Rock Band 6

Today we practiced Hotel California. We are having performance next Monday for the music assembly. We just played the whole song few times and check the sound balance.
We past the prom audition. We played Hotel California on the audition but we might play I Can Wait Forever for prom because the song suits more for the prom's atmosphere and everyone in the band gets to play.

Musical "Cinderella"

The performance was on the 4th, 5th and 6th of December.
This musical is a British Pantomime. It contains a lot of comedies and audiences were involved in many scenes.
I was actually worried about the performance because we had only practiced the whole show once before the real performance. But all three performances went really well and the reaction of the audiences was really good too. It was a really successful performance.
I didn't get any scores for the musics that we played, only the lyrics with chords on it. So I had to listen to the actual song and figure out my own part by myself. And the musics contained lots of finger plucking on clean guitar sound which I usually don't play, so it was a good opportunity to learn these things. And guitar is usually one of the main instruments in the rock band but not in the musical so I also learned how to control myself not to emphasis my sound too much. It was a good experience.

Musical 7

Musical practices on the 1st and 3rd.

1st:
We had practice in the MPH which is the actual performance place. We just checked all the music ques so that all the musicians know where to come in and stop. We didn't get to go through the whole thing this day but we kind of got the idea of how the show supposed to go.

3rd:
It was a whole day rehearsal from 8am to 6pm. We started rehearsing from where we stopped on Monday and then went through the whole thing again. This time, all the actors wore their costumes and we had most of the equipment on the stage. This was the first and the last rehearsal that we ran the whole show without stopping.

Chamber Orchestra 5(2/12)

We practiced the song that we are going to play with the choirs on the music assembly which is hold on 15th of December first, then moved on to the Christmas songs. Our performance is on 11th of December.
I'm playing the drums but I don't have any scores for drum so I have to figure out by myself and memorize them.
We only have one more rehearsal before the performance, hope we will do well.

Musical 6

The musical practices on the 24th 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th.

We have already covered all the songs for the entire musical so we had rehearsals with the singers. We just went through all the songs over the week and made some additional notes and made them slightly better and perfect so that we can play them without any problems.

The only thing to do is to rehears the whole musical in one go and see how it goes. We are having whole day rehearsal on Wednesday (3/12).

UES 4

Today we work in our own groups. I went to the IT office to unblock the blogspot in the school internet because we created a blog for UES and there will be no point if no one can view it in school. We also discussed about what we can do with the primary kids. We came out with some game activities that we can involve the primary kids maybe during lunch time and we have decided to give some prizes for the winner so that they will be more motivated and maybe learn something about what we are trying to do. The game will be something related to environmental friendly so the kids will know what we are doing.

Chamber Orchestra 4

Today we went through all the Christmas songs. And now I am playing the drums for all the Christmas songs. I think it is a good experience for me to lead the orchestra as a percussionist and it is also a good opportunity to learn the drumming.
The performance is coming up soon. (I forgot the actual date) so I will have to practice hard.

Extraordinary Sound(20/11)

We had this event called the "Extraordinary Sound". We the IB music students gether together and organized few workshops and introduced some musics that are quite rare to everyone such as ethnic musics, experimental music and so on. We had to organise everything by ourselves including what we are going to do in the workshop and how we are going to do it. I was in the ethnic music workshop and we introduced an African drumming piece and some other ethnic music's instruments. We actually did not really prepare what to talk in the workshop but only what to do, so we were struggling in introducing the instruments. Dispite that, everything went well.
We have gotten some feedbacks from the other years and I heard many good things about us so I felt really good about it. Just that we have to be a littlbe bit more organized next time.

UES 3

Today we got into groups and worked separately. What I did today was to create a website for UES. We created a blog and so that everyone can post their own ideas and suggestions about what we can do for the environment. Everyone as in all the people from around the world, not only us in the UES. I wish many people read our blog and know what we have been doing and get influenced by us. So that there will be more people caring about the environment and all of us may make a difference one day.

Guitar Lesson 4(15/11)

We started off with some new stuffs. We stopped all those finger exercises and now started with improvisations(making up the music on the spot). We played along with some chordal backing accompaniments in different genres such as rock, blues and so on. This is one of the ways that I can improve by getting the feels of the songs and making melodies that suit the whole extract. It is good to improve technically but also to improve mentally.

Musical 5

The musical practices on the 12th, 13th and 14th.

12th:
We practiced a new song called "Dream Dream". I have many different things to do in this song. I have to use my fingers to pluck the chords in the beginning, strum on the chorus and play some lead playing fills on the ending. I will have to memorize all the lead playing parts and also have to get used to the finger plucking as well.

