(On a side note, this is the 100th post)
I don't care I'm going to mug very hard for Literature next year so I can win a book from Miss Chew! That's because I've never got my own storybook for 5 years on already...I mean, the books are either being borrowed or unreturned from the library. (Shhh)
And the rest of the money are usually spent on music scores, theory, history books. How nice will it be to have a storybook of your own!
We did some 4-hand sight-reading this evening with the freshmen gang at class, some Dvorak and Brahms. Moved away from Mozart already, but Aidi and I still have to do Mozart 3rd movement.
Dr. Hecht celebrated his Halloween birthday!
Other than that I'm kick-starting the RE project for next year already. Better get together with Hongrui, Bryan and Ben Low for the project...
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Interview, Lang Lang, Thoughts
Had a night nap. Isn't the same as sleep! It's a smaller version and it only gets released in the evening. And if it is free, take it!
There was the CNA interview today. I thought it was pretty rushed and uncomfortable, because I had to lean on the grand piano. It started getting uncomfortable after while because it was pretty hot and I was sweating.
And then there was noise distractions...yep and the like. Gets kind of irritating after a while but I had to survive with it. So there goes, another event over. On Thursday RISE will have our first chamber concert at Alliance Franchaise! We're well-rehearsed but the problem is getting viewers. Imagine if you held a Beatles concert. But wait a minute, I think there will be people who would be very interested too!
Lang Lang's had his concert already! Just now while I was having a nap. Hoped he did well and remembered Singapore as one of the venues where he did very well.
"What's the best concert you've ever performed in?"
"The next one."
That came from Yo-yo Ma. Self-explanatory, shows how important every concert is.
Had some cool thoughts this entire day, or in fact everyday but I thought them lame enough not to deserve a place here, so forget it. Maybe they're good, and I'm just finding another way to say, "I forgot them along the way."
Oops! Sorry...
There was the CNA interview today. I thought it was pretty rushed and uncomfortable, because I had to lean on the grand piano. It started getting uncomfortable after while because it was pretty hot and I was sweating.
And then there was noise distractions...yep and the like. Gets kind of irritating after a while but I had to survive with it. So there goes, another event over. On Thursday RISE will have our first chamber concert at Alliance Franchaise! We're well-rehearsed but the problem is getting viewers. Imagine if you held a Beatles concert. But wait a minute, I think there will be people who would be very interested too!
Lang Lang's had his concert already! Just now while I was having a nap. Hoped he did well and remembered Singapore as one of the venues where he did very well.
"What's the best concert you've ever performed in?"
"The next one."
That came from Yo-yo Ma. Self-explanatory, shows how important every concert is.
Had some cool thoughts this entire day, or in fact everyday but I thought them lame enough not to deserve a place here, so forget it. Maybe they're good, and I'm just finding another way to say, "I forgot them along the way."
Oops! Sorry...
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Tomorrow I
2 concerts in 3 days!
Both were the same pieces - Tempest Sonata 1st Movement by Beethoven. I thought my second one in YST Concert Hall was much better than the one in YMS. The Hall maybe?
What a pure optimist I am. Whenever I'm down I pick myself up very quickly, and face life again! How happy can that be. I find it as a gift that some people have, or maybe everyone has it but are unable to find theirs.
One life, live it!
Tomorrow I have a photoshoot for MEP with Theophilus and John, and on Tuesday an interview with Channel NewsAsia. Wednesday would be 4 hand class, and Thursday would be RISE concert.
Busy but fun times ahead!
Both were the same pieces - Tempest Sonata 1st Movement by Beethoven. I thought my second one in YST Concert Hall was much better than the one in YMS. The Hall maybe?
What a pure optimist I am. Whenever I'm down I pick myself up very quickly, and face life again! How happy can that be. I find it as a gift that some people have, or maybe everyone has it but are unable to find theirs.
One life, live it!
Tomorrow I have a photoshoot for MEP with Theophilus and John, and on Tuesday an interview with Channel NewsAsia. Wednesday would be 4 hand class, and Thursday would be RISE concert.
Busy but fun times ahead!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
is so hard to gain
Finally decided to post!
Anyway I've been practising piano, playing 8 minutes around the keyboard almost everyday, practising Griffes and more piano, practising jazz solo.
Come for RISE Chamber Concert! I shall be direct - the tickets cost $10, and I know it's entirely worth it. Not some propoganda thing but you will hear strings music, cello-rock, jazz, wind music. And I've been around and us chamber groups have been practising blarr----dy hard...Great job guys!
The concert will be on the 1st of November and it will be at the Alliance Franchise (French Alliance). It is the famous NPVC competition venue, and a place which I will remember fondly for all my successful concerts and competitions. This one definitely be one of them!
On a less interesting but more exciting note, Arsenal beat Slavia Prague with a crazy score of 7-0. Now you may think I'm talking about basketball, where the points are counted in threes and the like, but no! I'm talking about soccer, where one goal is one point. And the point is so hard to gain - you have to run like, half the length of the field just to get to the opponent's net.
And to mentioning placing 6 moving people trying to stop you from putting the ball into the net, which has a goalkeeper in front of it.
7-0? What an incredible night.
In any case there isn't really much to talk about except for this great game I've been playing on Miniclip - Tennis Grand Slam.
It's 3-D, and realistic, and not forgetting great sound effects!
For now, I just got to relax and learn how to enjoy the life. Classes nowadays seem SOOO boring I tell you. You basically walk around and do nothing except read a book, maybe punch a Shide or two.
Anyway I've been practising piano, playing 8 minutes around the keyboard almost everyday, practising Griffes and more piano, practising jazz solo.
Come for RISE Chamber Concert! I shall be direct - the tickets cost $10, and I know it's entirely worth it. Not some propoganda thing but you will hear strings music, cello-rock, jazz, wind music. And I've been around and us chamber groups have been practising blarr----dy hard...Great job guys!
The concert will be on the 1st of November and it will be at the Alliance Franchise (French Alliance). It is the famous NPVC competition venue, and a place which I will remember fondly for all my successful concerts and competitions. This one definitely be one of them!
On a less interesting but more exciting note, Arsenal beat Slavia Prague with a crazy score of 7-0. Now you may think I'm talking about basketball, where the points are counted in threes and the like, but no! I'm talking about soccer, where one goal is one point. And the point is so hard to gain - you have to run like, half the length of the field just to get to the opponent's net.
And to mentioning placing 6 moving people trying to stop you from putting the ball into the net, which has a goalkeeper in front of it.
7-0? What an incredible night.
In any case there isn't really much to talk about except for this great game I've been playing on Miniclip - Tennis Grand Slam.
It's 3-D, and realistic, and not forgetting great sound effects!
For now, I just got to relax and learn how to enjoy the life. Classes nowadays seem SOOO boring I tell you. You basically walk around and do nothing except read a book, maybe punch a Shide or two.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
with much humour
Thanks everyone for suggesting! I've definitely touched up my links, added Adriel and Edwyna in it. Anyone who wants me to link, just request it on the tagboard. It's very simple to do it on Blogger.
First things first - I just got my new mp3 after using the old one for about a year!
Apparently my old mp3 couldn't switch on anymore because the hard disk was spoilt already, and since I was still on a one-year warranty my mum went to the shop and asked...and she got a free mp3 with a $40 charge...ok fine $40 mp3 which is much better than my current mp3.
Although I still have feelings for my old mp3. Well, out goes the past, in comes the new! I guess we have to constantly adapt to life - all good things come to an end, as what the higher order always say.
Meanwhile I doubt that my "Jonny Helps" section would work...unless of course it starts turning idiotic I'll join in, but in reality you wouldn't want to share your problems with me on the tagboard, with or without name. I guess if you have any questions you can always feel free to post it on the tagboard (it's open 247) or otherwise, on MSN!
Although I remember with much humour Adriel's idea of Frequently Unanswered Questions (FUQ) ;) and he did post it on the blog. Of course they were pretty much fake people but it was fun -.- had lots of time laughing about it.
100 hits in 3 days is pretty nice...thanks everyone for reading!
I shall reply to tags here:
theChang: hey adriel, i mentioned in the post already, might or might not work. But it's ok, I suppose no one is going to be serious until someday someone actually posts a cry for help. Someday...
aspiration: you are definitely more exposed to music than me...I guess here (in Singapore) most higher orders probably care only about studies and work. We don't get too much exposure. But I'll need to take up at least one more instrument, that is from the wooodwind section i suppose. oboe? clarinet? Oh and by the way are you in any string ensemble by chance?
fiona: wait till i get bankrupt with the "Jonny Helps!!!" company...Imma in doubt! But you can help me get my first GENUINE person though. Still waiting!
edwyna: What impudence! You dare to whack me. Teenagers nowadays...You're on my links already! Happy? Huh? Anyway you have a high sense of humour. I took quite a while to understand your last sentence. Indeed!
Postscript - I mentioned earlier on one of my blogposts that my keyboard's right arrow was spoiled. Flicked it off with my little finger. (It's quite active) Yeah. (No, of course I don't find for gold with it, but I'm just saying it's prone to sticking around) Still sounds wrong. Maybe saying that my finger just flicked the small key off sounds better. Ok.
But it's fixed already!
First things first - I just got my new mp3 after using the old one for about a year!
