THINKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD
ISSUE 01
Editorial by Wind Bands Association of Singapore
BANDGEEKS
WHAT'S IN IT
What's in store for 2020 Instr-humans of Band Looking Back at 2019 Looking Ahead to 2020 Pro Tips: How to Engage Recruits by Ngiam Xing Hao Need a good laugh? BANDTER with us!
MESSAGE
from the WBAS Executive Committee Welcome to BandGeeks! WBAS’ band magazine, for youth by youth! This series of monthly online magazines will draw together a collection of professional works and youth contributors to help you learn more about band! Keep a lookout for the many tips, tricks, and nuggets of information that may be useful for you as a band member or music lover! Since it is a magazine for you, look out for our callouts on social media and seize the opportunities to share your thoughts, ideas and feel free to send us any band related questions! We hope that this magazine can help to make your band journey a meaningful experience, and that you will be empowered to continually engage and grow with the music that we all so love. Read ahead, be inspired and stay engaged! To a new decade ahead!
2020 GOALS At WBAS, we're committed to:
Through 2020's programme, we hope to:
promote wind band music as a 1. To distinctive, high quality art form that is Encourage youths to continue relevant to society active participation in band, either as a performer or audience To nurture a sustainable Singapore Introduce a wide range of quality scene by connecting local and band and wind literature to local 2. band international stakeholders of wind audiences band music that engages audiences meaningfully Promote creation of wind band compositions by professional and promote growth for greater youth composers 3. To diversity and innovation in wind band repertoire as well as a deeper appreciation for such music among audiences and musicians
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HIGHLIGHTS OF 2020 Check out what's in store for 2020! Inauguration of BandGeeks
a online monthly magazine put together by youths, for youths NEW: you can now contribute your thoughts, ideas and jokes!
FEB
Youth Arts Leader Conference
with guest Baden-Wuerttemberg Youth Wind Ensemble (Germany)
Learn best practices in leadership and music from US specialists and fellow youth leaders, watch European band in concert! NEW: Now opened not only to Band, but SEPT also Strings, Chinese Orchestra Leaders 4 th to 7th and non-leaders of bands too! You can choose the Music Track or Leadership Track to gain the best experience
7th Singapore International Band Festival
Competition, Workshop, Exchange, Chamber & Gala Concert by US Navy Band, Outreach Programme NEW: you can now JULY take part without 21st to 26th the Competition element and still enjoy all the other exciting programme!
AUG
WYBF Auditions: 22nd & 29th
WBAS Youth Band Festival Experience guest conductors, Learn
new music, Make new friends! Instrumental Sectional, Full Band Rehearsal, Workshop, Recital New:Â Choose to DEC perform in Chamber Chamber: 14 to18th Ensemble or Full Full Band: 14 to 20th Band, and still perform in Esplanade!
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YOUR VOICE
Reflections of 2019
Hear what some of the 2019 WBAS Youth Band Festival participants would like to share! "In the Conducting Workshop, I learned how to "I learnt to listen out for other parts, actively engage the band so that I know how they are playing with the left hand for and the band can play as one." dynamics and expression --Rayna while the right hand sets the meter and the pulse."-Solomon
"I learnt about how important it is to expose myself to a lot more types of music and that there are many different careers in music."-- Isabel
"I learnt how to train my ears to help myself be more in tune; that breaking down tough passages into short sections makes it less scary and taxing to practice." -- Joelle
Reader's Contribution
"2019 was the year of breakthrough as a musician. It was a daunting yet memorable journey. After leaving secondary school band, I questioned myself: "What do I do now?" Lost, I sought for direction. A part of me was missing. With the help of my mentors, I realised the musical part of me isn't missing, but misplaced.I can never be more grateful for amazing mentors guiding me in finding my hunger for music. I started taking tuba lessons to prepare for WBAS YBF Audition. It was hectic, yet eye-opening to overcome my limits. In the end, I learnt to focus on the journey instead of the outcome. 2019 taught me to seize the opportunity of a lifetime within the lifetime of the opportunity. Carpe diem and never fear failure. A coda? Failure empowers growth. Never cease chasing your seemingly impossible dream. Breakthrough is near." -- Joylyn Tan,17
YOUR VOICE
Reflections of 2019
Reader's Contribution
"2019 was a rather rough year for me in band, though it did come with a meaningful learning curve. I often felt awkward and upset with my committee as we fought a lot. I tried to hide my unhappiness as I didn't want the committee to fall apart before SYF. I felt really alone in band. After SYF, it was time to step down, which was accompanied by its own set of difficulties too. But eventually, we pulled through the last performance in July. Months passed and suddenly it was November and I received the sudden news of our conductor's departure from our band. Even though most of my memories with my band were not necessarily good, I wish to be forgiven by people whom I've hurt.Through these memories, I've matured much more and have learnt so many valuable lessons that I wouldn't have if the painful events didn't occur. I would like to say thank you and sorry to my band. In this new year, I want to carry the lessons I've learnt with me and be more forgiving and understanding. To my band, I hope you can forgive me for bing stubborn. Thank you for the 4 years together." -Editor's comment:Â Life is not always be smooth sailing, and so is life in band. I personally appreciate that band allows me to learn from both good and challenging times. While band is a place where everyone supports each other in learning, it's important to keep communication open and never give up! Never give up in trying, never give up in learning from mistakes, and never give up in forgiving each other!
