Sunday, April 03, 2005

The last 4 days

Ok, let's see what's been happening so far.

Wednesday
I bought 2 CDs that I like a lot! Beethoven 4-7 by Concertgebouw under Wolfgang Sawallisch and Dvorak, Tchaikovsky and Borodin String Quartets played by Emerson Quartet. As some might already know, I'm trying to compose for a string quartet. Hmmm. I think I'll name it String Quartet no. 1 "Fantasy" Opus 1!

Thursday
I had some free time and hence met up with Jiahui for coffee and a, what she calls, "38 session". Let clarify this, shall we? She's the 38 queen and there's no way I can compare to her! =P

Friday
There was a military funeral this afternoon for a young NSF. Every time that I'm deployed for a funeral, it reminds me of the first time I put on my No. 1. It was for the RSS Courageous (did I get the name correctly?) accident a couple of years ago.

The day was rightfully wet, dark and solemn. It's probably an event I would never forget. Slow marching in the rain, seeing solemn Navy personnel lining the road, all saluting their fallen comrade. At least she died a dignified death. I don't there's any better way to be sent off on your final journey.

Saturday
Teaching day. The SYF is fast approaching.

As much as I don't like the idea of having competition, I'm sorry, adjudication, it's a part of the local band scene that I can't run away from. I have no choice. The SYF is the only time when I will get more job offers.

As much as I do enjoy teaching and seeing my students grow, I don't really enjoy drilling them to play Singapore Rhapsody and (insert title of choice piece) to perfection.

If you haven't heard me say this before, then allow me to say this again: "There shouldn't be SYF at all!"

What's the point of learning only 2 pieces for the greater half of a year? I know of schools that start practicing their choice pieces 6 months before the SYF. Surely the world of music is much broader than being confined to just 2 pieces?

I shall be bitchy.

There are still a few of conductors around in Singapore who still don't know their stuffs. More correctly, these people should be called educators and not conductors. Secondary school conductors teach more than they conduct. More often than not, they teach their students how to play the way they want a phrase to be rather than telling them.

A conductor conducts. An educator teaches.

This is an adapted extract from a conversation with this prominent female figure who co-owns a band store.

Her: So what do you play?
Me: Oboe.
Her: I see, so what brand of oboe do you use?
Me: Howarth.
Her: *astonished look* Really? Howarth, good meh? I saw one the other time and their pads were all made of pads!
Me: Er. No, la. They are good instruments too.
Her: Really meh? I buy Marigaux for my schools! What's the price of your oboe?
Me: $XX XXX.
Her: !!! My Mariguaxs are better! *proceed to show me receipt for Marigaux* See? It's cheaper!
Me: Both brands are good. You see, they have different characteristics. The principal of SSO uses the same model as me, so it can't be that bad right?
Her: Marigauxs are still better!

It's not that I think that Marigaux oboes are not good. They were one of my considerations before I got my XL! By the way, an oboe always has cork pads. I didn't realize it at the time but I had a good laugh about it after it. Someone should show her the cork pads on her Marigaux and frighten her!

Sunday
Pope John Paul II passed away on Saturday night at the Vatican. Perhaps this piece of news would have been of no interest to me had it happened a year ago. It's quite different now having read Angels and Demons. In fact, I'm quite interested to go to the Vatican and see all the artworks for myself now!

Still, I think we should respect the passing of a spiritual leader. I didn't know what kind of person he was but from reading articles about him the last few days in the papers, I figured that he was a great man. After all, not anyone can be the Pope right?

A moment of silence please, for the Pope and fallen soldiers of the SAF.
fjozn at 12:07 PM