Apparently my old mp3 couldn't switch on anymore because the hard disk was spoilt already, and since I was still on a one-year warranty my mum went to the shop and asked...and she got a free mp3 with a $40 charge...ok fine $40 mp3 which is much better than my current mp3.
Although I still have feelings for my old mp3. Well, out goes the past, in comes the new! I guess we have to constantly adapt to life - all good things come to an end, as what the higher order always say.
Meanwhile I doubt that my "Jonny Helps" section would work...unless of course it starts turning idiotic I'll join in, but in reality you wouldn't want to share your problems with me on the tagboard, with or without name. I guess if you have any questions you can always feel free to post it on the tagboard (it's open 247) or otherwise, on MSN!
Although I remember with much humour Adriel's idea of Frequently Unanswered Questions (FUQ) ;) and he did post it on the blog. Of course they were pretty much fake people but it was fun -.- had lots of time laughing about it.
100 hits in 3 days is pretty nice...thanks everyone for reading!
I shall reply to tags here:
theChang: hey adriel, i mentioned in the post already, might or might not work. But it's ok, I suppose no one is going to be serious until someday someone actually posts a cry for help. Someday...
aspiration: you are definitely more exposed to music than me...I guess here (in Singapore) most higher orders probably care only about studies and work. We don't get too much exposure. But I'll need to take up at least one more instrument, that is from the wooodwind section i suppose. oboe? clarinet? Oh and by the way are you in any string ensemble by chance?
fiona: wait till i get bankrupt with the "Jonny Helps!!!" company...Imma in doubt! But you can help me get my first GENUINE person though. Still waiting!
edwyna: What impudence! You dare to whack me. Teenagers nowadays...You're on my links already! Happy? Huh? Anyway you have a high sense of humour. I took quite a while to understand your last sentence. Indeed!
Postscript - I mentioned earlier on one of my blogposts that my keyboard's right arrow was spoiled. Flicked it off with my little finger. (It's quite active) Yeah. (No, of course I don't find for gold with it, but I'm just saying it's prone to sticking around) Still sounds wrong. Maybe saying that my finger just flicked the small key off sounds better. Ok.
But it's fixed already!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
post it on the tagboard!
I'm back!
Seriously nothing much to post about...I looked at other people's blogs and I realised my life isn't as interesting so I decided that probably posting about my life was really a good idea.
So here I am sitting around pondering what to blog about next.
Someone give me an idea!
Post it on the tagboard.
Thanks!
Seriously nothing much to post about...I looked at other people's blogs and I realised my life isn't as interesting so I decided that probably posting about my life was really a good idea.
So here I am sitting around pondering what to blog about next.
Someone give me an idea!
Post it on the tagboard.
Thanks!
Sunday, October 14, 2007
so quiet compared to rugby and soccer
I have JUST returned from swimming. The 5pm sun is still so beautiful, like the 8am one. Shines down on the flats below, the forests, the air...EVENING AIR! Just brilliant.
Very tired now, but still in a good mood. I'm planning to sleep early tonight, for tomorrow I have a performance for studio class in the evening, and I need to practise.
Whenever I see great and fantastic things I start thinking about worldly things - life, freedom, friends, companions, love, hatred, enemies, obstacles, oppression, death.
Well maybe that's what I think about probably all the time...
I didn't know rugby was so fun! Checked out England vs. France on 9.30pm news tonight. Did you see that dropkick? And the penalties? Woohoo rugby for you! But soccer still gives me the kicks. Check out the brilliant header (own goal) but a Estonian defender...extremely nice had it been an England player.
Next was golf. So quiet compared to rugby and soccer. All the cheering gone, and tonnes of concentration needed...that's the world of sports for you!
LATEST NEWS: My dad predicts that the next possible 4th-generation prime ministers are Raymond Lim and Ng Eng Hen!! Shan't give the reasons now but twenty years down the road when this blog is probably deleted you shall see...
For now - America's Got Talent!
Very tired now, but still in a good mood. I'm planning to sleep early tonight, for tomorrow I have a performance for studio class in the evening, and I need to practise.
Whenever I see great and fantastic things I start thinking about worldly things - life, freedom, friends, companions, love, hatred, enemies, obstacles, oppression, death.
Well maybe that's what I think about probably all the time...
I didn't know rugby was so fun! Checked out England vs. France on 9.30pm news tonight. Did you see that dropkick? And the penalties? Woohoo rugby for you! But soccer still gives me the kicks. Check out the brilliant header (own goal) but a Estonian defender...extremely nice had it been an England player.
Next was golf. So quiet compared to rugby and soccer. All the cheering gone, and tonnes of concentration needed...that's the world of sports for you!
LATEST NEWS: My dad predicts that the next possible 4th-generation prime ministers are Raymond Lim and Ng Eng Hen!! Shan't give the reasons now but twenty years down the road when this blog is probably deleted you shall see...
For now - America's Got Talent!
How to play - Around the keyboard in 8 minutes
I've got to admit, it's like a vacuum. For the past few weeks we have been totally absorbed into our studies, with no time to do other stuff (except for me, I blog) except to study, study, and of course, study.
And all these weeks we don't realise we aren't doing anything else except for reading and revising tons of worksheets, practising coordinate geoometry, spending hours at the toilet bowl doing titration.
Suddenly, it's over. It's disappeared! And our lost eyes wander around, to see what life means to us, with all those books gone. No, you cannot bear to pick up that textbook again. But you deleted all those games on your computer already. Halo, Diablo, Oreo, World of Warcraft...No game is spared from the onslaught of the parents and the books. And now, with the war over, seeking for entertainment will never be the same again.
So here I am! Typing blog posts as a form of entertainment.
Here's an excerpt from Jun Sean, once my desk-partner in class:
"Well. All is not too well really. The EOYs seem to leave me empty more than leaving me overjoyed for some reason or other. Not that I love taking exams, but there’s no longer anything in sight that demands my attention. A state of emptiness, that there’s nothing really worth being happy about with the passage of an entire year of highs and lows. An absence of catharsis for the common man.
I’m losing it."
Basically sums up our emotions after the End-of-Year...
What a beautiful morning. I woke up to the sound of my mother talking on the phone to my third aunt, loud and clear, for I feel a need to emphasize how loud these 5 ladies can talk (not counting one big sister), like their mother's voice (my grandmother). The other day I overheard my mum talking to my grandma, and gosh my grandma's voice was solid and strong, and the mother-daughter conversation tested the phone's ability to manage such a loud conversation and prevent itself from being short-circuited by the shower of saliva.
It held through, fortunately. I've known all the aunts for my whole life, and when they go shopping it can be a problem sometimes. Strong ladies, definitely. But they sometimes get on my nerves. It's alright, me being Jonathan Shin. I've had enough practice at home!
So I woke up, and looked outside the window. The 22nd storey view is indeed beautiful, and the sun shown brightly by the window. I walked out and...
"Wake yourself up by playing scales!"
My dad grumbled immediately, saying how life gets tough for his son, having to play the piano the moment he starts the day. "Grr."
Last night while practising I planned myself a scale chart to practise through continuously.
HERE IS -
How to play:
Around the keyboard in 8 minutes
C major
A minor
F major
D minor
Bb major
G minor
Eb major
C minor
Ab major
F minor
Db major
Bb minor
F# major
Eb minor
B major
Ab minor
E major
Db minor
A major
F# minor
D major
B minor
G major
E minor
The trick is this - the entire series is supposed to be played continuously without stopping. For example, C major - A minor is connected by playing C-D-C-B-A, and then playing the A minor scale.
A minor-F major is thus connected by playing A-Bb-A-G-F.
If you noticed, C to A is 3 semitones apart.
A to F is 4 semitones apart.
F to D is 3 semitones apart.
D to Bb is 4 semitones apart.
So it's kinda alternated. If you go to low, like by the time you reach G minor it should be very low already has you keep moving downwards, you can change to the next scale ONE octave higher.
How to play the 4 octaves scales. Let's take C major for example again:
1. Both hands move two octaves up (playing the C major scale)
2. When reaching the C two octaves up, split and play contrary motion outwards. The left hand will reach the lowest C you started from, the right hand will reach the highest C (4th octave)
3. Return back to original 2nd octave C by playing contrary motion inwards
4. Move both hands upwards two octaves, right hand reaching the highest C again, left hand reaching the 3rd octave C
5. Move back downwards to the 2nd octave C
6. Repeat steps 2 and 3
7. Return back to starting position and continue (moving to A minor) with:
C-D-C-B-A
Repeat all the steps again, this time in the key of A minor. Ditto for the rest.
The entire 'piece' takes approximately 8 minutes if practised the way I do it.
And when you finally reach E minor, going back to C major, end with
E-F-E-D-C
And finish with a brilliant C major chord!
The best way to start your day (other than Bach)
And all these weeks we don't realise we aren't doing anything else except for reading and revising tons of worksheets, practising coordinate geoometry, spending hours at the toilet bowl doing titration.
Suddenly, it's over. It's disappeared! And our lost eyes wander around, to see what life means to us, with all those books gone. No, you cannot bear to pick up that textbook again. But you deleted all those games on your computer already. Halo, Diablo, Oreo, World of Warcraft...No game is spared from the onslaught of the parents and the books. And now, with the war over, seeking for entertainment will never be the same again.