13t:
We had our first practice with the casts(singers) on this day. I felt that the practice went more efficient and we know what we have to do for the songs such as our sound balance and also was easier because we can actually know when to start or stop playing from the singing. We did "Time Warp", "Love Is All You Need" and "Cinderella Fairy Godmother" together. We actually did another song but I was not involved in it. I also practiced a song called "This Is Me" but not with the whole cast, only with few people just to get the feeling.

14th:
We got a new songs score "Consider Yourself" and told to practice at home. And this song was the last song's score, which means we actually finished learning all the songs. From next week on wards, there might be a rehearsal on Monday as well, and I really hope that everyone learn their parts perfectly and let the casts to have an actual whole rehearsal with the live music.

Guitar Lesson 3(8/11)

We practiced the solo of the song "The Final Countdown" by Europe. The solo involves some complicated stuffs so I requested my teacher to teach me. I still cannot play it properly but I will master it sometimes soon. We also looked at some pentatonic phrases that we can use it for our left hand's finger exercises. My coordination of my right and left hands are not good enough so I hope that I will improve by using these exercises.

Rock Band 5

Today our keyboardist and vocalist were absent so we could not practice the piece that we were trying to. We just had some simple jamming and practiced "Hotel California". We discussed how we should end the song. And we were also discussing about some other songs that we can perform. But it was only the boys opinion so we shall involve the girls next week.

Musical 4

The musical practices on 5th, 6th and 7th.

5th:
We learned a new song "Who Will Buy". This song involves finger plucking on the guitar part which I have never done before so it will be touch for me to learn and hopefully I can improve by learning this song.

6th:
We learned a new song "Slow Boat To China". But there's no guitar part in this song so I did nothing.

7th:
We started with another new song "Nothing Like A Dame". I have to play the main tune on the guitar for this song and the teacher gave me the score on standard note form so I have to change it into tab form. This is one of the few songs that I am playing the main tune so I have to make it perfect.

We are going to start with our after school rehearsal from next week and onwards and still have about 20 more songs to learn. I hope we all can cooperate and finish learning all the songs as soon as possible so that we can rehears the whole musical story.

UES 2(5/11)

We discussed about what we can do in school as UES. We came out with some activities that we do by ourselves that will help the environment and also some activities that we can involve the whole school especially primary kids such as some games related to environmental friendly. We also discussed about the lights and air-cons in the class rooms. Some of them are still turned on even though there is no one using the room. We have to tell the whole school not to do this so that our school can be more environmental friendly.

Chamber Orchestra 3(4/11)

We practiced all three songs that we have been practicing. "I Will Follow Him", "O Maria" and "Air On The G String". We didnt practice for about 2 weeks and many people got lost while they were playing. We have to constantly practice at home so that we can play the pieces anytime. We are going to record these three pieces next week so I have to practice.

Rock Band 4

Today we discussed what songs to play. Our choices were:
The Final Countdown - Europe
Hotel California - Eagles
Dear God - Avenged Sevenfold
are the ones that are confirmed, and we still have some songs that we are not sure about them yet. I hope we can get straight away to the songs by next week, which means everyone has to practice their own parts by themselves at home and be ready by next Monday. Hopefully we can play as many songs as we can and improve our skills.

Guitar Lesson 2

Today we continued with various kinds tapping. I learned how to tap by ascending and descending on the scale. I also continued with some exercised that i learned last week and made them a little more difficult by adding in some interesting stuffs like slides and string skipping. I wish that I can absorb everything that I've been learning now and actually use them in my playing.

Musical 3

We now have musical practice on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday lunch time.
Today we learned another new song again. But most or the member did not know that there was a practice today so we could not have a full band to practice.
We have 30 songs to learn in total. I hope that we can finish learning all the songs as soon as possible and able to practice with the actors.

Musical 3

The musical practices on 22nd and 23rd.

22nd:
We started a new song "All You Need Is Love". This song is a little challenging because the meter is uncommon. but we managed to play the whole piece on the day so I think it will be okay. What we have to do is just to make sure that we take the counts carefully and listen to others.

23rd:
We started another 2 new songs today. "Cinderella Fairy Godmother" and "Clean Up Clean Up". "Clean Up Clean Up" was easy, but the "Cinderella Fairy Godmother" was quite difficult for me because I have to use my finger and play the guitar which I usually don't really do. I hope that I can improve my finger picking for this song.

UES 1

Today the teacher talked to us about where all the rubbish that are thrown to the sea will go. And the beach cleaning that we did last week actually affect this (in a good way) because we can actually motivate people by showing our works on the web page.
We also had a meeting about what we are going to do on the week after when we come back from our mid term break. We are going to have newspaper day again on the Tuesday after the holiday or the week after. I suggested that we should inform everyone at least a week before the day so that everyone can keep their newspapers at least for a week to bring on the newspaper day.

