Temasek Chinese Orchestra

2011-08-01T20:56:00.002+08:00

Hey TMSCO,

I know all of you are like super super buay song with regards to our SYF costume k. I'm super sorry for being such a lousy costume designer (yes, I designed it. Bleh). But you know, I thought you guys liked it, cos, that time we were watching that shanghai co vid and everyone was praising their costume so I thought I'd do it in a similar style. So turns out everyone hates it but was praising it just to be polite. Apologies for my misinterpretion.

OK ANYWAY, tomorrow is our photoshoot and everyone who has the costume is expected to wear. I know a lot of sec fours are not intending to wear because it's apparently, the most retarded piece of clothing that ever existed. Honestly, I take it as a slap on the face. Sure, it's horrible, but it's so bad that you don't even want to wear it, for the last time, together with everyone? Even though I personally also find the costume unsightly, it's really hurting every time I hear anyone say the costume is the fugliest thing in the world and they'd rather die than to wear it again. k but anyway, my feelings don't matter. Back to the main point.

I don't get how we always pride ourselves in our teamwork and togetherness when we can't even take a photo without people feeling ashamed of it and refusing to wear. Hey, if it's really that bad, then let's all be fools together. Isn't that a kind of a nice feeling, too? I don't know. You guys go think about it. Final time wearing that piece of cloth already. Even though it's stupid, but it carries memories, right? A few years down the road, you can look back at the photo and laugh. Laugh at how ridiculous everyone looked and how Luo Yi was a total failure in designing it. Really, don't you all think, that's also kinda heartwarming?

Really hope most of you all will be wearing the costume tomorrow. Because really, I don't see the point in having a group photo when we're obviously not thinking and behaving as a group.

Ultimately, if you're still very disgusted by it and think wearing it will defame you forever or something, then suit yourself. All I can say is, once again, I'm very sorry for designing something so ridiculously awful.

xoxo,
Luo Yi

NUS form.

2011-06-21T22:13:00.002+08:00

Hey guys. for those who dont have the form, please print it here and fill it up. with your parents signature of course. you must hand in this form by this saturday's practice because Mdm Ma is coming back and she wants to collect it.

-Shermaine ^^

2011-05-19T19:33:00.002+08:00

Hi my dearest pineapples! ;D
Our handover ceremony will be a simple one this year.

Date : 24th May, Tuesday
Time : 2.30 - 3 or 3.30 latest (CCA resumes for Sec 1 to Sec 3 after that)
Venue : CO Room

The new comm members have been informed, so hurry remember to get presents for your seniors k! Sec Fours, do remember to get your handover gift too. And tell your juniors of their roles well. It's the final last time for us Sec Fours to be CO members and it's only for about half an hour to an hour, so please turn up ok!

I'll see you all there alright? ;D

Love, Luo Yi.

2011-04-21T22:00:00.004+08:00

Dearest TMSCO members!

Luo Yi here. Again. LOL.

Today some of us went to receive the results. FYI, we achieved a Gold award. Before receiving the results, I told myself repeatedly that I would be satisfied with a Gold. I told myself that I would cry out of joy when we received a Gold. I told myself I would celebrate if we got Gold. Turns out, I was just lying to myself. When the results were released, I was devastated. We were devastated. We cried and cried and cried all the way to the MRT. It's kinda funny if you think back about how it was like now. We cried so hard that passer-bys probably thought we garnered a COP or a Bronze for our SYF. LOL. But yeah, we were really sad. Crushed. Emotionally drained.

But TMSCO, it's time to move on. You know, we're the first school to perform in the whole of Singapore! It's already very lucky that we're able to get a Gold. And also, probably because we're the first school that's why the following schools behind us got Silver. This means that yes, we've set a high standard for this year's SYF (: And besides, what's so bad about a Gold? I think a Gold is magnificent!
People, give yourself a pat on the back (or pat on the head if your hand is too short)!

(Here's something that most people would say when they want to encourage people who had just broken up with someone. LOL. I think we can also relate to it too!)

Don't be sad because it's over. Be glad because it happened.

Like what I posted on my FB status, This award has degraded us on paper. But really, have we been degraded? All I see now is a tighter CO with more people with a drive to excel and improve. Degradation? Bullcrap. This Journey isn't over, TMSCO. It's only begun.
The title of our set piece was aptly named. SYF IS a Journey. And in TMSCO, it's a Journey filled with fun, laughter and ultimate weirdness. I mean, we mass-hugged liulaoshi in the middle of the road while crying and laughing at the same time! What could be weirder and cuter than this? ;D

We really owe a lot to liulaoshi. Everything we've managed to achieve, it was all due to his hardwork. Even though a lot of you always complain about him scolding and nagging, I saw and felt nothing but gratitude towards him today. It was a truly touching moment when we all went to hug him and he played along with our gayness. Really. As much as we love complaining, we share an amazing bond with him. This bond, I believe, you can't find it in other COs.

(Hope everyone had smsed him like I told you guys to!)

Ok this is about all. I'm truly proud of you guys. Year 2011 SYF - Gold. Congratulations and please, keep up the good work! ;D

~~(OH YEAH BTW AH, WHEN WE DOING TH REFLECTION THINGY, WE'RE GONNA INVITE ALL CO MEMBERS OUT BECAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS PRIDED OURSELVES AS BEING ONE BIG FAIMLY. DON'T PANGSEH OK! ;D)~~

2011-04-19T19:39:00.006+08:00

Hey TMSCO. Here's Luo Yi. It's probably gonna be one of my last posts in the CO blog so do read, ok? (:

Thank you for the wonderful feeling on stage today. Now's th torturous wait for the results on Thursday. Everyone, please don't worry about it. We've done it. It's over. There's no use being paranoid and worried over something that we can't predict. It's been truly wonderful to be able to perform with all you weird people. Really. It was.

Everyone, please show your appreciation to Liulaoshi, huolaoshi and all the other instructors for their care and guidance. Without them, we wouldn't be able to accomplish much. A simple thank you or maybe you can write a card or give a little gift. Thank them for being ever supportive.

Also, please offer your gratitude to the alumni for their constant encouragement and honest opinions on how to improve our playing. They've been ever supportive and some of them even pon-ed school/ work to come to encourage us! That's really a huge sacrifice so please, everyone, do be appreciative!

We're receiving the results on Thursday, the sec threes and sec fours. I hope everyone remember what it was like two years ago when our results were announced. We cheered and screamed for at least a minute long. LOL. I insist ok, this time when they release our results, shout and scream for at least a minute long too! Whether we get bronze, silver, gold or GWH. Just scream your damn lungs out and show them the TMSCO crazy spirit, ok? ;D

Ok that's about all. The GIF at the beginning of this post is to remind everyone to stay crazy and weird. Don't be worried about the results! Like what Caleb (TWE's band major) said, we shouldn't let the colour of the award define the success of the CCA.

See you guys on Thursday (:

2011-04-18T18:33:00.002+08:00

ALL THE BEST TOMORROW!

The Alumni will all be rooting for you lovely peeps, both physically and spiritually.

Do your best, enjoy yourself, and..do your best! We'll be there to unleash our eye power on you all tomorrow *grins*.

So do us proud, do the school proud, and most importantly do yourself proud! No worries though, no matter the results we'll still love you all! But if GWH we confirm love you more hehehe :)

Do your hair nice nice iron your costumes neat neat shine your shoes bright bright and we'll see ya all on stage tomorrow morning!

From the always sexy group of people,

TMSACO.

2011-04-09T23:52:00.002+08:00

Hi my dearest apple cores ;D
It's been long since this has been updated. MY APOLOGIES! :( I'm currently abstaining from the internet. (Basically meaning that I wouldn't be updating anymore. Unless it's for super important things.)

I'M SORRY! :(

Ok this post is for this short sort of announcement thing and also to remind everyone that SYF is 9 days away. SYF IS 9 DAYS WAY. That's one week plus two days! If we set our mind to really do it, we can. So please everyone. Please continue to try your very best and be the most productive. Put in effort for that final glory which all of us will enjoy.

"Whether You Think You Can or Can't, You're Right" --Henry Ford .

Also, I'd like to commend those who have been trying their best to do taifeng (: I think the bassists are doing a really impressive job.The half of erhu that's closer to the whiteboard are also trying their very best. As for woodwind and plucked strings, the taifeng is there but it's a little too subtle, so please continue to work hard alright?
Ultimately it isn't about just swaying around or swirling or dancing on your chair. It' feeling the music that you're playing. Once you've properly mastered the song and came up with your own appropriate interpretation, moving along with the music isn't too difficult. Like huolaoshi said, it's about being serious and showing how eager you are for the GWH. Attitude matters a lot when it comes to music playing. Because with good attitude, good skills come naturally.

Please continue to do your very best, my lovelies. I'll see you all on monday for CO practice.

Be the best because you can be.

2011-03-31T19:09:00.002+08:00

Our dancers' SYF is over and they've collected their results. Sadly, they didn't get their well-deserved Gold. (Everyone, go give your dancer friends a hug and tell them they're awesome k?)

The point of this post isn't to announce their results, but to encourage all of you guys to look at the dancers and reflect. The amount of effort they had put in is way much more than ours. Really. It's worrying because it still seems like everyone's STILL not in the SYF mode. Pay attention to the new rules that were implemented.

1. No using of phones during practice time.
2. No doing doing homework/ studying/ reading during practice time.
3. Automatically sit half chair and maintain silence throughout the practice.

Everyone, do remind your friends if they forget to follow these rules. It's up to all of us to ensure our progress.

19 days to SYF. Please continue to do your best!

2011-03-30T19:55:00.002+08:00

20 more days to SYF. 5 more practices (excluding self prac) to SYF.
If up to this point, you guys are still not serious and eager about it, I don't know what else I can say to motivate all of you already.
Performers, reserve players, helpers. It doesn't matter what role you play, you're a part of TMSCO. All members are important and we all play a vital part in achieving our goal for SYF. Please. Please encourage each other not to give up.
Please note that all reserve players will have to come for EVERY PRACTICE as well. You guys are receiving the exact same points as performers and are extremely important.

Please everyone. Do your best.

2011-03-27T17:04:00.003+08:00

Hi my dearest eyeball lickers,
Temasek Junior College Chinese Orchestra (TJCO) is holding their concert soon. Our dearest Tan Jing Jie and a bunch of other alumni (previous comm's president) will also be performing! *O* Every TMSCO member is highly encouraged to attend this concert. The details are as follows.

姿·韵
Date : 16th May 2011 (Monday) it's vesak day the next day
Venue : TRCC Theatre @ Republic Poly
Time : 7:30 pm
Ticket Prices : $12

For more details, please visit the concert's Facebook event page or go harass Jing Jie.

TJCO has along history of being a high quality CO and it'll be beneficial for all of us. Also the concert is held after our MYE so everyone should be free to go (: As Jing Jie had said, Sec Fours, we can treat this as our last sectional outing. SICs, please take the initiative to organise a sectional outing and encourage your members to attend this concert. Please tell me(Luo Yi) and Berenice the details of who wants to attend the concert ASAP.

2011-03-25T22:45:00.002+08:00

Congratulations to TPCO for, yet again, a successful and amazing concert! (:
(A million apologies for not shouting "encore" a second time. )

The performance was brilliant, just as expected of TPCO. It was really entertaining and inspiring. It's a pity not many of us went for this concert because I'm sure it would have been beneficial.

I have a video recording of their opening piece but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post it up, so, I'll get permission from the alumni first, k? If I DO post it up, I hope everyone would listen to it and purposefully pick out the positive points which we can learn from.

Please everyone, let's work hard to live up to our seniors' expectations and hopes. It's only 25 more days to SYF. Just 25 more days to go. Let's go all the way. Thank you.