So here I am! Typing blog posts as a form of entertainment.
Here's an excerpt from Jun Sean, once my desk-partner in class:
"Well. All is not too well really. The EOYs seem to leave me empty more than leaving me overjoyed for some reason or other. Not that I love taking exams, but there’s no longer anything in sight that demands my attention. A state of emptiness, that there’s nothing really worth being happy about with the passage of an entire year of highs and lows. An absence of catharsis for the common man.
I’m losing it."
Basically sums up our emotions after the End-of-Year...
What a beautiful morning. I woke up to the sound of my mother talking on the phone to my third aunt, loud and clear, for I feel a need to emphasize how loud these 5 ladies can talk (not counting one big sister), like their mother's voice (my grandmother). The other day I overheard my mum talking to my grandma, and gosh my grandma's voice was solid and strong, and the mother-daughter conversation tested the phone's ability to manage such a loud conversation and prevent itself from being short-circuited by the shower of saliva.
It held through, fortunately. I've known all the aunts for my whole life, and when they go shopping it can be a problem sometimes. Strong ladies, definitely. But they sometimes get on my nerves. It's alright, me being Jonathan Shin. I've had enough practice at home!
So I woke up, and looked outside the window. The 22nd storey view is indeed beautiful, and the sun shown brightly by the window. I walked out and...
"Wake yourself up by playing scales!"
My dad grumbled immediately, saying how life gets tough for his son, having to play the piano the moment he starts the day. "Grr."
Last night while practising I planned myself a scale chart to practise through continuously.
HERE IS -
How to play:
Around the keyboard in 8 minutes
C major
A minor
F major
D minor
Bb major
G minor
Eb major
C minor
Ab major
F minor
Db major
Bb minor
F# major
Eb minor
B major
Ab minor
E major
Db minor
A major
F# minor
D major
B minor
G major
E minor
The trick is this - the entire series is supposed to be played continuously without stopping. For example, C major - A minor is connected by playing C-D-C-B-A, and then playing the A minor scale.
A minor-F major is thus connected by playing A-Bb-A-G-F.
If you noticed, C to A is 3 semitones apart.
A to F is 4 semitones apart.
F to D is 3 semitones apart.
D to Bb is 4 semitones apart.
So it's kinda alternated. If you go to low, like by the time you reach G minor it should be very low already has you keep moving downwards, you can change to the next scale ONE octave higher.
How to play the 4 octaves scales. Let's take C major for example again:
1. Both hands move two octaves up (playing the C major scale)
2. When reaching the C two octaves up, split and play contrary motion outwards. The left hand will reach the lowest C you started from, the right hand will reach the highest C (4th octave)
3. Return back to original 2nd octave C by playing contrary motion inwards
4. Move both hands upwards two octaves, right hand reaching the highest C again, left hand reaching the 3rd octave C
5. Move back downwards to the 2nd octave C
6. Repeat steps 2 and 3
7. Return back to starting position and continue (moving to A minor) with:
C-D-C-B-A
Repeat all the steps again, this time in the key of A minor. Ditto for the rest.
The entire 'piece' takes approximately 8 minutes if practised the way I do it.
And when you finally reach E minor, going back to C major, end with
E-F-E-D-C
And finish with a brilliant C major chord!
The best way to start your day (other than Bach)
Saturday, October 13, 2007
thy nose. Apparently I
Ooh so Miss Hahn's family is French. Partly :) After my lesson she went to the French Alliance to watch a French movie. So I asked her, "You understand French?" And she nodded, saying "Yes, I do have French family members so I speak French too."
And I'm like gosh. So she speaks English and French. Now that's what I call, cool. She mentioned that after the exams I will be free, and I said yes. And then she said, how about lesson on Wednesday? (I have rehearsal on Wednesday) so duh I said I'm fine with Tuesday normal time 5pm.
How do you expect me to go for 4-hand class? Dead.
Left eye has been bugging me for almost the whole day, starting from this morning right after I had my wam shower admidst the cold weather, and then it started itching. Ditto for thy nose. Apparently I may turn out to be extremely sensitive to my surroundings.
Sneeze.
Oh and indeed, I just heard the song 'The Fool on the Hill'...got the chords and the lyrics. If you read my tagboard you should know why I listened to the song. Paul McCartney looks so young! And the song is as per usual, beautiful. Paul recorded it by himself apparently. I just find it so relaxing and everytime I listen to it I smile to myself. Then after a second helping of the song, I go to 'Be Happy Don't Worry'!
What kind of music one listens to definitely reflects your character. It's hard to find someone who's close friend just passed away singing along to a song of 'Happy Birthday'
I'm just going to the most blatant examples, but you would get the hang of it. Like me, I probably will not listen to 'emo'tional music for...I guess the rest of the life. I find it rather depressing (Duh!) and really doesn't give me the beat I'll smile and tap my feet too.
It's no wonder I don't possess sharp plastic rulers in my drawers too! :)
And I'm like gosh. So she speaks English and French. Now that's what I call, cool. She mentioned that after the exams I will be free, and I said yes. And then she said, how about lesson on Wednesday? (I have rehearsal on Wednesday) so duh I said I'm fine with Tuesday normal time 5pm.
How do you expect me to go for 4-hand class? Dead.
Left eye has been bugging me for almost the whole day, starting from this morning right after I had my wam shower admidst the cold weather, and then it started itching. Ditto for thy nose. Apparently I may turn out to be extremely sensitive to my surroundings.
Sneeze.
Oh and indeed, I just heard the song 'The Fool on the Hill'...got the chords and the lyrics. If you read my tagboard you should know why I listened to the song. Paul McCartney looks so young! And the song is as per usual, beautiful. Paul recorded it by himself apparently. I just find it so relaxing and everytime I listen to it I smile to myself. Then after a second helping of the song, I go to 'Be Happy Don't Worry'!
What kind of music one listens to definitely reflects your character. It's hard to find someone who's close friend just passed away singing along to a song of 'Happy Birthday'
I'm just going to the most blatant examples, but you would get the hang of it. Like me, I probably will not listen to 'emo'tional music for...I guess the rest of the life. I find it rather depressing (Duh!) and really doesn't give me the beat I'll smile and tap my feet too.
It's no wonder I don't possess sharp plastic rulers in my drawers too! :)
Friday, October 12, 2007
they could cut out the sound
My day starts with me going for MEP exam (feels like yesterday), and then coming back home. There isn't much featured at home, except for me being able to practise for a rare 3 hours, simply being aware of one's body posture and whether each muscle and bone is in the right place.
Sometimes pianists don't realise that their body is out of shape and thus causing injuries later in their life, sooner or later.
After the practice session, I try to find a computer game to play, but I failed. So I resorted to online games, puzzles, blah. For the first time in my life I did some of the 'escape' games, where you were in a scenario and had to find items to collect, combine, and use in order to escape the scenario ultimately.
Of course you had to expect from a person like me, with a low IQ and coupled with a lazy brain decided to take a detour but going to Yahoo and typing 'escape phonebooth walkthrough'
So there you have it. Not much of a challenge, ain't it?
I proceeded to copy the Beatles's 'The Long and Winding Road' onto a piece of paper and placed the chords in, before playing through once on the piano just before dinner and singing along. What a beautiful song - recently it was mentioned in The New Paper for Liverpool's case (a long and winding road towards losing). Hmmm, so they still remember the Fab Four!
On the right you viewers can see videos of the Beatles which I basically typed in a search for. This week's would be 'The Beatles, rooftop'.
All the videos feature the Beatles playing their last concert (very last) on the rooftop of the Apple Studios. While they were playing, they were also being recorded, so it would be something like 'Live Recording'
In any case, they were interrupted by the police by part 3, with their loudspeakers and amps being disconnected except for Ringo's and Paul's. Ringo was the drummer, so there was no way they could cut out the sound (like duh!) and they probably forgot about Paul's, so George's and John's amps were cut off.
Of course they were pissed - imagine if your loudspeakers were plucked off in the middle of a live concert which everyone was enjoying. In any case, Paul pulled it off nicely and they were able to continue smoothly, much to the dismay of the London police.
Inside the video also features the constantly talked about 'Fifth Beatle', in this case it would be Billy Preston, as he played the keyboard for this concert. However there are many 'Fifth Beatles', and I should think it's an issue which is still highlu debatable, but totally not worth debating when all you want to do is to enjoy music.
I still don't understand why people still listen to 'emo' music...makes one so emotional! If life gives good things, take only the good things! Of course, we can argue from day to night what's good and what's bad, but music should not be debated over.
It's perhaps the only thing that everyone has in common - the common ability to appreciate music, be it emo, rock, classical, pop. Since we are given the higher ability to appreciate such things, why not!
Sometimes pianists don't realise that their body is out of shape and thus causing injuries later in their life, sooner or later.
After the practice session, I try to find a computer game to play, but I failed. So I resorted to online games, puzzles, blah. For the first time in my life I did some of the 'escape' games, where you were in a scenario and had to find items to collect, combine, and use in order to escape the scenario ultimately.
Of course you had to expect from a person like me, with a low IQ and coupled with a lazy brain decided to take a detour but going to Yahoo and typing 'escape phonebooth walkthrough'
So there you have it. Not much of a challenge, ain't it?
