Pioneer Concert Band

Hellooo

2010-01-05T23:13:00.002+08:00

Hi guys , finally schl has re-opened & CCA Fair is coming up ! As you all know , this year's Sec 1 isnt much. So we have to work doubly hard during our performance for CCA Fair . :) Hope you guys have been practising your pieces. Let's do our part & work hard together to recruit more juniors this year ! So nxt year , the juniors can teach , while we slack ! Just kidding . :X

Need Help

2009-12-27T22:20:00.011+08:00

Hey guys,
We need some people to do the banners and flyers!
It has to be done in january!!
So if you can come , please meet us at !choir room! at about 12 or later than that ( but don't be too late ) to about 4pm on Wednesday.
But first , tag at the tagboard so that to know who is coming :).

Let's do it as one band ! .

-Wj &D -

Wan Jie is taking over!

2009-12-13T20:10:00.002+08:00

Hey guys, this is my last post (I guess),

Thank you for all the good times we had in band together, and all the nice memories you have left me with till today.

I hope you guys will continue to work as hard as you are now, and strive to be the best band ever!

I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT, THE TEACHERS KNOW YOU CAN DO IT, so now its all up to you to make your mark on the band scene in Singapore.

Who knows, one day, you might even become a famous band known worldwide for your great music.

Remember to always stay true to your passion, playing beautiful music, and be the best that you can be, no matter what instrument you play.

Although at times band practices may be frustrating and sometimes even boring, just do it!

Don't give up on band, and don't ever ever give up on yourself!

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going."

ALL THE BEST!

-nurul

Who want to be the next blog updater?

2009-09-25T22:52:00.002+08:00

I have 1 request to make:

I NEED A REPLACEMENT!
ANYONE WHO WISHES TO REPLACE MY POSITION AS BLOGGER FOR OUR BAND BLOG
(so glam! :D), PLEASE REPLY ON THE TAGBOARD ON THE LEFT AND LEAVE YOUR EMAIL/MSN AS WELL!
I SHALL RESPOND TO YOUR EMAIL/MSN WHETHER YOU ARE CHOSEN OR NOT.
HURRY UP AND REPLY!
NOW!

Stop staring at this notice, and get on the tagboard now!
:P

A last goodbye.

2009-09-08T13:43:00.000+08:00

Hey guys, this is Nurul, your ex-senior/ex-band major. Long time no see...

I've not been to band practices and I don't think I can anymore, because I have my O levels due in about 5-6 weeks' time... I wish I could see you guys again sometime soon, maybe join in for band practices when I'm free.

I heard about your concert, the Junior Band Festival concert you guys performed for, sorry firstly that I wasn't there to support you guys at the concert (nobody reminded me of the concert..!) but I heard some good reviews of it. Keep it up guys, I know you can do it!

Soon I'll have to hand over this blog to someone else who is responsible enough to update everyone about happenings and practices in band... I do feel sad because I have to leave soon, but I hope to come back and see you guys again. When I do come into the band room, I hope what I'll see is a band thats dedicated to making great music together, alright?

Till then, I wish you all the best my fellow bandsmen, and enjoy the music!

Two songs to listen to!

2009-06-06T17:16:00.001+08:00

Hi to all juniors,

Its been a loooong time since I last posted anything up on this blog. Its almost dead. :P

Here's a video I'd like you to listen to closely.

This is a video of 'The Tempest' by Robert W. Smith (the piece that we're preparing currently).

The 'Superheroes R Us' song can be listened to at this website: http://www.alfred-music.com/product_info.php?products_id=5548

Click on 'Listen with Flash' to listen to 'Superheroes R Us'.

Hope it helps you in playing these 2 pieces. :)
Good luck.

The Importance of Being Independent

2009-04-03T20:42:00.000+08:00

Mr Koh has been telling (lecturing actually) all of you about learning to be independent and seaching for good musicians to listen to, whether its on Youtube, Imeem.com, etc.

Actually, all he wants is for you guys to get a good idea of how a good musician sounds like. Its just like a person trying to drive an F1 car. He needs to get the feel of how the seat feels like, how the engines work, how fast the car can go. Only then he can advance to be a pro driver. That's how musicians work. We need to understand our instrument, how it works, how it should sound like, how advance you can be at playing this instrument, where you are now in the process of mastering the art of music-making.

