| Saturday, April 23, 2011 |
Good luck everybody on studying for MYE! It is only about a week away!! JY! And in the midst of studying, i would just like to mention about the ACJC concert that will be held on the 30th of May. Details are stated below: Time: 7:30 PM @ Esplanade Ticket Prices: $20, $25, $29. Attendance will have to be compulsory unless there are valid reasons. Please email your choice of ticket or your valid reason (for those that won't be going) to me and Emily by monday! Thanks! :) |
| Posted at 9:54 PM |
| Monday, April 18, 2011 |
If everyone hasn't heard the news yet, we have gotten silver for SYF this year, and i can't help adding, consecutively. I know that we have all tried our best, abstaining from loads of food that we all love to eat and practicing like crazy everyday even though we have tests and homework piling up on our shoulders. I believe that every effort and time lost for sleeping was worth while so don't regret! and continue to strive to improve to be a GOLD choir next time round :) This i guess the seniors will have to leave to the lower secondary already. The hopes of leaving a legacy will be left to your when the next SYF competition comes. Although i have to admit i felt really disappointed as reality sunk in but we should cheer ourselves up and look forward to the Sec 4 farewell party on 19 May. So don't forget that date!! It is very important :)) We will will have to prepare something for them too but i will leave that for after MYE ;D. Also just to give your a bit of an outline so that your will be mentally prepared ;) We will still be continuing with sectionals after MYE to brush up on our songs. Do not complain or roll your eyes as you read this ok or else i will slap your face. haha. ya. So we have to work on these songs and point out some of the mistakes that we made on stage so that we will not make them next time (for the WHOLE section :D excluding sec 4s of course) :). I hope that for the next SYF your will be better prepared and committed to the choir---as in not spending most of your time on other stuff when you know you need to train for SYF competition. So all the best for MYE and i hope your will get achieve the best you can for the exams :) Best of luck to the Sec 4s too! Ps. Just to point out some of the things that were made on stage but shouldn't have been done: 1. DO NOT MOVE YOUR HAND TO TOUCH YOUR FACE WHEN ON STAGE EVEN IF THERE IS A MOSQUITO OR A BEE OR AN ANT OR IT IS JUST ITCHY, DO NOT TOUCH --> this is a very serious problem so please do not make them again for the next SYF 2. not knowing where to go out from or where to start walking on-TAKE NOTE SIDE PPL ->YOU MUST BE CONFIDENT AS TO WHERE TO TURN AFTER THE PERFORMANCE OR ELSE THE JUDGES CAN PICK THAT OUT AND MINUS POINTS. 3. even if you are not able to sing the words, please still mouth them and pretend that you are singing (key lesson: pretend that nothing is wrong and SMILE) These i feel are the key essence of performing on a stage so please do take note and not make them again on the SYF date. :) PPS. is anyone interested in having a section study session for EOY? hehe because it is a little too late for MYE PPPS. Some improvement that your need so be prepared to be drilled for that :) (best thing to do is to practice a bit after MYE) ---do not feel depressed ok! your also have your good points in singing i am just pointing out the ones that needs improvement :) Sec 1: Abinaya: Open your mouth wider :) It is ok!! no need to be shy just open your mouth and sing to your best abilities. And try to be more confident about our part in the song. Alyssa: Have to be more stable for parts where we have to hold the note for a long time Celine: Look at the conductor!!! haha do not be in your own world ok? It is very important to be in tune with the conductor :) Rachel: Do not be so anxious until you rush to go in for our part!! Try to immerse yourself in the beauty of the song and try to forget your fears. Try to memorise the score and open your mouth wider :) Support your notes ok? Sec 2: Hana: Try to use more support and listen to Mrs Lim when she is pointing out our mistakes to improve from there. Also try to remember the dynamics in the song Brenda: Be more confident in your singing (especially when in small groups)! :) Yong Qing: not sure. hehe i will listen to you later when practice resumes :) Lynn: Support your notes and try to open your mouth wider or else your voice will sound very shallow and breathy. Try to take in deep breaths and continue to do practices because you will need it more than most of the other people. Do not relax just because SYF is over, there is still the next one coming up when you are sec 4 and you still have lots to learn. Do not forget about what i said of the principles in performing on stage too because that is the way a performer should be. I am expecting much from you for the next sectionals and i would be looking forward to your improvement :) or else you can expect an intensive two on one practice with me and emily :) and trust me, when i mean intensive, i really mean it. Sec 3: haha.. erm a bit weird to be pointing out mistakes for people with the same age so i will just write mine first :) Elizabeth: LOOK AT DYNAMICS!! and do a proper crescendo. Try to lift cheeks when singing and don't rush. haha Yong Fong: jyjy! haha not really sure :P but jy in your quest of hitting lower notes :D Alicia: hehehe not really sure also :P. (you can add it in too so that i can take note :)) Emily: Take note of the things that Mrs Lim pointed out :) Because sometimes i can hear you repeating the mistakes ~ LASTLY! Everybody remember to raise your cheeks :D especially the lower sec ok? BE HAPPY! Elizabeth |
| Posted at 8:09 PM |
| Saturday, April 16, 2011 |
