The long leave from the office that I am taking now is the 4th. The 1st time I took unpaid leave was for about 3 weeks following the end of my 1st maternity leave; the 2nd time was for about 2 months following the end of my 2nd maternity leave. The 3rd unpaid leave that I took was for about 5 weeks when WF was over a year old but not yet 2.
It is perhaps pure coicidence, but it so happened that during or about the time of some of these leave periods, some prominent celebrities passed away. In 1997, it was Princess Diana - the fairytale princess whose grand wedding I so fondly remembered watching over the TV when I was still a young girl. She had died in a road accident, the circumstances of which still remain controversial to some sectors of people. I remember that I felt so sorry for her 2 young sons then.
Some time after Princess Diana, Mother Theresa, the symbol of charity, also passed away. I cannot remember how she had died, but I remember feeling a little (just a teeny weeny bit) upset because she had been such a common and popular 'item' for GP discussions during the JC days. I also imagined the sorrow the beneficiaries of her charity work must have felt at her passing.
During the time when I took leave in 2003, HK actor cum cantopop star Leslie Cheung jumped to his death from atop a major hotel, leaving some suicide note saying that he had been depressed. A lot of speculations ran through the media about his sexual orientation etc.
I was sad when Leslie Cheung departed - I remember many of the Cantonese shows that I had watched during the 1980's and 1990's and how he had starred in these. Also, I think he had done a great job portraying the opera singer's hardships and agonies in the show 霸王别姬 which I watched on the big screen. It was such a pity that he had been driven to his death by unhappiness.
Then, another Cantopop singer Anita Mui followed several months later. The cause of her death was cervical cancer, and some medical practitioners had labelled her death as being a death of neglect (because cervical cancer is supposedly curable and relatively easy to treat, and if she had taken better care of herself, chances were that she might have survived). Her death was especially sad because she had been single and the newspapers carried reports on how her aged mother would now be forced to survive without her beloved youngest daughter. According to the newspapers reports, Anita Mui had also been the typical sacrificial sister of her siblings as she had had to quit school early in order to provide for her family.
Anita Mui's story reminded me about Teresa Teng, the multiple-talent celebrities who had passed away some time in 1997. In her case, the cause of death had been asthma.
Some time later, the former US President Ronald Reagan also died. He was a familiar figure during my school days because judges at our school general knowledge quizes never failed to ask the question: "Who is the US President?".
Just yesterday, I overheard some school girls discussing excitedly that Michael Jackson had died of heart failure. This was a shock to me - although I was no fan of his, he had been such an iconic pop figure all these years since my TKGS days that it was unbelievable that he is already gone. All those talk and skepticism about his infamous 'bleaching' and plastic surgery should probably also be gone with the wind soon.
This is so sad - faces we have grown up with seem to be disappearing one by one. Sigh, it's depressing to think about this. Better not think any more.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
TK Band Songs
We had many band songs that we sang and yelled our hearts out for during our TK days. Amongst the few that I remember, our unofficial anthem was the most often sung.
Stand Up And Fight!
Stand up and fight until you hear the bell
Stand toes to toes, trade blow for blow
Keep punching till you make your punches tell
Show the world what you know
Until you hear the bell, the final bell
Stand up and fight real well!
(repeat from top)
Another popular but less frequently sung one was the The TK Band.
TK Band
TK Band is a big, big band
With many girls and boys
Some slide the trombone
Some play the trumpet
Like Louis Armstrong
Some play the baritone
And the clarinet and the horn
And the drums
This is what we do in the band
Come on ye shout
Hurray
Never be proud
We'll always try our b-e-s-t
(repeat from top)
We sang these songs whenever possible. We particularly loved to sing (and later, also play on our instruments) these songs whenever we travelled on the bus. The buses would be so filled with our noise that the teachers who were following the buses would frown at us. But we enjoyed ourselves nonetheless.
There were times, however, when the complaint came from the bus driver and I had to frantically hush-hush the merry-making members. Some members (especially the younger ones) thought I was being prudish because they saw no harm in their 'playing around'. So they didn't like me for this. Luckily, there were more understanding ones amongst us, too, and they helped to 'maintain order' every now and then.
Now I must try harder to recall the other band songs. Be patient, I will remember.
Stand Up And Fight!
Stand up and fight until you hear the bell
Stand toes to toes, trade blow for blow
Keep punching till you make your punches tell
Show the world what you know
Until you hear the bell, the final bell
Stand up and fight real well!
(repeat from top)
Another popular but less frequently sung one was the The TK Band.
TK Band
TK Band is a big, big band
With many girls and boys
Some slide the trombone
Some play the trumpet
Like Louis Armstrong
Some play the baritone
And the clarinet and the horn
And the drums
This is what we do in the band
Come on ye shout
Hurray
Never be proud
We'll always try our b-e-s-t
(repeat from top)
We sang these songs whenever possible. We particularly loved to sing (and later, also play on our instruments) these songs whenever we travelled on the bus. The buses would be so filled with our noise that the teachers who were following the buses would frown at us. But we enjoyed ourselves nonetheless.
There were times, however, when the complaint came from the bus driver and I had to frantically hush-hush the merry-making members. Some members (especially the younger ones) thought I was being prudish because they saw no harm in their 'playing around'. So they didn't like me for this. Luckily, there were more understanding ones amongst us, too, and they helped to 'maintain order' every now and then.
Now I must try harder to recall the other band songs. Be patient, I will remember.
1986 - Alumni Band Impossible
In TK Band, it was a very entrenched practice for ex-members to come back for visits and to 'help out' in the band, especially for the band's preparation for its Outdoor Competitions every alternate year.
Some of these ex-members were really helpful and always had words of encouragement for us. Some, however, acted like they only wanted to cling on to their 'authority' and 'leader' status - you know, those who wouldn't let go. The latter bossed us around.
When I was only a recruit in Sec 1, there were several girls in my class who were band members. Our band major then was a very high-profile leader in school called Mona T. Mona T was the head prefect of the school, an accomplished athlete and from what I understood, excelled in her studies, too. So we all looked up to her and respected her tremendously.
One day, during our end-of-the-day PE lesson somewhere in the field behind the Science block, my band member classmates and I saw Mona T being 'counselled' by an ex-member whom we later knew was called Caroline (an elder sister of Magdalene, our TK Tech drum majorette that year). Mona T was sobbing a little as her head remained bowed. We could see Caroline speaking rather sternly at Mona T.
As my classmates and I were unsure if there was going to be band practice on the Saturday which was approaching that week, my classmates 'instigated' me to go and check with Mona T. I hesitated a while but decided to approach Mona T anyway.
I walked towards Mona T as my classmates looked on from a distance. In a hesitant voice, I asked her, "Erm, excuse me, Mona. My friends and I would like to know whether there will be band practice this Saturday. Is there?"
Mona T looked up, her eyes red. I was quite shocked at this, but before I could react, Caroline barked, "Can't you see the notice board?! The band has a notice board, doesn't it?! What is the notice board for?!"
Instantly, I felt a gush of hot tears come to my eyes. Who was this stupid, idiotic, freckled-face woman?! How dare she barks at me right in front of my band major?!! Just what did she think she was?!!!! In any case, I wasn't even asking her the question!
Thoroughly embarrassed, I backed off quickly with a sheepish 'sorry' to Mona T. I went back to my classmates, who were equally shocked at the situation, and I chided them for getting me 'into trouble'!
After that incident, I became more aware and wary of these ex-members thing in TK Band. I began to observe that whilst a few were genuinely concerned (that recruits like us were settling in), many more were bossing their way around. I figured that they must have been some really prominent leaders in the band in earlier years, given the close relationship they seemed to enjoy with Ms J.
2 or 3 of them were literally shadowing Ms J at every Saturday practice. They would carry Ms J's handbag, loudhailer and straw hat as Ms J scaled the stairs of the new block which overlooked the field. As we stood in the hot sun in Ms J's direct view from the top staircase landing of the block, we could see these ex-members conferencing with Ms J at almost every opportunity.
The culture of the band was such that no one ever questioned aloud the role of these ex-members. And so, as the year went by, I also came to understand that the ex-members' presence was regarded as a 'normal' phenomenon.
********************************
It was a normal process that when the Sec 1 recruits became promoted to Sec 2, a handful would be selected for the NCO camp. At this national camp, these selected candidates for 'potential' leadership roles would be trained formally in footdrills, learning the Malay commands and so on. And then they would graduate with their much-admired NCO badges which they would be entitled to proudly pin on their sleeves of the band uniform.
In 1984, however, there was no NCO camp. Up till today, I have no idea why that was so. The camp resumed the year after (when we were in Sec 3) but by then, it was already our juniors' turn to be selected for the NCO training. In gist, my batch of members did not get to go on any NCO camp. None of us had the chance to earn the NCO badge. And so, none of us had the badge.
Our seniors were equally puzzled at the non-organising of the NCO camp in 1984. So, to make sure that there would still be a continued cohort of band leaders, they conducted some in-house DIY footdrills training for some of us. To their credit, they tried their best to mimick what they received at their NCO camp previously. But to me, these were really quite informal.
After the DIY training, the few of us who were 'trained' became in charge of the footdrills in the morning practices held for PM session members. By then, we were in Sec 3 (1985) and being the most senior members of the band in the morning practices, we were tasked with taking care of the footdrill practices during these morning practices. Our senior NCO-trained leaders were already in the AM session school by then and so they took charge only on the Saturday combined practices.
One day, I was taking one segment of the band for footdrill practice. I remember that we were in the field behind the band room. We were about half way through the scheduled drills when one ex-member who was Ms J's constant shadow, came over and suddenly took over the command without warning!
Now, it was an established footdrill rule that when person A is in command, no one should simply take over the command without first informing the person A and the contingent. This is only logical because otherwise, how is the contingent to know whose command it should listen to? Besides, it is such a rude thing to do because what would person A be left with, ha?!
I had sent my segment of the band on a quick march (cepat jalan). Before I could even give the command to make a u-turn, this ex-member simply ran over and shouted stop (berhenti)!!
The members were instantly confused over the sudden change in command. Some paused, some looked back and some simply ignored it and went on! So you can imagine the confusion and chaos. Fortunately, we were not having our instruments with us, so no one bumped into anyone's instrument etc.
This ex-member did not even acknowledge or say anything about what she was seeking to do. She simply told the confused lot, "Now I want you all to go quickly to the corridor to join the other group. Be quick, run, run, run!"
Upon hearing this 'urgent' thing, everyone scuttered towards the corridor a few umbrellas away. They were followed closely by the 'new commander'. I was left standing at my original position alone. No explanation whatsoever, much less an apology.
To me, if this were not an act of insult and a complete 'see-you-no-up' attitude, what was it?! As it later turned out to be, she had only wanted the members to join another segment of band members so they could try out some positioning for one part of the formation! Was that really such a life-and-death matter that she had to do such a thing?!
I 'complained' about this to my senior fellow trumpeter called HC. She was our quarter mistress. She comforted me and said to ignore such insolent behaviour - she also shared with me that some of these bossy ex-members still lived in their own times and world, thinking that they had an extended tenure.
The incident left a big impression on me. But I did let it pass as best as I could.
********************************
The ex-members contributed in many ways in the 1985 Outdoors. Without their contributions in ideas and support, I am sure the band wouldn't have been able to execute such creative, challenging and beautiful moves in the competition as we did so successfully. And the Gold which we won wouldn't have been such a certainty.
I vividly remember how Ms J would be surrounded by these ex-members more frequently during the times when we were practising for our Outdoors . That ex-member who 'snatched over the command' even helped to fan Ms J because the weather had been so unbearably hot! My friends and I even joked about it during our breaks, hahahaha....
After the 1985 Gold, the band became a little more 'relaxed' briefly. During this time, some more ex-members began to pop by and pick up the instruments to play the music pieces from the files. Each Saturday, there would be 4-5 different persons. There was no fixed number; once when 8 came, some of whom I had never even seen before.
Each Staurday, these ex-members would arrive late in the afternoon at no fixed time (as early as 2pm and as late as 6pm) and stay on till 8-9pm. They would take some instruments and played on them somewhere around the band room, and borrow the files feely. Ms J left them alone (Ms J didn't stay late most days). However, my committee members, particularly the quarter mistress and librarians and myself, had a hard time as we stayed on way past 9pm just to make sure that everything was returned and kept properly on every of these oaccsions. And this went on for about a month or so. We all felt very, very exhausted.
I guessed the ex-members were probably feeling very nostalgic about their glorious days in TK Band. They later started to talk a lot about forming an Alumni Band. A few very enthusiastic ones began to float the idea up to Ms J, who naturally supported it. They all continued to talk amongst themselves about their Alumni Band plan.
It was some time during this period that the Indoor Competition thing and NZ trip thing started to come about - in this post, I would collectively call them the 'Difficulties'. And so, this big talk about forming an Alumni Band and the Difficulties went on simultaneously. Imagine how my committee members and I were taxed through our bones during this period of time.
One day, I asked Ms J about the ex-members' talk. Ms J was a little hesitant and said there should be a discussion on it soon. From my assessment, it appeared that Ms J wouldn't mind an Alumni Band to be set up but she knew that the focus was still on our band, our existing band. She didn't say this, of course, but I knew that Ms J took the NZ trip and the resultant need to participate in the Indoors, very seriously.
I asked Ms J if it would be appropriate for me to sound out our teachers in charge first. Ms J said, yah, that would be the correct thing to do. And so, I sounded Ms Koh and Mrs Kooi out.
Both these teachers were very shocked upon hearing that the Alumni Band, if formed, would be sharing the instruments and library of the band! (Actually, I thought they were silly to be shocked. If the Alumni Band was going to have its own resources, why would I have had to ask them, right?!)
Mrs Kooi didn't say much but remained uncommittal. Ms Koh, on the other hand, 'screamed and yelled' at me, telling me eventually, "LP, we don't agree that the Alumni Band which is outside of the school, sharing the band's property. In fact, it is wrong of you people to now even let them use our instruments and music scores! They have already left the school! I want to remind you that if anything should happen to the instruments, eg they get lost or damaged, then you will have to be personally responsible!.... I suggest that you think over carefully. You and your committee."
So, given the teachers' attitude and knowing the TKGS principal's attitude towards the band also, I knew the Alumni Band proposal would be a no-go as far as the school was concerned. But I did not want to outrightly tell Ms J on what the nasty things Ms Koh had told me, just in case Ms J became upset. And in any case, Ms J would probably have to deal a lot more with Ms Koh on the NZ trip, so why say these to Ms J? So I fretted for a while.