See all of you tmr, 7:45 am @ CO room. Please try your very best not to be late and be as well-disciplined as you can!

2011-03-24T22:29:00.002+08:00

Hi my dearest pen caps,
As usual, I'll post the daily encouragement post. As usual, I'm out of ideas and I'm too brain dead to source for any. So as usual, I extracted another motivational post by Guo Wei, written during the previous SYF prep period! O:

(Bet Guo Wei's feeling damn honoured and smiling uncontrollably to himself.)

"Let's take these few short weeks supporting each other, working as a family and bring home glory together! We can do it, we really can. I'd say we have improved tremendously compared to like 6months ago, but there's definitely much more room for improvement!

Pitching, tempo, and stage presence. One of the few most important factors we should work on.
Pitching and tempo are self-explanatory.
Stage presence? Well, let's start by smiling more?
Perhaps, just before playing a song, get yourself attached to the mood of the song. Enjoy what you play, put in more feelings to it.
Emphasise and exaggerate more on each crescendo and decrescendo.
Confidence is one of the keys of stage presence. If you know what you're playing, just play it.
Build this confidence through constant practise yo! Move with the music.

And I hope all of you would have memorised both the songs by now.

By the way, 19th April is our SYF date. It'll come by quicker than you can imagine.
All the best, lets do this together.

Gold with Honours!"

That's all (: Love you all! PLEASE RMB TO COME FOR PRACTICE THIS SATURDAY! Let's do our best together! ;D

2011-03-23T21:11:00.003+08:00

Hi my dearest butterfly clips,
Here's a realist motivational picture that actually means much more than we think it does.

Life is short and we're gonna die eventually. Death may come anytime at all. We may die many years later, or we may die tomorrow. Treasure everyday and be the best in doing everything you're supposed to do.
When work feels overwhelming, remember that you're going to die. If you die tomorrow, you'll never be able to do work ever again so treasure it. If you think about it this way, then being busy and being stressed is actually a sort of blessing that certain people don't have.

We have 27 more days to SYF. Just 8 more practices. Let's do the best we can together. Everyone, please work hard and release your truest potential.

Love you all. Muacks~

2011-03-21T19:56:00.002+08:00

Here's a picture of Hatsune Miku to motivate all of you! Ok maybe some of you don't know who she is so go google, ok? She's cute and well, everybody loves cute things/ppl right? ARE YOU MOTIVATED? O:

Hi my dearest honey almonds (Honey almonds are freakin awesome, btw. Go try them someday),
Today concludes our first SYF rehearsal at the Singapore Conference Hall. We didn't do TOO badly but it wasn't magnificent either. I'm sure all of you could tell. The feeling just wasn't there. It's just not impactful enough.
So thank God/Allah/Buddha/Satan/others that today's only the REHEARSAL, and not the actual SYF. And also thank God/Allah/Buddha/Satan/others that we have 28 more days to prepare for our actual judging.

28 days isn't a lot. In fact, it's very little time. Very little. There's still a lot which we can polish up on. I really really hope more people would be willing to spend the time coming for self practices and be really there practicing instead of doing homework, being an idiot etc. Today TAN QUAN YU said something really amazing to me. He said "Actually I think this time the SYF prep a bit too slack leh."

(This is the appropriate moment to make this face --> *O* because QY never ever says things which suggest that he think practices are worthwhile!)

Ok so even QY thinks we are being slackier than prep for the previous SYF! This means we are really VERY VERY MUCH SLACKIER than we think we are! D: So everyone, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, PLEASE! Do work hard for this remaining 28 days. For yourselves, for our seniors, for our school and for TMSCO.

For the sec fours, the day we step down is the day we collect the results, on 21st April. Whether you love CO ttc or hate CO ttc, I'm sure you'll want your very last moment as a TMSCO member to be memorable right? Strive for nothing but the best! Let's create wonderful memories for each other which we can reminisce and smile about, ok?

Ok that's about all for today. You guys might wanna browse through this blog's archives. The seniors are way better at motivating and encouraging than I.

Love you all. Muacks! ;D

2011-03-20T16:55:00.002+08:00

Hi my dearest ribena concentrates,
I'm out of ideas on how to motivate you guys so here's a excerpt from a blog post two years ago, one month before SYF, written by Guo Wei (:

"On to SYF. We've only got exactly ONE MONTH LEFT! Please make full use of this time to practise constructively. Practices left can be counted with just my fingers and toes; treasure every single sectional and full orchestra sessions! For this really short period of time, give in your best -- listen more talk less -- and do not absent yourself without any valid and logical reason.

Please guys, I know we can all do it. We want nothing less than a Gold. Not as if we'll get it just because we want it. We got to do something in order to have it. There are plenty of details to be fine tuned and polished, yet time is absolutely against us. This short month is very crucial, it's a make or a break. Commitment and dedication is all I want from each and everyone of you for the next couple of weeks. Come on yo, it's the final lap! SPRINTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!

All the very best, PRETTIES!!! ((:"

Strictly speaking, we have only (one month - one day)month left bofore SYF! D:
That's not a lot of time! Alright everyone, let's chiong all the way for our GWH! Please continue to do your best!
MUACKS MUACKS~

2011-03-19T16:31:00.003+08:00

-GASP!- We got praised today! *O*

I'm sure everyone felt real glad to be praised by liulaoshi and Mr Oh right? After all, we did work very hard for these few months! CONGRATULATIONS! ;D I swear this is the first freakin time that liulaoshi praised us since he started coaching us. FIRST FREAKIN TIME (Y)

Ok so here's to share something that Patrick (the tall stripey shirt alumni who's not a starfish) sent to some of us after the exchange programme ;D

"Hey, I can see that the orchestra has improved a lot since the last time I heard from you. Keep up the good job. Most importantly, don't be satisfied at where you are now because it's the small details that differentiates from the rest. Ensure that the orchestra maintains this attitude and I'm sure a Gold award wouldn't be a problem. Continue to work hard and I'll see you play hard on that day it self. Jia you TMSCO! (:"

Yes, music playing is a strict discipline to take up. In order to get our GWH, we have to aim to be nothing but the best. Please DO NOT BECOME COMPLACENT just because of the few praises we've received today. Just so you guys know, SNCO wasn't at their best today. I personally heard how magnificently they can play and today's performance isn't a true example of their actual standard at all. We are still lagging far behind them. Take care of your health and continue to do your best. Our seniors have high hopes and expectations for us, let's not let them down no matter what!

On this note, please remember to bring your costume (girls : skirt, top, court shoes, stockings guys : top, vest, dress shoes, pants, black socks) and your instrument on Monday. Report to CO Room at 12.30pm after having your lunch. Please be early/on time!

Ok, that's all. That funny-looking house picture is supposed to motivate you guys because I can no longer find suitable motivational quotes :(

Please continue to do your best! MUACKS MUACKS~

2011-03-17T19:44:00.003+08:00

(Here's a nice cute picture of a bird shunning away from what looks like a camel's mouth. It's cute, right? I hope everyone cheers up and is more otivated after seeing this picture~ ;D)

Hi my dearest usb cables,
Today's practice has been more or less productive (; Really glad that most of you sat half-chair and sat up straight without reminders *O* I know practices are getting rather heavy and it's really quite tiring indeed. But everyone, let's push on!

Also, I know a lot of us are majorly dissatisfied with our costume. I'm really annoyed with it too -.- Here's the thing, you guys are allowed to tailor it to fit you better so that it doesn't look like a bunch of cloths hanging on your body. BUT! The general look of the costume must be the same. Don't go change the colour or the sleeve length.
It is also VERY IMPORTANT that the girls' skirts aren't too short. It's fine if you alter it to be shorter but the limit is NO SHORTER THAN FOUR FINGERS ABOVE THE KNEE. Please remember, we are students who are performing in a Chinese Orchestra, not hookers working in a prostitute house. Have self respect please.

Alright this should be all. We're gonna get really really busy for these coming weeks as it builds up to SYF and it'll be rather strenous on our health too. Drink more water and eat more fruits and veggies to build up our health and not fall sick! I cannot emphasise this anymore. Keeping yourself healthy is vital to optimum performance. For the Sec Fours and the Sec Threes, we understand that it's gonna be very very tough juggling schoolwork and CO but please push on for this period of time alright? One more month. Just one more month! Let's do our very best and not let our seniors and ourselves down! Let's work together for our GWH! ;D

Love you all. Muacks!

2011-03-15T23:37:00.002+08:00

Hi my dearest nichrome wires
(: Let's continue the greet-liulaoshi-after-every-practice tradition ok! Though we may be copying what StNicCO and coralsecCO is doing, I think it's really nice to appreciate and respect our conductor.

This is only one of the ways to bond th orchestra with the conductor! ;D

Btw, great job everyone, for today. It's been productive and everyone really tried their best not to be restless although we were sitting in that freezing room playing similar things over and over again. So, great job guys! Keep it up!

On this note, I hope that everyone would automatically sit half chair and have a good posture (ie. sit up straight) when playing instead of waiting for me to remind everyone. Everyone has a part to play in this. Always remind the ppl near you to sit properly and have good discipline! Don't talk when liulaoshi is talking!

Alright, that's all. Great job everyone. Let's continue to push on for our GWH.

2011-03-13T12:43:00.003+08:00

Me: 老师，照你看，我们有没有机会赢得荣誉金牌？

HuoLaoShi: 机会一大把。红旗颂本来就是一首荣誉金的歌。现在只看你们要不要争取这个机会!

A short conversation I had with HuoLaoShi yesterday. I asked her if we had a chance to get GWH and she replied that our chances are great because hongqisong is composed to be a GWH song. It's only up to us whether we want to grab this chance and get our GWH.

Everyone, please work harder and do your best! It's only one more month left. Let's sacrifice a bit for the glory of our CO and to not let our seniors down!

(If the font is too small, press and hold the Ctrl key and scroll your mouse.)

2011-03-12T22:37:00.005+08:00

Hi my dearest Ricola pastilles,
This blog post is to share with everyone my experience during the short exchange with Saint Nic's today (:

Some of the feedback given by the St Nic's P and VP is that for Zheng, our plucked strings sort of lack the impactful feeling and you guys tend to lag a bit, percussion's feeling wasn't string enough and that sheng needs more dynamics in the playing. Some compliments that they gave was the cello's beginning sounded nice, dizi was well-coordinated and the erhu section was played boldy and loudly enough.
In general, they said that our CO lacks taifeng and emotions but we were able to connect with the conductor very well. In fact, the P's exact words to StNic'sCO was "they can connect with the conductor very well and could understand his conducting. It was as if they can read his mind". So, great job people (:

However, the point of this post isn't to focus on our plus points (which isn't a lot as you guys can tell), it's to show everyone how a fellow CO member from another school, of a similar age views our music as.

During our exchange with them this coming Saturday, hope everyone would really pay close attention to how they play and what they played. Liulaoshi doesn't do them justice when he says that they are SLIGHTLY better than us. They are VERY MUCH better than us. Really.

On this note, I'd like to remind everyone that the performers' list for SYF will be confirmed this coming Tuesday. This is the FINAL test for everyone. The Sec One DSA students, some of the ppl in erhu/plucked strings whom the instructor is still unsure whether or not to put you in, Aloysius from cello, Eileen from dizi. All these ppl. If you don't turn up for this tuesday's practice or you don't prepare well for this final audition, that's it. You're not in SYF anymore. So everyone, please do your best and not miss practice this Tuesday (Report to CO room at 11:50, everyone). All the best and good luck. Please don't let your seniors or yourself down.

Another reminder, all those who have yet to pay for their SYF costume please pay up to our teachers-in-charge ASAP, preferably to Miss Tay or Mr Wong.