I proceeded to copy the Beatles's 'The Long and Winding Road' onto a piece of paper and placed the chords in, before playing through once on the piano just before dinner and singing along. What a beautiful song - recently it was mentioned in The New Paper for Liverpool's case (a long and winding road towards losing). Hmmm, so they still remember the Fab Four!
On the right you viewers can see videos of the Beatles which I basically typed in a search for. This week's would be 'The Beatles, rooftop'.
All the videos feature the Beatles playing their last concert (very last) on the rooftop of the Apple Studios. While they were playing, they were also being recorded, so it would be something like 'Live Recording'
In any case, they were interrupted by the police by part 3, with their loudspeakers and amps being disconnected except for Ringo's and Paul's. Ringo was the drummer, so there was no way they could cut out the sound (like duh!) and they probably forgot about Paul's, so George's and John's amps were cut off.
Of course they were pissed - imagine if your loudspeakers were plucked off in the middle of a live concert which everyone was enjoying. In any case, Paul pulled it off nicely and they were able to continue smoothly, much to the dismay of the London police.
Inside the video also features the constantly talked about 'Fifth Beatle', in this case it would be Billy Preston, as he played the keyboard for this concert. However there are many 'Fifth Beatles', and I should think it's an issue which is still highlu debatable, but totally not worth debating when all you want to do is to enjoy music.
I still don't understand why people still listen to 'emo' music...makes one so emotional! If life gives good things, take only the good things! Of course, we can argue from day to night what's good and what's bad, but music should not be debated over.
It's perhaps the only thing that everyone has in common - the common ability to appreciate music, be it emo, rock, classical, pop. Since we are given the higher ability to appreciate such things, why not!
write such profound songs
Just practised for 3 hours...Felt very bored and decided to install computer game inside my laptop. But my mum didn't allow, and being Jonathan Shin I didn't argue but only stared as she deleted one by one all my installed stuff. My ears hurt even when she was shouting at me with my earphones on.
So what to do? I'm copying the poem for 'Nothing Girl' to be arranged on piano. But not in the mood now.
Shit. Very sian damnit. What can I do now? I finished MEP already, and what I really want to do now is to perhaps do something to occupy time. I can play piano now, just that I'm a little tired after just now's practice. Played a little cello!
Just read a comment on YouTube. Listen to 'In my Life' by the Beatles...they were able to write such profound songs even at the age of only 24. Talented people...
Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym0x3vTw6yc&mode=related&search=
Ok I shall wander of in search of better things to do in life!
So what to do? I'm copying the poem for 'Nothing Girl' to be arranged on piano. But not in the mood now.
Shit. Very sian damnit. What can I do now? I finished MEP already, and what I really want to do now is to perhaps do something to occupy time. I can play piano now, just that I'm a little tired after just now's practice. Played a little cello!
Just read a comment on YouTube. Listen to 'In my Life' by the Beatles...they were able to write such profound songs even at the age of only 24. Talented people...
Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym0x3vTw6yc&mode=related&search=
Ok I shall wander of in search of better things to do in life!
Thursday, October 11, 2007
out with some of
Ok a post before I take my afternoon nap. Finished literature today! I thought I did pretty well :) The rest of the subjects...blah. Except for SS, English, Lit, MEP, I don't know what I can do well for.
Basically shows you what kind of person I am.
Miss Hahn invited Jun Hong to play for a while yesterday during 4 hands class! Around 5 minutes. Just to show the meaning of staccato and detached to us pianists. But it was such coincedence he was standing outside the studio and making music when we heard him. So we just got him in lorh.
Took my guitar from the design centre and walked around the whole day with it as usual. Started in the morning, where I went to the Raja Field and played like crap in front of the Raja Block, (there was no one watching except for Ben Low, who was crying over his results) and some teachers. So of course I can only played beautiful melodies but no chords. Because my mind is one-stringed...
Tomorrow is my official last examination day which is MEP. I'm supposed to go out with some of my friends later from other schools but cannot because I really have to practise piano for Saturday's lesson. And in any case my mum doesn't allow me to go because she said I need to practise, so there goes.
Outings in my life with friends: 0
Friends who have comed to my house: 0
Times I've been invited to a party: 16
Times I've been present: 2
Shows how...erm, 'restricted' I am. But me being Jonathan Shin, bochap lah.
Ok I think I have to rest now. Will be back.
Basically shows you what kind of person I am.
Miss Hahn invited Jun Hong to play for a while yesterday during 4 hands class! Around 5 minutes. Just to show the meaning of staccato and detached to us pianists. But it was such coincedence he was standing outside the studio and making music when we heard him. So we just got him in lorh.
Took my guitar from the design centre and walked around the whole day with it as usual. Started in the morning, where I went to the Raja Field and played like crap in front of the Raja Block, (there was no one watching except for Ben Low, who was crying over his results) and some teachers. So of course I can only played beautiful melodies but no chords. Because my mind is one-stringed...
Tomorrow is my official last examination day which is MEP. I'm supposed to go out with some of my friends later from other schools but cannot because I really have to practise piano for Saturday's lesson. And in any case my mum doesn't allow me to go because she said I need to practise, so there goes.
Outings in my life with friends: 0
Friends who have comed to my house: 0
Times I've been invited to a party: 16
Times I've been present: 2
Shows how...erm, 'restricted' I am. But me being Jonathan Shin, bochap lah.
Ok I think I have to rest now. Will be back.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
for example, if
The National Piano and Violin Competition 2007 would be here in a month's time! Oh how nervous can I get. But I'm not participating though - you know when you get damn tired to compete already. Time to go home and practise, and maybe I'll be back by 2009!
No but this year I shall be relishing the opportunity to watch all my friends play and compete on stage, while I'll be at the comfort of the audience and listening to good classical music. (They'll definitely play their best...it's a competition, like duh!)
Today is John Lennon's birthday, and I felt a need to reiterate this by shouting it out in class before the Mathematics test, and of course, on MSN. 67 years back, this great singer was born somewhere in Liverpool. I just love his style of music! Yummy.
Ah. On the topic of competition: Recently a female runner named Jones confessed to her use of drugs during the Olympics. I don't know why sports has turned this way - in today's world winning doesn't only seem to be everything, it is everything.
The pressure, the stress to win pride and glory for their countries, and also more importantly to keep their jobs get them to do such stupid things. At that point of time, it may not look stupid to them, but soon after they're done with the using of drugs, they regret it, but it is too late.
Why has sports today become so marred with scandals, drug uses, and incidents?
We can only blame ourselves for this - the world population growing larger, more competition, and of course, with competition comes stress.
I suppose if I were in their shoes I may even make the wrong choice.
It is impossible to boost your piano playing through the taking of steroids though. It does not make your fingers faster. To play the piano requires full concentration, adding your own soul into the music, and of course, good technique. A good technique is the ability to organise and do whatever you want to your music.
If you have a bad technique, you are restricted to doing things you wish to your music. For example, if you want to do a scale nicely but do not have a good technique, you are restricted to do the scale up and down beautiful.
Anyway the definition of technique was given by my teacher Miss Hahn - "A good technique is the ability to organise and do whatever you want to the music".
Back to the point - fortunately taking any kind of medication will not help you boost your playing. :) So the NPVC organisation can skip the drug-testing part.
I shall make use of this blogpost to wish ALL partipants for this year's NPVC good luck, and may the best pianist win!
No but this year I shall be relishing the opportunity to watch all my friends play and compete on stage, while I'll be at the comfort of the audience and listening to good classical music. (They'll definitely play their best...it's a competition, like duh!)
Today is John Lennon's birthday, and I felt a need to reiterate this by shouting it out in class before the Mathematics test, and of course, on MSN. 67 years back, this great singer was born somewhere in Liverpool. I just love his style of music! Yummy.
Ah. On the topic of competition: Recently a female runner named Jones confessed to her use of drugs during the Olympics. I don't know why sports has turned this way - in today's world winning doesn't only seem to be everything, it is everything.
The pressure, the stress to win pride and glory for their countries, and also more importantly to keep their jobs get them to do such stupid things. At that point of time, it may not look stupid to them, but soon after they're done with the using of drugs, they regret it, but it is too late.
Why has sports today become so marred with scandals, drug uses, and incidents?
We can only blame ourselves for this - the world population growing larger, more competition, and of course, with competition comes stress.
I suppose if I were in their shoes I may even make the wrong choice.
It is impossible to boost your piano playing through the taking of steroids though. It does not make your fingers faster. To play the piano requires full concentration, adding your own soul into the music, and of course, good technique. A good technique is the ability to organise and do whatever you want to your music.
If you have a bad technique, you are restricted to doing things you wish to your music. For example, if you want to do a scale nicely but do not have a good technique, you are restricted to do the scale up and down beautiful.
Anyway the definition of technique was given by my teacher Miss Hahn - "A good technique is the ability to organise and do whatever you want to the music".
Back to the point - fortunately taking any kind of medication will not help you boost your playing. :) So the NPVC organisation can skip the drug-testing part.
I shall make use of this blogpost to wish ALL partipants for this year's NPVC good luck, and may the best pianist win!
