Saturday, 24 October 2009

WEnt for guitar practice at ACCESS as usual, but this time it is for the first rehearsal for the upcoming pChristmas Lightup Peformance. Reached there at 9.30am to being practice. Amanda came awhile later, along with the rest of the guitar team.

Arvind started to guide us more on playing chords, introducing the F chord to mix with the Am and C chords learned beforehand. Practiced a few rounds of combining Cannon, with me switching to play "guitar 2" role.

Then after awhile, guitar and SPARKZ combine to rehearse the singing of "White Christms" which probably will be the song for the Grand Finale. Zuo En played the piano, while Arvind combined to play the guitar for the song. Singing with such talents such as HuiQi and Khristine among others is just a privilege for me, and i enjoyed it very much

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It just seem that in another 2 weeks time, i would have another chance to lead this guitar team for yet another performance, the Christmas Lightup Performance, having made our first debut back in August this year during the Special Awards 2009. How fast this team has indeed progressedfrom learning tabs to learning chords in just a few months.

Moreover, this time when we turn up for our second group performance, It would have even made it more interesting to realise that we would be combining play with SPARKZ this time around, and i think that it is indeed one that i have always hoped for, and now the chance is indeed there for me to take. Not being able to qualify for me to play combination for the "White Christmas" with guitar, for me, it is already a disappointment in itself. I wont deny that I am indeed very disappointed. However, I think that I can be able to learn from this experiwnce of missing out and thus develop to be a better guitar player next time. Having said that, it is indeed true that merely singing the "White Christnas" song with such talents such as HuiQi and Khristine among others is just a honour for me, to be mixing and being associated with their talents can only make me a better musical player. A opportunity that I cannot seem to refuse...

"Passion for music makes clique click together"

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Saturday, 17 October 2009

Well, it just seems like saturday is really clique day after all, because this week dont have guitar practice at ACCESS as it is a public holiday. Despite this, well, we still meet together for arcade with Amanda, Ting Jun, Shawn and Philip.

Amanda joined us later after her driving lesson. When she reached she called me then I went down to Level 1 meet her, bring her to the arcade. We played a few games of ice hockey.

Then the group game, pits me and Amada against Philip Tj and Shawn. It was the battle against the odds, and so it proved..Out of 3 gme set, both teams won a game each while we drew the other. Then we lost the game by just 1 point. It was indeed a fun game, and it increased the bond between us, thats for sure....

Play racing gme with Amanda, TJ, and Shawn. Amanda always win me, even though I got overturn her car, she still come back to win. The time spent and fun we had together is more important than the games being played...

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It just seem that clique is the best to have, yes I believe so. It is very rare that even though we are not in the same school and same class, we have grown closer than ever in terms of friendship. What makes this clique great is that even if we go back home from any particular clique outing, it is a standard procedure that our handphones would ring thereafter with sms-es from each other, telling that we are safely back at home. That act of doing it just shows that as friends, we show care and concern for each other, which is hard to find...Not only just that, but also we guide each other, 1 example of which is through the guidance of guitar lessons. We have always exchanged ideas and assisted each other in coping with the various skills being taught.

Moreover, it is commonplace that we always tend to help each other in any way possible. when outings, maybe I would help Amanda or Yuan Ping, supporting them push their wheelchairs when we encounter up-slopes, coz up-slopes are more tiring to move up, I have to admit...Even if I were not to help, I'm sure others will do it too, that i am very sure.

When with clique, it just seems that time is going twice as fast as it is normally moving. Because we just simply enjoy ourselves just being together, doing simply anything, practicing guitar, chatting on msn, now famously known as the "clique chat". Even though we are not from the same school as classmates, but we still at times share with each other how we have been doing with our education etc.

