29/01/15

Dear band,

2:30-2:45 set up instruments
2:50-3:10 warm ups in FM
3:10-6:00 Combines on Hermes, Pirates of carribean and Big Band
6:00-6:30 Pack up and debrief

Also the following people remember to bring $14 tomorroe for AHS concert: Michelle, Hui Yen, Ashley (horn), Hemavathi and Victoria 
SLs yet to submit notebooks and scores, please submit them tomorrow

Love,
Exco

27/01/15

Dear Band,
2:30-2:45 Set up instruments
2:45-5:00 self warm up and sectionals
5:00-5:30 pack up and debrief

For Sec 2s, please come down right after your internationalisation briefing. For Sec 4s, please come down right after your common test if you are not required to go for Chemistry Clinic.

Love,
Exco

26/01/15

Dear band,

2:30-2:45 Set up instruments
2:45-6:00 Sectionals for sec twos and threes (practice Hermes section after trio-the intonation and articulation and other pieces)
2:45-5:00 Sec one band audition in FM (all SLs be in FM)
6:00-6:30 Pack up and debrief

Please note that at 3.10pm all SLs need to meet at FM Studio for briefing on auditions and all those going for AHSCB Limelight bring $14 to pay for your ticket.

Love,
Exco

Comments for 12 Jan Combines

Dear Band,

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYqPkLYPEzk

For James Bond, please listen to the full rehearsal of it as the comments are not exhaustive.

12 Jan 2015

Hermes:

- Bar 37: Lower Brass and Bassoon please line up your quavers  leading into Bar 38 together

- Bar 38: Lower Brass and Bassoon (rest of the band take note as well) emphasise the semiquavers

- Bar 40 until the end of Trio: Bassline (Tuba) crotchets cannot shorten; must be of full value and light

- Trio: Melody don’t slow down!

- Trio: Tuba tend to slow down, especially when executing quavers (e.g. Bar 47)

- Melody for Trio (by Trombones, Horns and Eupho): Lengthen everything, especially minims; Pick up to Bar 40 must be together, the semiquaver especially must be executed together

- Pick up to Bar 48 must be played with certainty

- Bar 48: Don’t slow down!

- Bar 48: Percussion don’t rush!

- Bar 65: Don’t slow down too much because Bar 66 you still have to keep moving

- Bar 74: Energy of the band starts to slacken

- Bar 85 to 87: No slowing down!

- Last note of Hermes: Tuba hold Concert Eb slightly longer than the rest of the band

- Last note: Trumpets don’t mis-pitch your notes – Concert Eb, Concert Bb and Concert G

- Last note: Tuba sustain a nicer tone, don’t just “spit’ your note out

- At the last note , don’t change the tuning of your note as you crescendo (e.g. don’t go sharper as you get louder)

And Then The Ocean Glows:

- Beginning: Piccolo play louder

- Beginning: Piccolo don’t be afraid to adlib more, because you are at liberty ad lib however you want

- Bar 23: Keep the momentum going and don’t slow down

- Bar 23: Melody (by Fluboes, Clarinets, 1st Alto Sax., Trumpets and 1st Trombone) need to shape your music. Listen to the recording at 11min 38sec for Mr Chua’s advice on how to shape the music.

- Bar 22: Tuning of Concert Bb in the flutboe is very off

- Bar 27: Alto Sax., Tenor Sax, and Horns don’t break your phrase; play MUCH MUCH MUCH louder, especially horns for better tone colour.

- Melody don’t break/breathe between Bars 27 and 28; it is a continuous phrase.

