without music, life is a journey through a desert.
in a way, it comforts u when u are feeling down or angry...
(that's why my life is filled with music --
LESSONS... AND PRACTICES... )
sometimes all these music lessons and practices can really make u even more stressed up (than u already have with schoolwork)
e.g. 1 = the Singapore Youth Festival that will be held on July (we have to go through this once every 2 years) to gauge our band's standard...
e.g. 2 = loads of homework{arrangement, improvisation, new pieces} from mrs samantha (my thomson yamaha teacher) cos i'd be taking my Grade6 examinations this year... (awhz!) & it's really terrible cos u'd be on your own in a big icy cold room with 2 (strangers) examiners & if u're unlucky, it'll be a (strict)Japanese! & the process goes likes this...
no.1:
*Song Playing they'll pick
1 of the
5 songs(for course A)/
3 songs(for course B) that u've submitted on your examination slip (that u've chosen & prepared) & play it.
no.2(a):
*Hearing -- they'll play the chords and u should play the same as well (u must be great in your major/minor keys)
no.2(b): also
*Hearing but this time play with your both hands & pedals on what the examiner plays. <- this one is not so bad...
no.3:
*Improvisation before u enter the room, u're given 5 mins to scan through the score which u havent seen before. play it with 3 variations.
1st variation: play according to the score but with alternate pedals and a particular pattern for chord playing.
2nd variation: play with your own variation (for e.g. play it in staccato/accent/legato or grace/crush notes or change into quavers etc.) & with another style of chord playing.
3rd variation:
!!!HARDEST!!! play using block chords, that means add another 1/2 notes in your melody(right hand) to make it sound richer, & again with another style of chord playing.
no.4:
*Arrangement play your own arrangement on classical/pop songs, that u have (and must) prepare before the exams. that means write out your own version of the song without changing the melody but with the chord playing changed. for course A, prepare 2. for course B, prepare 1.
*the above procedures mainly applies to course A candidates.
for course B candidates, you have an additional procedure to go since you prepare 2 songs and 1 arrangement less than course A candidates.
no. 5:
*Sight Playing just play according to the 16 bars. <- quite hard as well. tried that before...
this year, i'd probably be taking course A since I can handle my song playing better than my chords. this is my 2nd year taking course A already. the past few years since the age of 6+, i've been taking course B (i don't know much when i was young, so just do as what teacher says... ahahaz!)
if i have the chance, i'll post my playing somewhere on a site, so that my friends and others can give me opinions and comments (help me improve in other words... heez...)
i've chosen my 5 pieces:-
(a) Polovetzian Dance
(b) Turkish March
(c) Feng Di
(d) Everything
(e) Spirited Away theme
& my arrangement are:-
(a) Jewel Song (by boa)
(b) Reng Ran (a short sub-theme of the korean show "winter sonata")
yep... today i just "exercised" my fingers on these few pieces... that's all...
study? revision? er... well... i don't know why but when it comes to examination period, i'd rather play the electone... i even invented my own version of 'Right here waiting for you' today... (u may think that i'm like very free like that hoh?) anyway, i don't believe in "hugging the buddha's feet" <- a chinese proverb meaning doing an eleventh hour work and pray that u'd pass with flying colours... duhz... i never believe in that... cause' i've experienced the pain of having to do that...
Nevertheless, i'll get back to revise abit more & look at my motivation poster more (haha!) straight after finishing this blog... & have my dinner... yep...
wish me luck!
hugs and kisses,
oreos and chips more...