Monday, October 8, 2007
introduced to some
Chinese and Chemistry over. Another 4 more to go! That includes MEP. Nvm, it's a good number. I'll just finish them up as best as I can.
Otherwise practising quadratic equations now, I'm sure I can do well given that I practise lots today. Yay.
Ooh and I got introduced to some new musicians today...like Mika! Can't believe it.
But hey, Beatles still forever...yeah...
Otherwise practising quadratic equations now, I'm sure I can do well given that I practise lots today. Yay.
Ooh and I got introduced to some new musicians today...like Mika! Can't believe it.
But hey, Beatles still forever...yeah...
Sunday, October 7, 2007
admit you're smarter than me
Enlightened! I'm not sure whether it's true or not, but after listening to the Beatles's 'Let it Be' I felt that I should go back to my holy past and rediscover myself.
But I'm forgotten everything...I took out the Bible and started reading. Discovered some good points I can learn. It's going to be a long road back to what I used to be, but no matter how much work it takes I'm willing to go back into the hands of God...
Ok I shall find my religious path again.
I realised that every law originates from the Ten Commandments. Now those of you who don't believe in any religion will start finding for a counter-example. Hope you find one and point them out to me.
I know by making this choice I will become a better person, but definitely not less complicated. Although I hope that my life can be made into a more simple one...but that's ok I'm fine with my current life.
:)
ultimateguitar.com is the only site where you can get chords for the pieces that you love and then play them on the piano. Got the chords for 'You've got to hide your Love away' and 'My Way' by Frank Sinatra.
We're singing the latter for MEP concert!
And I've yet to finish mugging chemistry. And chinese.
Jon Koh. I'm dead...I'll just have to really admit you're smarter than me. Warning: This isn't some emo statement. It is a fact!
And I'm quite relieved I'm allowed to drop Higher Chinese and take Normal Chinese. I simply can't handle Higher Chinese. Chinese isn't my natural language. Bodoh lah.
Anyway it definitely lightens my burden by a lot. Thanks to my parents for supporting this decision...
No musical experience today except I managed to play 'My Way' with my dad singing. Good job. And I sang 'You've got to hide your love away' solo! With the piano by me of course.
Anyone playing the guitar and drums just give me a call...We can do a little bit of fun...
But I'm forgotten everything...I took out the Bible and started reading. Discovered some good points I can learn. It's going to be a long road back to what I used to be, but no matter how much work it takes I'm willing to go back into the hands of God...
Ok I shall find my religious path again.
I realised that every law originates from the Ten Commandments. Now those of you who don't believe in any religion will start finding for a counter-example. Hope you find one and point them out to me.
I know by making this choice I will become a better person, but definitely not less complicated. Although I hope that my life can be made into a more simple one...but that's ok I'm fine with my current life.
:)
ultimateguitar.com is the only site where you can get chords for the pieces that you love and then play them on the piano. Got the chords for 'You've got to hide your Love away' and 'My Way' by Frank Sinatra.
We're singing the latter for MEP concert!
And I've yet to finish mugging chemistry. And chinese.
Jon Koh. I'm dead...I'll just have to really admit you're smarter than me. Warning: This isn't some emo statement. It is a fact!
And I'm quite relieved I'm allowed to drop Higher Chinese and take Normal Chinese. I simply can't handle Higher Chinese. Chinese isn't my natural language. Bodoh lah.
Anyway it definitely lightens my burden by a lot. Thanks to my parents for supporting this decision...
No musical experience today except I managed to play 'My Way' with my dad singing. Good job. And I sang 'You've got to hide your love away' solo! With the piano by me of course.
Anyone playing the guitar and drums just give me a call...We can do a little bit of fun...
Saturday, October 6, 2007
later I knew there were bus tags
I feel hurt.
Don't worry, this isn't another emo post! It's about my thumb. The wound reopen this afternoon in the car again and it started bleeding real badly. Like all the blood flowing, not oozing. Nearly kenah from my mum because if any blood fell onto the seat she did kill me.
Oh wait, did I mention that everytime I get an injury she will start whacking me? Lol actually I just realised that's the reason why I don't like getting injured, because since Primary 1 I had this mentality that getting injured wasn't the problem, getting scolded was the problem.
So any injuries suffered, keep your mouth shut and don't tell the mother.
Wrapped a plaster around it, filled a pail with hot water and stuff my thumb into it. I felt it throbbing...what a wonderful sensation of pain. And it did work - I did what Clement always had done. When experiencing pain, keep repeating to yourself...
"Pain is pleasure." And you really feel that it's pleasure. Of course, I know what are the limits of the human body, and taking the fact that I'm a piano player I shouldn't start hurting my fingers.
The idea of 2 concerts in 3 days is very appealing to me. I wonder what it is like to be preparing for concerts all days of your life, and not needing to worry about how you are going to prepare for your Maths.
I realised I'm very dependant on my parents. It's easy.
Let me elaborate:
This incident took place in Primary 1, the first day of primary school for me. And so we were all dismissed, and the discipline mistress announced all those who took bus stand on this half of the hall, and those who didn't stand on this half.
For goodness sake, how was I suppose to know what bus they were talking about? I didn't know they were talking about the school buses, and I still remember the first time I panicked and got very very afraid. So I thought...I did take a bus I remembered. But it was a public bus. And those other kids...all had tags on them saying A1, B2, C5.
(Later I knew those were bus tags)
So I went to the 'bus' side of the hall. After that several bus aunties approached me and asked me where I was supposed to go. I said I didn't know...I just knew it was bus 187.
They had this 'wth' look on their faces, and my mum got so panicky not finding me she went on stage and asked the discipline mistress to call out my name. And I was finally found and given a huge scolding.
You get a scolding for everything wrong I guess.
So yep, that shows how dependant I was.
From Primary 1 until Primary 5, I never told a single lie, I swear to everything on this Earth I never told a single lie for those 5 years. Guess it was because I went to Church and I was a holy boy, for I prayed everyday with my Dad, and went to church every week and classes.
And then I realised that when you didn't lie you get beaten up for everything. When you said you had 5/10 you get beaten up...and when other people had 3/10 but they lied and said they had full marks, they didn't get touched. Even then, even if they scored 5/10 their parents which just say it's ok, try harder.
I thought I was in the wrong family seriously. Don't know what's the problem with my mum and why she is like that. For goodness, when people get shit marks and they lie they don't get scolded. When they spill milk on the floor, their parents just say 'careful next time don't spill' but I'm always the one who gets screwed.
Hai...
Then start lying also still get beaten up in the end. Tell the truth also get beaten up. So how to live life? What if you naturally cannot do well in your studies? What happen if you're not as clever as people like B. Yap and Andrew? (Ok nothing against you'll just using as example :)
Back to the point, I'm still dead in the sense anything that I do results in me getting beaten up...And then I remembered those days doing Maths.
I don't know why my experience is so different from others. Why doing Maths was so tormenting for me. When I was in Primary 1, I scored full marks from my first math test. Subsequently, out of the whole year, I scored 399/400. I mean for all the subject tests. The four subjects, English, Math, Chinese, Science.
Then after that my mum had to push me so hard that I completely self-destruct. Learning Math was supposed to be fun, enjoyable. But I was forced to do literally 20 to 30 worksheets, with her sitting opposite me with a cane.
And everytime I finished a paper, I passed it to her, and for every question I got wrong she would cane me. Why...I mean must be so tormenting meh. Why other friends of mine don't get scolded even though they do badly. Honestly felt like crying when I asked someone what his mum said when he failed. He told me, "She just said 'Work harder lorh' "
And then the next time he did really well, and duh his parents were happy.
But from the tone of my voice I guess you all know that I have admitted defeat and I shall not fight anymore. Still have to continue to get scolded for things you don't know, and for things you know you don't get scolded.
I'm ok now with not being praised, for I've learnt that there's no way I'm going to get praised seriously. It's just good, ok no scolding. If bad, screw you. So seriously, what's the point?
Remembered last year when I forgot there was school on a Monday and I didn't come. And that day was a test paper returned back. And then my mum had to rub on my mistake and said that I lied about forgetting because I didn't want my paper back.
What the fck?
K cool. Sometimes in life there are ups and downs. And I figured that whatever you do, there will always be an up. Somewhere. The only thing that matters is whether you end your life on an up or a down.
I just thought of this: In order to do something well, you must know that it's the best thing you're doing in your life.
Eg. If you want to fold laundry well, you must treat it like the best thing that's currently going in your life, and you fold your laundry with all the dedication needed to do the best thing in life.
Complicated?
Don't worry, this isn't another emo post! It's about my thumb. The wound reopen this afternoon in the car again and it started bleeding real badly. Like all the blood flowing, not oozing. Nearly kenah from my mum because if any blood fell onto the seat she did kill me.
Oh wait, did I mention that everytime I get an injury she will start whacking me? Lol actually I just realised that's the reason why I don't like getting injured, because since Primary 1 I had this mentality that getting injured wasn't the problem, getting scolded was the problem.
So any injuries suffered, keep your mouth shut and don't tell the mother.
Wrapped a plaster around it, filled a pail with hot water and stuff my thumb into it. I felt it throbbing...what a wonderful sensation of pain. And it did work - I did what Clement always had done. When experiencing pain, keep repeating to yourself...