But little did I know that whilst I was becoming more troubled with all this fretting, the ex-members were already setting up a meeting between the ex-members and us, the committee members of the exisitng band. The meeting, to be held in a classroom after one band practice, was to be attended also by Ms J!
I quickly gathered my committee members for a meeting one day after school, told them briefly my stand and what I could gather from the teachers about the school's attitude. We shared extensively also on our respective difficulties coping with all those prolonged hours on each Saturday for the past month or so. We also shared our grouses about how some of the ex-members were adopting a couldn't-care-less attitude about the instruments and music scores etc. And how we didn't even know if those who came were really ex-members?!
We spoke and spoke, grumbled and discussed, talked and talked. Not only of the Alumni Band proposal, but also of the simultaneous 'Difficulties' that we had to face and deal with at the same time. Eventually, our consensus was that we couldn't support this Alumni Band proposal - it was just not possible for the time being.
I tried not to think too much on the day of the meeting with the ex-members, which my committee members attended. Another non-committee Sec 4 member called KP also attended.
The meeting was opened and chaired by one of the ex-members. There was a round of self-introduction, then this chairperson started to talk about the reasons and objectives of wanting to form the Alumni Band etc etc. It was a long speech but we bore with it. It sounded very logical and very inspiring, in fact. I remember that I stole glances at Ms J sitting by the side every now and then, not knowing myself whether or not I should hope that she would say something or hope that she would continue to keep quiet.
Before we knew it, the ex-members were beginning to put names on its pro-temp committee. Being the band major, I was naturally put up as a secretary or something. I was beginning to feel terribly uncomfortable about this whole thing then, but I just kept silent. My fellow band major, R, gave me such an incredulous look then, as if asking me, "Why you don't say something?!"
The chairperson, however, just went on and on filling in more names. She paused only when another ex-member present in the classroom (I heard that that other ex-member was a lawyer) pointed out to her that I hadn't given my consent to be put up in the pro-temp. By then, I knew I had to stand up to say my piece.
It wasn't easy for me to explain to the ex-members the difficulties that my committee members and I were facing and what our position vis-a-vis the Alumni Band proposal was. The eager and upbeat ex-members were all so drenched in their excitement that they just refused to hear us out. They couldn't understand why we couldn't support their seemingly-perfect plan for the Alumni Band, what with its registration as a society etc etc. They snorted at us and accused us of being in their way when what they were trying to do was to help Ms J fulfil her dream of setting up an Alumni Band!
Such accusations were hard to stomach and difficult not to defend. We tried to reason with these older, supposedly wiser people to no avail. I remember that they even retorted me when I said that our duty was to take care of the existing band and that we were trying our very best to do this because there were just so many things threatening the band at that time! I think I used the word 'catalyst'.
Whatever we said, the ex-members just didn't get them into their heads. They seemed to have been driven crazy by this Alumni Band idea and refused to accept that it was just not the right time for the Alumni Band then.
After this, things really got out of hand, with lots of shouting and hot tears from both sides (more from the ex-members, actually). At one point, KP even had to stand up on the table to make his point, much to my amazement (because KP was usually quiet and soft-spoken)! Yes, it was really that dramatic!
But it was a totally awful experience. The meeting ended with both sides parting on a very, very bad note. I felt so sad when I saw Ms J go off in her car after comforting a sobbing ex-member after the meeting. Ms J didn't say a word to me but I knew she was very sad.
Sad, we all were, too. I stayed on for a long time after that meeting and when SC and I eventually boarded the bus to head home together late that night, there was only silence between us. I was completely drained, both physically and mentally.
After this episode, I was viewed by many ex-members as being a sort of tumbling block in their continued relationship with the band. Almost all stopped coming to visit the band and Ms J. In this sense, 1986 was a very 'lonely' year for the band and Ms J; it wasn't, also in this sense, a 'normal' year.
But I could not help what these people thought of me. My duty and focus were and had always remained with the existing band. And this, I must say: I am very glad and very, very proud of my committee members and team of Sec 4 members because we had persevered and stayed the course.
In 1986, the band survived the Indoor Competition very much without any help from the ex-members. Although we did not get a Gold medal (instead, we had 2 bronzes), I have always been proud of our achievement.
If only the ex-members knew what we had to go through that year.
**********************
It was because of this meeting's outcome that I always hesitated to visit Ms J no matter how much I had longed to do so all these years.
From the bottom of my heart, I know that what we did had been done in the best interest of the band. But I wasn't sure if Ms J had understood us, or whether she had believed the ex-members who had accused us of preventing her from fulfilling her dream of setting up an Alumni Band.
What if it were the latter? Would I have been able to take Ms J's cold shoulder?....
Now that I have finally visited Ms J and know that she remembers me as being very, very, very, very, very... dear to her, I realise that I had been so silly to think that she might not have understood us back then. I should have trusted her trust in us.
Some of these ex-members were really helpful and always had words of encouragement for us. Some, however, acted like they only wanted to cling on to their 'authority' and 'leader' status - you know, those who wouldn't let go. The latter bossed us around.
When I was only a recruit in Sec 1, there were several girls in my class who were band members. Our band major then was a very high-profile leader in school called Mona T. Mona T was the head prefect of the school, an accomplished athlete and from what I understood, excelled in her studies, too. So we all looked up to her and respected her tremendously.
One day, during our end-of-the-day PE lesson somewhere in the field behind the Science block, my band member classmates and I saw Mona T being 'counselled' by an ex-member whom we later knew was called Caroline (an elder sister of Magdalene, our TK Tech drum majorette that year). Mona T was sobbing a little as her head remained bowed. We could see Caroline speaking rather sternly at Mona T.
As my classmates and I were unsure if there was going to be band practice on the Saturday which was approaching that week, my classmates 'instigated' me to go and check with Mona T. I hesitated a while but decided to approach Mona T anyway.
I walked towards Mona T as my classmates looked on from a distance. In a hesitant voice, I asked her, "Erm, excuse me, Mona. My friends and I would like to know whether there will be band practice this Saturday. Is there?"
Mona T looked up, her eyes red. I was quite shocked at this, but before I could react, Caroline barked, "Can't you see the notice board?! The band has a notice board, doesn't it?! What is the notice board for?!"
Instantly, I felt a gush of hot tears come to my eyes. Who was this stupid, idiotic, freckled-face woman?! How dare she barks at me right in front of my band major?!! Just what did she think she was?!!!! In any case, I wasn't even asking her the question!
Thoroughly embarrassed, I backed off quickly with a sheepish 'sorry' to Mona T. I went back to my classmates, who were equally shocked at the situation, and I chided them for getting me 'into trouble'!
After that incident, I became more aware and wary of these ex-members thing in TK Band. I began to observe that whilst a few were genuinely concerned (that recruits like us were settling in), many more were bossing their way around. I figured that they must have been some really prominent leaders in the band in earlier years, given the close relationship they seemed to enjoy with Ms J.
2 or 3 of them were literally shadowing Ms J at every Saturday practice. They would carry Ms J's handbag, loudhailer and straw hat as Ms J scaled the stairs of the new block which overlooked the field. As we stood in the hot sun in Ms J's direct view from the top staircase landing of the block, we could see these ex-members conferencing with Ms J at almost every opportunity.
The culture of the band was such that no one ever questioned aloud the role of these ex-members. And so, as the year went by, I also came to understand that the ex-members' presence was regarded as a 'normal' phenomenon.
********************************
It was a normal process that when the Sec 1 recruits became promoted to Sec 2, a handful would be selected for the NCO camp. At this national camp, these selected candidates for 'potential' leadership roles would be trained formally in footdrills, learning the Malay commands and so on. And then they would graduate with their much-admired NCO badges which they would be entitled to proudly pin on their sleeves of the band uniform.
In 1984, however, there was no NCO camp. Up till today, I have no idea why that was so. The camp resumed the year after (when we were in Sec 3) but by then, it was already our juniors' turn to be selected for the NCO training. In gist, my batch of members did not get to go on any NCO camp. None of us had the chance to earn the NCO badge. And so, none of us had the badge.
Our seniors were equally puzzled at the non-organising of the NCO camp in 1984. So, to make sure that there would still be a continued cohort of band leaders, they conducted some in-house DIY footdrills training for some of us. To their credit, they tried their best to mimick what they received at their NCO camp previously. But to me, these were really quite informal.
After the DIY training, the few of us who were 'trained' became in charge of the footdrills in the morning practices held for PM session members. By then, we were in Sec 3 (1985) and being the most senior members of the band in the morning practices, we were tasked with taking care of the footdrill practices during these morning practices. Our senior NCO-trained leaders were already in the AM session school by then and so they took charge only on the Saturday combined practices.
One day, I was taking one segment of the band for footdrill practice. I remember that we were in the field behind the band room. We were about half way through the scheduled drills when one ex-member who was Ms J's constant shadow, came over and suddenly took over the command without warning!
Now, it was an established footdrill rule that when person A is in command, no one should simply take over the command without first informing the person A and the contingent. This is only logical because otherwise, how is the contingent to know whose command it should listen to? Besides, it is such a rude thing to do because what would person A be left with, ha?!
I had sent my segment of the band on a quick march (cepat jalan). Before I could even give the command to make a u-turn, this ex-member simply ran over and shouted stop (berhenti)!!
The members were instantly confused over the sudden change in command. Some paused, some looked back and some simply ignored it and went on! So you can imagine the confusion and chaos. Fortunately, we were not having our instruments with us, so no one bumped into anyone's instrument etc.
This ex-member did not even acknowledge or say anything about what she was seeking to do. She simply told the confused lot, "Now I want you all to go quickly to the corridor to join the other group. Be quick, run, run, run!"
Upon hearing this 'urgent' thing, everyone scuttered towards the corridor a few umbrellas away. They were followed closely by the 'new commander'. I was left standing at my original position alone. No explanation whatsoever, much less an apology.
To me, if this were not an act of insult and a complete 'see-you-no-up' attitude, what was it?! As it later turned out to be, she had only wanted the members to join another segment of band members so they could try out some positioning for one part of the formation! Was that really such a life-and-death matter that she had to do such a thing?!
I 'complained' about this to my senior fellow trumpeter called HC. She was our quarter mistress. She comforted me and said to ignore such insolent behaviour - she also shared with me that some of these bossy ex-members still lived in their own times and world, thinking that they had an extended tenure.
The incident left a big impression on me. But I did let it pass as best as I could.
********************************
The ex-members contributed in many ways in the 1985 Outdoors. Without their contributions in ideas and support, I am sure the band wouldn't have been able to execute such creative, challenging and beautiful moves in the competition as we did so successfully. And the Gold which we won wouldn't have been such a certainty.
I vividly remember how Ms J would be surrounded by these ex-members more frequently during the times when we were practising for our Outdoors . That ex-member who 'snatched over the command' even helped to fan Ms J because the weather had been so unbearably hot! My friends and I even joked about it during our breaks, hahahaha....
After the 1985 Gold, the band became a little more 'relaxed' briefly. During this time, some more ex-members began to pop by and pick up the instruments to play the music pieces from the files. Each Saturday, there would be 4-5 different persons. There was no fixed number; once when 8 came, some of whom I had never even seen before.
Each Staurday, these ex-members would arrive late in the afternoon at no fixed time (as early as 2pm and as late as 6pm) and stay on till 8-9pm. They would take some instruments and played on them somewhere around the band room, and borrow the files feely. Ms J left them alone (Ms J didn't stay late most days). However, my committee members, particularly the quarter mistress and librarians and myself, had a hard time as we stayed on way past 9pm just to make sure that everything was returned and kept properly on every of these oaccsions. And this went on for about a month or so. We all felt very, very exhausted.
I guessed the ex-members were probably feeling very nostalgic about their glorious days in TK Band. They later started to talk a lot about forming an Alumni Band. A few very enthusiastic ones began to float the idea up to Ms J, who naturally supported it. They all continued to talk amongst themselves about their Alumni Band plan.
It was some time during this period that the Indoor Competition thing and NZ trip thing started to come about - in this post, I would collectively call them the 'Difficulties'. And so, this big talk about forming an Alumni Band and the Difficulties went on simultaneously. Imagine how my committee members and I were taxed through our bones during this period of time.
One day, I asked Ms J about the ex-members' talk. Ms J was a little hesitant and said there should be a discussion on it soon. From my assessment, it appeared that Ms J wouldn't mind an Alumni Band to be set up but she knew that the focus was still on our band, our existing band. She didn't say this, of course, but I knew that Ms J took the NZ trip and the resultant need to participate in the Indoors, very seriously.
I asked Ms J if it would be appropriate for me to sound out our teachers in charge first. Ms J said, yah, that would be the correct thing to do. And so, I sounded Ms Koh and Mrs Kooi out.
Both these teachers were very shocked upon hearing that the Alumni Band, if formed, would be sharing the instruments and library of the band! (Actually, I thought they were silly to be shocked. If the Alumni Band was going to have its own resources, why would I have had to ask them, right?!)
Mrs Kooi didn't say much but remained uncommittal. Ms Koh, on the other hand, 'screamed and yelled' at me, telling me eventually, "LP, we don't agree that the Alumni Band which is outside of the school, sharing the band's property. In fact, it is wrong of you people to now even let them use our instruments and music scores! They have already left the school! I want to remind you that if anything should happen to the instruments, eg they get lost or damaged, then you will have to be personally responsible!.... I suggest that you think over carefully. You and your committee."
So, given the teachers' attitude and knowing the TKGS principal's attitude towards the band also, I knew the Alumni Band proposal would be a no-go as far as the school was concerned. But I did not want to outrightly tell Ms J on what the nasty things Ms Koh had told me, just in case Ms J became upset. And in any case, Ms J would probably have to deal a lot more with Ms Koh on the NZ trip, so why say these to Ms J? So I fretted for a while.
But little did I know that whilst I was becoming more troubled with all this fretting, the ex-members were already setting up a meeting between the ex-members and us, the committee members of the exisitng band. The meeting, to be held in a classroom after one band practice, was to be attended also by Ms J!
I quickly gathered my committee members for a meeting one day after school, told them briefly my stand and what I could gather from the teachers about the school's attitude. We shared extensively also on our respective difficulties coping with all those prolonged hours on each Saturday for the past month or so. We also shared our grouses about how some of the ex-members were adopting a couldn't-care-less attitude about the instruments and music scores etc. And how we didn't even know if those who came were really ex-members?!
We spoke and spoke, grumbled and discussed, talked and talked. Not only of the Alumni Band proposal, but also of the simultaneous 'Difficulties' that we had to face and deal with at the same time. Eventually, our consensus was that we couldn't support this Alumni Band proposal - it was just not possible for the time being.