Alright everyone. Try to practice a bit today or tomorrow? Any amount of practice, as long as it's consistent, would help. Even if it's as short as half an hour. Just continue to do your best.

PS(That pretty picture above is supposed to motivate you guys because I can't seem to find anymore relevant motivational quotes at the moment. It's a nice picture right? ;D I saw it on dA and was very impressed by the artist. Everyone, work hard to create music together that's as beautiful as this artwork is ok!)

2011-03-10T21:29:00.000+08:00

"Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman." - Ludwig Van Beethoven

2011-03-10T20:44:00.002+08:00

Hi my dearest bears,
The official day for our performance for SYF is confirmed. We're the first school on the first day. The opening orchestra. That's.. well, scary, huh?

We have exactly 40 days left before our SYF day. 40 days. That's 11 more practices. Each practice is about 3-4 hours long. So strictly speaking, we have only a little more than 33 hours left to practice together, excluding the time for self-practice.

33 hours. Where's our standard at now? How far away are we from Gold are we now? I'd say we're very far. Our standard is of nowhere close to the previous batches and our desire and hunger for a gold isn't as great as the previous batches as well.

Gold standard. Exactly how far are we from it? During the previous SYF as I remembered it to be, everybody had already memorised their scores during December. Everybody was already particular about having an appropriate posture and taifeng during these few months. Everyone treated every practice session as a performance. Everyone was serious and eager. We weren't the best but we were at our best.

Berenice instructed everyone to memorise their scores since about a month ago. But up til now, I still see people who stare at their score which lays on their lap instead of looking at liulaoshi. What's the point of banning the use of stands if you place it in your lap and don't look at the conductor? This is the last and final time I'm going to say this. Everyone to memorise their scores by this Saturday, which is the day after tomorrow. No excuses about why you can't memorise. Tomorrow is e-learning day and I'm sure everyone would have a lot more free time than usual. Don't come up with reasons like you couldn't memorise because of your heavy schedule. I'm juggling debate competitions AND practices for SYF; My score is relatively difficult because of the many running notes. So what? I've memorised my score. If I'm busy and I can do it, I don't see how you guys cannot.

Posture and sitting half-chair. This is the basic requirement of everyone. Please remind each other always to sit properly and treat every practice as if we're performing. Discipline is the foundation for good results. I don't want to have to shout out to remind everyone again this saturday and for all future practices. Be auto.

Everyone, please continue to do your best.

"Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right" - Henry Ford

2011-02-27T00:11:00.002+08:00

A new Chinese idiom thing that I learnt from huolaoshi today :

严师出高徒
Strict teachers produce quality students.

Dearest fellow CO members, please keep this in mind all the time and don't complain about our instructors being strict. They are strict because they have expectations for us to be better than we are. So, everyone please hold your instructors in high regard and do your best to practice!

MUACKS! ;D

2011-02-26T23:48:00.002+08:00

Hi my dearest camera lenses, Temasek Polytechnic Chinese Orchestra (TPCO) will be holding a concert very soon and the details are as follows.

Date: 25th March 2011
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: Temasek Polytechnic Auditorium One
Ticket Pricing: $8 (Free sitting)

Please visit their facebook page and CO blog for more details (:

As you guys may or may not already know, TPCO is a very high standard CO and many of our alumni will be performing for this concert. Furthermore, SYF is just around the corner and we need to expose ourselves to Chinese Orch music more in order to learn and to improve our standard of playing. All members are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to attend this concert. You guys may also go as a section and take this opportunity to bond with your fellow members (:

Please inform Berenice ASAP if you're interested in attending. SICs, if you're intending to arrange for your whole section to go, please collate the names ASAP because Berenice will have to coord with the TPCO people for the tickets and that is quite a hassle-some process.

;D

2011-02-19T21:49:00.002+08:00

Hi my dearest monkeys, I feel that everyone's attitude during CO practice today had really improved quite a significant bit (: GREAT JOB GUYS! It's really satisfying to know that everyone's trying their best. Please continue to work hard and I hope that the noise level will be further decreased during the next combined practice! There are some nice people who will occasionally shout out to remind the CO to maintain silence and I really appreciate that. Hopefully by next practice, everyone will be more auto to keep quiet so that these people don't need to waste their energy to shout out (:

The standard of our playing has also improved somewhat. If you guys had noticed, Liulaoshi looked really happy today and was kinda high when conducting (LOL, maybe he's high on caffeine since he was drinking coke?). I think that's a good sign that we had improved that's why he's happy with the results (also because we're a little quieter today so he didn't have to shout a lot for our attention). However, I don't believe in that, like what he said, our abilities have almost reached maximum. I've heard some of you play and surely, you guys are capable of much much more. Don't limit yourself because "liulaoshi says we've already almost reached maximum so there's nothing else much that we can do". Come on people! He compared us to the other schools that he is teaching and says that they can improve much more than we can? Prove to him our worth! You can do so much more than you are doing now and you know it! Even if someday in the future he says that we've already played 100% of our ability, we'll push ourselves to give him a 150% or 200%, won't we? (:

Today's been very productive though it may have been a little tiring. Everyone, keep your spirits high! Please take care of yourself and continue to do your best!

Muacks! Love you all! ;D

2011-02-18T19:46:00.004+08:00

Hi my dearest pyramids, here's an excerpt of a motivational poem.

It Couldn't Be Done

Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

-Edgar A. Guest

Person A said that something cannot be done. With a laugh, Person B agreed that there is a possibility that it would fail but he wouldn't say that it will fail until he tried it. So he started on doing it with a wide smile that didn't show any trace of worry. He sang when he dealt with that problem and he succeeded.

(PS ah. My analysis a bit too shallow and un-detailed. I don't take Lit!)

Hope this motivates you guys (: Even if it motivates just little, it's still good. Work hard everyone!

There's CO tmr! Please be there! Don't be late! Memorise first two pages of the score! Sit half chair tomorrow!

MUACKS!

2011-02-14T21:35:00.002+08:00

Hi my dearest peanuts, there's CO tomorrow~!
Please don't be late ok (: And please remember all the new unsaid rules that we have in place.

Please tune yourself to be in the SYF mode now. It's getting serious. Yes, SYF isn't all about the results but do you guys seriously want to see what the seniors have built up from scratch go down the drain? Please try your best, everyone. \

"Constant dripping hollows out a stone." - Lucretius

Here's another motivational quote to boost all your spirits (: For all of you who are too lazy to interpret its meaning, it basically means that when water constantly drips on a stone, eventually, the drips will erode a hole in the stone. Similarly, what may seem impossible now may not be impossible down the road as long as we are willing to work hard. So everyone, please work your hardest! (:

Dearest Sec Ones, I understand that CO may seem a little dull for you guys now, especially for those without background. But please bear with this trying period of time. Work hard on getting your foundations strong and stay committed (: I personally didn't really like CO when I was Sec One because I felt kinda neglected but hey! I managed to pull through and I enjoy CO sessions now! ;D Sometimes the instructors may seem a little too strict but, well, how does one expect perfection if there's no strictness in training, right? They are professionals and some of them are a little more traditional in their teaching methods. But bear with them and make the most out of every practice.

Love you all. MUACKS!

2011-02-09T21:47:00.003+08:00

Hi my dearest porcupines, please remember that the CO room will be open from WED-FRI after school for self-prac. COMPULSORY ONE HOUR SELF PRAC FOR EVERYONE OK! (Excluding the Sec Ones, unless you're DSA student) And remember, HALF CHAIR, MEMORISE SCORES, DON'T USE HP DURING PRACTICE and the other things which I mentioned in my previous post.

Please work hard and take care of yourself during this period of time! It's kinda tough but I'm sure all of us will pull through.

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit. - Aristotle

Read that nice motivational quote that I googled and be motivated (: In order to achieve excellence, we must practice so much that it's no longer an act, but a habit! Love your instrument, love the music we're playing and love playing it. Please do your best. You may think you're already doing very well but trust me, you can do much much better.

Love you all. MUACKS!

2011-02-07T16:16:00.002+08:00

Hi my dearest green peas, there is CO tmr! O:
The SecOnes are coming in then. Please socialise and make them familiarised with how we function ok (Like, intro them to what we do and who's the gayest in CO and all that) ;D

On a more serious note, it's SYF auditions tomorrow D:
Tmr's the day which decides our fate. Whether or not you get to be in SYF this year will be decided tomorrow. If you had been practicing REALLY REALLY hard for the past few months, then I don't think getting in for SYF would be a big problem. For the those who had been treating CO practices as a joke and not taking your instrument seriously, it's your own fault that you can't get into SYF. If you DO get in, oh well, miracles happen I say!

Work hard everyone. See you all tomorrow. MUACKS.

2011-02-04T14:34:00.000+08:00

Hi my dearest octopuses, there's no CO tmr (Saturday, 5 February). Still, please remember to practice if you aren't too busy with visiting and all that ok!

Love you all. MUACKS.

2011-02-02T23:44:00.004+08:00

Motivation is no more solely a SL's responsibility. Juniors seniors chairperson members, it all doesn't matter. Anyone can motivate and influence anybody as long as the will is there. We are a big family, if we want Gold, we gotta work it out together. No one should be left out.
Don't disappoint your seniors who had shed blood sweat and tears just to bring up and uphold TMSCO in such high standards.

Don't give up yo!
Practise makes perfect. I know people always claim that "nobody is perfect, why practise?"
Well, let us look at it this way -- nobody is perfect because nobody practises hard enough. So lets beat the odds and prove that practise really does create perfection.

(Browsed through CO blog's archive. This is an excerpt of a blog post that was written two months before 2009's SYF, by Guo Wei. I'm thinking, since the current comm can't motivate you guys, surely the wise words of a senior could! And we're currently two months away from SYF too. So people, read and be motivated (: Hope to see people being more serious during practice time now. ALL THE BEST and Happy CNY in advance to all chinese members ;D)

2011-02-01T23:08:00.006+08:00

I hope everyone would start to take CO practices, regardless of full orch or sectionals, very seriously from now on. It's really disappointing to see people talk unnecessarily when the instructor/conductor is talking. And worse still, sometimes it's the SIC/Comm Members who are making the noise!

Today, huolaoshi said something that kinda jolted me. She asked why the hell have we not memorised the songs although it's already February and we're only left with two months before SYF. Maybe it's because I'm an idiot that's why I didn't really realise that we've left so little time but I was really shocked. 2 months left? 2 months left to perfect these two songs? Only?

Let's face it. Our standard currently isn't ANYWHERE close to gwh, or gold, for that matter. Heck, I'm beginning to wonder if we're even close to a silver! And here we are, laughing at themselves when they make a dumb mistake, instead of feeling embarrassed of themselves. And here we are, talking to one another about irrelevant things when the conductor is trying to perfect a part.

Here are some new unsaid 'rules' for CO practices from now on. Please realise the importance of maintaining strict discipline at this point of time and don't complain.

1) Half chair. Not asking you to like sit straight and half chair for the full 4-3 hours but please have a good posture when ever the conductor prepares to start practice. (Basically, sit half chair when you see that the baton is up.)

2) Don't talk unless your topic of discussion with your friend is relevant to the music that we're currently playing. Even if so, please remember to WHISPER.

3) Girls MUST tie up their hair during all practices. Lots of teachers have come to me saying "Eh, keep your members' attire in check" ok. And I really don't understand why you people have to let down your hair when you come for full orch prac. Why? There's a special chemical in the CO Room air that makes you more vain is it? D< (We're not being uber-strict here by saying fringes definitely must be up ok. So don't complain!)

