Hey Peeps!!!
SYF is just in lets say.....2 day and a few hours plus plus?? Anyway....Wednesday at around 9.00 A.m, it will be the moment you guys have been working towards.....your central judging. I want to wish all TSMB members Good Luck and May God Watch Over You. However...thats not the only reason i am posting...what i want to say is....there is still improvements that can be made before SYF. I have a few aspects that i would like to cover with you guys....i know that almost 3/4s of the band wouldnt read this....but i hope the leaders or anyone who reads this...pls do something about it,it would be a little weird and funny for me to actually address this issue in front of the band...which might be too late....so....i am posting it here.

These aspects are......"Musicality"(utmost importance), "Appearance"," The way you carry yourself/as a band".

Alright...starting from the top..Work on tuning. Listen out for each other and adjust accordingly. For reeds, adjust by loosening/tightening jaw.
For brasses, adjust by tightening/relaxing embouchure. Flat tighten and sharp loosen.

Practice on articulation and dynamics. Do your accents, staccatos, slur, crescendo/decrescendos, fp, fff, mf, mp, p. Make the difference between the dynamics. (e.g. btw f & fff)

Move and sway along with the songs. Feel the beat. Entry come in strongly, don’t sneak in. Start the song strong on the first note. Breath in deep before start of every note.

Try to memorise the pieces. Bring home instruments to practice. Make sure you know every part of the piece very well.

Figure out the parts which you are still unsure of. The "‘james bond’--Figure A to figure B" and change in time signature parts in la storia are very messy and muddy. Quaver parts for brasses must be crystal clear. Slow parts must flow smoothly. For overture no. 1, entry for every section must be clear. Don’t rush/drag the semi-quavers.

ALWAYS WATCH THE CONDUCTOR! Don’t stare at your scores. Bring up instruments smartly and swiftly before the start of each song or part. Get ready instruments a few bars before playing. Every section to synchronise on the bars to bring up/put down their instruments. Play with round and solid tone. THINK ROUND! For reed instruments, bring at least one extra reed along with you in case your reed breaks. Keep instruments and mouthpieces warm, esp brasses. Blow warm air through your instruments before entering concert hall. Play with confidence and tone. Please take this seriously. Correct the mistakes pointed out in each section before you go for SYF. Give it your best and live with no regrets. Do the seniors proud. Good luck for your SYF!

This whole chunk starting from "Alright" is by your Saxophone Alumni----Aloysius

Now....my turn....alright....basically...whatever Aloysius said has already covered what i wanted to say....but a few things to add on....
Firstly-- Band....although discipline has been slack the past year or so..but...on that day...discipline is key....it makes the job of teachers....leaders easier and better.. Members...please listen to instuctions....if one that day...if the alumnis feel things are out of hand....we will have to ask you guys to do punishment...no choice.
Secondly-- Aloy mentioned about stage etiquette...RACHEL!!! Please sit in an "professional" manner pls...no legs on the stand....behind the chair. As regards to the whole band.....even when your part is a rest....please do not slouch and lean on the chair. Sit upright and look to the front....Percussions...please do not sit down even when you are resting....i am sure...just a few more bars...you have to play. Sit halfway on the chair...for the whole band....flutes and clarinets....put your instrument on your left leg....not right.
Sway with the music....play it like you are singing it!! Even not interested....at least move.

Flute(Right Arm): Project your sound, play louder, make tone less airy, make notes clearer esp running notes. Open your throat....make the sound more life like...flutes are like angels dancing in the sky....its that kind of feeling...the sound it makes...so lively and happy...not ear piercing. Once the sound is airy and choppy....its just sounds like a piece of metal that vibrates in the inner circumfrence producing a sounds.....

Clarinet( Left Arm):
Refrain from squeaking, cover open holes fully, polish up on fingerings, make running notes clear, don’t rush running notes, make tone rounder and less blaring, tonguing very rough, don’t tongue too hard, don’t tongue hard unnecessarily, listen out for each other for tuning. If the clarinet is played properly...it sounds like a "funeral" clarinet....just like an oboe...but...clarinet...is the "Butt" of the flute....it not only supports the flute on high notes....in also provides chords playing while the flute has melody or solo....so if either instrument sounds horrible....it will just be like the band without the two arms.....it takes two hands to clap. Control your high notes especially....heres a tip.....play with emotions....think of something that makes you really really really sad...that would make you cry on the spot....however....if you could cry...it would be awesome....highest level of emotions put into play...your note will naturally sound more refined and controlled...however....your guys have to really practice also...dont just depend on this..

Saxophone( Backbone):
Don’t play so rough, polish up on fingerings, running notes make it clearer, don’t rush/lag behind for running notes, play with more confidence, make tone rounder. Play together, esp altos. Saxophones...please also work on your tone...do not overpower....although clarinets are a little too loud on their high notes...doesnt mean you guys must play too loud also...go and listen to other pro saxophonist....try to copy their "sound"...their tone and such....although your need to practice...but at least you know what high notes and such should sound like...not irritating to the ear. Support the band...like what i typed....the backbone....one i break someones backbone...he/she may be paralysed the rest of his/her life...so the backbone must be strong...drink more calcium...LOL....i mean strong in the sense that you guys are steady and not easily affected by anything else..

