St. Nicholas String

2011-11-19T23:38:00.002+08:00

Hey stringers!

Its currently 1 more week left to our concert,

and 5 more practices left to prepare for the concert!

i know that the piece might be of difficult standard, especially for the sec 1s. But hey, why not just give it your best shot and practise as much as you can? Because when you can play, you'll definitely feel very happy :)

We might be using the pieces for next year, but don't let it be an excuse that you have time to practise for next year. But instead let it make you practise even more, and make the piece even more perfect.

Approach your seniors for help if you need okay! you guys can do it :)

2011-09-17T12:19:00.001+08:00

Hello Stringers!

Ahh, my last cca session has officially ended yesterday. Honestly, even though I don't like orchestra practices because I get tired from standing up all the time and my fingers hurt like hell from pressing the thick strings down, I'm going to miss all the practices.

I'm going to miss how we always complain about setting up and packing up, I'm going to miss how we always anticipate that 15 minute break, I'm going to miss practicing with the orchestra.

It was by pure luck that I got into SNSO, I'm sure if that on that day of cca auditions in sec 1, if I hadn't said that I agreed to play the bass, I wouldn't even be in this cca. I'd probably be in infocomm. But I'm glad that I said I'm okay with playing the bass, because I'm glad that I got in SNSO.

SNSO has given me such great experiences. From practicing like mad to performing in front of other people to competing, I enjoyed the three years in SNSO.

28th April 2011.

That is the most memorable date for me in the three years I've been in SNSO.

The anxiety we all felt before we got on stage, all of our hearts pounding as we looked at Mrchan to give us the cue to start. The relief after we finished playing the pieces because we knew we had done our very best and that it was enough. The immense joy we felt when the announcer said "ST16 - CHIJ St Nicholas Girls School Gold With Honours".

It felt like all those months of eating bread for recess, all those months of intense practices and blisters, was worth it.

Yellows, I hope that you guys won't give up practicing alright? I know it can be tough, especially for the majority of you who just picked up your instrument, I understand since I've been there too. But don't give up and keep practicing, you guys will definitely keep improving in your playing! Ask your seniors for help if you still can't play well, they'll be more than willing to help you, I'm sure your seniors won't bite!

So yeah, that's it for this super long post. All the best for the concert at the end of the year!!! :D

Love,

Sonia

SNSO: without a doubt

2011-08-19T22:16:00.003+08:00

Hey Stringers!

Just a short post here!

1.Remember to wear your strings tee, and pe shorts with pinafore over when you come to school! Also wear your school shoes and school socks.
2. Report by 8am! There's no reason to be late because you guys no need to set up! So please be on time.

Have a good night rest! :) Please be nice to the Minds people like what beverly and michelle have been telling you guys the past 2 cca days! And also, enjoy yourselves! :)

2011-08-13T14:52:00.002+08:00

Hello Stringers! :3

My first post here hehehe :> I'm suppose to keep this blog alive... D: Anyway, i hope you guys do come to read the blog omg D: I bet all of you don't, do you! Too lazy to even click SNSO's fabulous link D: I'm digressing... i'm suppose to be here to tell you about the upcoming CIP! ):

OKAY. I hope you guys DID NOT forget about our CIP! And THE EMPTY PLASTIC BOTTLES you need to bring. I think you guys did, judging from how sloth-ish you guys were when i was making the announcement): Nonetheless, i shall repeat myself, with the 5 'W's and 1 'H' :>

WHAT: CIP with MINDS Children!

WHEN: 20 August, Saturday (9am - 12pm)

830am sharp to arrive!

WHO: SNSO obviously ^^ With YOUR INSTRUMENTS AND SCORES remember! It'd be dreadful trying to play Snake River Stomp by memory since it'd eventually become Snake River flop. Oh! And please remember we are wearing our Black Strings Tee, PE shorts and pinafore. You may remove your pinafore during activities but in and out of school is a NONO. And our dear MINDS children!(:

WHERE: School!

HOW: How what how. Just get your instruments and self here and GO WITH THE FLOOOWWW.

I didn't include WHY, because the reason of our CIP is because SNSO, being very kind-hearted and lovely, will be naturally willing to help the needy ^^ (Right?)