- Bar 29: More Trombone than Clarinet for better tone colour

- Bar 29 to Bar 33: Flutes note the various changes in dynamics (i.e. mf at Bar 29, f at Bar 311st  beat, ff at Bar 31 3rd beat, mp at Bar 33)

- Bar 38 to Bar 45: The melody is passed from one instrument to another to emulate a polyphonic texture. Here is the progression and “passing on” of themelody

o Bar 38: 3rd Clarinet and 2nd Alto Sax

o Bar 40: 2nd Clarinet and Tenor Sax

o Bar 41: Bassoon, Bass Clarinet and Baritone Sax

o Bar 42: 1st Flute, Oboe, 1st Clarinet and 1st Alto Sax

- For those with the melody at the above parts, don’t rush the quavers found in the second bar of your melody

- Woodwinds, especially Sec 2s, must really start practicing your running notes to match up to the actual tempo of 138BPM

- Bar 47: Percussion, especially symbol, please come in together on time with the band

- Woodwinds must keep a steady pulse during running notes (may utilize air tonguing). Listen to 18min 02seconds of the video for Mr Chua’s elaboration

- Bar 145: Concert Eb from the melody is terribly out of tune, especially in the higher winds 

- Bar 165: Maybe it’s just the recording, but the holding notes are way too blaring and the melody has trouble coming out

James Bond:

- Horns and Clarinets must come out much much louder in the beginning

- 1st notes should be emphasized

- Bar 4: Trumpets Ab not in tune

- Bar 9: When Trombones and Tenor come in with the melody, don’t slow down, especially Trombones at the semiquavers. Listen to 27min for more explanation on how to do so by Mr Chua

- Tenor Sax your notes are too long at Bar 9

- Bar 9 (second time): Tuba mp and Clarinet mf; rest of the band play softer because it is a mysterious setting

- Bar 21: Those with melody (Trumpets and Clarinets?) have clearer articulation. Listen to 30min 32seconds of the video of how to do that articulation

- Bar 29: A little jazzy (Saxophone try to emulate the brass style)

- Bar 34: 3rd beat rhythm must be syncopated correctly. Listen to 33min 13seconds of the video

- Bar 65: Saxophones must play the melody with confidence

- Bar 79: Flutes and Clarinets? Relax and take your time with the “running” notes

- Before the song “Skyfall” I don’t know which bar (Bar 101?), flutes have a very obvious holding note. Don’t obviously go flat on that note also please.

- Bar 107: Horns play melody much much much louder

- Trumpet solo at “Live or Let Die” take yo’ time pleaseand don’t rush the quaver

- 1 bar before 137, Jov don’t rush please -.-“

- Bar 132: Flutes and Saxophones? Take your times on those notes

- Last 2 bars around there: Clarinets, Flutes and Sax running notes must be together and don’t hold til too late (long)

- Last few bars somewhere around there: Horn rip much much much louder; scream out!

- Last bar around there: Trumpets go softer then crescendo more

22/01/15

Dear Band,

2:30-2:45 set up instruments
2:45-3:00 warm ups in FM
3:00-6:00 Combines with Mr Chua on Ocean Glows and Pirates of the Carribean
6:00-6:30 pack up and debrief

Please read through the post before this, titled "Comments for 08/01/15 Combines".
If any Sec 1 junior approaches you and asks about Band or if you know any Sec 1, please encourage them to come for Audition, which is on 26/01/15 Monday, 3:30-5pm in the FM.

Love,
Exco

Comments for 08/01/15 Combines

Dear Band,
Please take sometime to read through these comments and jot them down on your score (whatever that that applies to you).
The link to the recording of 8 Jan's Combines is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8hbfSyYSg8