Music making needs a lot of patience and passion, these 2 Ps are very important. Take time to also practise: for brass players, you guys can buzz songs you have learnt on your mouthpiece, for the woodwinds, you should learn the fingerings and practise them everyday, in the band room, at recess time, in the bus, and even in the toilet when you're bathing.

Being an independent learner and an independent musician is crucial to being a very very very very good player. Mr Koh practises for hours everyday (he said so), and look how advanced in playing the trombone he is now! Everyone in the band has a great amount of potential, but potential is NOTHING unless you shape it into something you can be proud of, like being able to play with the nicest tone, etc.

So go and practise and please remember to check out good musicians on Youtube!

I'm even providing you the link okayy >> www.youtube.com !

-nurul!

Upcoming concert

2009-03-17T17:36:00.000+08:00

Hey guys, there's 2 concerts in March, both are good bands. The first is by NUS Wind Symphony:

(Click on image for a larger view)

INTEMPO 2009

BY
NUS Wind Symphony

VENUE | TIME
NUS University Cultural Hall | 7.30pm

PRICE
S$12 (Free Seating)

CONDUCTOR/S
Assoc. Professor Ho Hwee Long

REPERTOIRE
Chorale and Shaker Dance
Puszta
Hymn To The Infinite Sky
Vesuvius
Amazonia
Pinocchio
Fantasy Variations
Light Cavalry Overture

CONTACT
Tickets available from nuswindsymphony@yahoo.com.sg

The second concert is by West Winds, a band from Bukit Batok Community Club:

EUROPEAN FAIR

BY
West Winds, Band of Bukit Batok Community Club

VENUE | TIME
Esplanade Concert Hall | 5.00pm

PRICE
S$15, $25 | S$12 (Students/NSF/Senior Citizens)
60% TOTE Board Grant applicable for school orders
Click here to download School Booking Form

CONDUCTOR/S
Guest Conductor, Dr Lee Tian Tee
Composer, Jacob de Haan

REPERTOIRE
First Suite in E Flat
Miss Saigon, A Symphonic Portrait
Cartoon
The Book of Urizen, for Narrator, Lyric Soprano and Concert Band
Ammerland
Oregon

CONTACT
Available from Esplanade Box Office and SISTIC'S authorised agents
Okay, thats all for concert updates in the month of March.

-nurul

Pirates Of The Caribbean!

2009-03-06T21:45:00.000+08:00

Hey guys, here's a video of 'Pirates of The Caribbean' songs played by a professional orchestra, hope you'll listen to it since you're going to play it soon. Its a really beautiful piece, very expressive, emotional and even majestic at certain parts.

I got goosebumps from listening to the orchestra play the piece. "Bravo!"
*standing ovation*

I hope you will practise at home during the weekend and aim to play like the orchestra in this video.

OK.. So now that you've watched the video, GO PRACTICE! LOL~

-nurul

Good bands/musicians.

2009-02-20T23:02:00.001+08:00

My fellow bandsmen,

To be a good musician, it is not enough only by having good individual sound, you must also listen to other professional musicians to have a good concept/idea of what your instrument should sound like.

In music, there are 2 very important things that should be kept in mind always:

1)Practise practise practise!

Hard work will always pay off. There is no substitute for hard work! Be self-disciplined and ignore distractions to practise effectively.

2)Listen listen listen!

Listen to your own sound and compare it with a professional musician's sound. Work on developing your sound, and aim for the best sound you can ever make with your instrument. Remember to listen to videos/recordings of professional musicians! (if you don't know any pro musicians, you can ask Mr Koh)

Strive only for the best articulation(tonguing: say "toh"), best sound, and be the best that you can be in the band. If you're not serious and disciplined in music, then you are already a bad musician from the start.

-nurul

Pioneer Band 2001

2009-01-26T16:43:00.000+08:00

BLAST FROM THE PAST!

CCA FAIR

PSS Concert Band 2001

Our band members of 2001 busy recruiting more sec 1s!

Trumpets & trombones!

French horn section!

Wear the orange uniform with pride! :D

Pioneer Military Band of 2001, in all its glory, performing on stage for the CCA Fair!
Our CCA was quite popular then. =)

Hope you guys enjoyed looking at the photos, I will update some more 'Blast From The Past' band photos soon!

-nurul

"Sway" video! :D

2009-01-22T00:43:00.000+08:00

Since you guys have been all crazy about the song "Sway"(sung by Micheal Buble), I thought of putting the band version of "Sway" up on the blog. Haha, Kasmani & Umairah have been singing at band practice and I have been crazy over playing this song.