"Pain is pleasure." And you really feel that it's pleasure. Of course, I know what are the limits of the human body, and taking the fact that I'm a piano player I shouldn't start hurting my fingers.
The idea of 2 concerts in 3 days is very appealing to me. I wonder what it is like to be preparing for concerts all days of your life, and not needing to worry about how you are going to prepare for your Maths.
I realised I'm very dependant on my parents. It's easy.
Let me elaborate:
This incident took place in Primary 1, the first day of primary school for me. And so we were all dismissed, and the discipline mistress announced all those who took bus stand on this half of the hall, and those who didn't stand on this half.
For goodness sake, how was I suppose to know what bus they were talking about? I didn't know they were talking about the school buses, and I still remember the first time I panicked and got very very afraid. So I thought...I did take a bus I remembered. But it was a public bus. And those other kids...all had tags on them saying A1, B2, C5.
(Later I knew those were bus tags)
So I went to the 'bus' side of the hall. After that several bus aunties approached me and asked me where I was supposed to go. I said I didn't know...I just knew it was bus 187.
They had this 'wth' look on their faces, and my mum got so panicky not finding me she went on stage and asked the discipline mistress to call out my name. And I was finally found and given a huge scolding.
You get a scolding for everything wrong I guess.
So yep, that shows how dependant I was.
From Primary 1 until Primary 5, I never told a single lie, I swear to everything on this Earth I never told a single lie for those 5 years. Guess it was because I went to Church and I was a holy boy, for I prayed everyday with my Dad, and went to church every week and classes.
And then I realised that when you didn't lie you get beaten up for everything. When you said you had 5/10 you get beaten up...and when other people had 3/10 but they lied and said they had full marks, they didn't get touched. Even then, even if they scored 5/10 their parents which just say it's ok, try harder.
I thought I was in the wrong family seriously. Don't know what's the problem with my mum and why she is like that. For goodness, when people get shit marks and they lie they don't get scolded. When they spill milk on the floor, their parents just say 'careful next time don't spill' but I'm always the one who gets screwed.
Hai...
Then start lying also still get beaten up in the end. Tell the truth also get beaten up. So how to live life? What if you naturally cannot do well in your studies? What happen if you're not as clever as people like B. Yap and Andrew? (Ok nothing against you'll just using as example :)
Back to the point, I'm still dead in the sense anything that I do results in me getting beaten up...And then I remembered those days doing Maths.
I don't know why my experience is so different from others. Why doing Maths was so tormenting for me. When I was in Primary 1, I scored full marks from my first math test. Subsequently, out of the whole year, I scored 399/400. I mean for all the subject tests. The four subjects, English, Math, Chinese, Science.
Then after that my mum had to push me so hard that I completely self-destruct. Learning Math was supposed to be fun, enjoyable. But I was forced to do literally 20 to 30 worksheets, with her sitting opposite me with a cane.
And everytime I finished a paper, I passed it to her, and for every question I got wrong she would cane me. Why...I mean must be so tormenting meh. Why other friends of mine don't get scolded even though they do badly. Honestly felt like crying when I asked someone what his mum said when he failed. He told me, "She just said 'Work harder lorh' "
And then the next time he did really well, and duh his parents were happy.
But from the tone of my voice I guess you all know that I have admitted defeat and I shall not fight anymore. Still have to continue to get scolded for things you don't know, and for things you know you don't get scolded.
I'm ok now with not being praised, for I've learnt that there's no way I'm going to get praised seriously. It's just good, ok no scolding. If bad, screw you. So seriously, what's the point?
Remembered last year when I forgot there was school on a Monday and I didn't come. And that day was a test paper returned back. And then my mum had to rub on my mistake and said that I lied about forgetting because I didn't want my paper back.
What the fck?
K cool. Sometimes in life there are ups and downs. And I figured that whatever you do, there will always be an up. Somewhere. The only thing that matters is whether you end your life on an up or a down.
I just thought of this: In order to do something well, you must know that it's the best thing you're doing in your life.
Eg. If you want to fold laundry well, you must treat it like the best thing that's currently going in your life, and you fold your laundry with all the dedication needed to do the best thing in life.
Complicated?
2 concerts on the 25th and 27th
Just finished musicology class just now! Currently studying Chemistry and Chinese.
I don't have much to talk about, except that I'm performing on the 25th of October and the 27th of October. The 25th October one would be for MEP High Scorer's Concert, I'll be playing Tempest again. For the 27th one it would be the YST Festival and I'll be playing Tempest because it's just about one of the middle Beethoven works.
Other than that I wanted to discuss about food disorders but decided against it because of my lack of information and experience from friends. I wanted to discover why these people develop such disorders, and of course felt that this might be affecting their lifestyle in some cases. So there you have it, I wanted to talk more but nope.
I don't have much to talk about, except that I'm performing on the 25th of October and the 27th of October. The 25th October one would be for MEP High Scorer's Concert, I'll be playing Tempest again. For the 27th one it would be the YST Festival and I'll be playing Tempest because it's just about one of the middle Beethoven works.
Other than that I wanted to discuss about food disorders but decided against it because of my lack of information and experience from friends. I wanted to discover why these people develop such disorders, and of course felt that this might be affecting their lifestyle in some cases. So there you have it, I wanted to talk more but nope.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
a political view of Indonesia
An afternoon post for your reading - a political view into Indonesia
If Indonesia's government were like Singapore's government, we'll be dead 45 years ago. Fortunately, Indonesia's government has never reached the standards of our government, and at the moment, we have nothing to worry about, pertaining to Indonesia.
For the 15 years I have been living on this area of South-East Asia, my mindset of Indonesia has been crafted into an unsightly shape.
Whenever I think of the word 'corruption', the first country I would think of would be, you guessed it, Indonesia.
Now why do you think I would say that? Am I, by any chance, racist against people of different cultures? No.
As a matter of fact, the reason why Indonesia ranks high in the corruption list* can be based on the economy of this archipelago. Here is a passage from Infoplease.com:
"In the summer of 1997, Indonesia suffered a major economic setback, along with most other Asian economies. Banks failed and the value of Indonesia's currency, the rupiah, plummeted. Antigovernment demonstrations and riots broke out, directed mainly at the country's prosperous ethnic Chinese. As the economic crisis deepened, student demonstrators occupied the national parliament, demanding Suharto's ouster. On May 21, 1998, Suharto stepped down, ending 32 years of rule, and handed over power to Vice President B. J. Habibie"
Previously, in the years under Sukarno, Indonesia's first president, Indonesia had prospered in terms of economy. This was immediately after gaining independence from the Dutch.
After passing on the control to Suharto, the nation continued to prosper and its economy improved tremendously. Although there were general elections, the present government had very huge control over the oppositions' actions.
And that significant year of 1997 saw the crash of the Asian market. Indonesia was badly affected, and the rupiah was affected so much so that one Singapore dollar would be a thousand or so rupiah.
Unfortunately, this has lead to worsening of the country's situation - corruption would soon be rampant. Imagine you were a policeman earning so little income a month, and a criminal offers you a hundred-fold of your current salary to let him off. At the point of time, it is indeed forgivable to forget about the safety of one's nation and think about the safety of yourself.
With such a huge amount of money in your hand, you would be able to support your inpoverished family,only able to eat a bowl of rice every day. This decision would indeed be inevitable. The power of money is of course, very delicious.
Bringing you back in to the context, should such a case affect every official in Indonesia, it is not surprising to see why Indonesia has turned into such a corrupted country. The road back to clean politics would not be easy, considering once again the large population of the archipelago state.
In order to attain balance, Indonesia must strive to bring its economy back on track.
However, this is easier said than done. There are a number of factors that do not allow for such a change for the better to be made. These include: the population, the lack of morale within the law-keeping departments, and ultimately, the poor economy.
Today, many Indonesians are still living in the mire of poverty and the inability to keep up with the urbanisation.
Given the current position of Indonesia, there is definitely no cause of worry for Singapore to face stiff competition from them in economical terms, and in a more serious case, a military conflict.
Do catch the 8.00pm show on CNA of Myanmar: War of the Worlds
*corruption list to be found here:
If Indonesia's government were like Singapore's government, we'll be dead 45 years ago. Fortunately, Indonesia's government has never reached the standards of our government, and at the moment, we have nothing to worry about, pertaining to Indonesia.
For the 15 years I have been living on this area of South-East Asia, my mindset of Indonesia has been crafted into an unsightly shape.
Whenever I think of the word 'corruption', the first country I would think of would be, you guessed it, Indonesia.
Now why do you think I would say that? Am I, by any chance, racist against people of different cultures? No.
As a matter of fact, the reason why Indonesia ranks high in the corruption list* can be based on the economy of this archipelago. Here is a passage from Infoplease.com:
"In the summer of 1997, Indonesia suffered a major economic setback, along with most other Asian economies. Banks failed and the value of Indonesia's currency, the rupiah, plummeted. Antigovernment demonstrations and riots broke out, directed mainly at the country's prosperous ethnic Chinese. As the economic crisis deepened, student demonstrators occupied the national parliament, demanding Suharto's ouster. On May 21, 1998, Suharto stepped down, ending 32 years of rule, and handed over power to Vice President B. J. Habibie"
Previously, in the years under Sukarno, Indonesia's first president, Indonesia had prospered in terms of economy. This was immediately after gaining independence from the Dutch.