8 Jan 2015 Combines

Hermes:
- First 4 bars alright but after that rush
- Slowed down when played beginning again
- Beginning is not together!
- First 3 bars bassline slowing down a lot. Don’t play the notes so long
- Alto Sax and Horns, especially lower horns, don’t play the beginning too long
- Horn 4 must work on playing the beginning notes with confidence and louder
- Trumpets 1st and 2nd don’t play beginning notes too long
- Trumpets 2nd bar get louder on the lower notes
- Trumpets cut the note value of the first 3 notes slightly to give a light bounce
- Trumpets not following metronome after pick up note into Bar 3
- 3rd Clarinet (together with 2nd Trumpet) emphasize on the Concert Ab note at Bar 4
- Theme A (carried by Clarinets, Saxophones and Euphonium from Bar 5) must be played SOFTER and accompany play at piano volume
- Bar 13 is a little bit louder, mezzo forte NOT forte
- Bar 13 when flutes and trumpets enter, the band slows down, especially melody. DON’T.
- Accompaniment at Bar 21 SOFTER (Fluboes, Clarinets, Saxophones, Trumpets VS. Horns, Trombones, and Euphoniums)
- Melody at 21 play BRAVELY WITH COURAGE
- Theme A at Bar 13: Have a stronger pick up note (Concert F for 1st Trumpet, Clarinet, Fluboes, Concert C for 2nd Trumpet and Clarinet, Concert A for 3rd Trumpet and Clarinet all those) - Bar 36 DON’T RUSH JUST COS’ THERE’S A CRESCENDO, and your oxygen tank is deflating but still don’t rushhhh
- TRIO: Graceful and softly! Goodluck Trombones, Euphos and Horns
- Bar 38 can play a little louder so that the Trio can contrast in dynamics better
- Bar 39 2nd beat crotchet should be sustained longer
- Trio melody don’t slow down just because you’re playing softer
- Bar 45 the melody can afford to play  a bit louder
- TIP: If you are to play soft, you must be able to hear the metronome; if you cannot means you’re too loud
- When winds enter at Bar 48 with the melody, don’t slow down!
- Bar 65 it’s not that much slow down; just a bit only– after that tempo is back to the same
- Bar 62 Trumpets can afford to come out a little more
- Bar 69: Do ya’ll see a FORTE. Yes, that’s a big drop from FORTISSIMO; so make sure you make the dynamic contrast
- Bar 82 DON’T SLOW DOWN; this bar onwards must drive forward CANNOT CANNOT slow down
- Bar 85 don’t slow down!
- The climax of Hermes is actually the ending

And Then The Ocean Glows:
- Beginning piccolo take your time
- Bar 9 tuning in the Euphonium is no good
- Bar 7 Concert Ab terribly out of tune, especially in the Clarinets
- Bar 3 LWWS holding note MUST be in tune perfectly
- Bar 11 onwards the whole melody (by Clarinets, Alto Sax, 1st Horn) is one phrase so NOT BREAKING/BREATHING so obviously in between
- At Bar 16, don’t cut off the long note; it must be sustained
- Bar 15 remember there is a crescendo
- Bar 19 Concert Ab in the Clarinets and Flute note tuned to each other
- Bar 38 3rd Clarinet entrance not together and not in tempo
- Bar 47 woodwinds with the 4 sets of semiquaver running notes tongue the first beat and air tongue the others so that you have a pulse
- Bar 52 2nd Clarinet don’t end the last Concert D quaver so short and abrupt
- Bar 61 woodwind running notes not clear and not together
- Bar 52 and 54 alike; 1st and 2nd Clarinets must work together to ensure the continuity of the running notes such as when at Bar 52 2nd Clarinet has the last quaver rest, 1st Clarinets must emphasise the last quaver so as to not let that last quaver beat sound “empty”
- Bar 71 Brasses it’s yo time to shine!
- Bar 71 melody (by Bassoon, Bass Clarinet, Baritone and Tenor Saxophone, Horns, Eupho and Tubass) NOT TOGETHER; yall tend to rush
- Bar 71 Timpani you need to tune your Concert F
- Bar73 Tuning between Trombones and Trumpets not good
- Bar 77 sound of the horn more than sound of the trumpet for good tone colour
- Bar 50 Woodwinds don’t intentionally decrescendo because when you go down the scale there will be a decrescendo already
- Bar 50 3rd Clarinet must come out especially the last Concert E and Eb
- Bar 64 2nd Clarinet must bring out the marcato; basically all the marcato must brought out by the Clarinets
- Bar 51 2nd Alto Sax nowhere to be found haha please play out to provide the countering of the 1st parts
- Bar 74 Concert Db not in tune; both sections flat
- Bar 80 make the crescendo more obvious
- Bar 85 all melody (Bassoon, Bass Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone, Trombone and Eupho) play softer
- Bar 93 melody is barely heard; more horn sound for better tone colour
- Bar 102 Trombones semiquavers not together
- Bar 103 Trumpets and Horns carrying melody have tendency to slow down because of holding Concert Gb in Bar 104 too long and then crotchets become delayed
- For flutes, Bar 120 is mp and Bar 121 is mf; have to show the contrast
- Bar 119 flutes sextuplets are not being played in the same style. One or two are playing them short and the rest are playing them long. STANDARDIZE
- Bar 133 2nd Alto Sax quaver pick up must be prominent as well as tons of phrases following that
- Bar 168 Trombone demisemiquavers not slurred well and not timed together
- Bar 169 Timpani don’t rush
- Bar 169 Fluboes, Clarinets, and Alto Saxophones don’t rush the running notes
- Bar 165 to 168 Trumpets yo’ time to shine
- Last 3 bars: exaggerate the piano much much much more