I tried not to think too much on the day of the meeting with the ex-members, which my committee members attended. Another non-committee Sec 4 member called KP also attended.
The meeting was opened and chaired by one of the ex-members. There was a round of self-introduction, then this chairperson started to talk about the reasons and objectives of wanting to form the Alumni Band etc etc. It was a long speech but we bore with it. It sounded very logical and very inspiring, in fact. I remember that I stole glances at Ms J sitting by the side every now and then, not knowing myself whether or not I should hope that she would say something or hope that she would continue to keep quiet.
Before we knew it, the ex-members were beginning to put names on its pro-temp committee. Being the band major, I was naturally put up as a secretary or something. I was beginning to feel terribly uncomfortable about this whole thing then, but I just kept silent. My fellow band major, R, gave me such an incredulous look then, as if asking me, "Why you don't say something?!"
The chairperson, however, just went on and on filling in more names. She paused only when another ex-member present in the classroom (I heard that that other ex-member was a lawyer) pointed out to her that I hadn't given my consent to be put up in the pro-temp. By then, I knew I had to stand up to say my piece.
It wasn't easy for me to explain to the ex-members the difficulties that my committee members and I were facing and what our position vis-a-vis the Alumni Band proposal was. The eager and upbeat ex-members were all so drenched in their excitement that they just refused to hear us out. They couldn't understand why we couldn't support their seemingly-perfect plan for the Alumni Band, what with its registration as a society etc etc. They snorted at us and accused us of being in their way when what they were trying to do was to help Ms J fulfil her dream of setting up an Alumni Band!
Such accusations were hard to stomach and difficult not to defend. We tried to reason with these older, supposedly wiser people to no avail. I remember that they even retorted me when I said that our duty was to take care of the existing band and that we were trying our very best to do this because there were just so many things threatening the band at that time! I think I used the word 'catalyst'.
Whatever we said, the ex-members just didn't get them into their heads. They seemed to have been driven crazy by this Alumni Band idea and refused to accept that it was just not the right time for the Alumni Band then.
After this, things really got out of hand, with lots of shouting and hot tears from both sides (more from the ex-members, actually). At one point, KP even had to stand up on the table to make his point, much to my amazement (because KP was usually quiet and soft-spoken)! Yes, it was really that dramatic!
But it was a totally awful experience. The meeting ended with both sides parting on a very, very bad note. I felt so sad when I saw Ms J go off in her car after comforting a sobbing ex-member after the meeting. Ms J didn't say a word to me but I knew she was very sad.
Sad, we all were, too. I stayed on for a long time after that meeting and when SC and I eventually boarded the bus to head home together late that night, there was only silence between us. I was completely drained, both physically and mentally.
After this episode, I was viewed by many ex-members as being a sort of tumbling block in their continued relationship with the band. Almost all stopped coming to visit the band and Ms J. In this sense, 1986 was a very 'lonely' year for the band and Ms J; it wasn't, also in this sense, a 'normal' year.
But I could not help what these people thought of me. My duty and focus were and had always remained with the existing band. And this, I must say: I am very glad and very, very proud of my committee members and team of Sec 4 members because we had persevered and stayed the course.
In 1986, the band survived the Indoor Competition very much without any help from the ex-members. Although we did not get a Gold medal (instead, we had 2 bronzes), I have always been proud of our achievement.
If only the ex-members knew what we had to go through that year.
**********************
It was because of this meeting's outcome that I always hesitated to visit Ms J no matter how much I had longed to do so all these years.
From the bottom of my heart, I know that what we did had been done in the best interest of the band. But I wasn't sure if Ms J had understood us, or whether she had believed the ex-members who had accused us of preventing her from fulfilling her dream of setting up an Alumni Band.
What if it were the latter? Would I have been able to take Ms J's cold shoulder?....
Now that I have finally visited Ms J and know that she remembers me as being very, very, very, very, very... dear to her, I realise that I had been so silly to think that she might not have understood us back then. I should have trusted her trust in us.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Visit to IJ's house - 21 June 2009
Yesterday, about 11 of us from the ex-TK Band (a few from each batch in 1982-1986) got together and paid a visit to our beloved band instructress, Ms J.
Although the organiser had arranged for transport to pick us up at the Commonwealth MRT station, R decided to give me a lift and so I met them at Ms J's house directly. Ms J now stays at Farrer Road, which is an area R and I are not very familiar with. But nevertheless, we managed to get there relatively effortlessly.
When I first stepped into the house, I was greeted by excited friends of yesteryears! Several came up and said hi and hello and all the hugs etc. Then I saw Ms J at her dining table, sitting quietly and looking.
I went forward and held her hands, greeted her and instantly, I saw that she was not exactly the same as when we parted 24+ years ago. She seemed to be very much slower and there was a look of uncertainty on her face. In case she couldn't recognise me (which wouldn't be surprising since I had never paid her any visit all these years), I explained who I was - Band Major in 1986, led the band in raising funds so as to go on its NZ trip but was unable to join the band on the trip, etc...
Then, she appeared to recall and she hugged and hugged me. It was all very touching. She told me that she is suffering from Parkinson's Disease and has become very slow in everything. So my friends and I had to comfort her and assure her that it is alright, we all will take things slower and more easily.
Ms J needs help to move around and cannot stand for anything more than 10 minutes or so. We did all things that we could as 'normally' as possible, chatting and making some noise in the house. Naturally, everyone started to reminisce about our years in TK Band, basking in its glory and all, once again.
But we also kept a lookout to make sure that Ms J was comfortable and had the fruits and water that she wanted etc. We took turns to chat with her and it pained me to see how soft her voice has become. Sometimes, she would also not complete her sentences.
Ms J's sister Mdm O lives with her. Mdm O is Ms J's principal caregiver. Mdm O, together with the maid, prepared some snacks for us and later, chatted with us all, too. Later, we watched 2 video clips with Ms J and time stood still for many of us during the screening.
The 1st video was a clip called 'The Making of a Band'. According to Mdm O, this was a documentary created by the professional media people in the 1970s because they had wanted to track the progress of school bands in the post-Independence years. The video recorded footage of 2 secondary school bands - ACS band and TK Band. The former was regarded as an elite school and so 'contrast' was made against the 'poorer' neighbourhood school, TK.
Mdm O went on to explain that it was LKY's idea to get schools to form school bands so that the band would become a platform for racial harmony. The idea was to get students of all races to come together and through music, more constant interaction and socialisation, become more cohesive. In short, the band programme had been for a 'unity' purpose in the post-Independence years.
Ms J explained softly to us that the TK Band was founded in 1967, as she pointed out to us parts of the video. It was quite amazing that she could remember the names of several of the boys and girls trying out the instrument in the 1970s. I was particularly surprised when she pointed out to me (I was sitting next to her) that a particular band leader in the video had already passed away. Ms J's power of recollection seems to be even better now than before, leh!
The 2nd video was a clip entitled 'IJ Award'. This was a tribute to Ms J for her contributions to the TK Band. Apparently, TK Sec School created this Award as a sort of annual prize for the top music student (or something like that). We all loved this clip so much that we let it run twice!
Mdm O later showed us the handicraft that Ms J has been doing during her physiotherapy sessions. They really looked like what the kids would do at the kindergartens. And Mdm O explained that to help Ms J retain her dexterity, she also got Ms J to practise her handwriting. During their move to the current place, Ms J had become very stressed and during that time, could not move her limbs at all. This was what the doctor had called 'freeze', and I think it sounded really very scary. I am imagine the love Mdm O had showered on Ms J. Mdm O is truly a very admirable sister.
We stayed on until late afternoon. Then, as we took turns to bid her goodbye while she was seated at the dining table, she pulled my hand and held it tightly. She drew me nearer to her, looked in my eyes and said to me, "LP, you are very, very, very, very, very. very... dear to me."
On hearing Ms J's words to me, I broke down and started sobbing quite badly. I hugged Ms J close and told her that we understood, I understood. By her words, I am very, very sure that Ms J has remembered me and the NZ trip episode, and everyone's heartbreak years ago.
My sudden outburst shocked some of my friends there, but I regained composure quite quickly as Mdm O invited us to visit again soon. "Bring your children to swim," she said, "and you can take her (ie Ms J) on a stroll around when you next come."
Although it had been taxing to stand and walk around, Ms J insisted on seeing us to the door. We slipped on our shoes quickly and waved bye to her and Mdm O.
Our very efficient organiser had also arranged for transport to ferry us 'anywhere we wanted'. So 4 of us accepted the offer and whilst we chatted and joked around in the mini-bus, we started to give instructions on where we would like to go! Eventually, I dropped off first at Circuit Road, and the others would follow at Parkway Parade, then Simei, then finally Pasir Ris.
The visit left me with many, many thoughts and countless rounds of tearing. I now wish I had visited her sooner and regularly. For Ms J was the one who roped me into the active band life I had led in TK Band. The TK Band years had been, without doubt, the moulding years of my life. I hope I will visit Ms J again soon.
Although the organiser had arranged for transport to pick us up at the Commonwealth MRT station, R decided to give me a lift and so I met them at Ms J's house directly. Ms J now stays at Farrer Road, which is an area R and I are not very familiar with. But nevertheless, we managed to get there relatively effortlessly.
When I first stepped into the house, I was greeted by excited friends of yesteryears! Several came up and said hi and hello and all the hugs etc. Then I saw Ms J at her dining table, sitting quietly and looking.
I went forward and held her hands, greeted her and instantly, I saw that she was not exactly the same as when we parted 24+ years ago. She seemed to be very much slower and there was a look of uncertainty on her face. In case she couldn't recognise me (which wouldn't be surprising since I had never paid her any visit all these years), I explained who I was - Band Major in 1986, led the band in raising funds so as to go on its NZ trip but was unable to join the band on the trip, etc...
Then, she appeared to recall and she hugged and hugged me. It was all very touching. She told me that she is suffering from Parkinson's Disease and has become very slow in everything. So my friends and I had to comfort her and assure her that it is alright, we all will take things slower and more easily.
Ms J needs help to move around and cannot stand for anything more than 10 minutes or so. We did all things that we could as 'normally' as possible, chatting and making some noise in the house. Naturally, everyone started to reminisce about our years in TK Band, basking in its glory and all, once again.
But we also kept a lookout to make sure that Ms J was comfortable and had the fruits and water that she wanted etc. We took turns to chat with her and it pained me to see how soft her voice has become. Sometimes, she would also not complete her sentences.
Ms J's sister Mdm O lives with her. Mdm O is Ms J's principal caregiver. Mdm O, together with the maid, prepared some snacks for us and later, chatted with us all, too. Later, we watched 2 video clips with Ms J and time stood still for many of us during the screening.
The 1st video was a clip called 'The Making of a Band'. According to Mdm O, this was a documentary created by the professional media people in the 1970s because they had wanted to track the progress of school bands in the post-Independence years. The video recorded footage of 2 secondary school bands - ACS band and TK Band. The former was regarded as an elite school and so 'contrast' was made against the 'poorer' neighbourhood school, TK.
Mdm O went on to explain that it was LKY's idea to get schools to form school bands so that the band would become a platform for racial harmony. The idea was to get students of all races to come together and through music, more constant interaction and socialisation, become more cohesive. In short, the band programme had been for a 'unity' purpose in the post-Independence years.
Ms J explained softly to us that the TK Band was founded in 1967, as she pointed out to us parts of the video. It was quite amazing that she could remember the names of several of the boys and girls trying out the instrument in the 1970s. I was particularly surprised when she pointed out to me (I was sitting next to her) that a particular band leader in the video had already passed away. Ms J's power of recollection seems to be even better now than before, leh!
The 2nd video was a clip entitled 'IJ Award'. This was a tribute to Ms J for her contributions to the TK Band. Apparently, TK Sec School created this Award as a sort of annual prize for the top music student (or something like that). We all loved this clip so much that we let it run twice!
Mdm O later showed us the handicraft that Ms J has been doing during her physiotherapy sessions. They really looked like what the kids would do at the kindergartens. And Mdm O explained that to help Ms J retain her dexterity, she also got Ms J to practise her handwriting. During their move to the current place, Ms J had become very stressed and during that time, could not move her limbs at all. This was what the doctor had called 'freeze', and I think it sounded really very scary. I am imagine the love Mdm O had showered on Ms J. Mdm O is truly a very admirable sister.
We stayed on until late afternoon. Then, as we took turns to bid her goodbye while she was seated at the dining table, she pulled my hand and held it tightly. She drew me nearer to her, looked in my eyes and said to me, "LP, you are very, very, very, very, very. very... dear to me."
On hearing Ms J's words to me, I broke down and started sobbing quite badly. I hugged Ms J close and told her that we understood, I understood. By her words, I am very, very sure that Ms J has remembered me and the NZ trip episode, and everyone's heartbreak years ago.
My sudden outburst shocked some of my friends there, but I regained composure quite quickly as Mdm O invited us to visit again soon. "Bring your children to swim," she said, "and you can take her (ie Ms J) on a stroll around when you next come."
Although it had been taxing to stand and walk around, Ms J insisted on seeing us to the door. We slipped on our shoes quickly and waved bye to her and Mdm O.
Our very efficient organiser had also arranged for transport to ferry us 'anywhere we wanted'. So 4 of us accepted the offer and whilst we chatted and joked around in the mini-bus, we started to give instructions on where we would like to go! Eventually, I dropped off first at Circuit Road, and the others would follow at Parkway Parade, then Simei, then finally Pasir Ris.
The visit left me with many, many thoughts and countless rounds of tearing. I now wish I had visited her sooner and regularly. For Ms J was the one who roped me into the active band life I had led in TK Band. The TK Band years had been, without doubt, the moulding years of my life. I hope I will visit Ms J again soon.
TJC Symphonic Band
After all that experience in TKBand, I was a little apprehensive about continuing to be a band member when I went to TJ. Yes, it would still be fun and satisfying to continue to make and play music, but will I become, once again, betrayed like before?
Eventually, I decided to put that betrayal thought away. And so, I joined the TJCSB.
I was very welcomed by the band major who knew I had been TK's band major. He tried very hard to coax me into volunteering for some office post in the band, but I declined. I made up my mind that I just wanted to be a simple, ordinary, non-officer bearer member so that all I needed to do was enjoy the music part of things.
My good friend LL, who had also been with me from BPS to TKBand, was 'coerced' into signing up for band. She didn't like it at all but due to the pressure from the school, she had to continue her band life.