4) Don't do anything else during practice time (eg. sms/read/playhpgames etc). It's called PRACTICE time for a reason. We're here to practice so let's give it our best and don't digress ok! I understand that sometimes it's really hard to concentrate because it's tiring and all, but please, just try your best ok! You're not the only one going through this difficult time! Let's all persevere together!

5) Shut up and listen properly during debrief time. It's really infuriating to see people talking to their friends and smsing and doing other nonsensical stuff and not paying attention. There's debrief for a reason ok. So make sure you listen.

6) Everybody to sit at their own seats which they sit at during full orch prac (during debrief).

7) Come back PUNCTUALLY after break. FYI, break time isn't lunchtime/teatime/dinnertime. It's just a short period of time for you to drink/pee/powernap/eatsweets etc. Let's all strive to be punctual ok!

8) Even if you don't like CO (which isn't supposed to be the case), you're not allowed to defame CO in front of others. It's SYF prep period. We need to keep our morale high. Other members are already stressed out enough so don't demoralise them further.

9) 台风, or what's known in layman terms as "moving to the music" (LOL). Ok, it may not seem important now because everyone's focus is on getting our music to sound nice but try to do it ok! Sooner or later, it'll become a vital part of our performance and the instructors/seniors are gonna nag about it. So rmb to move if you can feel the music while playing ok! Don't need to paiseh! We're all gonna need to do this anyway, so let's all do our best!

Ok, that should be the end. I'll update if we manage to think of more.
And everyone, please remember that SYF auditions will be held next tuesday. NEXT TUESDAY. NEXT. TUESDAY. And the Sec ones are coming in then too. WORK HARD EVERYONE! DON'T GIVE UP! YOU CAN DO IT!

I love you all to bits! ;D

2011-01-26T19:58:00.002+08:00

Hey everyone!

As you may or may not know, CO room will be open on WEDNESDAYS, THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS for self practice. (Yes, I said CO ROOM, because it's officially CO's Room and the art room has been shifted to some ulu place. YAY!)

There's also a new rule that everyone in CO MUST DO AT LEAST AN HOUR OF SELF PRACTICE every week. Yeah, we're copying band yadah yadah yadah. But so what if we did? Band is disciplined and their music's not bad. Nothing wrong in learning good practices from them right? (:

Don't ask why this wasn't done for the previous years during SYF. That;'s because we are incredibly behind standard. During the previous years, our seniors were all willing to come back for self prac even though this rule wasn't implemented. Besides, their skills are much better than ours. We desperately need this self practice session ok! So please, everyone, do your best! ;D

For the members who despise CO and dislike coming for practice and all that, well, all I've to say is that though you may not like this CCA, at least don't give up on your instrument alright? You've spent so much time working on your skills, don't you think it's a great pity to give it all up now? I'm sure everyone likes playing their instrument right, if not why would you choose to learn and play it?
(If you are one of those rare people who really hate your instrument but still joined CO anyway because your parents forced you or whatever. Well, you have a sad life. Since you can't do anything about it so might as well do your best and make the most out of it.)

Ok, I hope everyone will do their best to work hard and not let our seniors down! Imagine building up something that means a lot to you, then it dies off after you're gone. I think that's incredibly sad and disappointing :/ You know how they've been ever supportive right? So we'll do our best to make them proud ok!

And please, don't neglect your studies for CO. Studies are important even though working hard for CO is important too! Learn to manage your time well ok! LOVE YOU ALL! MUACKS <3

PS (SICs please coordinate with your people the days which they will come for self prac. We don't want to open the room and nobody comes for practice. It's gonna waste the time of the people in charge of the signing in and out for the day. Be considerate ok! Thanks.)

TMSACO Concert SUCCESS ;D

2011-01-22T23:13:00.003+08:00

Congratulations to TMSACO for their successful debut concert! ;D
I just came back from the show and it was wonderful. I enjoyed every moment of it (though it was really kinda challenging for me to be emcee-ing with so much chinese words in my script because I hardly speak mandarin formally)! ;D

For all those TMSCO peeps who went, I sincerely hope all of you have learnt something from this concert today (: You've seen for yourself how they came back so many times a week just to practice and sharpen their skills. Their great performance was not a manifestation of luck or chance, it was the product of them being willing to put in effort for success, the success of the whole orchestra.

We've got to start thinking like this. We've got to work together and everyone has to put in effort! SYF is nearing and there is no way we can improve if we do no have the thirst and the hunger for it. The seniors have set us a wonderful example, it's now up to us, TMSCO, whether to follow it or not. Everyone shall try our best together ok? (:

For all those who didn't attend, well, all I've to say is it's a great pity, because you missed out a beautiful and amazing show that was definitely under-priced.

Ok everyone! Work hard ok! ;D There's CO practice on Tuesday so remember to turn up ok! Excuses like sore throat, leg cramp, muscle ache, itchy eyeball or menstrual cramps are NOT ACCEPTABLE. Thanks.

2011-01-14T19:45:00.001+08:00

We're receiving our grading exam results tomorrow! *O*

TMSACO Concert

2011-01-11T14:01:00.005+08:00

Hey everyone! The Temasek Alumni Chinese Orchestra (TMSACO) will be having their debut performance this month soon! They've been working very hard for the past few weeks, months, in fact, so please support them if you're free on that day ok! It's also a great opportunity for us to learn from their performance (We need as much exposure to Chinese orchestral music as we can because there's SYF this year and nothing beats first-hand experience on listening to a performance!)

Our alumni are all way better players than us even though they started out as we were. So I hope everyone who's gonna go for their performance will be encouraged to work hard to be as good as them ok! (:

Date : 22nd January 2011, Saturday
Venue : Temasek Secondary School Hall
Time : 7 pm
Ticket price : $6

Please tell your SIC if you're interested in attending this performance.
Here's their facebook event page for more information.

Let's support our seniors to repay our gratitude for always being supportive to us! (: See you all for practice this Saturday~

PS(We're getting back our NUS Grading results this sat! Aren't you all excited? >w<)

2011-01-04T18:22:00.002+08:00

Hey all. There's no CO today :(
AWW..
But it's Sec One CCA Orientation this Thursday ;D
YAY!
So everyone, please practice fenyong and juhuatai at home if you can ok! Nothing beats self practice at the comfort of your own home, right? (:
Ok, see you all in Tahmasek tmr. BYE!

2011-01-04T18:22:00.001+08:00

2011-01-04T18:22:00.000+08:00

2010-12-31T22:56:00.002+08:00

Happy New Year everyone! ;D
2010's been rather exciting for CO hasn't it? I'd say Megaconcert, Shanghai exchange programme, NUS grading Exam and CO camp were the main highlights of CO life this year.

Oh! And stock check. Can't possibly forget how troublesome and tiring that was. But ironically, I had quite a lot of fun breathing in the dust-filled air while shifting instruments and casings and pieces of paper and other junk. It was fun because we were all clearing stuff together, right? (: The drying was so neat afterwards that it was kinda unbelievable that we were the ones who cleared it O: Speaking of which, the drying yard is becoming more and more cluttered lately! Let's do our best to keep it clean and tidy ok? If not our juniors will be the ones clearing our mess a few years down the road and I'm sure we're not so evil right? (:

Megaconcert is a delightful memory for all of us, I'm sure (: I'll never forget that feeling on stage. IT WAS FLYINGCARSLIKETOSAYMEOW-ING FANTASTIC! Of course, prior to that there was the horrible rehearsals and stuff. It was a lot of waiting and getting scolded and a lot of waiting. But hey, I'd say it was worth it (: That moment on stage is unforgettable.
I'd like everyone to recall that feeling. That happy, nervous and strange feeling when performing on that stage. In a few months time, we'll be experiencing that awesome sweet feeling again, on the stage of Singapore Conference Hall for our SYF performance. But if we don't put in our best for the next few months before our fateful performance, we'll be feeling regret instead of happiness. We'll regret why didn't we put in effort when we could have done so much better if we had really been committed. I'm not saying we chiong all out like crazy monkeys just for SYF, our academic results are important too! It's all a test on whether we can balance our time well. I've learnt the hard way of the consequences of concentrating too much on CCAs. Don't be like me.

As for NUS grading exams, OUR RESULTS ARE GONNA BE ANNOUNCED SOON. I'm not sure when but I'm assuming it's soon (considering the fact that results were supposed to be released by 29 Dec). I'm nervous like a burning cat. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE FOR THEIR RESULTS OK!

Ok. I think everyone's pretty sick of my blogging. Happy New Year everyone (: Write down New Year Resolutions and follow them ok! LOVE YOU ALL! MUACKS!

ps(OH FLYING HOLY COWS FROM AUSTRALIA! I'M GONNA BE A SEC FOUR STUDENT IN LIKE 40 MINS! >w<)

2010-12-29T23:44:00.006+08:00

The people who need to come for self practice this Friday has been confirmed. Please come for practice and report punctually at 7:45am (:

Percussion
Sec 4 Chuang Jing Ying, Nicholas Kang, Alicia Goh, Cheong Shi Min, Tiffany Chua, Tee Meng Li
Sec 3 Mandy Chan, Soon Cheng Yi, Kim Yeon Jae
Sec 2 Matthew

Woodwind
Sec 4 Berenice Chong, Tan Quan Yu, Lee Shi Min, Claire Tan, Tan Luoyi, Uncle Poh
Sec 3 Nicholas Ng, Shermaine Goh, Nicholas Ngo, Yeo Wei Bin, Lee Yee Yong
Sec 2 Sean Jin, Ong Shi Shi

Pluckstring
Sec 4 Koh Ning Le, Lim Xin ni, Melody Goh, Wang Xi, Shawn Loo, Sarah Sng
Sec 3 Kellyn Chua, Gina Widjaya, Jazreel Cheong, Kristy Ng

Bowedstring
Sec 4 Michelle Lee, Zhang YiFei, Liang Yue, Lim Shi Jing,Judea Cheong Amelia Lee, Jeanne Lau
Sec 3 Amanda Lim, Tan Hwee Jing, Janice Wong, Xavier Kho, Ooi Cheng Yin, Song Hui Wai
Sec 2 Randy Kam

Cello/Bass
Sec 4 Keren Goh, Elisabeth Djamonang, Leo Kay Min
Sec 3 Bryant Chua, Heng Jun Wei, Delia Koh, Yee Min Ning, Clarissa Tan
Sec 2 Damien Chong

Please be there because we'll be preparing for Sec One Orientation AKA will be having combined prac with Uncle Poh conducting.
Also take note that Jun Wei, Sarah Sng, and Percussion will be solo-ing for the Orientation. Thank you so much and please do your best to practice! (:
Ok, see you on Friday! MUACKS.

(On a separate note, LOOK! The person who wrote this list classified us under our next year level even though it's not next year yet! >w< IT'S A SIGN FOR US TO START MATURING AND BE MORE RESPONSIBLE OK! ;D)

2010-12-28T19:46:00.002+08:00

HEY EVERYONE!
How was CO practice today? I think it was kinda productive, cept that it's been freakin cold for the whole day and my throat isn't responding too well with that. But ah well~

There's Self Practice this Friday (31 Dec) from 8-11 am. Like what they've already informed during debrief, it will be compulsory for some people and those people will be informed soon. But for those who are not in the list for compulsory self prac, you may still come down for practice if you wish (:

There is NO CO this Saturday because it'll be New Year's day. Take note k! (: But please try to practice a bit at home if you have free time and you're not too busy with chionging holiday homework!

The people who will be solo-ing for the Sec One CCA Orientation will be confirmed and informed ASAP. Once you know that you're gonna solo, please practice and do your best ok! ;D Speaking of Sec One Orientation, we have to welcome the sec ones with open arms and do our best to encourage them to be enthusiastic in our CCA too. Since they came in during SYF year, it's going to be very competitive for them and we must encourage them to work hard all the time. It's very important that we show them that we are supportive and that we care for their well-being (:

Hope today's practice made everyone rekindle that CO-loving enthusiasm in your heart! ;D We have to work very hard in our prep for SYF already!