Love,
Exco

20/01/15

Dear Band,
2:30-2:45 set up instruments
2:45-5:00 sectionals on Ocean Glows and Hermes
5:00-5:30 pack up and debrief

Those who still owe MCs/Parent's Letter please bring them tmr and hand in to Julia.

For sectionals, please practice with the parts from other section who play the same part as you for both pieces.

Love,
Exco

19/01/15

Dear band,
2:30-2:45 set up instruments
2:45-3:00 warm ups in FM
3:00-6:00 combines in FM with Mrs Chua on Hermes and beginning of Ocean Glows
6:00-6:30 pack up and debrief

Those who owe secretaries MC or parents letter, please hand it in tmr. No later than tmr. Those who have handed in/have emailed but you have been told by your SLs to hand in, please tell Julia.

People who owe MCs/parents letter:
Flutes
• Jin Jing - 29/12, 30/12
• Hee Jae - 29/30, 30/12
• Heshuo - 30/10, 19/11, 20/11

Clarinets
• Verrin - 09/01, 12/01, 13/01
• Victoria - 06/01
• Faith - 23/10, 28/10

Sax
• Emily - 21/10, 29/12, 30/12, 06/01, 23/01
• Yun Qu - 27/10, 28/10, 19/11, 20/11, 06/01, 13/01
• Ashley Ng - 08/01

LWWs
• Vernis - 18/10
• Sze Min - 20/10

Perc
• Liyana - 19/11

French Horns
• Ashley - 10/11, 09/01
• Pearline - 18/10, 06/11
• Melissa - 09/01

Trumpets
• Ashley - 13/11
• Aqidah - 20/10, 21/10, 13/11, 19/11, 20/11

Tubass
• Leonardi - 10/11, 30/12, 08/01
• Sarah - 20/11, 29/12, 30/12

Love,
Exco

15/01/15

Dear band,

2:00-2:20 Lunch (those who already have had their lunch, please use this time to set up your instruments, benches, stands and percussion instruments as well.)
2:20-2:30 Set up instruments ASAP
2:30-2:40 Set up benches and stands. Those who are supposed to help out tubass and percussion please help. (percussion and tubass helpers are same as the ones for campfire)
2:40-2:50 Warm up
2:50-3:00 Sec 2s and 3s perform sesame street. Sec fours practice L-O-V-E in FM.
3:50-4:00 Sec 4s only perform L-O-V-E
3:00-6:00 Combines in FM with Mrs Chua
6:00-6:30 Pack up and debrief

As time is really tight please set up fast and all those that are free please help out tubass and percussion.

Also please check out when is your duty and remind your section mates and friends to do their duty.

Note that everyone would be dismissed by 2 pm from their classes and have to be back in the band room punctually.