Cornet( Mouth ):
Play louder esp 2nd and 3rd, playing very muddy, make tonguing clearer and shorter esp for la storia quaver parts, play with more confidence, get fingerings and notes right for ‘james bond’ parts, make tone rounder. Cravis....please play more often as a section...you guys have to gel with each other....its like your pair of lips not working...one refuses to close...your teeth may just end up being punched off...Cravis...you should be the only one playing loud....it goes the same for maisarah....fairusha and asharee..please ask them to play slightly louder please...cravis....play with a nice tone...just like the nice music you make on the piano....it is the same...if you have a bad tone...its just like a mouth hurling vulgarities at the judge....so please play with a nicer tone...its like someone licking up a horses ass....pai ma pi...

French Horn( Soul ):
Get pitching right, hit the correct notes when u enter, play with more confidence, enter and play together, listen out for each other for tuning. Play louder. Don’t rush your triplets. Yes...its great that you girls are playing louder....but please...louder doesnt mean play any o how you like....play nicely....pitching wise...you have to put more air through....you need to practice more...so that you know how much air you need for each note..its not the same airflow for every note. French Horn is like the soul of the band.....it injects life into the band...the melodious sound of the horn makes the people shiver....it serious....even in the Bible...it states that...so...play properly...you girls i am sure...will rise to the occasion.

Euphonium( Vocal Chords ) :
Play with confidence. Entry of counter melody must be strong and clear. Don’t rush on running notes. Figure out the notes for ‘james bond’ part. You girls must create swells in the song....la storia...create a rollet coaster of joy...fun...peace and not laughter...but emtional turbulence...LOL...the main thing is that your girls must make sure that everyone in the section is in tune....otherwise its sounds awful...because euphonuims are actually quite loud in their notes....their high notes...like the trumpets...which i can say would belong to the winds side already....cos its audible...people would be able to hear you clearly. Have Faith in yourselfs...you girls i know can do it!!!

Trombone( Legs ):
Make notes very clear esp when playing quavers in la storia. Transition from note to note must be fast and not muddy. Make tone rounder. Play out with more confidence. Yes....your notes must not be muddled up....tongue at the right note...dont just tongue when you have not even get the note...be precise in your articulation...Jian Ping...try to make your sound rounder...i know you are not blasting....but you still have to make your sound rounder....same goes for the whole band...Fast part...maybe i can accept....but for slow part...you gotta play like there is no tomorrow..as in...play like its the last time you are gonna play the trombone...treat it like your wife.....like she is gonna leave you already....you would cry and forgive for beggness...play it sadly...support the woodwinds and those having the melodies..Brenda....your high C is always a little flat...watch out for that.

Tuba( Butt ):
Play out loud. Hold full value for long notes. Take in very deep breaths before playing. Don’t fade your notes. Maintain the same volume of sound for holding notes. Practice hard....play a itsy bitsy louder than the band...you are the ass remeber...its just like a ass that way way smaller than the body....even if it falls...it still gets hurt....so there is no point...so please play with confidence....play the notes with their actual values....dont vut or extend it longer..

Percussion( Heart ):
Open up your arms when playing. For mallets, timpani and snare drum, play loud and with more confidence. Lift up your sticks and play with more force. For cymbals and base drum, play together. Always watch the conductor. Don’t stare at your scores. Wooden block parts in La storia is impt. Make sure play properly. You girls are the heart beat of the band...the driving force that keeps the band alive...imagine the band without percusiion....it is really boring...no life right?? Exactly thats what i mean...you girls are standing up....people and judges can see and know what you are doing...so please be presentable and have a correct standing posture..Timpani....Play with the accents if you have to...crescendo if you have to...i dont see or hear it at this point....Bass drum....dont play wrongly...it is really obvious and ugly to hear....cymbals too....dont crash anyhow...play nicely. practice more..

Alright....enough is said...the rest is up to you guys now...the fate lies in your hands....no pressure though...we(alumnis and ALUMNIS) wants you guys to girls to have this experience of going for SYF as enjoyable as possible...but not to neglect your music on your part...play all your best and we will be proud of you guys...no matter whats the outcome....i swear! All the best and hope you guys have fun!! Do your BEST!! TSMB GO!!! DARE TO SOAR!!! ONE BAND!!! BIG SOUND!!!
-- Alumnis

Weena( Ex-Secretary)-- Jia You!! Believe you can do it and you will do it!! Dont blast!! Loud does not mean you should blast! Be more confident...i will be going down to support you guys....so play well arh...

Siti Rahayu( Ex-Head-Librarian)-- All the best for SYF!! So sorry...cant make it down to support...have a baby to look after.I know you will do well and hope that ll you hard work will pay off...no matter whats the outcome....you guys are great and i will always love you guys!!!

Jessica Khor( Ex- Head-Secretary)--Good Luck and all the best on 1st April!!... Do use your last two practices wisely..really helps... and may God bless you!!

Jia Hui(Ex-Librarian)--Jia You le TSMB!!.. Must at least maintain a bronze...belive you guys can do it..

Alif(Ex-Ex-Drum Major)-- Play as one band....feel the music

Wei Jun(Ex-Head_Quarter Master)-- Good Luck TSMB!! You guys can do it...no matter what happens...we will always love you guys!!!

Jon(Ex-Band Major)-- Good Luck TSMB!! Give your best shot on that day...dont let our size deter us...play our best and be happy...the alumnis will always be back to have fun together and we willl always love you guys!!

Wei Kai(Ex-Band Sergant Major)-- On that day you will know

Qui Yi( Ex-Drum Major)-- All the best for your SYF which is coming in a few days time. Use all your effort and play!!! Jiayou!!! :) Have confidence in yourself and do all the best u can. :)

Courtesy of Aloy Pvt Limited.....and Jon.......All the best for SYF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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