My neighbour totoro


Hello , it's me again.Having some serious matter to address here. This is going to be a very very long post. Now is the band break, but this doesn't means you can relax and do whatever things you want.
For the next 1.5wks , I want you guys to do 2 things.
1) Write a list of things you've done during the break.
2) Write a comment about me.(Please be heartless when you are writing. Tell me all my faults. EVERYTHING)
E.g : being too flexible /lenient, too strict... Etc.


I am making you all do these because honestly , I find that knowing how you people feel about me is vital. Please be as heartless as possible , You can write down the things you don't like about me and everything.
I will be writing for each and every of you. You are doing 2 task , I'm doing 10. So I don't see the point why you cannot finish your work when I can.


I've decided that pumpings seems to be a piece of cake for you guys. So , for posture wise , I'm increasing it to 10 each time and if you're a repeated offender , you are going to run 2 rounds in 2 minutes. If you fail to meet the time limit , then I will keep adding 1 round to it. I've decided to be more strict with you guys. Not because I love to see you guys getting punished , but I want you to learn your lesson through the hard ways.


Sec 1 :
Please focus more on the method books (TIPPS , JBC , 3D....)
All the parts Mr Wong went through and also all the exercises.
Interval exercises , Scale exercises in various scales. Currently You have learnt 2 (I suppose)
our Bb and Eb . I want to hear improvements on that.
Practice more on basics because you've just started playing not very long ago , thus , you need to build up the firmness in your embouchure.
Also focus on your marching pieces such as Champions , General Salute , Graduation Suite , National Anthem... Etc.
You will be performing in school for National Day. Remember what Mr Wong reminded you..Take note of embouchure , posture and air.I believe that You've copied down in your note book.


Sec 2s & 3s :
Please focus more on the method books (TIPPS , JBC , 3D....)
All the parts Mr Wong went through and also all the exercises.
Interval exercises , Scale exercises in various scales, chromatic scale starting from different notes and articulation exercises.
Practice on your Jericho and March Blue sky.
For Jericho ,
-Please figure out the parts you're unsure of
-For all accents , please use tongueing "toh" (Toe)
-First Clar bar 64 ,65 and 68 , take note of the articulation.
-Part F , Part I bar 122 and part J is too atroucious. Please practice with metronome (http://www.metronomeonline.com/) Remember how to decipher the rhythm and follow the tempo. Every triplet is 1 beat. If you are not sure , sing , clap , sing , clap. Make sure when you sing , you are following the tempo. Start at a slower tempo to make sure you're on the right track. DO NOT start at Mr Wong's tempo and be so strong headed, thinking that will work.
-Part J very very fich and full sound. Please do not scream high notes. Remember Saddam's quote : control but don't constraint.
-Part G , Articulation. I emphasize alot of times during sectionals , I said before , I want to hear the difference between inverted accent and accent. Accent use "toh". Inverted accent is a stronger attack but this does not mean that you shorten the value of the note. End with slight resonance and naturally.
-Bar 149 , fp crescendo. We did this during basics so please apply your basics.
-Part K , Dynamics. Starts from soft and increase gradually. Recall , soft(p) doesn't literally means soft. It means more air support , faster air stream. ff doesn't mean loud either. It means rich and dull sound done together and remember to send far.
-Victory , please do not breathe as and when you like. There are alot of slurs , which means more air support. Please do not break the slurs. Project your sound out , use warm air and make it sound grand and majestic. Tongueing use "lol" VERY RICH AND FULL SOUND.
-Please work out your running notes. Start by making each note minim/ set the tempo slower/practice note by note.
-Part N, First time house dynamics is p , take note of running notes at 192. 2nd time house dynamics f, first clar running notes at 197. ARTICULATION. VERY IMPT.
-Part O , first clar articulation
-Part Q , Please do not trill wrong note and it's trill not thrill (Zahirah)
-Part R , Same as Part N , articulation , running notes..
-Part S , ACCENT, very very very rich and full sound , send extremely farrrr. (Do not blast)
-Part T , Tongueing use "Loo" make sure you know when to enter at bar 271 .
*Please emphasize on notes when required , but not too harsh. Remember to end long phrases nicely , do not end adruptly.


March Blue Sky :
-1st bar , 1n2-n3(wait) then play running notes. Mr wong mentioned before.
-Bar 4 , 3rd beat to bar 5. Articulation. Tongue-tongue-tongue-slur 2-staccato-accent slur 2- next 3 note tongue + increase in volume in every note.
-Bar 6, separate the 2nd beat and 3rd beat.
-Bar 7 , RUNNING NOTES.
-Bar 8, focus on dynamics and articulation. First note dynamics ff then immediately decrease to mp and decrease gradually.
-Part A , remember to play with feelings and expression. Mr Wong want this part to be a little exaggerating and overwhelmed with feelings to bring out the effect.
CLARINET'S THROAT NOTE G and A , PLEASE DO NOT BITE HARDER AND JUST LET YOUR AIR FLOW. The harder you bite , the more out of tune it gets. In Part A , clarinet having melody and we very exposed (Naked?)
-Bar 21 beat 3n to bar 25 /Bar 41 beat 3n to bar 46,remember your dotted quaver semiquaver , how to decipher the rhythm. For this , ONE MISTAKE MADE , 5 PUMPINGS. Mr Wong emphasized on this more than enough.
-Part C , take note that we are not leading , we are not the melody so please do not fight for volume and tone down. Remember control but don't constraint.
-3RD CLARINETS , BAR 29 beat 3n to bar 37 , PLEASE , IT'S TIME YOU LEARN YOUR PARTS. Numerous melody occuring in this passage , please do not fight for volume and overpower the others such that the other melodies are unable to get projected out. Just play normal volume. Running notes at bar 37.
-Bar 46 , the running notes , please know your notes , start from slow tempo then slower gradually get faster.
-Bar 48 to 63 , do not overpower Alto saxophone. Sound sweet and warm. Use mellow tone to play this passage.
-Part F , all the running notes , please know your notes and start practicing from slow.
Bar 68 to 69 , do not scream high notes/ no need to play so loud despite the crescendo written below it. Follow Mr Wong.
-Bar 70 , running notes. Please know your notes and play it clean , not like a chunk of rubbish.
-PART G. (Yes , You should have expected) Please use stagger breathing. Common sense will tell you it's impossible for us now to play continuously for 8 bars( 32 counts). Memorise your part and look at Mr Wong. As usual , use te metronome to practice this. 1 triplet = 1 count.
-Do not breathe at ending of bar 79 , instead , breathe on bar 80 3rd beat. Breathe fast. Remember the breathing exercise.. Take in a 4 counts worth air and play.
Part I running notes , bar 96 running notes. Know your notes first. Practice from slow tempo and gradually gets faster..


Please try out My neighbour totoro and Jay Chou (牛仔很忙 & 菊花台)


I hope to hear majority of these problems cleared. Especially part F of Jericho and Part G of March Blue Sky. If you have doesn't doubts in mind , please feel free to call me.
From now onwards , I expect an explanation from your parents if they do not allow you to bring your instrument back and practice. Use your band break wisely , remember to do your assignments and homework and at the same time practice all these.
NBC is coming. Please , Mr Wong do not want a sliver , he wants a gold. Practice hard and the greatest achievement and satisfaction you recieved is definitely beyond words. The process of music making , the hard work we've put in , please do not let if flow down the drain.


Yasmin:D