CCTs over (again)

Yeah! CCTs over!!! Again!!!

*waves goodbye to CCTs. Again.*

Physics was OK-OK. Chemistry was EASY for once. I might get high marks. Math TA was ALSO easy... but that's because statistics is inherently easy.

Whats the point of having CCTs in Term 2 Week 2? Can't they have put it before the holidays or even better, at the end of this term?

Now, I can devote all (most) of my time to mastering Ocean and Sunrise. I don't think my Sunrise needs much work because SOMEONE'S SECTION LEADER went to shift SOMEONE from 2nd SOME SECTION to 3rd SOME SECTION. And all the 2nd SOME SECTION parts that SOMEONE has been playing for the past TWO MONTHS has suddenly been filled... with bar rests. All thanks to SOMEONE'S MARVELOUS AND WONDERFULLY FORESIGHTED SL.

(hint hint)

SIAN!!! I'm going to fall asleep in those bars. 2nd and 3rd are no different... except that 2nd plays the whole thing while 3rd plays only the beginning and the end.

So, its just Ocean then. I think I have more or less mastered the fingering... now its just increasing the tempo notch by notch until I can consistently play every semiquaver at correct timing. Chorales just need to play deeper and have more emotion.

Our BM says that this song is supposed to make people cry.

...

Guess this is just some form of exaggerated encouragement on some higher, BM level. Seriously, even if you listen to the professional recordings I doubt anyone is going to make more than a sniff.

Which reminds me; today I stayed in the band room till 5 pm, practicing with some other trombones, horns, and a piccolo. We listened to our "professional" (referring to the recording equipment and methods not our playing) recording of the rehearsal at the SCH. It was better than usual, but nothing compared to the real pro recordings. Woodwind semiquavers are all screwed up, especially the endings. Brass are OK.

Also, I asked my senior what we were going to do after SYF. He said we would prepare for Investiture. For those who don't know, RIMB Investiture is a band-organized day (either on a weekend or holiday) when all batches (Sec 1, Sec 2...) prepare 1-4 songs (the guideline is Sec 1s one song, Sec 2s two songs... but four songs even for Sec 4s is a bit much) and play them well as a batch. Then, certificates of promotion are given to everyone, promoting Sec 1s to 2s, announcing the new EXCO and SLs, and graduating the Sec 4s from RIMB. Then everyone goes for section dinner, presents are given both ways, SLs (new and old) make a speech, then everyone goes LANning and then home in high spirits, Sec 1s feeling this was the best day of their life in RIMB (no drills!), Sec 2s feeling the weight of becoming a senior, Sec 3s feeling the responsibility of leadership, Sec 4s feeling very sad and reflective, this being their LAST DAY ATTENDING BAND PRACTICE FOR RIMB.

Is that all? Prepare for SYF. Then prepare for Investiture. Then prepare for next year's concert, Promethium. Then prepare for... A bit meaningless. Why can't we relax a bit, learn a few fun songs (movie themes!!!) and skip practice?

That's what you get with a band with a renowned conductor. A band with 16 (going to be 17) consecutive Golds and Gold with Honours. Which is a 32-year streak. So if we don't get Gold with Honours, 32 years worth of RIMB members will come back and haunt us. I shiver at the thought.

Today has been fairly reflective and deep for me. But before we reach Investiture, there's still the dreaded SYF.

And to think, we dread something that we didn't opt to go for willingly. The 16 consecutive Golds and Gold with Honours made us. The 32 years worth of banders did. Our conductor did. How many of us actually want to go for SYF, when it causes so much turmoil everywhere?

But even if I had the choice to pull us all out of SYF right here and now, I wouldn't, partially because of shame and mostly because of... well, the 32 years of seniors. And band pride. And some complicated things.

Tomorrow we've got a Arts at the Atrium performance. Its just an event when the teachers book the Atrium for one recess, and we go down and perform. RICO (Chinese Orchestra) is performing after us, and I will die of shock and horror if they turn out to be better than us. They only got Silver two years back.

At least, since CCTs are over, I can play com (if only my parents would allow) and sleep early. Goodnight.