After passing on the control to Suharto, the nation continued to prosper and its economy improved tremendously. Although there were general elections, the present government had very huge control over the oppositions' actions.
And that significant year of 1997 saw the crash of the Asian market. Indonesia was badly affected, and the rupiah was affected so much so that one Singapore dollar would be a thousand or so rupiah.
Unfortunately, this has lead to worsening of the country's situation - corruption would soon be rampant. Imagine you were a policeman earning so little income a month, and a criminal offers you a hundred-fold of your current salary to let him off. At the point of time, it is indeed forgivable to forget about the safety of one's nation and think about the safety of yourself.
With such a huge amount of money in your hand, you would be able to support your inpoverished family,only able to eat a bowl of rice every day. This decision would indeed be inevitable. The power of money is of course, very delicious.
Bringing you back in to the context, should such a case affect every official in Indonesia, it is not surprising to see why Indonesia has turned into such a corrupted country. The road back to clean politics would not be easy, considering once again the large population of the archipelago state.
In order to attain balance, Indonesia must strive to bring its economy back on track.
However, this is easier said than done. There are a number of factors that do not allow for such a change for the better to be made. These include: the population, the lack of morale within the law-keeping departments, and ultimately, the poor economy.
Today, many Indonesians are still living in the mire of poverty and the inability to keep up with the urbanisation.
Given the current position of Indonesia, there is definitely no cause of worry for Singapore to face stiff competition from them in economical terms, and in a more serious case, a military conflict.
Do catch the 8.00pm show on CNA of Myanmar: War of the Worlds
*corruption list to be found here:
three days of fun though
I didn't know that Wacko! could be so fun! Except now we have the shields and the actual rolled-up newspapers. I don't know how the fun started, only know that the first thing I knew everyone was whacking each other with newspapers. And then I brought in the box, and thus became known as MY shield.
Just that it was shattered, torn literally apart by Ian after he whacked my left leg with his wonderfully-crafted 'sword'. After I dropped mine on the ground with only the shield to cover me, he kept on whacking. And thus my shield broke open, and I brought in 5 new box shields for the class!
Yay we play after eoys. But we had three days of fun though. Started with me and Geoffrey, him with a file and two razor-sharp (literally) brochures, et me with my box shield and rolled-up newspaper 'sword'.
You know, it really feels good to be whacking people, (for guys)you really feel blood pumping and...just got to be in the middle of the fight to know how it's like.
Injuries sustained:
1) Paper Cut on Day 1
2) Wrist Cut on Day 2 (Nigel's thrust)
3) Thumbnail bleeding on Day 3 (Nigel whacked with his damn long newspaper)
Will continue whacking after EOYs...Cockroach Wars, here I come!
Just that it was shattered, torn literally apart by Ian after he whacked my left leg with his wonderfully-crafted 'sword'. After I dropped mine on the ground with only the shield to cover me, he kept on whacking. And thus my shield broke open, and I brought in 5 new box shields for the class!
Yay we play after eoys. But we had three days of fun though. Started with me and Geoffrey, him with a file and two razor-sharp (literally) brochures, et me with my box shield and rolled-up newspaper 'sword'.
You know, it really feels good to be whacking people, (for guys)you really feel blood pumping and...just got to be in the middle of the fight to know how it's like.
Injuries sustained:
1) Paper Cut on Day 1
2) Wrist Cut on Day 2 (Nigel's thrust)
3) Thumbnail bleeding on Day 3 (Nigel whacked with his damn long newspaper)
Will continue whacking after EOYs...Cockroach Wars, here I come!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
not your fault
I would, as usual, like to always think that I’m the only person of 15 in Singapore or the whole world doing what I’m doing – the same old topic of living two lives at once. And I feel a compulsion to remind my audience time and again that I’m doing!
How discouraged I felt when Mrs. Kuah, my chemistry teacher said, “your life is in a mess. How do you think you can handle all this? Your chemistry is already like that and you still want to do your degree. Think clearly, lah.”
Here’s the night read of the day:
You’re a motorbike champion, winning many prizes every year because of your ability. Finally, when you can turn professional, your seniors encourage you and push you, and say if you don’t get into the professional school they will be very disappointed. Then they taunt you consistently, and you work your ass off. But they still taunt you and no matter how hard you really do it, no matter how well you controlled your engine and maintained your technique, they still say you cannot make it.
Then they threaten to burn your one and only motorbike, and say forget motorbike racing, and they don’t let you practice driving your bike. But you still take the every opportunity to practice, and of course, happy endings, you get into that professional academy. But ho, they say it is luck, and say it’s not because of your abilities, but because of other factors.
Then after getting into the professional academy…oh wait, I forgot. You’re not a 20 year old person, but a 15-year-old adolescent driver. You still have your studies. And wait, you get an average of 4 pieces of homework every day. Or more. (not maybe, but definitely)
And then your seniors leave you in the dump, refusing to take responsibility of getting you into the academy, and comment how poor your studies are and meanwhile asking for the standards of your motorbike driving to improve. Then when you study damn hard and get good results, they say you suck. (although if I were the driver, I will never get good results)
Then when they say at first how going to the academy is your life, and if you don’t make it, you’re dead. After you get in, you screw up your studies, and then you say you want to concentrate on motorbike driving, your seniors tell you to go to hell, and that studies are more important.
What do you do?
Think – what would happen to the driving if you do your studies?
What would happen to your studies if you do your driving?
And it’s not your fault that you cannot quit studying .
And no one has the best of no worlds.
On a more optimistic note, all things do work out in the end, I know from experience. I suppose I may have gone through enough to understand that all things do work out at the end of the day, the only different being time.
How discouraged I felt when Mrs. Kuah, my chemistry teacher said, “your life is in a mess. How do you think you can handle all this? Your chemistry is already like that and you still want to do your degree. Think clearly, lah.”
Here’s the night read of the day:
You’re a motorbike champion, winning many prizes every year because of your ability. Finally, when you can turn professional, your seniors encourage you and push you, and say if you don’t get into the professional school they will be very disappointed. Then they taunt you consistently, and you work your ass off. But they still taunt you and no matter how hard you really do it, no matter how well you controlled your engine and maintained your technique, they still say you cannot make it.
Then they threaten to burn your one and only motorbike, and say forget motorbike racing, and they don’t let you practice driving your bike. But you still take the every opportunity to practice, and of course, happy endings, you get into that professional academy. But ho, they say it is luck, and say it’s not because of your abilities, but because of other factors.
Then after getting into the professional academy…oh wait, I forgot. You’re not a 20 year old person, but a 15-year-old adolescent driver. You still have your studies. And wait, you get an average of 4 pieces of homework every day. Or more. (not maybe, but definitely)
And then your seniors leave you in the dump, refusing to take responsibility of getting you into the academy, and comment how poor your studies are and meanwhile asking for the standards of your motorbike driving to improve. Then when you study damn hard and get good results, they say you suck. (although if I were the driver, I will never get good results)
Then when they say at first how going to the academy is your life, and if you don’t make it, you’re dead. After you get in, you screw up your studies, and then you say you want to concentrate on motorbike driving, your seniors tell you to go to hell, and that studies are more important.
What do you do?
Think – what would happen to the driving if you do your studies?
What would happen to your studies if you do your driving?
And it’s not your fault that you cannot quit studying .
And no one has the best of no worlds.
On a more optimistic note, all things do work out in the end, I know from experience. I suppose I may have gone through enough to understand that all things do work out at the end of the day, the only different being time.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Of teenage girls and their World
Here's another post for the night, when I'm relaxing and there isn't really anything to do except for practise piano, do Chinese, study for physics, and do research on Liszt's Sonnetto del Petrarcha. Anyone wants to give a helping hand?
Probably another reason why my blog should be visited very frequently because of the updates. :P
Today was Prometheum Day, which would mean for Raffles the current CCALs (CCA Leaders) would pass on a symbol of the CCA to the new CCALs for next year. So of course in the case of RISE we had to do the violin. I suppose we could have done the baton, but Raffles Voices were given the baton as a symbol to hand over. It wouldn't be the same should they have a diaphragm to pass on, albeit a fake one. (A real one might work, I guess)
I still have not handed in my Chinese project which was due in January, and yes, you're reading a paikia's blog. No no, change it to hippy. Sounds more hip. I refuse to cut my hair, because I'm going to grow long hair. Hope I can reach shoulder length by December. It's currently over the ears already, but I hope I can tahan.
Might need a hairband someday.
Meanwhile, here's the night topic for you to read before you sleep:
Of teenage girls and their World
(immediately the girls will scroll down and start spotting for any mistakes or anything possible to criticize and scold me for writing such comments)
Relax. It's not going to be anything offensive. Because if it is, then you're not going to have a good time. And if you reveal too much, you're going to have a worse time. And if you talk honest, hell.
Welcome to Girl's World.
I thought it would be interesting to share my very small insights of the Girl's World. Yes, it's Girl with a capital G.
Now in Girl's World, a girl has to act like a girl, or else you're an outcast. Not simliar to Guy's World, because if you act with a different personality in Guy's World, you're not touched. In fact, we will bond better.