Yes, I wont deny that being what we are are, there is a certain boundaries, a certain barrier in what we want to do. Yes, we are what we are, and we will continue to live with that. But, seeing it in another perspective, being what we are, it certainly doesnt stop us to bond together like we are now. Yes, when we plan outings last time, what we really want to do sometimes, if someone from clique couldnt join us to do that particular activity, maybe because there is a barrier, we still would have thought of other solutions. Yes, that barrier may make us limited in doing stuffs, but would I rather carry on with that activity and see that someone from the intended group is missing from the activity, or would I rather do a activity that though is not as fun, but all people could be able to join and play together? If we had the former, would it be very unfair to the person that is unable to join, just because of what he/she is? If we had chose the latter, would it be a better solution such that everyone enjoy themselves, and also spend time together, getting everybody involved in the mix. Though the activity may not be as fun as the one which we really wanted, I think that it is just as fun and pleasing to even spend quality time with the clique of friends. So this ensures that no one is left out just because of that particular barrier, and that is a hallmark of true friendship and togetherness that we have enjoyed and so look forward thus far.

My Inspiration
Sunday, October 18, 2009

Wednesday, 14 October 2009

I went to ACCESS to have an interview with Parames, for the upcoming Christmas Lightup Performance in November. Parames asked me about a few questions, some of which is about my physical condition and also how AWWA have helped me develop over the years, amng others.

Then Shawn and Amanda also came to ACCESS to practice guitar at the same time too, Amanda having her internship interview earlier in the day. So after my interview, we proceeded to practice guitar until 6pm..Then went back home together, we ensure that Amanda is safe on bus before we can go home without worries....

My Inspiration
Sunday, October 18, 2009

Friday, October 16, 2009

DMIT 0904 Class Chalet

Monday, 12 October 2009

Went for 0904 class chalet at Aranda Resort. They checked in at 3pm, while i reached the chalet at around 5pm to join them. When i reached there, Haqiz and Loius was playing the guitar haha. I was indeed fascinated by the amount of skills they had, as they could be able to change fingerings very quickly. It seems that I still have alot of skills to learn. "Slow and steady wins the race"

Then spent some time playing their guitar also, then at night started class BBQ and also see of my classmates play some video games, Guitar Hero amongst them. After BBQ, went back home at around 10.30pm with Dennick, Wendy, Xintze.

Tuesday, 13 October 2009

Went back to chalet in the afternoon. When I reached, they were playing some card games and those people that lost had to do a forfeit. After a while, they changed the forfeit such that the losers have to share and drink tapwater from a bottle.Quite some time since I played these kind of game and enjoy so much...

In the evening, I followed Tian Fu, Louis, Li Qi and Cai Ling to the supermarket buy some stuffs in preparation for another BBQ, while the others went to rent bikes and go for a short ride. Bought some ice cream and chocolates to share among us.

Had BBQ for dinner, chatted alot while eating. After which I, Cai Ling, Hui QI, Li Qi, Sing Hui and Jessica played some poker card games, with abit of betting 10 cents per round. All in all, I enjoyed myself very much. it looks to be a year since I had so much fun with school classmates, the last being with 0804 class, dont count AWWA clique haha.....

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It was really nice and fun to be with this semester's class, in my opinion. I have indeed learned alot and got alot of help and assistance from all my classmates. I have always had the company with them during lectures and lessons, and also during breaks. During lessons, my classmates have also tried their best to help and guide me along if I had encountered any problems with any particular module, and they indeed have helped me progress and improve bothas a person and also in terms of results. It is just 1 of hose things, where good things would not last long, and we are split into different classes again for the next semester...I only hoped that it was too be better and longer, but it wasnt to be. All in all, I still have to thank all my classmates for all the help and support they have given me this past semester. Hope that it wont be long before we meet again....

Ever since I started out to venture into polytechnic education, I have improved and been better to interact and mix around with new friends and different people with different personalities. So, despite the constant change of classes due to different module combinations, I tink that even though it is perhaps that we were not in the same class for very long to build a bond, all my friends have certainly left me a good impression on me, the common characteristic being they have always helped me in the best way possible....