So everyone, let's work hard and do our best together ok! (:

2010-12-27T19:04:00.002+08:00

Hey. So nobody bothered to guess who Mystery Writer was :(
I'm so hurt.
So Mystery Writer is in fact.. LUO YI.
Oh yes, oh yes. It's the awesome Luo Yi! ;D
Please remember to come for CO tmr. Don't be late if not Bere will give out some scary punishment and it won't be nice!

Since Liulaoshi said that our blog was too dead, I shall update often now! Beware, I'me a horrible blogger. SNIGGER SNIGGER.

Ok bye. See you all tmr. Don't be late! (:

2010-12-27T15:39:00.002+08:00

THERE'S CO TMR @ 2:30 pm. Don't be late ok! So to be safe, reach there 5 mins earlier than 2:30.

See you all tmr! Be excited because there's finally CO after a long long time!
YAY!

Christmas Day

2010-12-25T23:34:00.005+08:00

Hey everyone (: I know it's a little late to post this now since Christmas day will end in like 5 minutes or so but yeah. Made this image thingy and hope you guys would like it though it's kinda plain.

So today, I had a performance and I'd like to share with you all the experience I had. It's not much,just a performance for the religious organisation I belong in. The songs were easy. It's those sort of song that if I gave it to anyone of you and tell you that it's going to be the song we'll play in our next performance, you'll give me that look. It was that easy. It was probably sight-readable. But considering the fact that th CO that I played together with today consist of mostly elderly who don't have formal training in CO instruments, I'd say it's reasonable.

But sadly, the performance was disappointing. Maybe I was complacent or maybe it's just me having too high an expectation of myself. If I were to list out the flaws of that performance, by the time I'm done, Boxing day would have been halfway gone (OK I'M JUST EXAGGERATING, but you get the idea).

From today, I learnt a lesson. Always practice hard and treat songs seriously regardless of the difficulty level. After the performance, somehow I was kinda worried for a fraction of a second that CO would make the same horrible mistake that I committed. After all, I'm hearing many people say that the set piece is very easy. I hope you guys don't think I'm being cheesy by sharing this experience with all of you and that you also learnt something from this horrible experience which I went through. Treat every song seriously and enjoy it like how a wine critic would enjoy tasting wine after being deprived from wine and only exposed to low-brow alcoholic drinks, like beer and blah, for 20 years. Savour every part of it. Sip it slowly and let it encase you in warmth and see colour swirling as you close your eyes and let your imagination take over the tasting.

You get the point right? Basically, just respect every song that you have the honour to get to play it. Simple enough? Alright.

I hope everyone would work their very best to bring out your own potential ok! Everyone of us are like raw diamonds. Freshly picked from the damn volcanic mountain, all yellow and dirty and horribly shaped. But as long as that diamond is polished, TADAA! It becomes pretty and shiny and valuable! All of us have potential to play, it's only a matter of whether we want to practice hard enough to let our true ability shine or not. And practice, like polishing, is difficult and painful (Don't see why polishing is painful? Imagine yourself being rubbed all over with chemicals and stuff that's made to cut diamonds. Now do you agree that it's painful? ). But only by withstanding all that pain and hardship will we be able to SHINE (Go on, close your eyes and imagine yourself as Edward Cullen out in the sun). So everyone let's work hard together ok!

(Ok, I realise that the above paragraph may sound dumb and lame to some people but please don't think that way! I really really think it's a good analogy and it's true that everyone of us has hidden potential that won't come out unless we practice!)

It's 12.22 am. This means Christmas is over :( Aw.. Now that dumb image that I edited is useless! OK HAPPY BOXING DAY, anyway. I really hope everyone will practice hard for your own and the CO's sake ok! The seniors have high hopes for us and have always been supporting us SO WE MUSTN'T LET THEM DOWN! I gotta sleep now! Goodnight!

PS( This is not Berenice. It's someone awesome-r. Type your guess of who I am in the tagboard ok! Write "I think the mystery writer of the latest blog post is __(insert name here)__" GO ON NOW! Everyone who read this post must tag! ;D)

edit : I realised that this post is labelled 11:35 pm when I posted it even though it IS 12:22 when I posted it. OH FLYING BIRDS! That's amazing!

2010-12-12T20:58:00.001+08:00

Hello (:
so many things have been going on this year ! I'll like to say that you guys did quite well the last practice but lots of improvements are still needed ! (:
the next practice will start on the 28th of dec ( tues ) please do not pon ! thanks (:

2010-07-24T23:15:00.002+08:00

Hello members. please take note that there is practice on tuesday, and optional self practice on friday !
there would be extension of practice the following 3 saturdays,
31 july,
7 August,
14th august.
For those who cannot make it, can you please tell Luoyi, Nicholas, Shao yong or Berenice .
thank you.

2010-07-06T22:16:00.002+08:00

yes people, you all did well for megaconcert and deserve a pat on your head ! :D
you all really did better than expected and i think the comm is really glad ! I hope that this megaconcert has motivated all of you to attend CO frequently and not to PON. I feel that the sections has started to bond even more within this time :D all the hard work has already paid off and yes ! :D
though some of the sections were really noisy, SICs were able to control the noise ! well done ! but you all must learn to control your section even more !

there will be comm meeting at the art room this friday @ 2.30pm (:
see you all there !
<3

would also like to thank all the alumni for making the effort to come down and practice despite your hectic schedule ! you all contributed to a lot to this megaconcert, thus making it successful ! :D

2010-07-01T18:05:00.000+08:00

HELLO ! there's practice tommorow ^^
the art room will be open at around 12.45 and practice will start at 2.30. End - 6pm .
All of you must jiayou for this coming rehearsal!!! don't throw away CO's face {:
AND MEGACONCERT IS JUST A FEW DAYS AWAY !
SO WE MUST PRACTICE HARD !! ;D;D

love {:

2010-06-23T23:25:00.003+08:00

Hello to people of the earth :D
There is CO on thurs ( 24th june ) from 8am to 5pm.
yes, so you must be there :D:D

and don't forget ! the full dressed rehearsal is on sat ( 26th june ) so please get your attire ready ! those that haven't got their attire better get it fast ! or else..

so let's practice hard people :D:D

2010-06-21T15:49:00.001+08:00

HELLO !
there is CO tomorrow ! from 2.30pm to 6pm
please remember to come !
and comm members, please remember our date together ! (^_^)

hope you guys enjoyed your holiday ~~

2010-06-09T21:25:00.002+08:00

PLEASE BE INFORMED THAT THERE IS CO THIS SAT.

the schedule as follow :
Sat (12/06) dazu - 8am to 12.30pm
Tues (22/06) sectionals - 2.30pm to 6pm
Thurs (24/06) Sectionals + full run through(rehearsal) - 8am to 5pm
Sat (26/06) Combined rehearsal (full dressed) - 8am to 3pm
Sat (03/07) Full run through(rehearsal) - 8am to 12.30pm
Sun (04/7) THE MEGA CONCERT

and the rehearsal this friday(11th june) is cancelled.
thanks!

2010-06-06T20:13:00.001+08:00

There will be an additional practice on the 22nd of june, 2.45pm to 5.45pm.
Thanks.

2010-05-31T23:14:00.005+08:00

Hey sec 4 ! if you are interested in Nyjc, you can try out the nyco das auditions !! :D:D
go to www.nanyangjc.org under 2010 dsa and register!! (: auditions are on 9 june 2010!
wish you all , all the best !

SCHEDULE
Tues (1/06) Sectionals - 2.30pm
wed (2/06) combined rehearsal + full run through - 10am to 5pm
Fri (4/06) combined rehearsal+ full run through - 10am to 5pm
Sat (5/06) Dazu - 8am to 11am
Tues (8/06) Sectionals -2.30pm
Thurs (24/06) Sectionals + full run through(rehearsal) - 8am to 5pm
Sat (26/06) Combined rehearsal (full dressed) - 8am to 3pm
Sat (03/07) Full run through(rehearsal) - 8am to 12.30pm
Sun (04/7) THE MEGA CONCERT

The practice on the 11th of june is cancelled.

PRACTICE HARD FOR THE MEGACONCERT ! MUACKS !

2010-05-19T22:19:00.002+08:00

Hey peeps !
remember that there is CO this sat.
and the attire for mega concert is :
-Black shirt ( collar tee and long sleeve)
-Black Pants ( NO SKINNEs/tights. must be straight CUT )
-court shoes
-ties : Bowed strings : blue
Plucked strings : red
Percussion : orange
Cello / Bass : purple
Woodwind : green

For those who don't have the ties and would like to buy, please inform your SICS and we'll help you to order ^_^

2010-05-17T23:03:00.002+08:00

HEY PEEPS ^^
exams are overr !
which means CO is starting soon !
CO will be resuming on the 18th of may ( tues )
so pleaseee come !

and

There is a concert by Temasek Junior College Chinese Orchestra.
Date : 29th may 2010
venue : Singapore Conference Hall
cost : $12
time : 7.30
those who are interested may you please let Nicholas, Luoyi or Berenice know !

THANKS :D:D
cya soon !

<3

2010-04-27T21:49:00.001+08:00

Here's another Joke to keep you guys alive :DD
TAG MORE ;DD
A lecturer teaching medicine was giving a classoom observation. He took out a jar of yellow liquid. "This," he explained, "is urine. To be a doctor, you have to be observant of color, smell, sight, and taste."

After saying so, he dipped his finger into the jar and put it into his mouth. His class watched in amazement, most in disgust. But being
the good students that they were, the jar was passed, and one by one, they dipped their finger into the jar and put it into their mouths.

After the last student was done, the lecturer shook his head. "If any of you had been observant, you would have noticed that I put my second finger into the jar and my third finger into my mouth.

LALALA ~~

2010-04-25T20:03:00.001+08:00

Hey hey ;D
Shall try to post a joke like what jiayu says XD

here's one (: hope you enjoy :D

:A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. The next week the man realized that he would need his wife to wake him at 5.00 am for an early morning business flight to Chicago. Not wanting to be the first to break the silence, he finally wrote on a piece of paper, "Please wake me at 5.00 am."
The next morning the man woke up, only to discover it was 9.00am, and that he had missed his flight. Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn't woken him when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed ... it said... "It is 5.00am; wake up."

2010-04-20T00:12:00.003+08:00

Hello to the-very-little-people-namely-tmsco-members-who-visit-this-blog-based-on-the-pathetic-number-of-tags-i-see,
but screw it i'm still gonna post this and if you see this please tag if still no tags then relevant people please persuade/beg/force/slap/whack/coerce/plead/ask/invite them into visiting this blog.

Dunman High School Chinese Orchestra will be having their Woodwind and Percussion Concert, 9th May (Sunday), 7pm, at Singapore Conference hall.

For more info (namely ticket enquiries) go to http://verdant-dreams.blogspot.com/

as quoted from Dunman High School Chinese Orchestra In Acronyms Blow Hit.

-from the other one.

2010-04-18T17:43:00.002+08:00

HELLO.
there won't be CO starting from tues, (20th apr)
and it'll only resume on the 18th of may (tues)
so remember to come and not PoN CO !!
GOODLUCK FOR YOUR MYE~~
<3

2010-04-13T03:35:00.000+08:00

Hello sweeties!

Be part of the awesome kids and join the TMSCO Facebook group if you haven't done so! Lalalalala.

I know this place's rather dead, cos it lacks regular cool people like guowei.

