in a lullaby, i will follow you when the skies are blue

Thursday, July 13, 2006 @7:48 PM

YoYo...what's up ppl of the world. To anyone feeling sad out there, dont be...tml will be a better day and there are lots of things in the world to look forward too..if it makes you feel any better, know that your friends will always be there to support and lend a hand when ever neccessary...hehe...

haiz...one of my last choir practices as student conductor..haha..it's really kinda sad that it will be ending soon, this journey of music. It has been an amazing journey for me from non choir member to singer to student conductor. I still remembered the first time i stepped into the AJ choir room. Believe it or not, mark tan looked really imposing and all and i was kinda scared that i wouldnt make the grade...haha...1 and half yr on, look where i am..it has really been god's grace all the way. He has guided me when i was lost and lifted me up when i was down. It is a really pity that i have rediscovered my love for choir when there are only so few prac left...but hey at least i can treasure all these remainding practices and all. There is just one major downside to this---when i am into something i take charge of all aspects of it..regardless of who i am working with. I guess this has been a major flaw for me..but as they say if you want things done well do it yourself. The nxt comment i am going to make may get me killed or hated for the rest of my life but in the name of freedom of speech i shall say it anyway. I think that sometimes we are not giving our music leadership enough respect..and i am not meaning the SCs..you know what i mean. The truth is sometimes he can be abit queer in the way he handles things but what he does works and we should just follow him..ask yourselves how many of you treat him more then just an teaching tool..he is a human being you know...as long as he has not done anything to you you all should not be so weak minded as to be swayed by popular opinion...i detest that...if you have experienced it yourself then i have nothing to say...but if not..it is better to keep it to your stupid selves and reflect..especially those in high places....no offence..

The future for choir holds many potential pitfalls and all, but i can tell you that the student conductor's job is the most fulfilling and wonderful job in the world. You are like the face of the choir...seemingly glamorous but haha....still water runs deep....Ppl may hate you,. you may be in difficult positions and sometimes it is up to u to play mediator..so what..the things and experiences you can get out from it are priceless and you will treasure it for life..some of you may be wondering how do you choose a student conductor....hehe....since i am going soon i might as well be frank...there must be several criteria that have to be met before one can become a student conductor...

1. must be patient--always willing teach a person and not get angry and help the person no matter how trying the person may be.
2. Must have ppl skills---i have nvr believed in the stuff it down your mouth leadership style and i believe that pple should listen to a leader out of free will rather then out of fear
3. Musical competency---must know how to see the chords and play the piano...it is not a must (i'm an example) but it is prefered
4. Must feel for music and love it---SCs are the pple who will direct the musicality in the absence of the conductor himself..if he/she cannot see or portray the feelings required then how can the choir get it?...i wonder..
5. MUST BE READY TO TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM---sometimes instructors flare up, it is up to the SC to be the go betweeen to try to make things better even if it means getting scolded for the choir even though it may not be your fault...
6. Willing to learn---you are nvr too good to learn, the moment you stop learning you will fall back and the choir will suffer because of that..
7. READy to lead---there are times where morale and all are low and it is up to you to kick the choir into shape..
8. Lastly, Must be strong minded and loyal---you will meet ppl who disagree with you and may even hate you for that..but u have to be strong and make sure you believe in yourself enough to make it work..that is decisivness...loyalty to the choir and to the pple around you..this will ensure that they are more willing to do as you say and that the pple around you who supported through times of trouble will not feel that you use them merely as a springboard to your success...this is detrimental to the choir....

As you can see that musical competency is only but one of many other criteria to me choosing one as an SC..knowing how to speak well is not even one my considerations because if you refer to one of my earlier post you can tell that there is the quiet understated leader and that is the type that i respect the most...again these are things that you can agree to disagree to ....but i believe that you will find them largely relevant to the job of a SC...be warned that there will be times where the conductor or the choir will not have absolute faith in you but hang in there...nvr give up..

As the torch will be passed on from me to the nxt SC...i wish him all the best in the future endeavours..you will become a greater SC then i will ever be....but try to learn as much as you can in the remainding 2 wks of choir left..although there is not much time but you nvr know when it may come in handy..i may not be able to teach you everything and all..apologise..sorry...hehe...

Some of you keep saying that i am too depressing...hey...today's entry is not meant to be that way so cheer up ppl....what is wrong with all of you?!...perhaps cause my gp is too lousy and i lack sufficient knowledge of the nuances of the english language but it's not my fault so dont blame me....haah...(actually i dont really care what you think anyway..just pretending to...)
btw, hope you guys enjoy CHMA...WHOOOOO!!!!!(ipod nano)....

In 2wks i may no longer be SC but i will still always be part of AJ choir...long live the revolution....

un dieu benissent toujours
may god bless you always...