I made new friends in the band. Many members were Chinese-speaking people from DHS. I didn't particularly like them because they were like already in a big gang of their own, and didn't seem interested in making new friends. So I kept a distance from this group of rather-Cheena DHS members.
Amongst my closest friends in TJCSB was a St Nicholas girl called DT. She played the saxophone. Another was an ultra-Cheena girl called SQ who played the trombone. Others with whom I became closer were my fellow French Horn Section members - yes, I decided to switch to French Horn because I was tired of the trumpet, TJCSB already had many good trumpeters and I had had no chance to try the French Horn previously!
My French Horn leader in year 1 was a scrawny, hunched-back Taiwanese guy call SM. He was very biased against me - he claimed that my horn-playing was crude because I had played the trumpet before! He gave me a lot of nonsense, including the ultimate sin of damaging my instrument during an outdoor performance at the Istana!
It served him right that he had to stay back one year to take his 'A'-levels. But as luck would have it, he became a classmate in my CG! He skipped many lessons, so outside of band, I also saw him no up!
My other fellow French Horn members were very polite and conscientious members. All but one were very humble, too, and would consult one another about the music whenever they were not so sure about it. The less humble one was a guy who played the violin. Later, when I became the principal French Horn, he became ok, too.
The band major of my batch, called GH, came from the Cheena DHS group. I didn't bother much about them, so I really kept to my resolution to 'just enjoy the music' most of the time. It was only when I became the principal French Horn that I had no choice but to attend some meetings with the committee. At one meeting, I remember that GH was actually surprised to learn from my fellow French Horn members that I had always called them before each practice to remind them about the practice! When asked, I told GH that that was our TK practice, nothing shocking, mah.
LL played the clarinet and found her own clique of band friends in TJCSB. But for lunch during band practices, we still went together to the hawker centre opposite TJ every now and then. DT and SQ would almost always join in, too.
One of the flautists was a girl called XY. XY was always quick to laugh whenever something funny happened during the practices. She is now a very successful business woman running her own expanding medical quipment business.
The trumpeters were aplenty. There was this particular girl from Crescent Girls' School who played the trumpet very, very well. She was D and she had thick, bushy eye-brows which gave her a very distinctive look. During our concerts, D was the trumpet soloist and she never failed us.
In my 1st year in TJCSB, there was a band leader whose name sounded like the moon in mandarin. She played the trombone and sat almost right behind me. One day, she shocked me by telling everyone around us, "Hey, look! LP sits so upright and with her back so straight throughout! Wow, the 1st time I see anyone so discipline and good, leh!"
The tubas were played mainly by big, burly guys. R was one of them. Another was a plump, bespectacled guy called B. B was rather uncouth. Together with a Euphonium guy called L and some other percussionists called BB and DC, B teased me by mis-calling my name all the time. It was rather annoying at first but I left them laughing at their own joke. After some time, they stopped.
TJCSB had a very gentle, elderly man for its conductor. He was Mr Lin. Mr Lin could be quite fun and funny at the same time. He was a real music talent although sometimes he needed our view and input, which I thought was especially good because it gave us the ownership of the music we were playing. I often quite freely shared my views on the music and he always welcomed such discussions.
I remember that for our Competition in the 2nd year, there seemed to be always a hiccup in a one-bar change in tempo in the compulsory piece. And the band always couldn't seem to get it right because all would be hesitant at this point. After a few weeks of frustration, Mr Lin finally held an open discussion and the problem was eventually resolved when I suggested a slight change in the conducting of that bar alone! Mr Lin was truly a very open-minded teacher.
During my time in TJCSB, Mr Lin saw us through 2 Prelude concerts. He was a very conscientious teacher and would perservere in perfecting our music. There was one particular Japanese music score that was especially difficult. This was something about an avalanche in the Snow Mountain. Everyone was tired out after struggling with the piece for several months and we almost wanted to omit it from our repertoire when Mr Lin, once again, held an open discussion about the score. After an extensive session, we finally ironed out the difficulty and the piece was eventually retained in the repertoire for the concert that year. It turned out to be a great success during the concert.
I passed my Grade 7 piano when I was in TJCSB. During my 2nd year, I was preparing for the Grade 8 exam when one day, Mr Lin suddenly invited me to go to his house for practice on his exam-model piano. I was most grateful for his offer and for the pointers he gave me on my playing. But alas, I didn't make the grade for the exam. What a pity.
Mr Lin attended R and my wedding. He was so funny when he stood up, to the applause of all guests at the dinner, as our emcees mentioned that R and I had met at the TJCSB! He must have been very proud of us, hahaha....
About 2-3 years ago, R and I organised a gathering of our friends in TJCSB. Mr Lin also came. We had a great time catching up with one another over dinner at Merchant Court Hotel.
At the end of year 2, the TJCSB went on its performance tour to Taiwan. Everyone was included in the trip and the trip turned out to be an eye-opener for many of us in many ways. For one, it was the 1st time many of us experienced below-10-degrees temperature. For another, it was also the 1st time that we visited Taiwan and got in touch with many like-minded band members of 2 prestigious Taiwanese schools.
During the trip, we stayed at some student hostel which felt more like a resort. We visited many attractions and tried many Taiwanese delicacies. But there were several items which we, the pampered Sg students didn't know how to appreciate. One was the braised pork leg which was served to us at the hostel during dinner one day. Not a single one of us took to the dish and the entire band ended up being chided by our hosts for wasting food!
Another food which I remember was the street-hawker's skewered deep-fried chicken skin. This looked innocently enough amongst some other skewered fishballs, chicken wings etc, but when we bit into the crispy-looking stuff, we got a shock of our lives! Oil instantly oozed out and for me, I almost puked! Yeeee! Deep-fried chicken skin!!
We learnt a lot about Taiwan and of ourselves during the trip. There were aspects of the trip which I didn't like but overall, the trip was a very successful and fruitful one. And to this day, the TJCSB trip to Taiwan has remained an enormous uplift in my post-TK spirits about being a band member.
Eventually, I decided to put that betrayal thought away. And so, I joined the TJCSB.
I was very welcomed by the band major who knew I had been TK's band major. He tried very hard to coax me into volunteering for some office post in the band, but I declined. I made up my mind that I just wanted to be a simple, ordinary, non-officer bearer member so that all I needed to do was enjoy the music part of things.
My good friend LL, who had also been with me from BPS to TKBand, was 'coerced' into signing up for band. She didn't like it at all but due to the pressure from the school, she had to continue her band life.
I made new friends in the band. Many members were Chinese-speaking people from DHS. I didn't particularly like them because they were like already in a big gang of their own, and didn't seem interested in making new friends. So I kept a distance from this group of rather-Cheena DHS members.
Amongst my closest friends in TJCSB was a St Nicholas girl called DT. She played the saxophone. Another was an ultra-Cheena girl called SQ who played the trombone. Others with whom I became closer were my fellow French Horn Section members - yes, I decided to switch to French Horn because I was tired of the trumpet, TJCSB already had many good trumpeters and I had had no chance to try the French Horn previously!
My French Horn leader in year 1 was a scrawny, hunched-back Taiwanese guy call SM. He was very biased against me - he claimed that my horn-playing was crude because I had played the trumpet before! He gave me a lot of nonsense, including the ultimate sin of damaging my instrument during an outdoor performance at the Istana!
It served him right that he had to stay back one year to take his 'A'-levels. But as luck would have it, he became a classmate in my CG! He skipped many lessons, so outside of band, I also saw him no up!
My other fellow French Horn members were very polite and conscientious members. All but one were very humble, too, and would consult one another about the music whenever they were not so sure about it. The less humble one was a guy who played the violin. Later, when I became the principal French Horn, he became ok, too.
The band major of my batch, called GH, came from the Cheena DHS group. I didn't bother much about them, so I really kept to my resolution to 'just enjoy the music' most of the time. It was only when I became the principal French Horn that I had no choice but to attend some meetings with the committee. At one meeting, I remember that GH was actually surprised to learn from my fellow French Horn members that I had always called them before each practice to remind them about the practice! When asked, I told GH that that was our TK practice, nothing shocking, mah.
LL played the clarinet and found her own clique of band friends in TJCSB. But for lunch during band practices, we still went together to the hawker centre opposite TJ every now and then. DT and SQ would almost always join in, too.
One of the flautists was a girl called XY. XY was always quick to laugh whenever something funny happened during the practices. She is now a very successful business woman running her own expanding medical quipment business.
The trumpeters were aplenty. There was this particular girl from Crescent Girls' School who played the trumpet very, very well. She was D and she had thick, bushy eye-brows which gave her a very distinctive look. During our concerts, D was the trumpet soloist and she never failed us.
In my 1st year in TJCSB, there was a band leader whose name sounded like the moon in mandarin. She played the trombone and sat almost right behind me. One day, she shocked me by telling everyone around us, "Hey, look! LP sits so upright and with her back so straight throughout! Wow, the 1st time I see anyone so discipline and good, leh!"
The tubas were played mainly by big, burly guys. R was one of them. Another was a plump, bespectacled guy called B. B was rather uncouth. Together with a Euphonium guy called L and some other percussionists called BB and DC, B teased me by mis-calling my name all the time. It was rather annoying at first but I left them laughing at their own joke. After some time, they stopped.
TJCSB had a very gentle, elderly man for its conductor. He was Mr Lin. Mr Lin could be quite fun and funny at the same time. He was a real music talent although sometimes he needed our view and input, which I thought was especially good because it gave us the ownership of the music we were playing. I often quite freely shared my views on the music and he always welcomed such discussions.
I remember that for our Competition in the 2nd year, there seemed to be always a hiccup in a one-bar change in tempo in the compulsory piece. And the band always couldn't seem to get it right because all would be hesitant at this point. After a few weeks of frustration, Mr Lin finally held an open discussion and the problem was eventually resolved when I suggested a slight change in the conducting of that bar alone! Mr Lin was truly a very open-minded teacher.
During my time in TJCSB, Mr Lin saw us through 2 Prelude concerts. He was a very conscientious teacher and would perservere in perfecting our music. There was one particular Japanese music score that was especially difficult. This was something about an avalanche in the Snow Mountain. Everyone was tired out after struggling with the piece for several months and we almost wanted to omit it from our repertoire when Mr Lin, once again, held an open discussion about the score. After an extensive session, we finally ironed out the difficulty and the piece was eventually retained in the repertoire for the concert that year. It turned out to be a great success during the concert.
I passed my Grade 7 piano when I was in TJCSB. During my 2nd year, I was preparing for the Grade 8 exam when one day, Mr Lin suddenly invited me to go to his house for practice on his exam-model piano. I was most grateful for his offer and for the pointers he gave me on my playing. But alas, I didn't make the grade for the exam. What a pity.
Mr Lin attended R and my wedding. He was so funny when he stood up, to the applause of all guests at the dinner, as our emcees mentioned that R and I had met at the TJCSB! He must have been very proud of us, hahaha....
About 2-3 years ago, R and I organised a gathering of our friends in TJCSB. Mr Lin also came. We had a great time catching up with one another over dinner at Merchant Court Hotel.
At the end of year 2, the TJCSB went on its performance tour to Taiwan. Everyone was included in the trip and the trip turned out to be an eye-opener for many of us in many ways. For one, it was the 1st time many of us experienced below-10-degrees temperature. For another, it was also the 1st time that we visited Taiwan and got in touch with many like-minded band members of 2 prestigious Taiwanese schools.
During the trip, we stayed at some student hostel which felt more like a resort. We visited many attractions and tried many Taiwanese delicacies. But there were several items which we, the pampered Sg students didn't know how to appreciate. One was the braised pork leg which was served to us at the hostel during dinner one day. Not a single one of us took to the dish and the entire band ended up being chided by our hosts for wasting food!
Another food which I remember was the street-hawker's skewered deep-fried chicken skin. This looked innocently enough amongst some other skewered fishballs, chicken wings etc, but when we bit into the crispy-looking stuff, we got a shock of our lives! Oil instantly oozed out and for me, I almost puked! Yeeee! Deep-fried chicken skin!!
We learnt a lot about Taiwan and of ourselves during the trip. There were aspects of the trip which I didn't like but overall, the trip was a very successful and fruitful one. And to this day, the TJCSB trip to Taiwan has remained an enormous uplift in my post-TK spirits about being a band member.
TK Band 1986
When I was returned to office unopposed in Sec 4, I knew it would be the toughest year there would ever be to lead the band.
In that year, there was an Indoor Competition. No Outdoor. The sentiments of the band had always been that it was essential that the band remained as a single, combined band. At no cost would we agree to split and go separate ways.
The thinking of our new TKGS principal, however, was the direct opposite. In a way, she despised the loud and 'rough' outdoor marching band TK Band was. In her own words, she had told Ms Koh and myself one day that her dream was to set up a TKGS symphony orchestra, drawing members from the existing band and from the music students from the school's MEP. But to achieve this, she would have to 1st split the band.
I had never shared this with my band members. I only told it to my committee members. How demoralising this was, right?! And scary.
So, initially, when Ms J asked if we wanted to participate in the Indoor Competition that year, we did what our seniors and predecessors had done - say no. We said no because it was set forth to us that if we agreed to participate in the Indoor Competition, we would have to do so as separate bands.
At first, we were a little confused why MOE would suddenly oppose combined bands. Then, Ms J explained to us that this was the regulation - for Outdoors, combined bands were ok but not for Indoors.
Naturally, we declined to take part. Our (at least, my) thinking was that it was no big deal not to take part in the Indoor Competition since our strength was in the Outdoors, which remain the inspiration for us all. So, that was our consensus.
Sometime later, the bombshell came. The TKGS principal offered the band an opportunity to travel to New Zealand on a perfomance tour.... but in order to enjoy this, the band would have to participate in the Indoor Competition (which means we had to enter a sseparate bands!).
At first, we just dismissed the idea - how could we give in to this thing?! But later, in a discussion with Ms J, Ms J confided in me that this was a golden opportunity for the band. Afterall, all these years, the band had never been able to enjoy the overseas experience that some other less established bands had had. And year after year, she had had to break her promise to us, the ever-eager-to-travel band members about going overseas. So she was keen to take up the offer.
It was a heartbreaking decision. I knew what the principal's plan was heading, and I knew we had no choice but to take her bait. Ms J had already taken it.
And so, the decision was made and we submitted our application forms. I remember now that my fellow Band Major in TK Tech, called R, became really 'panicky' because how to survive as separate bands?!
The band set about the music pieces and the task of ensuring sufficient membership. Many new members signed up because they heard about the impending trip. We took them all in, even those whom we knew were interested only in the trip.