Let me give you an example, albeit a harmless one. Ben Low, a soprano. Even though his voice is very high and different from (low pitch) - ours, we still accept him and we do not treat him like a person from comet 0382. A clear evidence is that both him and Douglas have been living together in 3L peacefully for the past 10 months.
Now in Girl's World (notice it's Girls, not Women, for Women are already matured in the sense they deal with problems much better than Girls. Notice how Mum warns Daughter about pre-marital sex. Explains a lot.), if you don't follow the rules, you're seriously an outcast.
I believe I have enough evidence to substantiate thy claim, considering experience is an important factor when dealing with sensitive issues such as this. That's why I don't go into the topic of sexual diseases, because I'm innocent. (Wait, there's no sarcasm in there, and you will never find any in this paragraph. :P)
When I say 'don't follow the rules, I mean when you don't act like a girl usually does. Like for example, what a guy expects from a girl would be for the girl to be demure and caring. It is no wonder you don't see normal guys loving girls who say that word 247, unless it's literal. But really, you don't get much.
Only guys who are like, probably more open and acceptable and look through and into the book really don't mind. Now put those guys into handsome faces and suits, couple them up with a little bit of shrewdness and some talent, and voila, your dream man/guy/boy.
When I mean typical, I mean sort of like probably my RI type? Because I haven't seen so many guys, and I said experience is an important factor, thus proving my innocence once more.
In any case, you still don't see Barry Tng liking a drunk Britney Spears. (On a sidenote, the case would definitely be reciprocal)
Now adolescent girls, are really a tough bunch of people. They grow through hardships, both biological and psychological, and they have to live up to expectations. In terms of beauty and the likes, yes, they have to live up to that.
Going through all these hardships will soon, gradually from primary school to secondary school to junior college, the girls soon follow a common set of rules, these rules being forged just because they go through the exact same biological hardship.
That phrase practically shapes what the girl would be, whether she would grow up to be a clever lawyer or a lowly CEO.
Now the problem with talking to them would be their restriction to follow the rules.
Talking online. Not just the normal talking.
Talking online makes it even harder for us to know their true feelings, which is what guys really really need to achieve - to understand girls.
At this point of time you may really start thinking, this guy is a piece of crap, and him predicting all my thoughts really gives me no kick, but it's actually true. Somewhere in there you know it...
Isn't that the reason why we have "hehe" and "haha" and "omg!" and "!!!!!!"?
Simply saying, should I strip all of these words out of a conversation, a girl does not sound like a girl anymore. And us guys being accustomed to the fact that when you talk to a girl, you need to hear all these words, otherwise, that girl would be viewed at least differently from the others?
I remembered that feeling when a girl actually showed her true feelings. And hell, it was terrible man. Like seriously, you actually know that she's pissed and what she really means is no party, no fun, business-talk.
And if girls were to start doing that everyday, the world would definitely be no fun. So they should still stick to Girl's World's rules and play the game properly.
Unfortunately, there are thousands of girls still trapped by this adolescent-age girl problem (specifically for girls only, thank bio). In fact, every girl is trapped by this problem - the need to constantly adapt and change to the situation around us, to live up to expectations, and ultimately, be the true 'girl'.
(There is NO SUCH thing as a true 'girl')
Those who dare to venture out of the rules and be themselves lose out - it's a fact that can never be change until this mentality changes, which I would say never, until biology decides to take a turn and place the hardship on the guys. Ouch.
For now, to all guys out there, please do treat them nicely, for without them there would be no us, without them I probably would be able to MSN the whole day.
For girls, just continue sticking to the rules.
For those who dare venture (be it girl or guy)...be free, and let no others block your way!
Comments on the tagboard!
Probably another reason why my blog should be visited very frequently because of the updates. :P
Today was Prometheum Day, which would mean for Raffles the current CCALs (CCA Leaders) would pass on a symbol of the CCA to the new CCALs for next year. So of course in the case of RISE we had to do the violin. I suppose we could have done the baton, but Raffles Voices were given the baton as a symbol to hand over. It wouldn't be the same should they have a diaphragm to pass on, albeit a fake one. (A real one might work, I guess)
I still have not handed in my Chinese project which was due in January, and yes, you're reading a paikia's blog. No no, change it to hippy. Sounds more hip. I refuse to cut my hair, because I'm going to grow long hair. Hope I can reach shoulder length by December. It's currently over the ears already, but I hope I can tahan.
Might need a hairband someday.
Meanwhile, here's the night topic for you to read before you sleep:
Of teenage girls and their World
(immediately the girls will scroll down and start spotting for any mistakes or anything possible to criticize and scold me for writing such comments)
Relax. It's not going to be anything offensive. Because if it is, then you're not going to have a good time. And if you reveal too much, you're going to have a worse time. And if you talk honest, hell.
Welcome to Girl's World.
I thought it would be interesting to share my very small insights of the Girl's World. Yes, it's Girl with a capital G.
Now in Girl's World, a girl has to act like a girl, or else you're an outcast. Not simliar to Guy's World, because if you act with a different personality in Guy's World, you're not touched. In fact, we will bond better.
Let me give you an example, albeit a harmless one. Ben Low, a soprano. Even though his voice is very high and different from (low pitch) - ours, we still accept him and we do not treat him like a person from comet 0382. A clear evidence is that both him and Douglas have been living together in 3L peacefully for the past 10 months.
Now in Girl's World (notice it's Girls, not Women, for Women are already matured in the sense they deal with problems much better than Girls. Notice how Mum warns Daughter about pre-marital sex. Explains a lot.), if you don't follow the rules, you're seriously an outcast.
I believe I have enough evidence to substantiate thy claim, considering experience is an important factor when dealing with sensitive issues such as this. That's why I don't go into the topic of sexual diseases, because I'm innocent. (Wait, there's no sarcasm in there, and you will never find any in this paragraph. :P)
When I say 'don't follow the rules, I mean when you don't act like a girl usually does. Like for example, what a guy expects from a girl would be for the girl to be demure and caring. It is no wonder you don't see normal guys loving girls who say that word 247, unless it's literal. But really, you don't get much.
Only guys who are like, probably more open and acceptable and look through and into the book really don't mind. Now put those guys into handsome faces and suits, couple them up with a little bit of shrewdness and some talent, and voila, your dream man/guy/boy.
When I mean typical, I mean sort of like probably my RI type? Because I haven't seen so many guys, and I said experience is an important factor, thus proving my innocence once more.
In any case, you still don't see Barry Tng liking a drunk Britney Spears. (On a sidenote, the case would definitely be reciprocal)
Now adolescent girls, are really a tough bunch of people. They grow through hardships, both biological and psychological, and they have to live up to expectations. In terms of beauty and the likes, yes, they have to live up to that.
Going through all these hardships will soon, gradually from primary school to secondary school to junior college, the girls soon follow a common set of rules, these rules being forged just because they go through the exact same biological hardship.
That phrase practically shapes what the girl would be, whether she would grow up to be a clever lawyer or a lowly CEO.
Now the problem with talking to them would be their restriction to follow the rules.
Talking online. Not just the normal talking.
Talking online makes it even harder for us to know their true feelings, which is what guys really really need to achieve - to understand girls.
At this point of time you may really start thinking, this guy is a piece of crap, and him predicting all my thoughts really gives me no kick, but it's actually true. Somewhere in there you know it...
Isn't that the reason why we have "hehe" and "haha" and "omg!" and "!!!!!!"?
Simply saying, should I strip all of these words out of a conversation, a girl does not sound like a girl anymore. And us guys being accustomed to the fact that when you talk to a girl, you need to hear all these words, otherwise, that girl would be viewed at least differently from the others?
I remembered that feeling when a girl actually showed her true feelings. And hell, it was terrible man. Like seriously, you actually know that she's pissed and what she really means is no party, no fun, business-talk.
And if girls were to start doing that everyday, the world would definitely be no fun. So they should still stick to Girl's World's rules and play the game properly.
Unfortunately, there are thousands of girls still trapped by this adolescent-age girl problem (specifically for girls only, thank bio). In fact, every girl is trapped by this problem - the need to constantly adapt and change to the situation around us, to live up to expectations, and ultimately, be the true 'girl'.
(There is NO SUCH thing as a true 'girl')
Those who dare to venture out of the rules and be themselves lose out - it's a fact that can never be change until this mentality changes, which I would say never, until biology decides to take a turn and place the hardship on the guys. Ouch.
For now, to all guys out there, please do treat them nicely, for without them there would be no us, without them I probably would be able to MSN the whole day.
For girls, just continue sticking to the rules.
For those who dare venture (be it girl or guy)...be free, and let no others block your way!
Comments on the tagboard!
Back to NUS
Normal day, having semester break is over in the other half of my life. Back to studio class later, and I'm missing some masterclasses. Guess who's coming to Singapore on the 4th? STEPHEN HOUGH!!
Woohoo he's my idol man. Must be all the hard work he has put in...must be like him when I grow up, maybe doing less stuff but all the same having the same passion for music and writing.
CCTs coming up, we start studying like crazy.
Woohoo he's my idol man. Must be all the hard work he has put in...must be like him when I grow up, maybe doing less stuff but all the same having the same passion for music and writing.
CCTs coming up, we start studying like crazy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)