My Inspiration
Friday, October 16, 2009

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Friday, 9 October 2009

Yuan Ping took leave from her work, and ahe was enthusiastic to ask us to go ACCESS practice guitar together with her. Not a bad thing to spend your off-day practicing guitar eh? haha...

So meet amanda, YuanPing, Shawn, Peter and Sharman at the conference room, then tuned guitars before starting. Normally, at the start, we would anyhow play what we like first, for me being to play chords haha..

But this day when we agreed amd decided to go for guitar practice, it wasnt met to be practicing individually on our own only, instead, there was a certain seriousness about the session thus far..

I and Amanda started to try combining play chords, and it proved a success to a certain extent. Then after that, Amanda was suggesting to me to implement Arvind teaching method to conduct this practice session. I wonder why it must be me, well, I think is time as coordinator that I learn to try to lead this team. After a certain "persuading" from her and shawn, I accepted her suggestion, under the request that she helped me around, also guiding them.

So I started off by asking them to sit around me. I decided to guide them the basic chords first, Am, Em, so that i ensure that they coud cope with the basics first, before progressing on to another level. So it proved to me to be a correct decision, from the looks of it....

I showed them the fingering of the Am chord, and asked them to show me their fingerings. After which, i seeked to use the "hand test" to ensure that when they press the chords, all strings can be played well without buzzing sounds. I got demostrate to them the supposedly correct way of playing Am chord with the strumming method, with them following me play at the second time. i felt that it went quite well for the first part. Mistakes, if any, were thwn corrected with the help of me and Amanda. Overall, i felt that it went quite well.

Then i guided them the Em chord, same thing, must pass "hand test" first, they did pass with credit, so it was easier to guide. I then tested each of them one by one, showing me their methods of playing each chord at 1 time, so I think that it was great, as they didnt disappoint. I was quite happy with their progress thus far, and Amanda was like doing a good job to guide them too. Thereafter, I challenged them to move up another level, play the strum pattern with Am, then play again with the changing chords from Am to Em.

After some time devoted to practicing what I have guided them, it wasnt really surprising that Shawn could do it well, Yuan Ping has indeed improved quite fast. At 1 time, I even took away the chords notes from her, to test that she really have learned the 2 chords without refering to the notes, and I think it has benefited.

Nevertheless, Peter also progressed as he was able to strum the pattern well, with the guidance of Sharman. All in all, it was possibly the best practice session we had, and it turned out to be huge success..

Saturday, 10 October 2009

Well, Saturday is clique day, so went down ACCESS for guitar lessons, met Amanda and the rest at the pantry, preparing for lesson.

At the start of this week's lesson, Arvind asked us to demostrate to him the strumming of what we learnt the prevous week, with the C chord. Having guided them the previous day, Friday, i wasnt at all surprised that many of them could show the correct way of strumming, while some others had to work harder to get it right, but no matter, as long as all players had showed their effort can de.

This week, we seeked to progress again as Arvind taught us to move up another level, teaching us to change from C to Am chords, and then back from Am to C, using the strumming pattern taught last week. It proved to be a challenge at the start, but as time progressed, we slowly got the hang of it.

Then he taught us to change the chords using two "down" strums each for each chord before changing chord. It was a bit of a stiffer test, as we had lesser time to set our mind to changing the chords and knowing where to place our fingerings of each chords. It enables us to learn to change chords faster. Homework: Practice...

After lesson, followed Peter and TJ to Sengkang buy Sharman's birthday present then come back home.

Sunday, 11 October 2009

Went to play soccer with TJ, kelvin, shawn and Peter. Nearly scored when I played as a midfielder attacker. But for most of the time is play goalkeeper, my best position I supposed. I made quite alot of saves, and played well I guess..Shawn scored a goal from close range, so it was quite fun...