Its performed by Western Michigan University Bronco Marching Band in their 2007 concert, so all performance and videography credit goes to them.

Their playing is superb! :D
I hope when sec ones come in, we can reach a higher level in the band in terms of performance, and hopefully, we can play this song! (If you guys really do play this song in band practice/concert one day, contact me okay!)

Upcoming performance

2009-01-20T22:01:00.000+08:00

Hey guys, for those of you who didn't turn up for band practice today, just to inform you, there will be a school concert held in March for all the performing arts groups and the band is asked to perform.

Mr Koh is going to bring pieces for us to rehearse for this concert, so please please please turn up for the band practices. Especially because from February onwards, the sec 1s are joining us in our band practices.

Your committment is necessary for change in the band culture!

CCA FAIR ' 09 PICTURES :D

2009-01-19T18:27:00.000+08:00

THE BAND @ CCA FAIR '09!

CCA Fair, 16 January 2009.

Sec 1s trying out the drums!

No comments! =P

Suhashini so cute. Haha.

Poster front view.

Poster back view.

Our saxophonists & clarinetist! Atifah, Kasmani AKA Drum Major, and Amira AKA Iki!

REHEARSAL! Just a few minutes away from the actual performance..

LMAO!. Can't help but laugh looking at the band geek conducting you guys... My conducting was spastic, to say the least.. lol.

Atifah & 'Ponyo'!

Suha's candid pose. =D

Concentrate, concentrate..

Presenting the flutes section! Rafidah and Ruby.

And our drummer Haszrul!

To say the least, I think everyone did a great job on the preparation of the CCA fair, especially to those who sacrificed their time off to help make the doorgifts & banners, I want to express my

gratitude with a big THANK YOU.

Thank you to Kasmani[DM], all the bandsmen, teachers & Mr Ed for making this possible.

-nurul

REMINDER ON BAND PRAC!

2009-01-18T14:12:00.000+08:00

Upcoming practice:

This Tuesday, 2.30pm at R16 classroom.

"An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching." -Mahatma Gandhi

-nurul

Concert updates!

2009-01-05T14:52:00.000+08:00

Just a reminder, there will be a concert by Manjusri Secondary, mbrosia at the Singapore Conference Hall this Saturday, 10 January 2009 at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at $12 each. If you are interested, please call/sms me[Nurul] to reserve a ticket for this concert. There will be 3 other guest bands, Chai Chee Secondary, Gan Eng Seng School and Victoria School.

-nurul

Merry belated X'mas! :D

2008-12-26T10:44:00.000+08:00

DON'T FORGET TO COME FOR BAND PRACTICE ON 29 & 30 DECEMBER, 9-12pm @ the band room!

-nurul

Upcoming Band Concerts!

2008-12-08T16:19:00.000+08:00

Recommended Upcoming Band Concerts!

Toa Payoh South Community Centre's Moulmein Wind Symphony

PRESENTS
MIRIFICUS 2008 - 15 years of Music Making

Date: 13 Dec 2008
Place : NAFA LFT
Time : 1930
Tix are sold at S$10 each, VIP seats are sold at S$20.
Conductors : Mr Lin Ah Leck and Mr Xaven Chng

Repertoire

For Wonderful Friendship March by Mitsuo Nonami

Xin Li Hua 心里话 (100Stars百星)

Ma Ma De Yang Pi Ao 妈妈的羊皮袄 (100Stars百星)

Hao Ri Zhi 好日子 (100Stars百星)

Global Variation by Nigel Hess

Tai Yang Lu 太阳路 (100Stars百星)

Mu Qing 母亲 (100Stars百星)

Jin She De Xi Wang 金色的希望 (100Stars百星)

Miyazaki Hayao Anime Medley by Sasaki Ryousuke

Interval

Appalachian Overture by James Barnes

Shepherd’s Hey by Percy Aldridge Grainger/Edited by R. Mark Rogers

The Witch and The Saint by Steve Reineke

When the Tears Fell by Ed Huckeby

Highlights from Chess by Ulvaeus/Andersson, Arr. Johan De Meij

OPUS 33.2 "Lights, Camera, Action! 2"
NIE Symphonic Band will be having an upcoming concert soon, OPUS 33.2 "Lights, Camera, Action! 2".