INSTR-HUMANS OF BAND Reflecting on 2019 Band Festival, as a volunteer
Avery Ng, a year 1 undergraduate at the National University of Singapore (extreme right). Why I became a chaperone and why I continue to contribute back through the subcomm’s work: Looking back at the times that I have enjoyed as a participant in the festival, I realised that my interactions with the chaperones were defining aspects of my experience. Their versatility in being both a guide and friend made them the best of all the people that I have met throughout the festival. Their efforts and contributions towards organising the festival, albeit subtle and sometimes underrated, really strengthened my sense of belonging towards this band community. When the opportunity came along, I knew I had to be a part of this team to build the community and welcome those who are eager to join. I came on board with the drive to help maximise every student's experience in our programmes, just as I have benefited from them myself. Band has been a great part of my personal journey in growing, both as a musician and as a human being, and i find it meaningful to be able to give back and allow others to discover this community and develop a sense of belonging.
Comments? bandgeeks@wbas.org.sg
PRO- TIPS
You Know the Drill
by Ngiam Xing Hao
Drawing the analogy from routine drills, Tubist and Band Director, Mr. Ngiam Xing Hao, shares with us tips to engage new secondary one members. From capturing their attention to making them feel welcomed and comfortable, to leaving a legacy in grooming the next batch of band members, read on and feel free to adopt these tips for your band! “Band, fall in!” - A phrase that a secondary 1 band member dreads the most.
As most of us are finishing up our CCA showcases and trials for the secondary 1 batch, the part where we start to teach our juniors is right around the corner. Here are some tips for you – the band "laojiao", to keep your juniors engaged throughout the year!
1.Keeping SEDIA them at attention Language and Tone: Always be firm, but avoid demeaning or derogatory language, and to always check your tone. No one likes it when a senior is always barking away at you using hurtful words, especially if it’s for the wrong reason. Patience & Repetition: Just like how our parents taught us to speak, we should in the very same way teach our juniors (Learning an instrument is almost the same as picking up a new language!) Do not be easily frustrated if they are unable to perform, make sure the juniors know when they are playing something correctly and always repeat it to enforce the good habits. Do not ‘Babysit’: Don’t always give the answers to your juniors, let them create a sense of ownership for themselves. Spend some time quizzing them about music theory and performance, ensuring that they formulate solutions and not simply mimicking what you do and say.
Comments? bandgeeks@wbas.org.sg
You Know the Drill 2.Keeping SENANG DIRI them at ease
Be Engaged even when Idle: Young minds are prone to wandering off. When you have a long period of rest when the Band Director is working on another section, keep their minds working! Working on fingerings and using wind patterns to imitate the rhythm. Joy of Practicing: Find sheet music for Frozen 2. Forward a video of a Tuba Flamethrower. Play a duet together with them. Send the dankest memes (band-related!) to the group chat. Keep your juniors’ interest piqued and let them enjoy the fun of practicing beyond the band room!
3.Fall KELUAR BARIS out / end of the day As we kickstart our band year, my hope for everyone is that we take pride in nurturing the future talent of our individual bands. A legacy is not defined by the great leaders, but in what they leave behind for the future generations.
Editor's note: We do not support the usage of a Tuba flamethrower!Â
Mr. Ngiam with participants of the 2019 WBAS Youth Band Festival
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CALLOUTS We want you!
ONE minute of Fame Band-ter Have a passion for performing? Gather your friends, play some music together !
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Unleash your inner memelord
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Step 1: Gather your friends and form a chamber Do you have an interesting or funny story ensemble of maximum 8 persons. Any from band to share? Or some really good joke woodwind, brass, percussion instruments to tickle your friends? and piano are allowed. They can be of the following formats: Visuals (e.g. memes or comics) One liner jokes (e.g. dad jokes/ puns) Funny stories from the time you spend in your band (can be in any format/style prose, short story, etc) Step 2: Choose, arrange or compose a music that is at least 4 minutes long and everyone is Editor's note: Sharing happy to play. Visit www.windrep.org or is caring but no stealing! https://imslp.org/ for inspirations. Credit when necessary
For materials you would like to share but are not your own (especially those you pick up from social media etc.), do credit it and share with us where you got it from! Step 3: Video it ! We will share an excerpt of your P.S. Do be sensitive and considerate to video on our social media. So make sure others, share with us content that is nonyou sound good and look good! offensive, so that everyone can best enjoy the humour. Ensure that your submissions are made as generic as possible ! Visit our website and submit your video by 24th February to stand a chance to perform at the Esplanade's In Youthful Company.
Comments? bandgeeks@wbas.org.sg
Send them in to us at: bandgeeks@wbas.org.sg to see it in the next edition of BandGeeks!
BANDTER Share the laughter, share the joy!
Credit: Musicnotes.com
Comments? bandgeeks@wbas.org.sg