So here's a little video to brighten up the area, or to irritate your ears(?).

Oh, and congrats to the fresh new batch of committee members! Was busy that day and couldn't make it to the handover.

Anyways, TMSCO is in now your hands. Bring out your leadership skills and journey the family into a forth consecutive Gold award (or second with honours?) streak in next year's SYF! But most and very importantly, don't forget to have fun! :D

Enjoy school and stay sexy! *grins*

Love you.

A new blogskin maybe?

2010-04-01T19:43:00.002+08:00

NO CO on 3 april 2010 saturday. (school closed because of good friday on 2 april)

2010-03-27T14:25:00.000+08:00

Handover Ceremony

For Sec4s & 5s, CCA will stand down permanently due to prepration for 'O' or 'N' levels examinations on 1st April 2010. The last practice for Sec4s & 5s will be on 30th March 2010, Tuesday. You guys will officially step down on 1st April 2010.

For Sec1s to 3s, CCA will stand down temporarily due to preparation for mid year examinations on 17 April 2010. The last practice for Sec1s to 3s before mid year will be on the 17 April 2010, Saturday.

Handover Ceremony will be on 2nd April 2010, Good Friday Public Holiday. This is the soft copy of the letter to parents for the handover ceremony:

Attire: Casual (NOT smart casual)

There will be sectional lunch/outing organised by the newly-appointed SICs before the handover ceremony. They were tell you the details of the lunch/outing by next tuesday. After the sectional lunch/outing, they will bring you to the venue of the handover cermony.

During the handover ceremony, there will be an exchange of gifts (tradition). New & old committee please get ready gifts for your seniors/juniors. The gifts are for the seniors whose post that you are going to take over or the juniors who is taking over your post. Non-committee people are also welcomed to buy gifts for your graduating seniors! :)

We hope all TMSCO members can attend the handover ceremony :)

P.S. There will still be saturday full orchestra practice on 3rd April 2010, 745-11am.

2010-03-27T14:17:00.002+08:00

CO Committee 2010-2011

President: Berenice Chong 3/1

Vice President: Nicholas Kang 3/1, Tan Luo Yi 3/6

Student Conductor: Poh Shao Yong 3/7
Assistant Student Conductor: Jezreel Cheong 2/6

General Secretary: Leo Kay Min 3/5, Melody Goh 3/3
Assistant General Secretary: Gina Widjaya 2/4

Honorary Treasurer: Shawn Loo 3/4, Chuang Jing Ying 3/1

Operation Officer: Tan Quan Yu 3/1, Tee Meng Li 3/4
Assistant Operation Officer: Yeo Wei Bin 2/4

Instrument Manager: Sarah Sng 3/8, Lee Shi Min 3/1
Assistant Instrument Manager: Heng Jun Wei 2/3

Score Master: Michelle Lee 3/1, Tan Hui Min 2/4
Assistant Score Master: Soon Cheng Yi 2/4

Sectional In-Charge

Bowed Strings
Primary: Lim Shi Jing 3/5
Assistant: Tan Hwee Jing 2/3, Janice Wong Sin Yee 2/6

Cello/Bass
Primary: Keren Goh 3/4
Assistant: Bryant Chua 2/5

Percussion
Primary: Cheong Shi Min 3/6
Assistant: Mandy Chan 2/2, Kim Yeon Jae 2/5

Plucked Strings
Primary: Koh Ning Le 3/2
Assistant: Kristy Ng 2/2, Kellyn Chua 2/2

Woodwind
Primary: Nicholas Ng 2/3,Shermaine Goh 2/5
Assistant: Lee Yee Yong 2/5

2010-03-19T08:10:00.002+08:00

18 March 2010
Collation of scores

A detailed copy of every judge's judging marksheet had been sent to Xue Shi (CHIJ St. Nicholas' Girls School), Winfred (Maris Stella High School), Mei Kei (Northland Secondary School) and to TPJC hotmail.

We thank everyone for making this event a success! :)

Videos and Pictures will be up on TMSCO facebook and blog soon!

Stay tuned...

2010-03-15T20:29:00.001+08:00

March Holidays Practice!

1. 16 March 2010 Tuesday 2.30-6pm (Full Orchestra/Sectional)
2. 18 March 2010 Thursday 8-1pm (Exchange Programme)
3. 20 March 2010 Saturday 745-11am (Full Orchestra)

Thanks.

2010-02-28T21:20:00.006+08:00

Some videos for your enjoyment!(:

CCA Orientation 2010

Ju Hua Tai (Conducted by Shao Yong)

Tribal Beat Sound System (Percussion Solo)

Fen Yong Qian Jin (Conducted by Faith)

2010-02-13T23:20:00.001+08:00

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR to all!

No CO on 13, 16 and 20 feb 2010.

CO (sectionals) resumes on 23 feb 2010!

2010-01-20T15:28:00.006+08:00

Letter/Practice schedule

All sec3s and people who were absent on 19/1/2010, please get a hardcopy of a letter to parents and practice schedule for year 2010 when you report for CO or get a softcopy and print it out (see below).

Note to sec4s: The school doesn't allow sec4s to take part in the TMS Mega Concert on 4th July 2010.

ALL STUDENTS (Sec1s to Sec4s) ARE REQUIRED:

1) To hand in the reply slip to your SICs by tuesday, 26/1/2010.
2) Hand in January CO Fund of $2 to your SICs by tuesday, 26/1/2010.

2010-01-16T18:41:00.005+08:00

Updates

TMSCO Practices are as follows: (notice the change in some timings)
Tuesday, Sectionals, 230-6pm
Friday, Self Practice (optional), 1230-4pm
Saturday, Full Orchestra, 745-11am

Events

1. CNY Performance on 10 Feb 2010, Rehearsal on 5 Feb 2010.
Performance Items: Percussion Solo, Ju Hua Tai (Zhan Xuan from class 4/1 singing) and Xiao Bai Nian

2. Performance at Singapore Expo on 5 Mar 2010, 8-10pm.

ALL SEC4S STUDENTS PLEASE TELL JINGJIE IF YOU WISH TO BE INVOLVED IN THE SCHOOL'S MEGA CONCERT IN JULY BY NEXT TUESDAY (19/1/2010).

2010-01-05T20:05:00.003+08:00

CCA Orientation 2010

Date: 09 Jan 2010
Reporting Time: By 7.30am to Art Room 2
Ending Time: Before 12pm
Performance Venue: Learning Hub
Attire: CO shirt (if not orientation shirt) + school skirt/pants (NO P.E SHORTS ALLOWED)
Performance Items: 1. Ju Hua Tai (with Serene Teo singing) 2. Tribal Beat Sound System (Percussion Solo Piece)

NON-PERFORMERS NEED NOT TURN UP.

Rehearsal for ALL CCA ORIENTATION PERFORMERS on Friday, 08 Jan 2010, report to art room 2 by 2.30pm.

Thanks.

2009-12-27T16:00:00.002+08:00

NUS EXAM RESULTS!!

CONGRATS!(:

2009-12-22T08:32:00.001+08:00

Updates

Hey guys,

There are 2 more practice left for the year 2009!

They are:

1) 29Dec2009 Sectionals 830am-1200pm Art Room/Classrooms
2) 30Dec2009 Full Orchestra 830am-1200pm Art Room

Thanks!

2009-11-29T23:00:00.004+08:00

NO MORE SECTIONALS ON 1DEC.

REPORTING VENUE FOR NUS EXAM IS CHANGED TO HALL

THANKS.

2009-11-28T17:56:00.003+08:00

NUS EXAMINATION ON 1DEC

Route:

1. Report to foyer at your respective reporting timings.
2. Proceed to learning hub (holding room).
3. Proceed to exam room.

I assume all of you guys have brought your instrument home as the drying yard is unavailable because there's exam going on in the art room. Also bring your instrument home after the exam with you as the drying yard is unavailable too.

Exam venues:
Student centre: Pipa, Liuqin, Zhongruan, Erhu (Siqi, Xavier, Amanda, Edwin, Janice, Amelia, Michelle, Shi Jing, Jeanne, Judea, Shu Ling, Brandon, Jocelyn, Yi Jia, Faith)

Art room: Yangqin, Dizi, Sheng, Cello, Gu Zheng, Suona, Erhu (Hui Wai, Cheng Yin, Wang Yue, Hwee Jing, Samantha)

Things needed to bring: Instrument, Exam Scores, Student card/Ez-link (in case) for verification

CO break is from 2-28Dec. CO resumes on 29Dec 2-6pm Sectionals. Those who did not pay CO fund $10 please do so on 29Dec.

Thanks!

GOOD LUCK AND PRACTICE HARD FOR YOUR EXAMS!!(:

2009-11-17T20:01:00.003+08:00

For those who did not attend debrief today.

1. Those taking NUS grading exam but have not received the orange piece of paper please stay back on saturday after TMS open house.

2. There's open house rehearsal this friday 20nov2009, from 9am to 12pm for OPEN HOUSE PERFORMERS ONLY. Afternoon grading classes will be as per normal.

3. OPEN HOUSE is on this saturday 21nov2009, every CO member is supposed to report to art room at 830am.

4. Please hand in the CO CAMP consent form to your SICs on this saturday. Should you lost it or did not receive it, you can print out a copy (see below).

2009-11-17T19:48:00.004+08:00

TMSCO CAMP 2009

You may download a copy of the consent form if you don't have it or have lost it.

And, the Updated CO CAMP SCHEDULE is as above. The one you're given is the outdated one. CO CAMP ends at 1pm on 25nov2009.

PLEASE BE REMINDED THAT NO home clothes are allowed, and slippers will only be allowed when bathing and before you go to bed ONLY.

For individual performances within sections, the SICs will be in charged.

Requirements:
1. Each student is to prepare a 3-5min performance, choice of 1 or 2 songs that they are required to play in the grading examinations.
2. Before the start of the performance, students are required to greet the audience and state the song that they are going to play. (To be mentally prepared for the examinations)
3. Exception of Bass and Percussion which will be performing in groups.

THANKS:D

2009-11-17T19:35:00.007+08:00

TMS Open House on 21nov2009

PERFORMERS LIST

打击：Alison, Yang Kai, Chee Yan, Nicholas Kang, Tiffany, Cheong Shi Min, Alicia, Yeon Jae
扬琴：Serene Teo, Mandy

柳琴：1st Performance: Melody, Gina 2nd Performance: Kellyn, Jezreel,
琵琶：Bei Xue, Jane, Shawn, Ningle
中阮：Jing Jie, Xin Ni, Kay Min
大阮: Serene Neo
古筝：Sarah Sng

大提琴：Rachel Tan, Keren, Elizabeth, Wen Han
倍大提琴: Lena, Kenneth, Johnathan

高胡：Yi Jia, Faith, Judea
二胡1：Samantha, Shi Yee, Shi Jing, Jeanne
二胡2： Janice, Amelia, Michelle,
中胡：Jocelyn, Shu Ling, Justin

高音唢呐：Leong Hui, Shermaine, Nicholas
高音笙：Elson, Lee Shi Min, Berenice
中音笙：Claire, Huiyu
低音笙：Nicholas Ngo

梆笛：Shao Yong, Luo Yi, Yee Yong, Wei Bin
曲笛：Quan Yu, Kah Wee, Vivienne, Andrew

Total No. Of Performers: 60 (Non-performers still need to turn up.)

Performance Items:
1.奋勇前进
2. 蝉歌
Conductor: Mr. Liu Bin

Performance timings:
1010am & 1210am
PLEASE make sure you are back for performance on that day.

Every CO member will be involved in the open house. Other than the people at the booth, the rest of the CO members will be walking around the school, promoting CO to the students and parents by giving out CO flyers. While promoting CO, CO members will also encourage these students and parents to visit the CO Booth for more information.