Details of concert are as follows:
27 December 2008, Saturday
5.00pm, Nanyang Auditorium @ NTU
$5.00 per concert ticket

Repertoire includes:
Star Wars
Yamato
Pocohontas
Women in white

For ticket enquiries, contact no. to call is:6790 3557 /e-mail to opus@niesb.org.

The Philharmonic Youth Winds'
Classics Concert!

Date: 23rd December 2008, Tuesday
Time: 7.30 PM
Venue: Victoria Concert Hall
Cost: To be advised soon

*More information will be available as the concert draws near!

ZHENGHUA SYMPHONIC BAND

presents..

Symphonie D' Harmonie

under the baton of Mr Er Wee San

Venue: Singapore Conference Hall

Date: 27th December 2008 (Saturday)

Time: 7:30 PM

Tickets are sold at $10 each.

Infant in arms will not be admitted. Latecomers will not be admitted until appropriate break or intermission. No refund on tickets will be made under any circumstances.

Repertoires:

British Folk Song March

The Merry Widow

The Inferno

Saga Maligna & Saga Candida (DRAMA)

Japanese Graffiti

Moon Represents My Heart (yue liang dai biao wo de xin)

X'mas Fest
(This is not the full repertoire, there's more songs, yet to be updated)

You can look forward to exciting performances by our Clarinet Choir, Percussion Ensemble Interval and Drama. Also, presenting our Guest Band from Compassvale Secondary School!

For buying of tickets, please contact:

Darrel at 81182875

Nora at 92468984

Qiujin at 96609036

Xinyi at 96387706

Or you can contact Nurul at 98122494 to get the tix.

Sembawang Symphonic Winds

Here's another concert:
21 December(Sunday), 7pm @ Victoria Concert Hall
Tickets sold at $12 each.

Repertoire:
Dvorak's 9th Symphony
More songs to be confirmed...

Here's a concert not to be missed!
Scroll down please.

Click on image for a larger view.

Manjusri Concert Band presents m|brosia MMIX. They have a very exciting repertoire lined up for you guys going to this concert, so I hope most of you can attend it.

This concert will also feature 3 other guest bands, Chai Chee Secondary Military Band, Gan Eng Seng School Military Band and Victoria School Concert Band.

Details:
10 January 2008(Saturday), 7.30pm
Singapore Conference Hall
Tickets are priced at $12 each.

Repertoire:
MANJUSRI CONCERT BAND

Carmina Burana
Carl Orff

Chant and Jubilo
W. Francis McBeth

Ireland: Of Legend And Lore
Robert W. Smith

Flutes and Irish Drums Ensemble(Penny-Flute Whistle)

Chanteys
Robert Sheldon

CHAI CHEE SECONDARY MILITARY BAND

St. Petersburg March
Johnnie Vinson

Dedication, March and Celebration
James Swearingen

GAN ENG SENG SECONDARY MILITARY BAND

Overture Jubiloso
Frank Erickson

Eiger(A Journey To The Summit)
James Swearingen

VICTORIA SCHOOL CONCERT BAND

Postcard From Singapore- Suite of Singaporean Folk Songs
Philip Sparke

Symphonic Movement
Vaclav Nelhybel

MANJUSRI CONCERT BAND

Sinfonia Nobilissima
Robert Jager

First Suite in Eb for Military Band
Gustav Holst

For ticket enquiries and purchase, call 6842 4558. Or you can contact Nurul at 98122494 because I'm buying tickets from a flautist in Manjusri Secondary.

The birth of PSS concert band's blog.

2008-11-15T20:48:00.000+08:00

Pioneer Concert Band launches its official blog!

Actually, there was a blog meant for the band before this, but the blog is dead now, so yeah, here's the new improved one.

Oh, by the way, this is Nurul, the Band Major of PSS Concert Band. Me and Ruby, our Band Librarian, created this blog.

Welcome to our humble blog!

This is where we(any band member of PSS concert band) will post announcements, practice schedules, practice tips, or any other stuff related to band, such as upcoming band concerts.

Disclaimer to band members posting on this blog:
First and most importantly, please do not use vulgar language, or in any way insult others through your posts. Secondly, you are to take full responsibility of your posts on this blog, such as copyright issues, etc. Lastly, I would like to emphasize that this blog is meant for posting band related topics ONLY. If you misconduct, you will be banned from posting for a month.

LET'S BE UNITED AS ONE SOUND!

-Nurul