Because our standard of 'fine' playing had never been good, it was a struggle to deal with both the compulsory piece and our choice piece. For many of us, it was like learning to play 'properly' from scratch, and it was challenging especially for those who didn't read the manuscript well. Some of us couldn't even make head or tail of our respective scores.
But we kept at it and tried our very best. Slowly but steadily, with the guidance and encouragement of Ms J, we eventually 'figured out' the music pieces. And gradually, we began to enjoy ourselves.
For the compulsory piece, we needed to buy chimes. We never had one because chimes were not typically used for Outdoors. So I checked with Ms Low, one of the teachers in charge of band, but she told me that there was no budget for such a purchase. She also said that the school wouldn't put up such money.
Left with no choice, my fellow band major from TK Tech, R, did the same checking with his teacher in charge in TK Tech. Fortunately, somehow they worked it out that it was TK Tech's turn to make the purchase (the 2 schools took turns to budget for purchase of new instruments and scores etc) and so eventually, we managed to secure the funds and got our chimes. We called those chimes 'bells'.
As we never had a 'band room' for ourselves for practices (unlike the sound-proofed rooms school bands these days enjoy), we could not really know how we had progressed. One day, I suddenly got an inspiration during my MEP lessons - hey! we could make use of our 'sound-proofed' MEP rooms, right?! That way, we can really feel how we were playing - our usual practices in the school hall was so 'unacoustic'!
So, I sounded Ms J out - she was all for it! And so, I approached Ms Koh and Mrs Kooi, the MEP teachers about it. Both were super reluctant - Ms Koh (who, incidentally, was one of the teachers in charge of the band!) was particularly unwilling because she feared that we would almost definitely cause some damage etc.
I said all I could and pleaded and begged, and after a while, with some support of Mrs Kooi, Ms Koh gave her nod. But I shall always remember how heavy her words had weighed upon me: "LP, you will be personally responsible, ah, for the room and anything that happens to it. And make sure the room is returned to its exact original condition after the band uses it."
Personally responsible - somehow, that became a favourite phrase the teachers used on me.
To use this MEP room located 2 floors above the school hall, the entire band had to transport all our instruments up there by hand. Imagine the timpanis, the chimes, the bass drum, the music stands and files and everything needed for our practice. It was a major migration and removal exercise on each of the 2-3 times we used that room.
I guess the only person who really appreciated this whole thing about using the room was Ms J. She told me that it was a really good idea that we could use the MEP room because she also couldn't hear properly how we were faring when we played in the hall. She stood aside watching us all painstakingly lug all the stuff back to our miserably small band room (more like our store for our stuff) after the practices in the MEP room. I can imagine the thoughts running through her head during those times.
I also remember going again to Ms Koh after our 1st practice in the MEP room to ask if we could have her kind permission to leave the timpanis in the MEP room since it wouldn't make sense to transport these up and down each week. As expected, she refused.
I was really thankful to all the band members who so consicentiously kept the room tidy and put back all the classroom furniture back in its place after our use. Many were amazed that there was such a room in TKGS and its use was only for a select group of MEP people! But everyone understood why we had to take extra care of the room (my personal repsonsibility, leh!) and did their part. We used plenty of serviettes and even some paper cups for our 'saliva'!!!! This is so funny now that we think about it.
At Ms J's suggestion,. we did a very DIY recording of our playing in the MEP room so as to review our progress and see how we could improve ourselves. It wasn't easy because we had to keep repeating and repeating. And it was really a tiring thing.
After those few session in the MEP room, we reverted to our usual school hall for our practices.
Then, came another bombshell one day. The dates for the NZ trip were finalised - the band would set off for NZ 2 days before the final 'O'-level exam date for us Sec 4's! This meant that we would not be part of the band heading to NZ!
I was devastated at this outcome. Some of us who didn't read Biology (which was the last paper) were even more upset because despite having completed their exams, they would not be allowed to be in the team. The reason given to us was that the members who were going on the tour would have had to come for regular practices prior to the trip and that would interfere with our 'O'-level exam preparations!
What crap, we thought this was all about! How could they do this to us?! The school insisted that we must be omitted - even though some of these non-Biology Sec 4 members offered to attend the practices amidst their exam preparations!
Together with my cohort comrades, I was thrown into the deep blue sea that day when the 'final' decision came on our appeal. I sat down with my closer comrades, completely speechless. Yes, they insisted it was a no.
The following months turned out to be the toughest days of my band life. Internally, I had to try to calm myself and convince myself that it would be alright to be just part of the big, great TK Band which finally had the opportunity to travel overseas; it was ok not to be part of the NZ trip; it was the band, our band, that mattered etc......
Outwardly, however, I had to act 'right' and do 'right' - that is, continue to lead and inspire all the band members, Sec 4 and others, to work hard for the NZ trip. That was what was expected of me - the band major!
To the juniors, it was a breeze - they didn't need any additional encouragement. The trip was their motivation and source of energy. Many attended practices conscientiously and truly worked hard at improving their skills. They were very much on a self-motivated mode.
But to us, the Sec 4's, it was a completely different story. I had to deal with myself and with my friends, some of whom began to lose interest and stopped attending band practices regularly. I could understand, of course, but I still had to do my job.
My sentiments were shared by my fellow band major - R said that it was just our luck lah. But then, I knew it was more than just luck.
One day, we sat down together in our 'clique'. Then, when the discussion came to band practices, one of my closer friends told me off directly, "LP, now that we are not going to be part of the band going on the NZ trip, why should we still go for band practices? Tell me why I should still attend?"
I couldn't utter a word because I also felt the same way.
She went on, "From now on, don't call me for band practices, ok? I will come if I feel like it but if I don't feel like it, I won't come. If you still want our friendship, don't pressure me into coming for band practices!"
In a huff, she marched off with her bag. I stood rooted to the ground in the canteen for several minutes, mouth shut. What could I say?!
It was no surpise that for the AM Session practices in the Wednesday afternoons, there were many absentees. At one point in time, there were about 4-5 members who came, and they were mostly committee members.
The atmosphere at those practices was really miserable. Ms J, too, knew our hearts and didn't 'scold' us for the bad turn-out. In fact, she kept our spirits up by sharing with us about music theory and brass instruments etc. It was in one of these sessions that I learnt why, for example, the B-flat trumpet would not sound 'C' on the piano even though the note on the manuscript that we played was a 'C'. And how the 1st, 2nd and 3rd valves of the trumpet would change an open note by a tone, a semitone and a one-and-a-half tones respectively. All that mystery about alternative fingerings!
I also learnt from Ms J that in Chinese music, there are no 4th and 7th notes and that is why the other 5 notes of the scale are able to give music that Chinese character. In Russian music, there are 5 beats to a bar!
I really appreciated Ms J's sharing on these finer points of music learning. She had lots of knowledge and it was most interesting to listen to her discussion. She was so ever enthusiastic about teaching the remaining miserable few of us.
Then one day, Ms J spoke to me away from the other members. She told me, "LP, I know this is tough for you all and especially, you. But I have tried to convince them to change the date and include you all, who are the most deserving to go to NZ. They refused to change their mind. I am very sorry, LP, but you and your batch are my dearest. I love you all the most."
Her words were very touching and more importantly to me, showed that she understood our pain and agony. And suddenly, I felt less betrayed although it was still painful. Then I knew that our mission was - not an Outdoor, not NDP - but to help make her wish come true. And that was, to send the band on its much promised overseas trip.
At another afternoon practice shortly after, Ms J repeated what she said to all the Sec 4 members present at the practice. I remember looking back to see my members (trumpets sat in front on the right). Everyone looked really sad, with their heads down to their chests. Only the fact that Ms J had told me these words earlier, kept my tears away.
We had to work into our calendar schedules for various fund-raising events, what with studio recordings and performances ( we sold cassette tapes of these), sourcing for sponsors and sale of keychains etc. The work was tough and hectic, especially since many events took us away from our class lessons.
When the preliminary exams drew near, my committee members handed over the job of running the band to the NZ trip team. Relieved of our duties, we faded off into nothingness as the band prepared itself earnestly for the NZ trip.
To this day, my pain about the NZ trip remains. Like what Ms J told me, we had been the most deserving to go.
For the record, in the Indoor that we were 'forced' to participate, TKGS side managed a bronze for our pieces and a certificate if merit for our sight-reading (as confirmed by my article in the TKGS 1986 Yearbook). Fortunately, TKTech side also got a bronze, but I cannot recall how they had fared in their sight-reading segment.
Not exactly fantastic results by anyone's standard - but given the circumstances we had been in then, gold would not have been realistic. But whatever it is, it is more important that we all had given Ms J all of ourselves and what our best could achieve then. And that, by itself, had been a credible achievement.
In that year, there was an Indoor Competition. No Outdoor. The sentiments of the band had always been that it was essential that the band remained as a single, combined band. At no cost would we agree to split and go separate ways.
The thinking of our new TKGS principal, however, was the direct opposite. In a way, she despised the loud and 'rough' outdoor marching band TK Band was. In her own words, she had told Ms Koh and myself one day that her dream was to set up a TKGS symphony orchestra, drawing members from the existing band and from the music students from the school's MEP. But to achieve this, she would have to 1st split the band.
I had never shared this with my band members. I only told it to my committee members. How demoralising this was, right?! And scary.
So, initially, when Ms J asked if we wanted to participate in the Indoor Competition that year, we did what our seniors and predecessors had done - say no. We said no because it was set forth to us that if we agreed to participate in the Indoor Competition, we would have to do so as separate bands.
At first, we were a little confused why MOE would suddenly oppose combined bands. Then, Ms J explained to us that this was the regulation - for Outdoors, combined bands were ok but not for Indoors.
Naturally, we declined to take part. Our (at least, my) thinking was that it was no big deal not to take part in the Indoor Competition since our strength was in the Outdoors, which remain the inspiration for us all. So, that was our consensus.
Sometime later, the bombshell came. The TKGS principal offered the band an opportunity to travel to New Zealand on a perfomance tour.... but in order to enjoy this, the band would have to participate in the Indoor Competition (which means we had to enter a sseparate bands!).
At first, we just dismissed the idea - how could we give in to this thing?! But later, in a discussion with Ms J, Ms J confided in me that this was a golden opportunity for the band. Afterall, all these years, the band had never been able to enjoy the overseas experience that some other less established bands had had. And year after year, she had had to break her promise to us, the ever-eager-to-travel band members about going overseas. So she was keen to take up the offer.
It was a heartbreaking decision. I knew what the principal's plan was heading, and I knew we had no choice but to take her bait. Ms J had already taken it.
And so, the decision was made and we submitted our application forms. I remember now that my fellow Band Major in TK Tech, called R, became really 'panicky' because how to survive as separate bands?!
The band set about the music pieces and the task of ensuring sufficient membership. Many new members signed up because they heard about the impending trip. We took them all in, even those whom we knew were interested only in the trip.
Because our standard of 'fine' playing had never been good, it was a struggle to deal with both the compulsory piece and our choice piece. For many of us, it was like learning to play 'properly' from scratch, and it was challenging especially for those who didn't read the manuscript well. Some of us couldn't even make head or tail of our respective scores.
But we kept at it and tried our very best. Slowly but steadily, with the guidance and encouragement of Ms J, we eventually 'figured out' the music pieces. And gradually, we began to enjoy ourselves.
For the compulsory piece, we needed to buy chimes. We never had one because chimes were not typically used for Outdoors. So I checked with Ms Low, one of the teachers in charge of band, but she told me that there was no budget for such a purchase. She also said that the school wouldn't put up such money.
Left with no choice, my fellow band major from TK Tech, R, did the same checking with his teacher in charge in TK Tech. Fortunately, somehow they worked it out that it was TK Tech's turn to make the purchase (the 2 schools took turns to budget for purchase of new instruments and scores etc) and so eventually, we managed to secure the funds and got our chimes. We called those chimes 'bells'.
As we never had a 'band room' for ourselves for practices (unlike the sound-proofed rooms school bands these days enjoy), we could not really know how we had progressed. One day, I suddenly got an inspiration during my MEP lessons - hey! we could make use of our 'sound-proofed' MEP rooms, right?! That way, we can really feel how we were playing - our usual practices in the school hall was so 'unacoustic'!
So, I sounded Ms J out - she was all for it! And so, I approached Ms Koh and Mrs Kooi, the MEP teachers about it. Both were super reluctant - Ms Koh (who, incidentally, was one of the teachers in charge of the band!) was particularly unwilling because she feared that we would almost definitely cause some damage etc.
I said all I could and pleaded and begged, and after a while, with some support of Mrs Kooi, Ms Koh gave her nod. But I shall always remember how heavy her words had weighed upon me: "LP, you will be personally responsible, ah, for the room and anything that happens to it. And make sure the room is returned to its exact original condition after the band uses it."
Personally responsible - somehow, that became a favourite phrase the teachers used on me.
To use this MEP room located 2 floors above the school hall, the entire band had to transport all our instruments up there by hand. Imagine the timpanis, the chimes, the bass drum, the music stands and files and everything needed for our practice. It was a major migration and removal exercise on each of the 2-3 times we used that room.
I guess the only person who really appreciated this whole thing about using the room was Ms J. She told me that it was a really good idea that we could use the MEP room because she also couldn't hear properly how we were faring when we played in the hall. She stood aside watching us all painstakingly lug all the stuff back to our miserably small band room (more like our store for our stuff) after the practices in the MEP room. I can imagine the thoughts running through her head during those times.
I also remember going again to Ms Koh after our 1st practice in the MEP room to ask if we could have her kind permission to leave the timpanis in the MEP room since it wouldn't make sense to transport these up and down each week. As expected, she refused.
I was really thankful to all the band members who so consicentiously kept the room tidy and put back all the classroom furniture back in its place after our use. Many were amazed that there was such a room in TKGS and its use was only for a select group of MEP people! But everyone understood why we had to take extra care of the room (my personal repsonsibility, leh!) and did their part. We used plenty of serviettes and even some paper cups for our 'saliva'!!!! This is so funny now that we think about it.
At Ms J's suggestion,. we did a very DIY recording of our playing in the MEP room so as to review our progress and see how we could improve ourselves. It wasn't easy because we had to keep repeating and repeating. And it was really a tiring thing.
After those few session in the MEP room, we reverted to our usual school hall for our practices.
Then, came another bombshell one day. The dates for the NZ trip were finalised - the band would set off for NZ 2 days before the final 'O'-level exam date for us Sec 4's! This meant that we would not be part of the band heading to NZ!
