Life... and Death...

Hmmm... dunno wad to say... One of my friends (Kenrick) in TPJC was certified brain dead on Monday (not a joke ok?) and I'm not sure but from what his parents say, they'll give him until today to see if he has any responses.. If not, they'll pull the plug...

Well, I do not really know him well... He's not even from the same class... But then... I met him sometime back in 2005/2006 during Chinese New Year... That's how I got to know him...

Anyway, from what I heard from his mum (through my mum), he wanted to see me... If I'm not wrong, he was searching for me online to tell her about me... So end of the day, his mum only knew that he wanted to see a person called "Gabriel", but do not know how I looked like... Anyway, if I'm not wrong, I was the last "outsider" whom he wanted to see... I wonder why...

Currently, he is lying brain-dead in Tan Tock Seng Hospital in Ward 3A, Bed 7... He is really in a very bad condition (not sure if any hope left...)... He is on full life-support... He can't even breath on his own... There is a machine which pumps Oxygen into his body to keep him alive... Really sad case... All this is because of a black spot (from MRI scans) in his brain... Doctors till now have not found out much about what that is...

Kenrick, if you are around somewhere reading this message, we would miss you greatly... I still wonder why you wanted to see me (or maybe someone else...) and what you wanted to say to me... In fact, the whole of TPJC would also miss you... I pray that you would pass away peacefully and that your earthly body would not cause you any more problems... You have been a friend to me and I appreciate that...

Death is just another part of life... But you would not know when death would come... This is just an example to show that death does not only come to those unhealthy + old people...

So, while you are living, appreciate that the good Lord has given you another day to live. Do not waste it as it may suddenly be taken away from you!

Go ahead and call me a emo kia...

Here's a song for all entitled "The Magic of Believing":




Plaisir de Chanson 2008 would be held in the Esplanade on the 19th May 2008! Come support!

Visit to ESChorale on 11/01/2008...

I visited East Spring Chorale on the 11 Jan '08...

Good to see that they've got a new conductor... Heard from Kai Li that they didn't have a conductor for 4 months!

Anyway...

Listening...

Sops/Altos are very airy! Must ask them to work on their pitching too! More sectionals would do you good =)

1 way to try to be less airy is to support more... (But I dun blame them... they were without a conductor for abt 4 mths liao... i expect them to forget quite a bit) Maybe the SC/SLs can help?

Baritones... Check your pitching! More sectionals would also be good... Considering that you have learnt Laudate Dominum for quite a while already, I still don't see any reason why you just can't get that part right =( Very sad as this is such a nice piece and you don't do it well... Ask you SL to guide you in the jumps/how to get notes/... if you are not clear! (Well... SLs need to be good in their music anyway... haha..)

Try to achieve in-section blending (as in.. everyone try to sing the same style so no one would stick out...)...

Warm-ups...

I spoke to Kaili about some warm-ups you should do... (It worked in my choir at least...) Try to implement it... While Physical warm-ups are good, I feel that you should place more emphasise on the vocal part of it... Might want to ask your instructor to come say 1/2 hr later? so you would have more time to start warm-ups on your own before he comes in... It may also be used for sectionals (that's what my choir does anyway...) to revise through songs which you may have forgotten and clarify the part you do not know before the instructor comes... This is so that you can save time and money and at the same time be more productive...

Try singing chords, thirds and fifths... *Must make sure you can hear the overtones before moving on to the next chord!*

Note: The following are examples and they can be transposed!

Eg. Baritones: C, Altos: G, Sop 2: E, Sop 1: C



Baritones: C -> D -> C, Altos: E -> F -> E, Sop 2: C -> D -> C, Sop 1: E -> F -> E



and Baritones+Sop2: C, Altos+Sop1:G
ESChorale Forums

I've created a forums for you all more than 3 years already! and many of you do not know about it (or you don't care about it =( )

SCs/SLs I've also put up a MIDI making program on the forums so you can type out the music and upload it for your section to listen! MIDIs are quite a good way especially if you do not have a piano/music background at all... If you ever need help in it, you may give me a call at 9738 4238 (PLS call after 8!) or ask Yan Zhi for help...

If you need me to give you a demonstration on how to use it please tell me too... I'll try my best to help you... (But don't ask me to make them for you!)

Overall...

I feel this new conductor is quite good... Cooperate with him and I'm sure the Chorale would be able to achieve better heights =)

Try to learn how to sight-sing too! (At least identify and know how to sing note up/down, thirds, fourths, fifths and octaves)

BTW... If you ever need help, I should be able to help out... (like that Friday... I'm generally free on Weds too...) just give me a call... I'll try to be there...

Disclaimer: I'm just a SL... Forgive me if I've said anything wrong and if I've missed out on anything...


Plaisir de Chanson 2008 would be held in the Esplanade on the 19th May 2008! Come support!