Chamber Orchestra 2

Today, we started to prepare for our Christmas songs which we are going to perform in the middle of December. We have 8 pieces and we practiced 3 today, "Silent Night", "Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer" and "Rock Around the Christmas Tree". I am playing the guitar for "Silent Night" and playing the drums for "Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer".
We also practiced "I Will Follow You". We are almost done with this piece.

Rock Band 3

Today we still continued practicing "I Can Wait Forever". I think we are making progress. It actually sounded much better compared to the first time we played. The total sound balance is better now, the two guitars are getting settled. We can actually hear both of the solos. The tempo was just nice and what we have to work on now is to try to make the vocal line harmonized properly.
We are having a week off next week, so I hope that everyone will practice their own parts and will be able to have another progress on the week after.

Guitar Lesson 1(18th October)

I learned few variations of tapping on the guitar lesson. Some based on the minor scale, some on pentatonic scale. I also learned some exercises that I can do to improve my finger strength and help to get the feeling of tapping.

Musical 2

The musical practice on 15th, 16th and 17th (extra practice).

15th:
We recorded our fist song for the actors to have a practice. The drummer was not there so i had to replace his place. The recording went quite well, but it would be better if the ACTUAL drummer was there and i play the guitar.

16th:
We started with our new song "I'm a believer". It is a relatively fast pop song. So i enjoy playing guitar for this song. I am playing the chords for this song. The drummer was not there again.

17th(extra practice):
We practiced "I'm a believer" in the beginning and then started a new song again. My guitar part for "I'm a believer changed. Now I have to play the main tune. The new song is called "Teddy Bear's Picnic". It was an easy piece so it won't be a problem for us.

Beach Cleaning(UES)

The UES member went to the beach nearby the school and cleaned up by picking up rubbish. We went there by the school van and we walked around the beach and picking up rubbish for an hour. I hope that everyone would pick up the rubbish whenever they see it so that it will clean everywhere.

Chamber Orchestra 1(14/10)

We practiced two songs, which are "Oh Maria" and "I Will Follow Him". I still need to work on my guitar for "Oh Maria", and me and Joanna, the drummer swap instruments for "I Will Follow Him". This will be my first ever drum piece. I have to work really hard on it since it is my first challenge. I forgot to bring my scores on that day so I will be careful from next week onwards.

Rock Band 2

Today we had a new singer, Michelle. But the song that we are going to play for the prom is a man's voice song so it'll be difficult for her to sing. We may ask her to do the harmonizing for several parts. And then we can ask her to choose some songs that fit her voice.
We practiced "I Can Wait Forever" by Simple Plan today and we actually managed to finish the whole song. But there were still some parts that we could improve so we will work on that next week.

SCIPS FOBISSEA

(This activity was done on 17th and 18th of June 2008)

Few students from Uplands helped out the Primary FOBISSEA Games held by the SCIPS.

1st day(17th):
I helped out the swimming competition in the morning and the T-ball games in the afternoon. What I did in the swimming was to organize the medals, supervise the competitor by leading them to the right lanes and to help the medal presentations.
For the T-ball games, I was assisting the field umpire and recorded all scores and results for the game and handed into the umpire.

2nd day(18th):
The second day was the athletics competition. My roles were to supervise the competitors by leading them to their own lanes on the track and to judge and record the push pass event. I also helped out the T-ball throwing after my roles by measuring the distance.

Overall, I learned how to take leadership and responsibility on my action and behavior. FOBISSEA is an important event so I have to be very careful and responsible about all my works. By leading and supervising the competitors, I leaned how to treat primary students and also take leadership.

Musical 1

The musical practice today and yesterday(8th and 9th Oct) was mostly one the first four songs.

8th:
We got a week off so most of us forgot about the practice and our own parts. We have to practice continuously at home as well. We practiced the first song "Bring Me Sunshine", the second song "It's The Hard-Up Life" and the third song "Dance pf Little Swans". And we also learned the first bit of the forth song "Time Warp".

9th:
We practiced the 4th song "Time Warp" for the whole practice today. And today, Tett the new member came to join the musical so I am no longer a drummer but switched to a guitarist. I hope i can improve my new skills for guitar, which is to listen to the others and control myself since I have to accompany the actors.

Rock Band 1

Today we practiced our songs for the school prom. We are planning to play either "I Can Wait Forever" by Simple Plan or "Hotel California" by The Eagles.
It was a sudden decision to practice these songs today so some of our band members did not really know their own parts. I hope all of us are sure about our own parts by the practice next week so we can have more effective practice.