Life Is Short, You're Capable

Sunday, October 03, 2010 @ 6:55 AM

The Only Exception

I read Biwei's blog once in a while and he sometimes address his progress on the playing of his clarinet. Sometimes i overlook this fact but today i look at his post and this thought came across my mind.

"My band batch people really practice very hard on their instruments and
what have I been doing this past one year?"

Haha this is damn fml but inevitably it's true. My batch mates from my band really IP (Individual Practice) alot. Much more than i ever ever did! Biwei being on the top of the game, John and Sinchin. Fifi is already such an outstanding percussionist and he IPs alot too. The only time I try to IP is if there was a parade coming up which i need to practise the song, if not it would be SIBF that time. Haha thinking back, i thought i should have tried harder.

I always though playing euphonium is what they say. It;s an easy instrument to play, but to master it, or even play at an intermediate level, it takes a hell lot. Even the simplest euphonium solo requires the player to reach at least a top Bb. And that's only at the tone aspect, running on the euphonium is another must. But i do enjoy running on the euphonium, i can sit there and practice 2 3 bars of running to perfect it. I just enjoy this cause after i master it, it looks freakin impressive. I love playing the euphonium i kid you not, i never regretted choosing this instrument. The fondness just grows and it never gets sick. The tone it makes is just sounds emotional and warm, tts why the euphonium literally means "instrument of joy"

Back to what i was saying. What i really regret is whether i should have practiced harder. It really is very difficult to break that threshold of being an average school euphonium player, to a soloist. I haven really gotten my top Bb yet and my tone is only so so. When i was in JC people say i had a tone that has a good potential but i never really did work on it, i could only blame myself for it. The only thing i have been improving on is my technique, after all the sight reading and runnings but the improvement is not very significant either.

Then to my batch mates. Biwei, the ever hardworking clarinetist. All i have to say is if no ones sees your improvement then they must be blind. Cause SC, John and I all know that you have worked your ass off to improve. Thats just you, ever the conscientious and hardworker. You might not be talented but your efforts definitely paid off cause your improvement from training wing times is just astounding. When you came to MAWE and you practiced so hard for the competition, i just feel grateful. You might not be one of the best clarinetist in saf but you are definitely not the worst i dare say. Sincerely proud of you.

John IPs alot too, if he's not reading in the office then he's IP. He and his yellow trombone case is already a big indication to his love for his instrument. His knowledge of his trombone and music in general shows his passion for this area and IPing alot if just icing on the cake. I would say he has improved since when we first came into band B too. Sinchin is another hardworker. Even though you get sidetracked by vices like TT. I know you practice really hard for your simply horn repretoirs. Since the CCB times, your section has improved much, i would just like tell you that your effort really has paid off. My two musician friends, you guys have came a long way from when we first steped into band B. Congrats!

Fifi is really a very talented percussionist. Sight reading is like whew. I'm really glad i got to know you cause when i was taking my grade 5 theory you helped me alot too. I know you will go far after you complete your studies and then when i see you in 5 yrs or so, you will be like WHOAH! I really admire your passion for music and how brilliant you are as as a musicmaker. All the best to you, i know you'd do well!

As for me? Haha i better start practicing i think i should hold regular sectional with my junior the erho. Haha it's never to late to start right? Let's IP!