Saturday, July 03, 2004

Alumni Practice

I went to my secondary school's alumni practice feeling like a total stranger.

First on the agenda was a "welcoming speech" by the band's current teacher-in-charge (TIC), which felt more like a lecturing/boasting session by him. He went into issues like how he brought the band to the current standard with him in charge, how we should obey the rules of the schools, how we should be going back to help out, how we shouldn't be going back just for the sake for playing.

To top it off, he ended the session by chasing out a member of the band, my friend, AN ALUMNI. Now tell me, how are we going to get this band on track with a TIC who chases out members of the band just based on the fact that he doesn't like him? The fella certainly hasn't done anything wrong. He wasn't rude to the TIC, he wasn't defiant, he didn't break any rules. No sir, nothing. I have absolutely no respect for a teacher who is biased, unreasonable and bear grudges. Who does he think he is? The king of the school? Sure, he's concerned for the well-being of the band but why chase out someone who has done nothing wrong!?

A question he put to my batch: "So why so many of you suddenly show up after so many years?"

So he HAS to tell us that we are not welcome? Fine. I had an urge to tell him in the face: "Why? You wanna know why? You are the reason. We didn't feel welcomed back then. Similarly we don't feel welcomed again with you around."

When I last visited the band more than 3 years ago, he asked the entire alumni group to fall in. Incredible. And he went to talk about the rules and discipline of the school. *roll eyes*

Most people would probably feel welcomed by their teachers when they go back to visit their alma mater. This one certainly didn't. Others would ask about their ex-students, finding out what they are doing, how their lives were after the schooling period and so on. This one didn't.

I believe that most of us from the same batch to meet old friends, to catch up with each others, to relive the old days of music-making, to meet our juniors, to re-make friends whom we had lost touch with.

This TIC treats us, mostly 20+ peoples, like kids. Sure, we want to rekindle the old feeling of being in a school band again. But with him breathing down our neck? No thanks. Surely we are sensible and mature enough to follow the general rules of the school? He didn't think so. In our point of view, he wants an alumni band of people coming from his era; IE. people after my batch.

He expects people to come down to tutor the current students and make them better players. Fine. I think the majority of us is fine with doing that if they have the time. Somehow the fact that he EXPECTS us to do it didn't go down well with us.

I don't like to say this but

HE'S A DAMN BASTARD. Period.

After so much ranting, I still think I will go back for more practices. Not on his account, but rather, on Zalina's account. She had pushed very hard to get the alumni band going and I think we shouldn't disappoint her by mass-quitting the band. Hopefully the damn bastard (oops I did it again) won't try to play bastard (double oops) with us.

I can tell him this: Some of us, myself included get paid to play and to teach. I can take time off to play in the alumni band. I can play for free, instrument and reeds (an oboe and oboe reeds are not cheap stuff!) provided; all I need is a chair and music stand. BUT! I can also choose not to tolerate your bastardlistic (you know what I mean! + triple oops) way and behaviour.

Hopefully, the next practice would be a peaceful and happy one!
fjozn at 12:30 PM