I was devastated at this outcome. Some of us who didn't read Biology (which was the last paper) were even more upset because despite having completed their exams, they would not be allowed to be in the team. The reason given to us was that the members who were going on the tour would have had to come for regular practices prior to the trip and that would interfere with our 'O'-level exam preparations!
What crap, we thought this was all about! How could they do this to us?! The school insisted that we must be omitted - even though some of these non-Biology Sec 4 members offered to attend the practices amidst their exam preparations!
Together with my cohort comrades, I was thrown into the deep blue sea that day when the 'final' decision came on our appeal. I sat down with my closer comrades, completely speechless. Yes, they insisted it was a no.
The following months turned out to be the toughest days of my band life. Internally, I had to try to calm myself and convince myself that it would be alright to be just part of the big, great TK Band which finally had the opportunity to travel overseas; it was ok not to be part of the NZ trip; it was the band, our band, that mattered etc......
Outwardly, however, I had to act 'right' and do 'right' - that is, continue to lead and inspire all the band members, Sec 4 and others, to work hard for the NZ trip. That was what was expected of me - the band major!
To the juniors, it was a breeze - they didn't need any additional encouragement. The trip was their motivation and source of energy. Many attended practices conscientiously and truly worked hard at improving their skills. They were very much on a self-motivated mode.
But to us, the Sec 4's, it was a completely different story. I had to deal with myself and with my friends, some of whom began to lose interest and stopped attending band practices regularly. I could understand, of course, but I still had to do my job.
My sentiments were shared by my fellow band major - R said that it was just our luck lah. But then, I knew it was more than just luck.
One day, we sat down together in our 'clique'. Then, when the discussion came to band practices, one of my closer friends told me off directly, "LP, now that we are not going to be part of the band going on the NZ trip, why should we still go for band practices? Tell me why I should still attend?"
I couldn't utter a word because I also felt the same way.
She went on, "From now on, don't call me for band practices, ok? I will come if I feel like it but if I don't feel like it, I won't come. If you still want our friendship, don't pressure me into coming for band practices!"
In a huff, she marched off with her bag. I stood rooted to the ground in the canteen for several minutes, mouth shut. What could I say?!
It was no surpise that for the AM Session practices in the Wednesday afternoons, there were many absentees. At one point in time, there were about 4-5 members who came, and they were mostly committee members.
The atmosphere at those practices was really miserable. Ms J, too, knew our hearts and didn't 'scold' us for the bad turn-out. In fact, she kept our spirits up by sharing with us about music theory and brass instruments etc. It was in one of these sessions that I learnt why, for example, the B-flat trumpet would not sound 'C' on the piano even though the note on the manuscript that we played was a 'C'. And how the 1st, 2nd and 3rd valves of the trumpet would change an open note by a tone, a semitone and a one-and-a-half tones respectively. All that mystery about alternative fingerings!
I also learnt from Ms J that in Chinese music, there are no 4th and 7th notes and that is why the other 5 notes of the scale are able to give music that Chinese character. In Russian music, there are 5 beats to a bar!
I really appreciated Ms J's sharing on these finer points of music learning. She had lots of knowledge and it was most interesting to listen to her discussion. She was so ever enthusiastic about teaching the remaining miserable few of us.
Then one day, Ms J spoke to me away from the other members. She told me, "LP, I know this is tough for you all and especially, you. But I have tried to convince them to change the date and include you all, who are the most deserving to go to NZ. They refused to change their mind. I am very sorry, LP, but you and your batch are my dearest. I love you all the most."
Her words were very touching and more importantly to me, showed that she understood our pain and agony. And suddenly, I felt less betrayed although it was still painful. Then I knew that our mission was - not an Outdoor, not NDP - but to help make her wish come true. And that was, to send the band on its much promised overseas trip.
At another afternoon practice shortly after, Ms J repeated what she said to all the Sec 4 members present at the practice. I remember looking back to see my members (trumpets sat in front on the right). Everyone looked really sad, with their heads down to their chests. Only the fact that Ms J had told me these words earlier, kept my tears away.
We had to work into our calendar schedules for various fund-raising events, what with studio recordings and performances ( we sold cassette tapes of these), sourcing for sponsors and sale of keychains etc. The work was tough and hectic, especially since many events took us away from our class lessons.
When the preliminary exams drew near, my committee members handed over the job of running the band to the NZ trip team. Relieved of our duties, we faded off into nothingness as the band prepared itself earnestly for the NZ trip.
To this day, my pain about the NZ trip remains. Like what Ms J told me, we had been the most deserving to go.
For the record, in the Indoor that we were 'forced' to participate, TKGS side managed a bronze for our pieces and a certificate if merit for our sight-reading (as confirmed by my article in the TKGS 1986 Yearbook). Fortunately, TKTech side also got a bronze, but I cannot recall how they had fared in their sight-reading segment.
Not exactly fantastic results by anyone's standard - but given the circumstances we had been in then, gold would not have been realistic. But whatever it is, it is more important that we all had given Ms J all of ourselves and what our best could achieve then. And that, by itself, had been a credible achievement.
As a Band Member
BPS Band
I became a member of the school band when I was in BPS. The story on how I did that was in an earlier post.
Being in the band was such a novelty then. I mean, who else (outside the band) would get the chance to touch and fiddle with those shiny and intricate brass instruments and the opportunity to learn how to play them? And have fun playing as a team altogether??
Anyway, life as a member of the BPS band was a very relaxed one. Only on special occasions like Teachers' Day celebration, Children's Day celebration did we have to perform for the school. Other times, it was mostly practices and parties. No SYF, no competition, no stress.
TK Band
The decision to join the big, great TK Band when I went to TKGS, was a very straightforward one. In fact, it was just a very 'natural' choice.
I remember that one day when we were still a freshie in Sec 1, there was special assembly where all the uniformed ECA groups showcased their 'specialties' to us in the school hall. The Red Cross demonstrated some bandaging, stretcher stuff on the stage while the Girl Guides showed off their tent-pitching skills etc. Then, there were the NPCC and NCC groups who, of course, marched and marched; the 'cadets' doing drills in their all-impressive uniform were indeed quite impressive.
But none of these could beat the awesome TK Band who went on stage to play us some marches and other music. We all know how the (lack of) 'acoustics' of the school hall was like; so when the band played, it sounded so 'surround-sound' and grand that it was no wonder that so many girls became very excited by it! Many of my classmates also wondered why there were boys in the band - weren't we all in a girls' school?
I wasn't surprised about the boys part of the band because YP had already told me briefly about the combined band in TK. Rather, I was impressed by all the happy faces amongst the players sitting on stage, music-making and seemingly enjoying themselves. In fact, they all looked like they were enjoying it more than us, the audience! And the smile I saw on the face of the lady conductress helming the baton - it was so inviting and inspiring. Simply irresistable.
So it was without a hesitation at all, that I signed up to be a band member straight after that. Somehow, I didn't feel share my classmates' concern about the 'excessive' band practice hours which would be required (band practices were notorious for being time-consuming), etc. For me, it was just a natural progression and a logical extension from my band experience in BPS.
The year when I was in Sec 1, Singapore hosted the 12th SEA Games. So there were 3 major events in the band's calendar: SYF Outdoor Competition, National Day Parade and the SEA Games.
As the majority of the Sec 1 recruits had no previous band experience, most of them could not be roped into playing the instruments. Instead, we became what was called 'the pom-pom girls'. Basically, 'the pom-pom girls' took on a sort of 'ornamental' role in the marching formations. We were told that in earlier years, our equivalents were the baton-twirlers! (Baton-twirling may look more suave and pretty but we tried it, it was tedious work 100x tougher! Batons could hurt, too, if they suddenly slipped but we were 'safe' with pom-poms!)
One of the 1st things we learnt at TK Band was foot drills. TK Band was, afterall, a marching band. So I started to learn to obey the various Malay commands, turning left, turning right, turning back etc etc. Later, we also progressed to the various 90-degree, 180-degree and 270-degree 'spins'. Yes, there were also those 10-feet-8-steps repetitive trainings! These fundamentals were essential for formation purposes. Some were more 'fun' than others; some were more demanding than others. But we managed them all and trained hard at TK Band' signature 'lift-your-legs-and-point-your-toes' style of hanta kaki.
Discipline was of utmost importance during our foot drills practices, which were almost always done along the corridors. Sometimes we went out the fields and into the sun. Life was tough during those drill practices but nobody complained. We only dashed to the water-coolers (or the 7-eleven opposite TKGS) as quickly as we could each time there was a break. I think somewhere in our minds was this firm belief that all the aches and pain we got from the torturous drill practices were part and parcel of being a member of the big, great TK Band - it was a 'package' we had undertaken. It was also, in short, our faith in our unofficial motto: No Pain, No Gain!
And the camaraderie that we all built in the band was just so indescribable. We shared all the pain and sore in our legs and feet, the anguish whenever seniors/leaders shouted at us 'unjustifably', the relief at being allowed to fall-out from the drills and formations when the sun was really too scorchingly hot and of course, the joy and pride when we won at the SYF competitions. Unhygienic and incredible this may sound, but we even shared the Big Gulps (usually Coke) that we so often grabbed from 7-eleven opposite the school gate during breaks and after band practices.
Typically, our Saturday band practices (the 'main' practice in a week because it is a combined practice for both AM and PM sessions) started at 1pm. The 1st 1 hour or so would be drill practice. After that, we would have a 20-minute break before the 45-60 minutes of Sectional practices followed by the combined practice which typically went on until about 6pm.
As one of the Sec 1 recruits who were 'pom pom girls', I didn't have to join the trumpets in Sec 1. Most of the work of the pom-pom girls were to 'perfect' our drills and the pom-pom works. We also made and repaired our own pom-poms.
When it came to NDP, however, somehow there was a shortage of trumpeters. As I had trumpet experience, I was roped in to the section for the NDP. That year, there was a road march somewhere from the Jalan Bersah stadium out to the 坡底 region. I think we went past Lavendar Street, North Bridge Road, Victoria Street etc - I was a little more familiar at these places because I had been going to F's office long ago, mah.
The experience of doing a road march with the TK Band was an unforgettable one. I learnt that it was possible (and it seems, allowed) to have 'reserve players' stand-in for anyone in the contingent who was too exhausted along the march and who wanted to drop out of the march - there were so many 'reserve players' including ex-members who were dressed in the band uniform, marching alongside the band when the band was on the road. These ex-members would promptly replace the exhausted members in the contingent who opted to drop out.
I thought the road march was a breeze (maybe because I was only a junior, I was still very blur so was unaware of what was happending around), so I couldn't understand why such 'cheating' was allowed. But the jokes and singing that the 'reserve players' entertained the marching contingent with, were funny and overall, I enjoyed the march.
One day during a band practice in Sec 1, the band instructress, Ms Irene J, suddenly became very furious with the librarian. I think some scores were not in order. She yelled at the poor librarian and scolded him sternly. Then, to the shock of the band, she sacked the librarian on the spot!
Almost immediately, Ms J pointed at me and said, "You! You be the librarian." Everyone was stunned, especially me. I could only nod my head meekly and leave my seniors to deal with the 'sudden mess' that Ms J created.
It was a 'mess' because all the leaders in TK Band were appointed after they had been voted in by the band members through a democratic election process. So such sudden sacking of an appointed leader was unheard of. Also, the sudden replacement of the librabrian by a Sec 1 recruit decided only by Ms J herself (ie no democratic voting process) left the entire committee of band leaders in a big state of confusion. I, myself, wasn't sure of the legitimacy of my appointment either.
But the words of Ms J could not be disregarded. And so, after some confusion and hush-hush discussions amongst the leaders, the band major called a meeting which I was asked to attend. At the meeting, I was 'accepted' by all the committee members, albeit a little reluctantly and awkwardly. And that was how I 1st became involved as a band leader.
The committee comprised 2 sets of leaders, one from TKGS and the other from TK Tech. The officer bearers were: Band Major, Drum Major, Secretary, Librarian, Quarter Master/Mistress and the various Section Leaders. Very often, my TKGS classmates would ask me how different the role of the Band Major is from that of the Drum Major.
I would summarise: the Drum Major takes charge when the band is outdoors and marching; the Drum Major holds the maze and is responsible for the drills of the band. The Band Major, on the other hand, is in charge when the band is indoors; the quality of the band's music and discipline are the responsibilities of the Band Major. The Band Major is also the overall leader in charge of the band and acts as the representative of the band vis-a-vis the schools and so is the link between the band and the schools, too.
When I was in Sec 2, I was nominated for the post of Secretary. And I was voted in. Since the Secretary was in charge of the logistics for band practices, I also had to call Ms J to 'remind' her of the date and time of each band practice. So through the phone calls and closer communication with Mr J, I got to know her slightly more that year.
Ms J is unmarried, but she is a very loving aunt to her nephews/nieces. At that time, she lived in Yio Chu Kang area, and she sometimes invited us to her house. There was once when we accompanied her to the supermarket before going to her house and when we reached her place, she showed us how she would wash the minced beef under running water, which I thought was weird because M always asks the butcher to have the meat rinsed before mincing it.
Although Ms J may appear to have a very short temper, she is really very sweet. And she is always very careful to make sure that the band practice did not overrun. It was a common grouse amongst parents of band members, she had explained to me, that band practices took their children away from their studies and so it was important to make sure that we didn't hold the members back any later than necessary.
But sometimes, it was really unavoidable that we dismissed the band late. Each time the SYF outdoor competition drew near, the members would voluntarily stay back late or come early for extra practices. But no one complained. In fact, there were times when the leaders needed to shoo the members to go home. Members who couldn't wait to go home were the exceptions most of the time.
There was no Outdoor Competition when I was in Sec 2. So that was a relatively 'light' year in the band's calendar. Ceremonial obligations at the schools' respective Speech Days etc filled the calendar.
I became the band major when I was in Sec 3. Before this, this leadership position was always held by a Sec 4 member. Initially, it didn't feel very different because it was like a natural progression from the Secretarial duties that I had been carrying out in Sec 3.
All the members were very very supportive and because this was an 'Outdoor' year for us, we all geared up to make sure our standards were maintained at all times - drills became more intensive but band practices became more 'competition-focused'. But amidst the physical challenges, we found great joy and 'purpose', so it remained a very enjoyable time nevertheless.
On the suggestion of my PE teacher in Sec 3, a Mrs Kong, I started to encourage band members to build up their stamina through more regular exercises (outside our PE lessons, lah!). Only a handful was keen because most 'protested' that the twice-weekly formation practices were already tiring them out like anything! I also didn't press too hard on this since the formation practices later also became a thrice-weekly, and then daily-evening, affair. I remember that my classmates asking me, "Tough, hor?! I pity you all, leh!"
