MSSMB Online

Friday, June 25, 2010

New Term, new beginnings (:

Hey Bandpeeps! A little info about the upcoming practice schedule for term 3.

Woodwinds and Percussion
Every Tuesday, report by 2.30pm.
- Brass members are welcome for self-practice.

Brass
Every Fridays, report by 1.30pm.
- Woodwind and percussion members are welcome for self-practice.

Please have your lunch and toilet breaks before falling in. For those who have lessons past 2.30pm/1.30pm, please inform Dennis, Dominic or me beforehand. Above all - do not be late!

Syabil Sarafian(:

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Band room clean-up session

Attention to the committee (2010):

This coming Thursday (3/6/10), help is needed from you guys in cleaning up the bandroom. The cleaning-up session is from 9am till 3pm, since there'd be lots to do. We really hope you'd come down and help out in cleaning the band room.

Sec 2s, and Sec 1s are greatly encouraged to attend the clean-up session also. I would suggest you to bring your section along to help since we need a multitude to get the task done. Your help is deeply appreciated.

Syabil Sarafian(:

Monday, April 19, 2010

Hi Band. A short update.

There will be a trip to Pahang for all CCAs, and there are 6 slots for Band members. 3 slots for Sec 3 members, and the other 3 for Sec 2 members who are interested in this leadership camp. Be reminded that, it is an adventure camp, and NOT an immersion trip, which means that it'll be really rigorous activities for as long as the camp lasts.

Anybody interested, please look for Ms. Ong, and further details would be given by her to you.

Syabil Sarafian(:

Saturday, April 10, 2010

MSSMB TTM!

These are a few photos of our band from the grandstands, while probably 3/4 of us down there felt our hearts going wild, thumping nervous.

I would say, congratulations, Montfort Band!

Syabil Sarafian(:

Certificate of MERIT!

Hey guys, bandmates, friends, we did it! We manage to retain our MERIT, isn't that something we can celebrate together? I hope the band, all of you, will continue striving for the best and someday, we will get DISTINCTION! Right now, i know many of you are really darn happy or proud that MONTFORT BAND can acheive, if we do not give up and with the correct mindset i or we know the band can acheive greater results! So JIA YO!

Right now guys Miss Ong will be planning a "mini-celebration" soon, hope all of you will turn up! =)

Good luck for all your exams! Pay now, play later, meaning study now, then after exams play. Do your best in your exams!

Friends, your sec 4s have finished their history-making in the band's history, it's your turn now to write down what will be MONTFORT BAND in the coming months. I don't know maybe a GOLD band? A DISTINCTION? Who knows, it's what you guys are gonna do right now that will see Montfort band into that, so i encourage you guys don't quit band cos it's boring, or you hate it just because of this, think about what the rest did before you, how much they gave to the band to let be what it is now, don't throw it away so rashly. Your sec 4s will come back to help when they have the time, till then, see you guys in school!

TO the sec 3s...

Sec 3s, show a good example to your juniors, as new leaders show them you are capable of doing what your seniors did and make it even better, help your juniors as your seniors did. Take the first step, be a leader not a follower in the band. With this i wish all sec 3s a great year ahead serving the band as new leaders!

CONGRATS to the 34 people and the rest of the people who helped the band names as follows:

Joel Leow-Drum major thanks for not dropping the mace!
Bradley Gerard-clarinetist thanks
Joshua thanks
Dominic thanks for helping to get the band ready for rehersals
Nazirul thanks for keeping in line and for your effort
Norman thankyou for you and your brother for supporting the band
Clarence thankyou
Danish-alto sax thankyou for playing the songs well
Dennis thankyou for helping and guiding your section
Yong Sook thanks for coming after your classes
Zan Hao-tenor sax thanks for your effort in trying to march in line and in time
Jun Hui-fluatist thanks for playing the piccolo, jupiter part was real nice with it and your marching
Wang Ting thanks for not stopping when playing and not looking around during the formation
Roland Tay-French Horn thanks for guiding your section and coming for rehersals
Yi Sheng-Libarian thanks for being co-operative and playing loud at jupiter
Nicholas Cheong-Secretary thanks for acting out and helping the band to do their best
Syabil Sarafian thanks for helping ryan with the timpani part and helping the french horns with the turning at jupiter
Ben Tan-trumpet, Band Major thanks for helping the band in the music part and reminding us the basic things
Guo Hua thanks for not being late and for mraching correctly
Hai Tao thanks for trying to reach the high notes at rocky
Vicknesh thanks for helping the trumpets and keeping in line
Kuo Chye-trombone thanks for all the trombones for playing loudly at merry widow and for your efforts
Jian Zhi
Terence
Jun Ming thanks for KKing
Sean Aw-euphonium thankyou for trying to keep in line with Wei Jie a jupiter and being friendly always
Wei Jie thankyou for not giving up doing your best in the formation
Haikal-tuba thankyour for hanging in there with your tuba
Xiao Tian thankyou for trying your best
Aqil-percussion, bass drum thankyou for not dropping the beat and for being alert
Pual-snare drum thankyou for giving the beat for march out and all
Wei Lun-mallets thankyou for trying your best to play loudly and to be in time with the bass drum
Eugene-crash cymbal thankyou for being int ime with the bass drum
Ryan-timpani thankyou for being with the band and for being able to stand out here and play the timpani

For our supporters and alumnis for coming to help adn encourage us..

Jonathan tan
Syakir
Sitoh
Darren
Rainald
Melvin
Gary
Gerald
the rest of the sec 4s and others whom are not listed here.