Booth
Booth I/C: SICs
People at the booth: SICs, ASICs, Jing Jie, Yang Kai & Melody

The people at the booth will be helping to promote CO and answer the questions that the public may have.

Attendance will be taken on that day, every CO member is expected to turn up. Thanks.

FLOOR PLAN.
That's why we are only allowed so little performers.

2009-11-06T15:37:00.002+08:00

NOV – DEC schedule (updated 301009)

1. 7/11 Sat 8.30am – 12.30pm Full orchestra

2. 17/11 Tue 10am – 1pm Full orchestra
17/11 Tue 2pm to 6pm Sectional

3. 21/11 Sat 8.30am – 12.30pm TMS Open House

4. 24/11 Tue 10am – 1pm Full orchestra
2pm to 6pm Sectional
6pm onwards Camp activities

5. 25/11 Wed Morning to 12noon Camp activities

6. 28/11 Sat 8.30am – 12.30pm Full orchestra

7. 1/12 Tue NUS Chinese Instrument Examinations (i/c: Mrs Ang and Mr Ng)

Break: 2/12 – 28/12

8. 29/12 Tue 8.30am – 12.30pm Sectional
9. 30/12 Wed 8.30am – 12.30pm Full orchestra

2009-10-30T17:01:00.001+08:00

Upcoming events:

1. TMS Open House 2009 on 21 Nov 2009
2. CO Camp 2009 on 24-25 Nov 2009 (tentative)
3. NUS Grading Examinations on 1 Dec 2009

2009-10-24T15:07:00.003+08:00

All the best to everyone taking O levels!

See you all during CO practices after 11th Nov :)

Regards,

Guowei.

2009-10-03T07:54:00.006+08:00

Please note that individual classes resume on 16 oct 2009 EVEN THOUGH that day is a marking day for all temasekians.

REMEMBER TO TURN UP ON 16 OCT 2009 FOR YOUR CLASSES!! Same time, same venue. See you guys there! (Percussion members, check with Alison)

In the meanwhile, GOOD LUCK FOR THE FINAL YEAR EXAMS!! :D

and...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JINGQUAN!

2009-09-23T19:41:00.002+08:00

Hi all SYCO is having an audition to recruit members, and TMSCO are encouraged and welcome to join the audition! (See above brochure for more information)

Interested applicants please get the brochure from JINGJIE and fill it up and hand it in to her latest by 30 SEP 2009. Thanks!

It's really a rare opporunity, all members are encouraged.

2009-09-22T15:26:00.000+08:00

Arts Sphere Taiwan Musical Voygae
Date: 30th September 2009
Venue: Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Lee's Foundation Theatre
Time: 7.30pm
Ticketing: $12 ($2 DONATED to Taiwan)

2009年9月30日（新加坡）南洋艺术学院李氏基金剧场

2009年10月5日（台湾）台南艺术大学演艺厅

2009年9月6日（台湾）成功大学

2009年10月7日（台湾）中國醫藥大學藝文中心

Interested people please contact Jing Jie!

2009-09-15T14:44:00.003+08:00

PLEASE TAKE NOTE THERE IS CO PHOTOTAKING TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).

ALL SEC ONE TO SEC FIVE PLEASE REPORT TO ART ROOM BY 730AM.

THANKS!

Attire: School uniform with school tie.

2009-09-12T18:12:00.002+08:00

Student conductor: Faith
Assistant student conductor: Shao Yong

All the best!!

Please TRY and plan your holidays according to the date given. If you are going overseas and are missing CO practices, please produce a letter from your parents and hand it to the teachers-in-charge or the SICs before you leave for your holiday.

Right, for all those who didn't turn up today, please get your syf photos/medal/certificate from your SIC or your friend who has kept for you today.

AND our CO collar pin has arrived! So let's standardise and pin it on the left side of collar. Hahahaha.

According to the schedule given to you guys, there will be individual classes next friday (18/9/09), after which it will be a 3-week break and individual classes will resume on 16/10/09. Percussion students please follow according to the schedule given to you guys.

CCA (sectionals & full orchestra) will resume on 07/11/09. So it's a long break, therefore bring home your instruments and practise!

2009-09-03T15:02:00.003+08:00

Hi all, please help to spread this message to all the sec4s in TMSCO. Haha.

ALL Sec4s take note:

Please try to come back next saturday, 12 september from around 1030am-1200pm. Our CO will have full orchestra practice as usual from 0830am-1030am.

After which, there will be a badminton match within our CO(Instructors VS students) to be held in the hall. (All members must go and support!!)

After the badminton match has ended, there will be an informal presentation of SYF photos (if ordered), certificates and medal for ALL sec1to4 SYF participants (PERFORMERS/RESERVES/STUDENT HELEPRS!!!). Thats why we need all Sec4s to be around to get their medals/certificates/photos etc.

If you cannot turn up on that day, please ask someone else to collect for you. Because 12 sep is our last CO practice for the term, after which CCA would stand down.

So your medal/certificates/photos will be locked up in the drying yard until CCA resumes which is a month later if nobody collects for you..

See you guys there!(:

Please spread among the Sec4s!

2009-08-29T20:36:00.000+08:00

Updates

1. Our end of year holiday break is extended to: 2-28 Dec 2009. (Nearly one whole month)

2. For those who needs to pay money for the NUS grading exam, (I believe your SICs have already told you the amount you are supposed to pay) please pay it to the person in the general office by next friday (04/09/09) before september holidays start. SICs please remind if possible.

Bass and percussion (taking LCM) do not need to pay to the general office people until further notice.

3. There will no CO next tuesday (01/09/09) because it is teachers' day. But. there will be individual classes on friday (04/09/09). Please turn up.

Thanks.

2009-08-18T20:24:00.006+08:00

Schedule for Individual Classes

Session 1 21-Aug
Session 2 28-Aug
Session 3 4-Sep
Session 4 11-Sep
Session 5 18-Sep
Session 6 16-Oct
Session 7 23-Oct
Session 8 30-Oct
Session 9 6-Nov
Session 10 13-Nov
Session 11 20-Nov
Session 12 27-Nov

Course Grade Number of students Timing Duration Venue Instructor
Suona 1/2 2 1.30pm-2.15pm 45 min CR 0202 Mr Yeo
Suona 3 3 2.15pm-3.00pm 45 min
Zhong Yin Sheng 3 3 2.30pm-3.30pm 1 hour CR 0204 谢嘉辉
(SCO)
Gao Yin Sheng 3 3 3.30pm-4.30pm 1 hour
Dizi 1 2 2.30pm-3.00pm 30 min CR 0205 林信友
(SCO)
Dizi 3 3 3.00pm-3.45pm 45 min
Dizi 4 2 3.45pm-4.45pm 1 hour
Bass LCM 6 2.30pm-3.45pm 1 h 15 min CR 0206 璐瑶
(SCO)
Cello 3 3 3.45pm-4.30pm 45 min
Cello 4 4 4.30pm-5.30pm 1 hour
Yang Qin 2 1 1.30pm-2.00pm 30 min CR 0208 Mr Ang
Yang Qin 3 2 2.00pm-2.45pm 45 min
Yang Qin 4 2 2.45pm-3.30pm 45 min
Er Hu 2 6 2.30pm-3.30pm 1 hour CR 0104 朱霖
(SCO)
Er Hu – Group1 4 5 3.30pm-4.30pm 1 hour
Er Hu – Group 2 4 6 4.30pm-5.30pm 1 hour
Er Hu 6 3 5.30pm-6.30pm 1 hour
Pipa 5 4 2.00pm-3.00pm 1 hour CR 0209 吴亦明
(SCO)
Pipa 3 4 3.00pm-4.00pm 1 hour
Zhong Ruan 5 5 2.30pm-3.45pm 1 h 15 min LR 4 郑芝庭
(SCO)
Zhong Ruan 3 2 3.45pm-4.30pm 45 min
Liu Qin 3 2 4.30pm-5.15pm 45 min
Percussion LCM 8 1.30pm-2.15pm(Fri)
1.45pm-2.30pm(Tue) 1 h 30 min Art Room 2 伍向阳
(SCO)

Note to students:

• Please be punctual. Report to your respective venues at least 5 minutes before the start of your lesson.
• No self practice to be held in the art room when Percussion is having their lesson.
• All lessons/remedial for upper sec should end by 2pm, kindly inform your teacher that you will have to go for your CO lesson if he/she drags the lesson.

2009-08-15T17:11:00.002+08:00

Hi all!

1. For those who have received the edusave forms today, please hand it in to your SIC on Tuesday before practice commences.

2. Individual classes will commence on 21 Aug 2009. A schedule will be given on Tuesday (18/8).

3. Those who are interested to join the badminton game, Instructors VS Students, please sign up with Elson.

4. Our NUS grading examinations will be held on 1 Dec 2009. Please make that day free, we are telling you this 3 months in advance.

5. Our end of year holiday break is from 2-18 Dec. If your family wants to go overseas, please try and arrange it during this time.

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

Below is the song for 长城, the song that we are currently practising. It is the choice piece for TMSCO SYFCJ 2005. Enjoy.

You need to log in to imeem to hear the full song.

2009-08-11T21:00:00.002+08:00

Please note that there will be NO self practice session this friday (14 Aug 2009).

Individual Classes for majority of students will start on the 21st of August 2009.

Please fill in the edusave form for the NUS grading and submit it to your SIC before CO starts on tuesday (18/8/09).

2009-08-03T17:17:00.000+08:00

PLEASE TAKE NOTE:

1. There will be no self practice this friday (7/8) because we will all be going for cross country + finale for milo breakfast for charity.

2. There will be no full orchestra practice this saturday (8/8) because that day is national day eve (holiday).

More informatin on NUS grading examinations:
http://www.nus.edu.sg/cfa/chime/

2009-07-21T19:12:00.003+08:00

All members please take note. This saturday's (25 July 2009) full orchestra practice would only be for the VIVOCITY Heritage Festival Performers, Alumnis as well as student helpers.

Performers will report to school at 815am, Student helpers at 9am. I'm not sure about alumni though. But we'll go through the performance items in the art room at 930am, like some mini rehearsal.

Please be informed that non-performers NEED NOT turn up for this saturday's practice.

There will be still be practice next tuesday (28 July 2009) for all members.

DETAILED SCHEDULE FOR 25 JULY 2009

0830-1100
Full Orchestra Practice
Art Room / Hall

1100-1130
Lunch
Canteen (Catered for TMSCO, TMSACO and student helpers)

1130-1200
Change into costumes

1200-1230
Pack instruments and start moving to the foyer
Art Room and Foyer

1230-1245
Load the heavy instrument up the lorry
Foyer

1245
Final assembly with hand-carry instruments ready
Foyer

1300-1400
Board and depart for Vivocity

1400-1415
Arrival at Vivocity
- Unload heavy instruments
- Final tuning
Vivocity

1430-1500
Performance commence
Vivocity

1515-1530
Load heavy instruments onto lorry and get ready to return to school

1530-1630
Board and depart for school

1630-1700
Pack up instrument
Debrief and dismissal
School

For TMSCO performers and student helpers, please report to school with school based attire. NO HOMECLOTHES OR SLIPPERS OR
SANDALS ARE ALLOWED. Don't forget to bring your costume though! Haha.

Costume for performance: FULL BLACK WITH COLOURED TIE. See JUNE archives for more info.

THANKS!

2009-07-12T09:36:00.026+08:00

[EDIT EDIT: PLEASE NOTE THAT DRESSCODE FOR EXCHANGE PROGRAMME ON SATURDAY HAS CHANGED TO SCHOOL UNIFORM WITH SCHOOL SKIRT OR PANTS. Please DO NOT turn up with a different attire on that day. THANKS i hope the SICs have already passed down this message.]

NOTE: ALL TMSCO MEMBERS WHO CAN PLAY FEN YONG WILL JOIN TMSACO FOR FENYONG FOR THE EXCHANGE PROGRAMME. IN YOUR INSTRUMENTS/SECTIONS, PLEASE DECIDE WHO IS GOING OR NOT GOING TO PERFORM. But, for percussion (excluding yangqin), the performers will be according to those who played on saturday practice (11072009)

Exchange Programme 18072009–Programme List (TMSCO copy)

Reporting Time: 8am (Move chairs, music stands and instruments that we going to lend 石门 to the hall)
Dress code: School uniform with school skirt or pants.

NEED TO GATHER AT THE HALL BY 8.55AM TO WELCOME THE STUDENTS FROM TAIWAN.

0900-0930: Interaction/Practice between the 2 schools (e.g. exchanging of contacts etc)
Venue: Hall

0930-1015: Combined Practice between 石门 and TMSACO for《月亮》Venue: Hall
TMSCO: Full Orchestra Practice Venue: Art Room

1015-1025: 石门：Break
淡中: Go to the hall to arrange the chairs and music stands according to our full orchestra arrangement for飞天. Place the instruments on the floor. (This means that when performance starts, there is no need to bring our instruments on stage, just bring yourself on stage.)
Remarks: Pei Yin’s Zhong Sheng and 3 D- diao Gu Zhengs must be ready at the right side of the hall.

1025-1030: 石门: Gather at the hall and get ready to watch the performance
淡中: Performers for飞天 will have to line up and sit down at the 2 sides of the hall.
Remarks: Line up according to speech day (E.g. XuanYue on left & Tan Bo on right etc)

1030-1200: Performance

First Half (MCs：Serene Teo and Bei Xue) Venue: Hall

1）乐队合奏：《飞天》（淡中）Remarks: Line up at 2 sides of the hall

2）扬琴重奏：《塔吉克的节日》（淡中与校友）Remarks: Line up at right sides of the hall

3）管乐合奏：《Londonderry Air》（淡中校友）Remarks: Line up at right sides of the hall

4) 古筝齐奏：《战台风》（淡中与校友）Remarks: Line up at right sides of the hall

5）乐队合奏：《奋勇前进》（淡中与校友）Remarks: Line up at 2 sides of the hall

Intermission (20 Minutes) Venue: Canteen Snacks Provided

Second Half

6）吹打合奏：《新年乐》（石门）
7）乐队合奏：《彩龙船》（石门）
8）乐队合奏：《甜蜜蜜》（石门）
9）乐队合奏：《龙腾虎跃》（石门）
10）乐队合奏：《鐃歌》（石门）
11）乐队合奏：《客家歌謠聯奏》（石门）
12) 乐队合奏：《石板腰鼓》（石门）
13）乐队合奏：《月亮代表我的心》（石门与淡中校友）Remarks: 石门 are not leaving the stage, TMSACO join in, line up at 2 sides of the hall.

2009-07-07T20:18:00.018+08:00

1. CO practices will resumes on Tuesdays, 2.30-6pm and Saturday, 8.30-12pm.

2. Please bring your thermometers for ALL the practices (especially saturday!) or you will have to bear the consequences.

3. We'll be making exchange contact booklets for the Taiwan School that will be coming for exchange programme on 18th July.

Date: Friday, 10th July, Time: 1pm, Venue: Art Room (It is compulsory for ALL comm members, namely EXCOs, SICs, ASICs) INTERESTED AND HELPFUL CO MEMBERS are welcomed to come and help too! We need more manpower! Show your love for CO! :D

4. We will be having a practice session with our alumni for fen yong. ALL the performers that is going for the vivocity concert (can be found at the end of this post) are supposed to turn up for this practice session.

Date: Friday, 10th July, Time: 3pm, Venue: Art Room

5. Please pay $2 CO fund to your respectice SICs by NEXT TUESDAY. SICs please collect and pass it to treasurer, Lena or Kir Hwee.

6. Non performers please take note: We need STUDENT HELPERS for the vivocity concert, which will be held on 25th July. Student helpers are only needed to come around 1230-430pm. CIP hours will be given. Please submit your NAME to JINGJIE by this saturday. The 6 who have signed up so far are: Kay Min, Xin Ni, Lee Shi Min, Yee Yong, Nicholas Ng and Xavier Kho.

7. Non performers please take note: Those who would like to view the VIVOCITY concert to be held on 25th July, 230-315pm, please submit your NAME to YANGKAI by this saturday.

8. Our Racial Harmony Concert (whereby only our 3 GUZHENGS are performing) is postponed until further notice.

9. St Nicholas Girls CO will not be joining us for the exchange programme on 18th July. So, it will only be TMSCO, TMSACO and the CO from TAIWAN.

2009-07-03T14:53:00.007+08:00

[Edit: Please visit our school website and take a look at the announcements!!]

Hi all,

CO practice will still continue next tuesday, 7th july 2009.

Even though the announcement said that all CCAs will be cancelled.

Please report to the art room at 2.30pm. We will have a temperature taking session before dividing you guys into your respective sections/classrooms.

Be sure to make yourself present because we have only 3 practices left to exchange programme! (2 sectionals and 1 full orchestra)

2009-07-02T16:39:00.004+08:00

City Chinese Orchestra
presents
《梦系红楼》—— 十年回顾
Encore
A Decade of Dreams from the Red Chamber

Date: 8 August 2009 (Saturday)

Time: 7.30 PM

Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall

BOOK NOW FROM SISTIC!

Ticket Prices: $21, $28, $38, $48 (not inclusive of SISTIC charges)

Concessions: $18, $24, $32, $40 (for students, NSF and Senior Citizens aged 55 and above)
Ticketing agent: SISTIC. Hotline: (65) 6348 5555, SISTIC Website: http://www.sistic.com.sg/, All authorised SISTIC outlets island-wide

Schools will be able to use the Tote Board Arts Grant to subsidise 60% of ticket price.
Keppel Nights 50% subsidy is available for Category 2 ($38) and Category 3 ($28) tickets, whilst stocks last. Students and Senior Citizens can enjoy the subsidy if a valid ID is shown at the ticketing counter. Members of the public can find out more about the subsidy by visiting http://www.keppelnights.com/.

For more information, please email us at info@cityco.com.sg or visit our website at http://www.cityco.com.sg/.
---------------------------------------

“To me, this was an unforgettable concert… an unforgettable night, because this night created such an emotional upheaval.” -- Sun Chaoyi, Renmin University of China, on CCO’s performance of the Dream of the Red Chamber concert suite.

"Wu's voice… glides and blends with the orchestra wonderfully, every phrase having a beautiful arch.” -- Jin Tielin, renowned professor at the China Conservatory of Music, on Soprano Wu Bixia.

“His insightful understanding and grasp of traditional music culture enables him to render different music styles accurately, bringing out the essence of each piece of music through the orchestra.” -- People’s Music on Conductor Tay Teow Kiat.

The Dream of the Red Chamber concert suite, composed by Wang Liping (王立平), is based on the soundtrack of the 1987 CCTV television adaption of the eponymous classic Chinese novel. Since its debut performance by the City Chinese Orchestra (CCO) in 1999, the suite has gained immense popularity within the Chinese community. After nearly 100 performances staged by numerous orchestras in China and Southeast Asia, CCO is proud to present the suite again in Encore – A Decade of Dreams from the Red Chamber《梦系红楼》— 十年回顾.

Join renowned female soprano Wu Bixia (吴碧霞) as she dazzles you with her rendition of classic songs in the suite, such as Poem of Flower Burial and Longing in Vain. Hailed as the “nightingale of the East and West”, Wu Bixia is the first vocalist in China who is equally proficient in the Chinese traditional school and the western “bel canto” school of opera, and as won numerous international awards of the highest standing.

Performed in Chinese.

Vocal Accompaniment by Yi Sheng Choral Ensemble (艺声合唱团)

Anyone interested?

2009-06-23T12:45:00.009+08:00

The following message is VERY IMPORTANT. Please READ carefully.

CO PRACTICES WILL BE CANCELLED FOR THIS WEEK AND NEXT WEEK DUE TO H1N1.
That means the practice on 25th june is also cancelled.
PLEASE DO NOT TURN UP!!

For next week, there will still be school BUT THERE IS NO CCA IN THE AFTERNOONS.

CO WILL RESUME ON 7th JULY IF EVERYTHING IS ALRIGHT.

Please check this blog for continuous updates just in case there are any changes.

FOR THE COMM MEMBERS, due to the above reasons, the meeting this thursday at 10am for the exchange booklets will be CANCELLED.

ALL MEMBERS PLEASE TAKE NOTE!!

Thank you.

2009-06-22T01:35:00.003+08:00

"Toa Payoh West CC Chinese Orchestra, or more commonly know as GECO, is having our concert at June 26 2009 at the Singapore Conference Hall. GECO's first major concert in three years, the concert will be showcasing a mixture of familiar favourites and challenging pieces including 庆典序曲, 古槐寻根 and 梦蝶. Don't be surprised when this multiple award-winning orchestra starts belting out pieces not included in the concert programme!

Expect special group performances from bowed-strings, plucked-strings, and percussion ensemble with a new composition by our own member.

Our Music Director, Mr Zhang Yu Ming, will be the conductor of the night.

Tickets will be at $12,$18 and $50(VIP). Get them quick as they are selling out fast!!"

Date: 26 June 2009
Time: 19:30 - 22:00
Location: Singapore Conference Hall

Tickets can be subsidized by NAC.

For $12 ticket, $8 can be claimed and for $18 ticket, $11 can be claimed.
$12 ticket selling quite fast, so confirm with me quick (best by Tuesday)!

(full amount has to be paid first before claiming from NAC)

Bowed-strings, plucked-strings, and percussion sections are recommended to attend this concert. It's a good exposure yo.

-guowei

2009-06-18T08:30:00.020+08:00

[EDIT EDIT: For the benefit of those who don't know, the ties must be plain coloured. Thanks. Therefore, no school ties are allowed.]

[EDIT: There's one small shop that sells ties along TAMPINES INTERCHANGE, just outside "This Fashion", you guys can consider getting your ties from there, I think it's selling at $3 to $5.]

DRESSCODE FOR UPCOMING PERFORMANCE AT VIVOCITY ON 25TH JULY.

Dresscode: Full Black Costume with Respective Coloured Ties.

I believe the Sec2s and Sec3s, you should know what it means.

For those who don't know what it means, it is:
1. Black long sleeve shirt/blouse with collar (no 3/4 allowed)
2. Black long pants (no 3/4, skinnies, jeans,leggings allowed)
3. Black court shoes (for girls) and black shoes (for boys) (no other shoes except those 2 mentioned are allowed)

This should be easy to get. Haha. You can ask your 'experienced' seniors if you have any questions.

Ties:
Bowed strings: Blue
Plucked strings: Red
Woodwind: Green
Cello Bass: Purple
Percussion: Yellow/Orange

How to get them?

Option 1: Borrow from your graduated Sec4s seniors/alumnis (Alumni should be wearing white ties.)

Option 2: Buy it yourself.
Recommended place to get cheap and good ones: Raffles Place, Arcade Centre, Second Floor, the tie shop is opposite POSB bank, selling at $5.

Option 3: Send an sms to JINGJIE (which is me), or tag on the CO blog, including your name, section and your tie colour in the message or tag AND I'll get the respective ties for you. (Payment will be made at a later date.)

This costume you will have to use it again for your entire CO life, which means until you graduate, so don't worry you will not wear it just once.