Good Luck For Mid Year Exams

We Bid Farewell to Ms Lim Soo Heng who left the school to join the Teachers' Network. Thank You Ms Lim for your dedication for the band for the past 2 decades.

AKAN DATANG

Photos of BM, DM & CM throughout the history of the band.

MALAYSIA TRIP 2000

On 1st June, 75 band members, accompanied by our three teachers in-charge, Ms Lim Soo Heng, Mrs Rachel Oh and Mrs Ng Chung Hsin, and our instructor, Mr Andy Sim headed for Malacca.

On arrival, we had lunch at a Peranakan Restaurant, sampling an exquisite lunch of the Straits Chinese Cooking.

After that, we visited Pay Fong High School for a music exchange with the students of their band. Present at the exchange was another local school, Catholic High School, and a band from Singapore, Fuchun Secondary Military Band, who had travelled with us up to Malaysia.

The programme ended with a combined performance by 200 students.

Thanks to the nifty morning call service provided by the hotel, we had no difficulty assembling at 7.00am in the lobby the next day, and we proceeded to Hin Hua High School for another music exchange. Many other bands affliated to Hin Hua High were also present. We worked on 2 band pieces to play as a combined band performance of 300 players to great aplomd.

The third day marked the beginning of 2 fun-filled yet educational days and the end of anxiety-filled performances. Breakfast was a leisurely affair after which we proceeded to the Forest Reserach Institute of Malaysia(FRIM) for an exciting trek through the rainforest. We visited the Royal Selangor Pewter Factory, and shopped at the famous KLCC Petronas Towers before heading back to the hotel.

We had thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and unanimously look forward to another trip that would last a little longer.

A more thorough report on this trip is on Page 2 of Issue Number 2 of Inpressionz, our band newsletter.

Band Camp 2000

This year , the annual band camp was held from the 30^thNovember-1^st December over a period of 2 days. Unlike other years, the organizers had to cut down the period of the camp as the then-upcoming Band Festival was on the following week.

After checking into rooms, we straightaway proceeded to Music Studio 2 until the afternoon with a lunch break in between We practiced on 4 pieces ; Hot Latin, Sunflower Saga, Laurena and Enka Medley 2. Although it was tiring, we were determined to absorb pointers that Mr Sim reminded us of so as to give a good performance. However, it is not all work n no play. AS we experienced a wet afternoon, we could not carry out our intergroup captains’ ball tournament in the courtyard. Instead we had it at the void of the Technical Block. The games went on well and we were even ahead of schedule due to the fact that the camp participants were cooperative and well-behaved. As a result, they had a longer bathing time. Later n the evening, Xmas Nite was held in Music Studio 2. Many graduated members visited the band just like the past years. That evening, the camp participants enjoyed an array of indoor and interactive games that were suggested by Ms lim. Exchange of presents was next in line. Many exciting faces could be seen as each receives his or her present. After the X’mas Nite, some participants proceeded to the Auditorium for a Xmas movie that was then a big hit in the Cinema Box Office entitled “the Grinch”. Others however preferred to go back to their respective rooms to retire for the night. Still, some went on to the Chatting Room to mingle around with the seniors or just to have a card game . Finally, lights out was observed at about 12 midnight.

This year, we have a new addition into the band camp programme. We had morning exercises just before breakfast. It was just some warm up and running around the netball courts and an unplanned game of netball. Following that, we had band practices till  afternoon when Ms Lim round up the camp by a humorous debriefing session.

This camp may be short compared to the previous ones and the schedule , as tight as ever, but nevertheless, we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.  

Band Festival 2000

Band Festival was held over 4 days; 4^thDec-7^thDec 2000. Our base camp was Siglap Secondary School and AiTong School was the location for us to perform. The schools that came together were Bendemeer Sec, ChongBoon Sec, Jurong Sec,  HongKah Sec, Sengkang Sec, Changkat Changi Sec and our sch as well as members of Siglap Sec band who were student helpers

  Over the few days, workshops by professionals, games such as breaking the ice were played during the day. From the workshops, we learnt new skills and even had to try to kick some of the bad habits that we have. Through the games, we interacted and got to know other members more.

  On the 2^nd day, after lunch, we proceeded to AiTong School where the concert was held. Upon reaching there, we were givien a short briefing. Up on the hall, we had a chance to listen to AiTong Primary School Band as they were having their band practice. After they had finished their band practice, both bands were told to put their instruments and belongings into the band room. We were then told to freshen up and change into our band uniforms before dinner.

  At about 5 minutes to seven, our school band was told to go to the hall for final tuning and a run-through. Backstage, there was excitement in the air as we waited to be called onstage. After our performance, we sat among the audience and watched HongKah band perform as they had done when we performed.

  The 4^th day was not as tiring as the other days as we did not have to prepare for any concerts or performances that night except for of course, the people involved in the Honour Band. For the rest, there was a “Beauty Pageant” to find a Miss Band Festival 2000. Working in groups of 15, one group member was dressed up by the other group members using materials like toilet paper, plasters, aluminium foil, balloons, metal wires, plastic bags and boxes which were provided

  Our school’s own Owen Tan aka Ms Mamasan emerged the champion at the end of the pageant.

  While waiting for the buses to bring us to AiTong Primary for the Band Festival Finale Concert, we played the “bomb game” which was suggested by our school.

  Once there, we changed into our Band Festival tshirt and had a mass photo-taking session after which we had a lot of free time including dinner

  During the concert, the Honour Band, which was a combination of the best players in each participating band and Kim Seng Wind Symphony, the guest band, played beautifully. It was really quite grand.

The band festival was , of course, tiring but it brought everyone here happy and full of wonderful experiences.