Our teachers and conductors who helped made this possible:

Miss Ong, thankyou for the drinks!
Mr Aw, thankyou for guiding our band
Mr Puvin
Mr Goh
Miss Wong
the other 2 instructors who came

Overall thanks everyone for your efforts and MONTFORT BAND ALL THE WAY!

can somebody make a video on what we did since jan till today? a video when we were practicing and rehersing then tilll today. it'll be darn nice. thanks =)

Nicholas Cheong

Montfort Secondary School MIlitary Band

All for One, One for All!

Friday, April 9, 2010

ONE DAY MORE!

Ok band, it has been 4 months since we started our first marching steps, 4 months ago we thought we SUCKED, we thought we couldn't make it. But look now, we have prepared our formation, not perfect but to the best of what we could. Don't think about last year or any other thing, think about NOW, what are YOU gonna do during the last few hours before the assessment. If i count correctly there is still 22 hours more before the actual thing. So don't look back look forward.

Now this is about the band. Look my fellow band mates, you are all now sec 2,3,4, but what is important is not the age, when we are in band, we are one all the same, one fall All fall.

For the juniors sec 2/3 especially.
Tmr your seniors the sec 4s will be leaving the band, i just want to say on behalf of them thank you for all of you, you have been wonderful juniors and friends whom we have taken for granted, and sorry for all the things we have done to you, all the scolding, nagging, shouting, pumping, we hope you would not remember as for that but remember us as friends who share a common interest, BAND! Remember all the times we had camps together, laugh together, tell jokes, even getting scolded together, when we failed together, triumph together and above all had fun together. We guess that the most treasurable moments we have with you guys are the small moments in our lives, when we set-up our instruments, fall-in together, sat together in the concert hall, ran to the water coolers, all the games we played like captain's ball and basketball, when we wore our uniforms with you. They are moments that will make Montfort Military Band a memorable experience. We are glad to have joined the band, for if not we would not have known great people like you guys. So continue playing your instruments get better at it, be good seniors to your new sec 1s and remember that every moment is a significant moment, don't wait too late to realise how blessed you are to have those juniors. But just before we leave we have a final wish, yes that we would get a COD tmr, but more importantly that you guys will give your best in everything.
Tomorrow will be the last time we adorn our uniforms with you guys and are proud to call you our juniors, we hope that there will be another day we will get to sit with you and to perform with you again. We are proud to call you our band, our buddies, our juniors and our FRIENDS.
All the best,
Your seniors sec 4s.

I am trying to create a master contact list and give it out to you guys, so that we can all keep in touch =) hopefully there will be a time for me to come back to the band and do it. thanks!

Band mates have a good rest tonight, don't get sick, and relax tonight, don't think about tomorrow, just rest your mind so that when tmr comes your mind will be fresh again, don't sleep too late and remember all the hard work you have put in since January till now, don't let it go to waste!

Things to remember

clench your fist
look up
your posture
look proud
don't wipe your sweat or scratch your body TA HAN!
keep your feets closed in V-shape, make sure you can fell your heels touching
remember the gimmicks, when to move
Just move, don't be scared, don't wait for others to move if you know you are correct
concentrate don't think of anything else, just think of what to do next
don't be scared, we are all together, your seniors, we go in as a BAND, not alone.
don't lose your focus to the audience or Joel when he drops the mace, they are there to test you
don't break down on the music, remember: the judges will minus marks for you NOT playing but not if you play WRONG notes
take your dressings ALWAYS pls. for those on the judges right(from the stage view) take dressing from the person on your right and vice-verse for those on the judges left.
when marching out take your dressings from the middle 2 rows and the front 3 ppl pls don't squeeze, spread out instead.
ALWAYS look at the mace for instruments up and down.
At the start of rocky when we start to mark time then forward march, start on your LEFT! same for any other starting.
At Jupiter JERK and move your body. Music pls don't let it DIE! like i said the judges wont minus mark for wrong note.
when we return back to the block during merry widow, spread out, try to remember the starting spaces before we begin the march then take dressings, how far or how near you are.
HAVE FUN!

With this good luck to us, HERE WE GO MONTFORT!

Nicholas Cheong
Montfort Secondary School Military Band MSSMB
All for One and One for All! =)

Sunday, April 4, 2010

6 more days

Guys, it'll be 6 days more from now (4/4) onwards! SYF is approaching real soon. For the week leading up to SYF, do not forget these essentials:

- Long pants

- Band Uniform with accessories

- Beret

- Black socks

- Black leather shoes

Members who're in the formation are allowed to be released from class by 3pm. Those who end later, do inform the teacher of the current period to be released.

We have no time to lose, people! Please make good use of the practice sessions from next week!

Montfort Band all the way!

Syabil Sarafian(:

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Gambateh to SYF!

Hi band, it's been a long time since the blog has been updated. Anyway, as most of us know, SYF Central Judging for Display/Assessment Bands 2010 is round the corner. To be more precise, it is 18 days from now (23/3) onwards.

Band, we understand that most of you have extra classes, long days, or tuition, however, we (the majors) hope that each and everyone of you could, and would give your utmost cooperation and dedication in band practice from now up till SYF. It is an arduous and tiring path we have to take for now, however, we shall reap what we sow in the end.

Good results are only rewarded to those who have put in their best effort. Guys, definitely nobody would want to receive a Certificate of Participation in exchange for the months of extremely long and tiring practices. We only see good bands out there perform, however, we do not know how much blood, sweat and tears they have shed just for 6 or 10 minutes of glory.

Just to echo what Ms. Ong said, she has been accommodating most of your reasons for your absence from band. For now, I hope all of you would also put priority in band practices. After all, the importance of your CCA is also equivalent to your academics.

One last thing: don't forget this palindromic motto - Fail to prepare, PREPARRE TO FAIL. Lets do this together as a band, and get what we deserve for SYF! MSSMB ALL THE WAY!

Syabil Sarafian(: