Amkss Trumpet Section!

Sharlene asked me to write this. This was my first time performing with the alumni band, it was a very fun experience.  I found it very hard to keep up because I only had around 3 rehearsals together with the alumni band and the pieces were not easy either. But overall it was fun. The downside to this all is I had to spend a nice Sunday in the freezing conference hall, IDK why but it was so cold especially on stage and in the holding room. I also got a small trumpet pin from the alumni's which was quite nice. 

I am writing this because I wish to keep my sanity during this busy ass period of my life because I have everything due and my life is gonna fall apart soon. Okay. I know. Everyone is equally busy, but I'm busier!! There will be no order or timeline to whatever I'm writing here cause that's just how it is. I came for the first practice cuz 心痒痒. Really wanted to play the trumpet again. After all the try-harding for so many years, 现在不玩了 有一点浪费对不对？？Although I probably didn't sound like I was a try-hard back then .... But then, one practice became two, two became three and the rest is history. I didn't want to join at first cuz like fr 现在很忙！！ and I'll have no time to commit to keep practicing on my own and then I'll sound real bad like I was STRUGGLING to play tuning C. Tuning C. Tuning C. maybe my range was half an octave (low C to low F#) but i was also struggling to play low notes. So like my effective playable range was maybe 3, 4 notes? idk. Speaking of whic...

 Hi, ni hao. Nothing here will be in sequence because my brain doesn’t work that way. REHEARSALS  Was informed that we’ll be having our very first alumni concert in March and Dayum, wanna be part of it badly cus trumpet has been rotting for 10 years ya. Also thanks to reservist (SAF Band), I realised even though I don’t particularly enjoy classical music, I still very much love the process of  making it. Bless the rostering gods for giving me off days in Jan and Feb that matched the rehearsal dates. But what the helly March roster. For context, I’m a cabin crew. I don’t get to decide or choose my off days unless I apply for annual leave which I have to apply 2 months before roster comes out for said month which was too late for me since I already booked my tickets for a Vietnam trip which maxed out my ALs. So I literally had to use money to beg other crews to sell me their off days but guess what? Rehearsal date on the day I bought off days didn’t happen cus teachers were...

Thanks Sharlene for inspiring so many of us to write about the concert! It's been fun reading all the different POVs :) So here's mine! Coming Back The last time I played the trumpet was in 2016 with NYJC. After which, I honestly never thought I'd play again. I guess I thought I moved on with life and other interests/ hobbies. Strangely, in the last year, I was really itching to perform and make music again. Listening to the band's SYF recordings on YouTube and other pieces we played at concerts made me really miss the old days. Then the announcement came that we'll be having our first official alumni concert! I knew I had to grab the opportunity.  The first practice was a mix of nervousness and excitement. Picking up the trumpet again was demoralising. I thought I might be able to at least make a sound but nope! I didn't know whether it was because I hadn't played in so long, or that I had braces. All I could think about was how far I was from my peak. Whil...

Since everyone has been contributing to this blog, let me add my own entry here. It has been 14 years since my last blog post. That’s older than a Sec 2 kid. Now… Where shall I start? Since you guys wanted to know what the committee was up to for the concert, maybe I will start from there.  20th March, Friday Friday night, I was busy rushing the program booklet. Because you know, diamonds are made under pressure. Also, it was mainly due to my own procrastination. I was up editing and putting the program booklet together till Saturday morning. About 7am.  21st March, Saturday (Wendy’s Birthday) On Saturday, the plan was for me to pick up dress shoes and print out the VIP tags, Program Booklet QR codes, and stickers. I ended up sleeping only 2 hours because Benedict (Bass Clarinetist 2012) called me. Even though I told him I was going to sleep at 7am. He called me to ask me to meet him earlier. And so I got some feedback regarding the Program Booklet from the comm and did some a...

  Hi everyone, Thought I should write something too after getting inspired by sharlene Honestly didn’t expect so many people would join this time but I’m glad we did!!  I had fun chit chatting and catching up with each of you during the practices and learn about the interesting things you are doing now! New job, bto, new house, future plans(work or studies), job woes, pri school balloting stress etc. You know who you are!! And meeting Brandon’s cute daughter Clara! Our (trumpet) Clara was also there. Hehe Also, saw a different side (?) of Mr Tan. My memory of him was still stuck at like at least 10 years ago. I really forgot the details of each practice and I just felt the practices had gone by so quickly… so it’ll just be bits and pieces here and there… In one of the first practices I had trouble playing low G#, G, F# and I thought I couldn’t play anymore but phew it was because the instrument valve had some problem which Joel helped to figure. My self doubt was at an all tim...