To this, I replied, "It's only when you are in it that you will realise the joy and the satisfaction of our sacrifices."
In the last 2-3 weeks before the Outdoor Competition, many of my classmates and schoolmates lined the field and the surrounding areas, eg the overhead bridge right outside TKGS, to cheer the band on during our daily evening rehearsals. The outpour of support for us was really quite overwhelming, and remain very vivid even today.
Naturally, we put in our best efforts and won glory for our schools at the Outdoor Competition. When we clinched the gold award (the highest award in those days), the cheer of the TK Girls, TK Tech and other supporters was thunderous! That wave of pride that filled our hearts and minds was something completely irreplaceable and indescribable.
For NDP in that year, there was no road march. Instead, we had a combined formation display with other school bands at the National Stadium. I got to know some leaders of other school bands, but because we were 'rival' bands, it was an unspoken 'rule' that they must be kept at an arm's length. Such was the culture of TK Band. Now that we have grown up, we know, of course, that this had been unwise because it is always better to have a friend than an enemy. But like they always say, we learn mostly on hindsight.
In the same year, the MEP teachers took over as school teachers in charge of the band. There was a Ms Koh and a Mrs Kooi. Ms Koh was very uptight about the property of the band, and would occasionally remind me to make sure that all our scores and instruments are always accounted for. She also conveyed certain complaints about band members not returning canteen benches to the canteen 'neatly' after use etc. So I often had a earful from her.
After a while, I got a bit tired of such complaints. So I 'delegated' the responsibility of ensuring tht benches were returned promptly and 'neatly' to the canteen after band practices, to the sectional leaders. It became the job of the sectional leaders to check the benches and hall after our practices. On accasions when the 'bench-duties' were not satisfactorily carried out, I would make those reponsible return to arrange the benches properly again.
The various sections later also devised, amongst their respective groups, some sort of duty roster for these bench duties. So it all worked out well and our school attendant, Abdullah, was happier.
At the band camp, however, I came to realise that some of my committee members were unhappy with me. They felt that I had become too authoritarian and a little too stern with the band. We had an extensive chat that ran through the night (whilst we did sentry), and it suddenly dawned upon me that there was an undercurrent of dissatisfaction amongst them. Amongst the various 'complaints' they had against was this accusation that I, myself, was taking all the credit of our achievements. A good example, they said, was how I had 'accepted' the compliments of the teachers in charge of a camp well organised, by myself! Meaning, I didn't attribute it to all my other committee members etc!
I was quite taken aback by the revelation of their unhappiness with me. In fact,I was quite shocked and very, very disappointed. So, to their 'delight', I offered to absent myself for 2 band practices and let them 'run the show' all by themselves.
For those 2 band practices, I went briefly to make sure that Ms J had everything that she needed and that the general schedule of drills-then-sectional practice-then-combined practice was in place. Then, I left the band alone with my committee members.
During those 2 sessions of 'free time' for me, I took a long walk in the East Coast Park to reflet upon myself. Did I really do badly? Was I truly getting too 'tight-fisted' and overbearing? What did I do wrong?
It was really a very trying time for me because I did not normally have to ask myself such questions. At a point, I became somewhat disillusioned because it had never crossed my mind to 'grab' all the credit for myself when the band did well. All along, I had been very task-foucsed and all that mattered to me was that the band did well. And it did.
So, I concluded that I must have been too stingy with my thanks and encouragement towards the band members, especially my committee members. I resolved to 'soften' my touch and show more outwardly my appreciation for the hard work and contributions etc.
Immediately after the 2nd 'absent' practice, Ms J called me and demanded to know why I had not been around. I reassued her that everything was alright and in order, and that I would be back at the following practice.
When I did return, some of the more junior members asked me, "Where were you? We thought something might have happened to you. We always looked out for you - but in the last 2 practices, we didn't see you, we were worried!"
These simple and innocent words meant a lot to me. So, they had been concerned. When I spoke to my committee members, it was mix of feedback - one sub-group said it was 'refreshing' to be running the show alone (without me), the other said it was better that I returned quickly.
And so, whatever they wanted to say, I let them. Then I set off to work as per usual, albeit with more care when dealing with the people - a 'softer' touch, you know. :)
Weeks later, my Secretary called me aside and told me, "I think you are ok. What we told you about you being bossy was last time. We see that you are a 'changed' person already. So don't worry about what we said, ok?"
Although I thanked her for her encouragement, I could never forget the committee members' 'confrontation' during the camp. And my resolution to improve my 'leadership style'.
After this episode, anyone would have thought that I would probably no longer be the Band Major, right? I was prepared not to be elected on the election day.
But alas, I was wrong. I was returned unopposed. And so, I continued life as Band Major in Sec 4.
That year, it was a watershed year for the great, big TKBand. See next post.
I became a member of the school band when I was in BPS. The story on how I did that was in an earlier post.
Being in the band was such a novelty then. I mean, who else (outside the band) would get the chance to touch and fiddle with those shiny and intricate brass instruments and the opportunity to learn how to play them? And have fun playing as a team altogether??
Anyway, life as a member of the BPS band was a very relaxed one. Only on special occasions like Teachers' Day celebration, Children's Day celebration did we have to perform for the school. Other times, it was mostly practices and parties. No SYF, no competition, no stress.
TK Band
The decision to join the big, great TK Band when I went to TKGS, was a very straightforward one. In fact, it was just a very 'natural' choice.
I remember that one day when we were still a freshie in Sec 1, there was special assembly where all the uniformed ECA groups showcased their 'specialties' to us in the school hall. The Red Cross demonstrated some bandaging, stretcher stuff on the stage while the Girl Guides showed off their tent-pitching skills etc. Then, there were the NPCC and NCC groups who, of course, marched and marched; the 'cadets' doing drills in their all-impressive uniform were indeed quite impressive.
But none of these could beat the awesome TK Band who went on stage to play us some marches and other music. We all know how the (lack of) 'acoustics' of the school hall was like; so when the band played, it sounded so 'surround-sound' and grand that it was no wonder that so many girls became very excited by it! Many of my classmates also wondered why there were boys in the band - weren't we all in a girls' school?
I wasn't surprised about the boys part of the band because YP had already told me briefly about the combined band in TK. Rather, I was impressed by all the happy faces amongst the players sitting on stage, music-making and seemingly enjoying themselves. In fact, they all looked like they were enjoying it more than us, the audience! And the smile I saw on the face of the lady conductress helming the baton - it was so inviting and inspiring. Simply irresistable.
So it was without a hesitation at all, that I signed up to be a band member straight after that. Somehow, I didn't feel share my classmates' concern about the 'excessive' band practice hours which would be required (band practices were notorious for being time-consuming), etc. For me, it was just a natural progression and a logical extension from my band experience in BPS.
The year when I was in Sec 1, Singapore hosted the 12th SEA Games. So there were 3 major events in the band's calendar: SYF Outdoor Competition, National Day Parade and the SEA Games.
As the majority of the Sec 1 recruits had no previous band experience, most of them could not be roped into playing the instruments. Instead, we became what was called 'the pom-pom girls'. Basically, 'the pom-pom girls' took on a sort of 'ornamental' role in the marching formations. We were told that in earlier years, our equivalents were the baton-twirlers! (Baton-twirling may look more suave and pretty but we tried it, it was tedious work 100x tougher! Batons could hurt, too, if they suddenly slipped but we were 'safe' with pom-poms!)
One of the 1st things we learnt at TK Band was foot drills. TK Band was, afterall, a marching band. So I started to learn to obey the various Malay commands, turning left, turning right, turning back etc etc. Later, we also progressed to the various 90-degree, 180-degree and 270-degree 'spins'. Yes, there were also those 10-feet-8-steps repetitive trainings! These fundamentals were essential for formation purposes. Some were more 'fun' than others; some were more demanding than others. But we managed them all and trained hard at TK Band' signature 'lift-your-legs-and-point-your-toes' style of hanta kaki.
Discipline was of utmost importance during our foot drills practices, which were almost always done along the corridors. Sometimes we went out the fields and into the sun. Life was tough during those drill practices but nobody complained. We only dashed to the water-coolers (or the 7-eleven opposite TKGS) as quickly as we could each time there was a break. I think somewhere in our minds was this firm belief that all the aches and pain we got from the torturous drill practices were part and parcel of being a member of the big, great TK Band - it was a 'package' we had undertaken. It was also, in short, our faith in our unofficial motto: No Pain, No Gain!
And the camaraderie that we all built in the band was just so indescribable. We shared all the pain and sore in our legs and feet, the anguish whenever seniors/leaders shouted at us 'unjustifably', the relief at being allowed to fall-out from the drills and formations when the sun was really too scorchingly hot and of course, the joy and pride when we won at the SYF competitions. Unhygienic and incredible this may sound, but we even shared the Big Gulps (usually Coke) that we so often grabbed from 7-eleven opposite the school gate during breaks and after band practices.
Typically, our Saturday band practices (the 'main' practice in a week because it is a combined practice for both AM and PM sessions) started at 1pm. The 1st 1 hour or so would be drill practice. After that, we would have a 20-minute break before the 45-60 minutes of Sectional practices followed by the combined practice which typically went on until about 6pm.
As one of the Sec 1 recruits who were 'pom pom girls', I didn't have to join the trumpets in Sec 1. Most of the work of the pom-pom girls were to 'perfect' our drills and the pom-pom works. We also made and repaired our own pom-poms.
When it came to NDP, however, somehow there was a shortage of trumpeters. As I had trumpet experience, I was roped in to the section for the NDP. That year, there was a road march somewhere from the Jalan Bersah stadium out to the 坡底 region. I think we went past Lavendar Street, North Bridge Road, Victoria Street etc - I was a little more familiar at these places because I had been going to F's office long ago, mah.
The experience of doing a road march with the TK Band was an unforgettable one. I learnt that it was possible (and it seems, allowed) to have 'reserve players' stand-in for anyone in the contingent who was too exhausted along the march and who wanted to drop out of the march - there were so many 'reserve players' including ex-members who were dressed in the band uniform, marching alongside the band when the band was on the road. These ex-members would promptly replace the exhausted members in the contingent who opted to drop out.
I thought the road march was a breeze (maybe because I was only a junior, I was still very blur so was unaware of what was happending around), so I couldn't understand why such 'cheating' was allowed. But the jokes and singing that the 'reserve players' entertained the marching contingent with, were funny and overall, I enjoyed the march.
One day during a band practice in Sec 1, the band instructress, Ms Irene J, suddenly became very furious with the librarian. I think some scores were not in order. She yelled at the poor librarian and scolded him sternly. Then, to the shock of the band, she sacked the librarian on the spot!
Almost immediately, Ms J pointed at me and said, "You! You be the librarian." Everyone was stunned, especially me. I could only nod my head meekly and leave my seniors to deal with the 'sudden mess' that Ms J created.
It was a 'mess' because all the leaders in TK Band were appointed after they had been voted in by the band members through a democratic election process. So such sudden sacking of an appointed leader was unheard of. Also, the sudden replacement of the librabrian by a Sec 1 recruit decided only by Ms J herself (ie no democratic voting process) left the entire committee of band leaders in a big state of confusion. I, myself, wasn't sure of the legitimacy of my appointment either.
But the words of Ms J could not be disregarded. And so, after some confusion and hush-hush discussions amongst the leaders, the band major called a meeting which I was asked to attend. At the meeting, I was 'accepted' by all the committee members, albeit a little reluctantly and awkwardly. And that was how I 1st became involved as a band leader.
The committee comprised 2 sets of leaders, one from TKGS and the other from TK Tech. The officer bearers were: Band Major, Drum Major, Secretary, Librarian, Quarter Master/Mistress and the various Section Leaders. Very often, my TKGS classmates would ask me how different the role of the Band Major is from that of the Drum Major.
I would summarise: the Drum Major takes charge when the band is outdoors and marching; the Drum Major holds the maze and is responsible for the drills of the band. The Band Major, on the other hand, is in charge when the band is indoors; the quality of the band's music and discipline are the responsibilities of the Band Major. The Band Major is also the overall leader in charge of the band and acts as the representative of the band vis-a-vis the schools and so is the link between the band and the schools, too.
When I was in Sec 2, I was nominated for the post of Secretary. And I was voted in. Since the Secretary was in charge of the logistics for band practices, I also had to call Ms J to 'remind' her of the date and time of each band practice. So through the phone calls and closer communication with Mr J, I got to know her slightly more that year.
Ms J is unmarried, but she is a very loving aunt to her nephews/nieces. At that time, she lived in Yio Chu Kang area, and she sometimes invited us to her house. There was once when we accompanied her to the supermarket before going to her house and when we reached her place, she showed us how she would wash the minced beef under running water, which I thought was weird because M always asks the butcher to have the meat rinsed before mincing it.
Although Ms J may appear to have a very short temper, she is really very sweet. And she is always very careful to make sure that the band practice did not overrun. It was a common grouse amongst parents of band members, she had explained to me, that band practices took their children away from their studies and so it was important to make sure that we didn't hold the members back any later than necessary.
But sometimes, it was really unavoidable that we dismissed the band late. Each time the SYF outdoor competition drew near, the members would voluntarily stay back late or come early for extra practices. But no one complained. In fact, there were times when the leaders needed to shoo the members to go home. Members who couldn't wait to go home were the exceptions most of the time.
There was no Outdoor Competition when I was in Sec 2. So that was a relatively 'light' year in the band's calendar. Ceremonial obligations at the schools' respective Speech Days etc filled the calendar.
I became the band major when I was in Sec 3. Before this, this leadership position was always held by a Sec 4 member. Initially, it didn't feel very different because it was like a natural progression from the Secretarial duties that I had been carrying out in Sec 3.
All the members were very very supportive and because this was an 'Outdoor' year for us, we all geared up to make sure our standards were maintained at all times - drills became more intensive but band practices became more 'competition-focused'. But amidst the physical challenges, we found great joy and 'purpose', so it remained a very enjoyable time nevertheless.
On the suggestion of my PE teacher in Sec 3, a Mrs Kong, I started to encourage band members to build up their stamina through more regular exercises (outside our PE lessons, lah!). Only a handful was keen because most 'protested' that the twice-weekly formation practices were already tiring them out like anything! I also didn't press too hard on this since the formation practices later also became a thrice-weekly, and then daily-evening, affair. I remember that my classmates asking me, "Tough, hor?! I pity you all, leh!"
