life interesting especially when mrs ann scolds you for clicking your pen. and you should really come for a hciso camp, put aside your china trip for some other time next year k?

Sec 1s and Hao Meng: Yup, probably another bunch of people who would never read this, but I shall write anyway. You are all one of the most talented violist (especially Zhao Hong, super ultra mugger). Work hard for next year's SYF and practice for your lessons! :D

ok, phew. I think I finished. :D :D :D I never knew thanking people on blogs could be such a bore. I wanted to write a lot in the end, but suddenly I can't remember what I wanted to write... Anyway, can someone please please please please please post something!

Wilfred

2006-12-25T00:20:00.000+08:00

Harlows all!

Happy Christmas and Merry New Year!

This is our NEW viola blog.. =) *claps claps* All violists pleaseee give meeee your gmail ASAP.. so that I can invite you all..

2007 is coming liao! jia you! yay and check the blog frequently.. Announcements blah blah will be posted here..

Love you all lots!
larry

♫ violists from hciso ♫

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ruttttttttttttterrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

viola section outing is canceled until futher notice

post then post lor.

Getting Screwed by Dr Yeo

Hi

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