Here is the timings for booth duty. Not everyone is involved so we expect everyone else to be in combines/ performing.
2.00pm - 2.30pm: Set Up Booth by Hui Ling, Cheryl, Jovitta and Vivien
2.30pm - 2.45pm : Mending Booth by Hui Ling, Cheryl, Jovitta and Vivien
2.50pm - 3.00pm : Performance 1: Sesame Street by Sec 2s and Sec 3s
3.00pm - 3.20pm : Mending Booth by Sheila, Clara, Melissa, Michelle, Hui Ling
3.20pm - 3.35pm: Mending Booth by Leonardi, Victoria, Aviel, Sarah, Cheryl
3.40pm - 3.50pm : Performance 2: L-O-V-E by Sec 4s
3.50pm 4.10pm: Mending Booth by Hui Yen, Lyn, Li Na, Vivien
4.10pm - 4.30pm : Mending Booth by Julia, Faith, Felicia, Jovitta

Love,
Exco

13/01/15

Dear band,

2:30-2:50 Set up instruments
2:50-3:10 Warm up
3:10-5:00 Sectionals on Hermes, And then the Ocean glows and Sesame Street (for sec twos and threes)
5:00-5:30 Pack up and debrief

Please make full use of sectionals as sec fours would be coming down late.

Love,
Exco

12/01/15

Dear band,

2:30-2:45 Set up instruments
2:45-3:00 Warm up by yourselves
3:00-5:30 Combines wih Mr Chua (propably on And then the Ocean glows and Hermes)
5:30-6:00 Sectionals
6:00-6:30 pack up and debrief

Sec fours would be coming down late so sec threes and JLs make sure that your sections practice.

Love,
Exco

09/01/15

Dear Band,
2:30-2:45 set up
2:45-3:30 sectionals
3:30-3:45 set up benches at parade square
3:45-4:00 Warm Up at parade square
4:00-4:15 rehearsal in parade sq with Girl Guides
4:15- 4:55 combines in FM and possibly a bit of time for sectionals
5:00-5:50 dinner (provided)
6:00-6:25 be seated at the parade square and ready for the performance to start
6:25-6:40 perform
6:40-7:00 pack up and debrief (put instruments and stands back to FM and band room quickly and then go back to parade sq to put the benches back.)

In case of wet weather, please do not move the instruments to the parade square and instead, up to the ISH. Please remember to help the percussion and tubass. If the benches are already set up, put them back to the canteen. Please line up properly at the ISH as there will most probably be not enough space to move around, line up in single file if needed. After the performance has ended, people who are to help tubass and percussion please remember and do not just wander off as there isn't a lot of time for us to move out of the ISH and we have to react quickly. If any unfamiliar situation pops up, please do not do anything yet and wait for instructions from the EXCO, but do move fast as well and be alert.
No one will have to be excused from class as the rehearsal time has been changed.

Attire for tmr is full school uniform.
Everyone except Melissa, Ashley (Horn), Katriel and Wei Han are to pay $4 tmr to the treasurers for dinner.
All are to leave band room by 7pm.

Love,
Exco

08/01/15

Dear band,
2:30-2:45 set up
2:45-3:00 warm up in FM
3:00-5:30 Combines with Mr Chua on Ocean Glows and James Bond
5:30-6:00 Combines on Coldplay for campfire.
6:00-6:30 pack up and debrief

Please do not be late for combines, as there isn't a lot of time for Mr chua to go through everything that he wants to do tmr.

Here is the schedule for Friday's campfire:
2:30-2:45 set up
2:45-3:00 set up benches at parade square
3:00-3:15 Warm Up at parade square
3:15-3:30 rehearsal in parade sq with Girl Guides
3:30-4:55 combines in FM and possibly sectionals
5:00-5:50 dinner
6:00 be seated and ready for the performance to start
6:25-6:40 perform
6:40-7:00 pack up and debrief (put instruments and stands back to FM and band room quickly and then put the benches back.)

Love,
Exco

06/01/15

Dear Band,
2:30-2:45 set up instruments
2:45-5:00 sectionals on James Bond (SLs take whole section together) and Ocean Glows (SLs tell section members which other sections/parts you all need to combine and practice with.) SLs run through Coldplay with your section with actions.
5:00-5:30 pack up and debrief

We will be posting the schedule for the campfire preformance on Wednesday so please do check back here on Wednesday night!

Love,
Exco

05/01/15

Dear Band,
2:30-2:45 set up instruments
2:45-3:00 warm up in FM
3:00-6:00 Combines with Mr Chua on James Bond (if he is not there yet, read through the music first but stay in the FM)
6:00-6:30 pack up and debrief

Love,
Exco