My Inspiration
Thursday, October 15, 2009

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Saturday, 3 October 2009

Went ACCESS for guitar lesson, actually wanted to meet shawn go together, but he late so he ask me to go AWWA first.

Reached ACCESS on time, saw Amanda, YuanPing preparing for guitar lesson, while the SPARKZ members were still having their weekly practice. Went to tune my guitar also. While doing that, I was fascinated to hear SPARKZ sing the "Jingle Bell" song, in preparation for the Christmas Lightup Performance towards the end of the year.

We then celebrated Khristine's Birthday, gave her a big surprise, planned by Yuan i tink....sang birthday song, then I play the birthday song on guitar after that, dedicated to Khristine de. Nice(:

Amanda, me, YuanPing, Peter and Shawn attended the lesson with all 3 instructors. This week, Arvind taught us a new strumming pattern using the C chord. At first, he would demostrate how it is done, and teach us the fingerings, before we put the new skill into practice, together as a whole group. After practicing together repeatedly, he asked us to demostrate the C chord to him, one by one, so that he can find out who is able to get both the chord fingering and strumming style correct. Amanda and me could get it correct, while for the others, not really there but close.

When we progressed to playing 2 bars of the C chord, however, Arvind advised that I was too fast and didnt follow the timing of the rest. But when he came back to 1 bar of the chord, somehow i fared better..

Yuan Ping had some difficulties pressing the chords and play out the correct tune. With sufficient practice, i believe Yuan Ping can get the hang of the C chord de. For Peter, his fingerings of the chord isnt right, and his strumming method isnt perfect. Peter have to work harder to practice so that he can improve. Practice makes Perfect (:

Then Arvind would also taught us to change from C to Am chord, by shifting our finger a string below. This change of chords is also applied with the same strumming method taught previously. Overall, it went well regarding everyone's involvement for today, and I learnt alot, now is only a matter of putting what we learnt into practice, to prepare for next week's lessons.

After guitar lessons, We(Amanda, Khristine, HuiQi, shawn and me) went to celebrate Khristine's birthday. Trained down to Choa Chu Kang to have lunch at KFC, then after that ate ice cream together, while snapping photos on the way (:

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Arvind, as a new guitar instructor with us, has indeed impressed me with his teaching style and methods. I think we are lucky to have 3 very good guitar instructors guiding us as we seek to learn to play the guitar. The blend and skills between Daniel, Justin and Arvind is indeed an intereting one, and I think that with them, Guitar Ensemble can move forward to another level. I tink that they can get the best out of our potential...

My Inspiration
Sunday, October 04, 2009

Wednesday, 30 September 2009

Reached AWWA to help Janice volunteer for the "Giving tree" Project, which Amanda, me, shawn and peter helped to contribute to do during our holidays. Though, only Sharman and me went to help complete the projjct, as shaawn and amanda cannot make it, as the school isnt wheelchair-accessible for Amanda, thus she didnt go.

Went to Da Qiao primary School, the school was holding a bizarre, so they invited us to set up a booth there for the students. We set up 3 booths, one selling cookies, selling jewelery and flowers, and the other the "Giving Tree"

I helped to mend the cookies booth, selling each box for $2 each. My stall sell quite fast, so I got lesser work to do, so instead went to help the the "Giving Tree" The bizarre ended at 11am then we went back to ACCESS. I stayed and help Janice do volunteering work, where amanda and shawn would join me later in the day.

In the meantime, we also utilised our time to practice guitar also, Amanda teaching me a new strumming method, switching between Am and Em. Was quite fun to learn from her...

Then went lunch together at Festival Market, assisted Amanda overcome some slopes and curbs etc. After lunch, as we headed back to ACCESS, i helped Amanda push her wheelchair, then we also enjoy a trip of "roller coaster". I helped her push at high speed while she controlled the wheelchair itself. It was very fun, and we enjoyed ourselves very much haha...

My Inspiration
Sunday, October 04, 2009