To this, I replied, "It's only when you are in it that you will realise the joy and the satisfaction of our sacrifices."
In the last 2-3 weeks before the Outdoor Competition, many of my classmates and schoolmates lined the field and the surrounding areas, eg the overhead bridge right outside TKGS, to cheer the band on during our daily evening rehearsals. The outpour of support for us was really quite overwhelming, and remain very vivid even today.
Naturally, we put in our best efforts and won glory for our schools at the Outdoor Competition. When we clinched the gold award (the highest award in those days), the cheer of the TK Girls, TK Tech and other supporters was thunderous! That wave of pride that filled our hearts and minds was something completely irreplaceable and indescribable.
For NDP in that year, there was no road march. Instead, we had a combined formation display with other school bands at the National Stadium. I got to know some leaders of other school bands, but because we were 'rival' bands, it was an unspoken 'rule' that they must be kept at an arm's length. Such was the culture of TK Band. Now that we have grown up, we know, of course, that this had been unwise because it is always better to have a friend than an enemy. But like they always say, we learn mostly on hindsight.
In the same year, the MEP teachers took over as school teachers in charge of the band. There was a Ms Koh and a Mrs Kooi. Ms Koh was very uptight about the property of the band, and would occasionally remind me to make sure that all our scores and instruments are always accounted for. She also conveyed certain complaints about band members not returning canteen benches to the canteen 'neatly' after use etc. So I often had a earful from her.
After a while, I got a bit tired of such complaints. So I 'delegated' the responsibility of ensuring tht benches were returned promptly and 'neatly' to the canteen after band practices, to the sectional leaders. It became the job of the sectional leaders to check the benches and hall after our practices. On accasions when the 'bench-duties' were not satisfactorily carried out, I would make those reponsible return to arrange the benches properly again.
The various sections later also devised, amongst their respective groups, some sort of duty roster for these bench duties. So it all worked out well and our school attendant, Abdullah, was happier.
At the band camp, however, I came to realise that some of my committee members were unhappy with me. They felt that I had become too authoritarian and a little too stern with the band. We had an extensive chat that ran through the night (whilst we did sentry), and it suddenly dawned upon me that there was an undercurrent of dissatisfaction amongst them. Amongst the various 'complaints' they had against was this accusation that I, myself, was taking all the credit of our achievements. A good example, they said, was how I had 'accepted' the compliments of the teachers in charge of a camp well organised, by myself! Meaning, I didn't attribute it to all my other committee members etc!
I was quite taken aback by the revelation of their unhappiness with me. In fact,I was quite shocked and very, very disappointed. So, to their 'delight', I offered to absent myself for 2 band practices and let them 'run the show' all by themselves.
For those 2 band practices, I went briefly to make sure that Ms J had everything that she needed and that the general schedule of drills-then-sectional practice-then-combined practice was in place. Then, I left the band alone with my committee members.
During those 2 sessions of 'free time' for me, I took a long walk in the East Coast Park to reflet upon myself. Did I really do badly? Was I truly getting too 'tight-fisted' and overbearing? What did I do wrong?
It was really a very trying time for me because I did not normally have to ask myself such questions. At a point, I became somewhat disillusioned because it had never crossed my mind to 'grab' all the credit for myself when the band did well. All along, I had been very task-foucsed and all that mattered to me was that the band did well. And it did.
So, I concluded that I must have been too stingy with my thanks and encouragement towards the band members, especially my committee members. I resolved to 'soften' my touch and show more outwardly my appreciation for the hard work and contributions etc.
Immediately after the 2nd 'absent' practice, Ms J called me and demanded to know why I had not been around. I reassued her that everything was alright and in order, and that I would be back at the following practice.
When I did return, some of the more junior members asked me, "Where were you? We thought something might have happened to you. We always looked out for you - but in the last 2 practices, we didn't see you, we were worried!"
These simple and innocent words meant a lot to me. So, they had been concerned. When I spoke to my committee members, it was mix of feedback - one sub-group said it was 'refreshing' to be running the show alone (without me), the other said it was better that I returned quickly.
And so, whatever they wanted to say, I let them. Then I set off to work as per usual, albeit with more care when dealing with the people - a 'softer' touch, you know. :)
Weeks later, my Secretary called me aside and told me, "I think you are ok. What we told you about you being bossy was last time. We see that you are a 'changed' person already. So don't worry about what we said, ok?"
Although I thanked her for her encouragement, I could never forget the committee members' 'confrontation' during the camp. And my resolution to improve my 'leadership style'.
After this episode, anyone would have thought that I would probably no longer be the Band Major, right? I was prepared not to be elected on the election day.
But alas, I was wrong. I was returned unopposed. And so, I continued life as Band Major in Sec 4.
That year, it was a watershed year for the great, big TKBand. See next post.
3 Weeks Now
It has been such a packed 3 weeks that it's tough to now recall and put everything down in words.
1st week
During the 1st week of June, I brought the boys to the World Book Fair. And as expected, we didn't go away empty-handed. Fortunately, though, we didn't spend beyond our budget for that day - WY got 3-4 books while WF got 2-3; I only managed to find 1 book that I liked.
The Fair was held at Suntec City, so we got on the MRT train in the late afternoon and walked all the way there from the City Hall station. Along the way, WF tried to cajoule WY and I into dropping by MPH and HMV in the City Link Mall but we managed to coax him to hurry to Suntec City instead.
Although we all became so exhausted after our 3-over hour visit to the Fair, it was a good trip.
Supplementary lessons
WY spent a total of 3 full days in the 1st-2nd week attending supplementary lessons at KHS. On the 3rd day, his sympathetic teacher bought pizzas for the children who were elated at the treat. WY was no exception.
WF did not have any supplementary lesson during this June break. What a relief it was for him as well as for me.
2nd-3rd week
We signed WF up for a Maths course at Toa Payoh. And as he had missed half a year of the course, we decided to arrange for the 'missed' lessons to be attended during the June holiday on a sort of 'intensive' basis.
Hence, WF and I had been taking the bus to Toa Payoh and spending 4 afternoons there each week. On some days, WY joined us. By now, WF has come to learn that Bus 155 is, more often than not, a 'snail bus' trundling along the road in the scorching hot afternoon sun and the ride on these snail buses is no fun at all, especially when the roads get a little jammed in the evening peak hours.
There were 2 occasions when we were a little hard-pressed for time (I had to rush back to cook dinner) and we had to take the taxi. The pockets hurt more although the rides were a little more bearable than the stuffy snail bus.
WY has gotten used to the lessons. He is now less intimidated by the sums in the workbooks even though the more challenging ones remain tougher and take more time to complete. In a way, I think he also gets to practise the discipline to sit down to finish his work all at one go.
Cooking + washing
M's contractors moved in to start the renovation works at her place right from 1 June. And henceforth, I have been resuming all the cooking and washing chores. M has been shuttling up and down to take her breaks etc. We have told her to take things at an easier pace or she might risk getting into her dizzy-problem again. The works have been completed by now.
Actually, the cooking and washing are much easier stuff than anything else that needs to be done. Menu planning is, contrary to popular belief, easy and quite fun. My rule is to keep things simple - mostly steaming and blanching, minimal frying - so everything from preparation to washing-up can be kept easy.
The stove area is much less greasy now because my habit is to clean the place immeidately after each use. But the accumulated layer of disgusting grease stains on the walls and fittings etc remain to be scrubbed and cleaned.
News?
As with my past experience, the minute I went on long leave, I became out of touch with the world. No more STOnline, no TV, no getting around except to TP for lessons and for quickie pick-ups from the supermarket.
All 'leisure' time is spent poring over the schedule and making sure that everything that needs to be taken care of has been fitted in and seen to. Think an over-worked secretary - knitted brows, perpetual frown and unkempt hair, telephone calls and smses - that's how it roughly is.
So it was no surprise (to myself) that I hadn't known that the number of H1N1 cases in Sg had hit the 60+ figure before last Saturday! And what North Korean vessel carrying WMD approaching Sg?! Ha?!?!!
Sigh, I guess it will be only after the boys return to school that I will be able to get connected again to the world. Don't ask why this must be so - it's just difficult to manage everything while seated in front of a laptop that has been switched on. And we are not even talking yet about the immense distraction such a machine will create.
Badminton
One of the biggest step that I had taken with the boys these 3 weeks so far, has been playing badminton. WY and WF tried for the 1st time some time last week to play the game. I brought them to the little wind-sheltered corner behind the lift lobby in B121 opposite our block for the game. By now, we have come to refer to this corner as 'behind the glass tiles'.
WY was a complete novice when we started. But he is now better able to serve and to receive the shuttlecock even though he is still nowhere compared to the level CP and I used to play at during my primary school and secondary school days. One thing, though, is that there is fortunately no risk of us hitting the shuttlecock onto the roof (like we used to do in the kampong where we had to resort to getting the bamboo poles/slippers to try to retrieve the stranded shuttlecock!).
WF is still a newbie to the game. But he has remained very positive in the few sessions we had had so far and he is now able to serve the ball albeit to the side (not to the opponent in front). The only thing now with WF is that he still insists on bringing a pack of biscuits or some light snack along whenever we go about our badminton game. And he would be asking to eat these at the earliest opportunity, by claiming that his 'stomach level is so down, down, down already!' (with his hand marking the level below the belly).
There is a newly installed vending machine outside the RC. It dispenses fizzy drinks. And both WY and WF would try to convince me that we should give each drink a try so we know its taste. Much to their delight, I had given in to their pleas once but other times, we had managed to stick to only the plain water we had brought from home.
We have placed bookings for the badminton hall in the CC for 2 mornings this week. Hopefully, we will then be better able to try the game since the wind will not be an issue in the hall. But I think there are about 3-4 vending machines in the CC.
1st week
During the 1st week of June, I brought the boys to the World Book Fair. And as expected, we didn't go away empty-handed. Fortunately, though, we didn't spend beyond our budget for that day - WY got 3-4 books while WF got 2-3; I only managed to find 1 book that I liked.
The Fair was held at Suntec City, so we got on the MRT train in the late afternoon and walked all the way there from the City Hall station. Along the way, WF tried to cajoule WY and I into dropping by MPH and HMV in the City Link Mall but we managed to coax him to hurry to Suntec City instead.
Although we all became so exhausted after our 3-over hour visit to the Fair, it was a good trip.
Supplementary lessons
WY spent a total of 3 full days in the 1st-2nd week attending supplementary lessons at KHS. On the 3rd day, his sympathetic teacher bought pizzas for the children who were elated at the treat. WY was no exception.
WF did not have any supplementary lesson during this June break. What a relief it was for him as well as for me.
2nd-3rd week
We signed WF up for a Maths course at Toa Payoh. And as he had missed half a year of the course, we decided to arrange for the 'missed' lessons to be attended during the June holiday on a sort of 'intensive' basis.
Hence, WF and I had been taking the bus to Toa Payoh and spending 4 afternoons there each week. On some days, WY joined us. By now, WF has come to learn that Bus 155 is, more often than not, a 'snail bus' trundling along the road in the scorching hot afternoon sun and the ride on these snail buses is no fun at all, especially when the roads get a little jammed in the evening peak hours.
There were 2 occasions when we were a little hard-pressed for time (I had to rush back to cook dinner) and we had to take the taxi. The pockets hurt more although the rides were a little more bearable than the stuffy snail bus.
WY has gotten used to the lessons. He is now less intimidated by the sums in the workbooks even though the more challenging ones remain tougher and take more time to complete. In a way, I think he also gets to practise the discipline to sit down to finish his work all at one go.
Cooking + washing
M's contractors moved in to start the renovation works at her place right from 1 June. And henceforth, I have been resuming all the cooking and washing chores. M has been shuttling up and down to take her breaks etc. We have told her to take things at an easier pace or she might risk getting into her dizzy-problem again. The works have been completed by now.
Actually, the cooking and washing are much easier stuff than anything else that needs to be done. Menu planning is, contrary to popular belief, easy and quite fun. My rule is to keep things simple - mostly steaming and blanching, minimal frying - so everything from preparation to washing-up can be kept easy.
The stove area is much less greasy now because my habit is to clean the place immeidately after each use. But the accumulated layer of disgusting grease stains on the walls and fittings etc remain to be scrubbed and cleaned.
News?
As with my past experience, the minute I went on long leave, I became out of touch with the world. No more STOnline, no TV, no getting around except to TP for lessons and for quickie pick-ups from the supermarket.
All 'leisure' time is spent poring over the schedule and making sure that everything that needs to be taken care of has been fitted in and seen to. Think an over-worked secretary - knitted brows, perpetual frown and unkempt hair, telephone calls and smses - that's how it roughly is.
So it was no surprise (to myself) that I hadn't known that the number of H1N1 cases in Sg had hit the 60+ figure before last Saturday! And what North Korean vessel carrying WMD approaching Sg?! Ha?!?!!
Sigh, I guess it will be only after the boys return to school that I will be able to get connected again to the world. Don't ask why this must be so - it's just difficult to manage everything while seated in front of a laptop that has been switched on. And we are not even talking yet about the immense distraction such a machine will create.
Badminton
One of the biggest step that I had taken with the boys these 3 weeks so far, has been playing badminton. WY and WF tried for the 1st time some time last week to play the game. I brought them to the little wind-sheltered corner behind the lift lobby in B121 opposite our block for the game. By now, we have come to refer to this corner as 'behind the glass tiles'.
WY was a complete novice when we started. But he is now better able to serve and to receive the shuttlecock even though he is still nowhere compared to the level CP and I used to play at during my primary school and secondary school days. One thing, though, is that there is fortunately no risk of us hitting the shuttlecock onto the roof (like we used to do in the kampong where we had to resort to getting the bamboo poles/slippers to try to retrieve the stranded shuttlecock!).
WF is still a newbie to the game. But he has remained very positive in the few sessions we had had so far and he is now able to serve the ball albeit to the side (not to the opponent in front). The only thing now with WF is that he still insists on bringing a pack of biscuits or some light snack along whenever we go about our badminton game. And he would be asking to eat these at the earliest opportunity, by claiming that his 'stomach level is so down, down, down already!' (with his hand marking the level below the belly).
There is a newly installed vending machine outside the RC. It dispenses fizzy drinks. And both WY and WF would try to convince me that we should give each drink a try so we know its taste. Much to their delight, I had given in to their pleas once but other times, we had managed to stick to only the plain water we had brought from home.
We have placed bookings for the badminton hall in the CC for 2 mornings this week. Hopefully, we will then be better able to try the game since the wind will not be an issue in the hall. But I think there are about 3-4 vending machines in the CC.
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