HELLO!! CONGRATULATIONS! I believe that you all have managed to curb the desire to eat fried stuff, chocolates and cotton candy right! Despite all those big signs screaming out chocolate fondue etc. Good job! :D Ok! to the next challenge! For tomorrow please remember not to eat anything in the categories listed below: 1. Chocolates or hot chocolate drinks 2. Sweets 3. Fried stuff including fried rice 4. Biscuits 5. Cold sweet drinks 6. Ice-cream 7. Curry 8. Grilled oily stuff 9. Milo 10. Cotton Candy 11. Popcorn 12. Nachos Drinks recommended: Green Tea, Ice Lemon Tea, Honey water So basically you must have bland meals throughout TOMORROW. But do not despair! This is only one day out of 365 1/4 X 80+ days in your life! See how insignificant it is!! Almost negligible! Just for an award that will be in your records throughout your whole life. Such a big difference! i know right! So come on! We shall fight through all these temptation tomorrow for the very important SYF date :) Last but not least, remember to do your practice everyday and write down personal notes on the score to remind yourself not to do some mistakes you committed during that time period :) (Min. time required to do is 30 mins but please try to exceed that :D)Also, remember to do your air flow and try to make sure that throughout the three songs, even when you must quickly breathe in, there will be no sound heard. Even though it may seem very difficult but nothing is impossible so keep trying ok? Additionally, make sure you do your physical exercises every night with increasing time as the each day passes. Finally i shall move on to notes on the three songs. Get ready your scores and pen to jot down each of them! And look out for these notes when practicing! The Wind: 1. Bar 3: Remember to float the words 2. Bar 4: Hold the "high" for the time required. Do not rush to go on to "And" 3. Bar 8: Accent the "pass" and remember to decrescendo 4. Bar 9: Accent the words "across the grass" 5. Bar 14: Remember to decrescendo 6. Bar 19-20: Accent "push" and "i heard you call" 7. Bar 26: DO NOT GO SHARP ON DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and remember to start soft 8. Bar 31: Change colour: sing like as if you are asking a question 9. Bar 35: Shape the O of the "of" longer and remember to have support 10. Bar 44: DO NOT SING! it is either everyone sing and go off tune or everyone don't sing and remain in tune so remember not to sing!!! It will also be very weird from the judges' point of view to see one mouth opening in the midst of close mouths. 11. Bar 48-49: Note dynamics for "around" 12. Bar 50: Try to end at the same time: count the beats ok that's all for The Wind :) You can add some more notes during your practices :D Ant Summer: THE MOST IMPORTANT THING/ PROBLEM: DO NOT RUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Look at the conductor throughout the whole song to always check that we are not going too fast or too slow. Even if we are all very scared PLEASE do not seek comfort in going fast. Try to watch the conductor and assure yourself that you are not alone since there are 50+ other people experiencing the same thing as you so it will be alright :) And remember your dynamics too:) especially for the small climax part like bar 19 to 24 and bar 51 to 55. Salve Regina: 1. Bar 5: Do not breath in "cor-di-ae" It should be connecting :) 2. Bar 16 to 18: Remember to crescendo and decrescendo later at bar 19 3. Bar 27: Try to start strong (and at the same time remember it is still mp) so as to build the base for the 'layering' and also don't lag 4. Bar 34: Change colour 5. Bar 39: Longer i-i-i for "il-los tu-os" and also look out for Mrs Lim expression 6. Bar 51-54: Do not break the verte in "con-ver-te" and remember not to go too soft. Also remember to change colour as you start on "Et" 7. Bar 56-57: DO NOT CUT. 8. Bar 69:Crescendo for pia but not too loud 9. Bar 70:Start soft!!!! 10. Bar 81: When suddenly cutting off do not take away support :) OK! THATS IT!! WELCOME TO THE FINALE OF THIS POST: Please try to input all these in your practices even though i know it is very last minute :X (sorry!!) Although something must be done for two consecutive weeks for it to become a habit, please try to achieve that by monday :) And try not to revert back to the old ways and then come out of the stage knowing that we have not done out best ): JY! We will not only let ourselves hear the best of our songs but also the judges and the audience :) JUST ABOUT 1 MORE DAY LEFT! GOGO! Elizabeth |
| Posted at 8:26 PM |
| Friday, April 15, 2011 |
Yes, i shall finally pump some life into this blog :). (SYF ppl)Sec 1s to 3s: Remember to come to choir for sectionals at 7.30am in the piano room ok! And also bring along your scores and pen to jot down notes :D ADDITIONALLY everybody PLEASE remember to practice the songs at home with a keyboard or else it will be useless practicing since you won't even know if you went off tune or not. AND start on physical exercises like planks, leg lifts, bridge etc. Always try to increase the time in which you do you physical exercises to train up your tummy power :D *you will be able to find time before you sleep so this is a MUST do* LAST BUT NOT LEAST!!! you have to resist the temptation of chocolates, cotton candy, old chang kee or anything fried for fun fair tomorrow ok! The most you can eat is 1 (and in a small portion) for each category listed above (except chocolates-no consumption of it AT ALL) or else you can give up the notion of singing properly on monday which is our SYF performance. Those of you who bought lots of coupons you can try to spend them through drinks or rides :) But remember not to scream till your voice is hoarse too :D hehe. Ya i know i sound like an old naggy woman but this must be done ok! I will be watching out for you all eating anything that falls under the categories above ok so beware! MUAHAHAHHAHA So lets work hard for the remaining 2 days ok? :) THANKS! Elizabeth |
| Posted at 6:58 PM |
| Alto Twos |
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Reporting Time |