Okay, so please remember everything stated up there! And colouring materials. You guys will be split RANDOMLY into groups(: No negotiating or bargaining, unless you like to face the wrath of the teachers :O

Please be punctual and practise the two pieces!! :O We don't want the MINDS children to get bombarded with horrible sounds): I know SNSO can do it ^^ Good luck for CA3, and i hope to see all of you there on Saturday! :3

STRING CAMP 2011 CHECKLIST

2011-05-23T19:07:00.002+08:00

TO-BRING LIST

1) 3 T-shirts (Report in Strings tee on 8th)

2) 2 shorts ( SCHOOL SHORTS ONLY NO FBTs)

3) Socks

4) Slippers

5) Toiletries

6) Sleeping bag

7) Jacket (if you need)

8) Money for dinner (around $7-$10)

9) Instruments (only those who are going for Mr. Chan's auditions)

10) Personal medication

11) Utensils (For cereal breakfast)

12) Card/Board games for section bonding time

13) Sports shoes (optional)

REMEMBER TO COME TO SCHOOL IN PINAFORE!

AND GREYS MAKE IT FUN~

After Thoughts

2011-04-29T20:25:00.004+08:00

Stringers.
A word now synonymous with excellence after our hard work.
Or, more specifically, SNSO.

It felt good to see tears of joy on your faces yesterday. I really wouldn't mind reliving yesterday. And I believe all of us just loved the moment, the shock, the smiles.

I'm glad we didn't give up halfway and pushed through as an orchestra. I'm glad we overcame our differences to make yesterday remain special in our hearts for many years to come. I'm glad all of you are glad.

Of course, I really have to thank EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU for your effort.

The Sec 1s for shifting our chairs and getting scolded for it;
The Sec 2s for putting aside your unhappiness and doing your best for the orchestra anyway;
The Sec 3s for working together despite difficulties and limited time;
The Sec 4s for throwing in more effort despite our seriously crazy schedules and workload.

The Violin 1s for listening more to each other on that very day (cuz that was our problem);
The Violin 2s for giving us quality with quantity (you ARE the biggest section);
The Violas for pushing yourself to your limits (I do admire your scale in Rutter);
The Cellos for keeping the tempo just fine (other than your melodies);
The Basses for providing us with the solid BASS (even with little parts to play).

Other than that, I personally want to thank the SLs and first desks as well for their tremendous effort put in to improve each individual section, especially the morning practices as we were approaching D-day.

I hope we can have an encore piece for Jubilate :D I was thinking Rosin Eating Zombies from Outer Space :D AWESOME PIECE!!!

ALL THE BEST FOR CA! REPEAT THE GOOD RESULTS (((: JYJY!!

-Valerie Foong-

2011-04-28T22:46:00.002+08:00

WE DID IT SNSO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GOLD WITH HONOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SN Stringers are the MOST AWESOME! LOVE ALL OF YOU! (:

Love Love Love,

Jan :)

2011-04-25T18:32:00.006+08:00

Just a pretty picture to share (:

3 MORE DAYS!!!

These few days of practices count a lot! So please continue to practice hard, and practice the right way. Do not give up now, if you choose to give up, then the whole orchestra will do down with you.

2 MORE PRACTICES!!

Please be in the MEP room at 320pm tmr & be in the hall at 230pm on wed! Make full use of these practices - focus, concentrate, play your best!

1 LAST CHANCE!

Im sure we can do it! ALL THE WAY STRINGERS! <3

Love,

Jan

2011-04-23T20:08:00.002+08:00

I do not care what other people think. I only care what WE think.

If we believe the pride is ours to keep, so be it.
If we believe we are good, we're good.
If we believe we will do well, we will.

BUT THESE ARE ALL 'IF's.

We need to UNDERSTAND that we are an Honours orchestra and performing is our job. It is our role to play. It is an obligation to each and every member of the orchestra. When we put in our best, it is not for anything other than team spirit. No one would tolerate anyone who gives in halfway and just say it's over.

Because all our efforts bank on that 10 minutes on stage. No more. no less.

We go up there not to prove anyone wrong but to PROVE OURSELVES RIGHT:
Right that we can do it;
Right that we are awesome;
Right that we are not 49 people but ONE orchestra.

Mentality counts. It counts a lot.

So when we go up there, we must walk off the stage not regretting anything at all.

Instead, we walk off as true stringers with gracious steps and knowing our best -nothing less- has been given.

V. Foong

SIX DAYS!

2011-04-21T23:47:00.004+08:00

'You can't play a symphony alone, it takes an orchestra to play it.'
Navjot Singh Sidhu

Dearest Stringers!

I'm really proud of each and every single one of you (: You have made it so far, endured all criticisms, boring practices and even bread every recess. I know all of us have put in so much since the start of January this year.

Now, we're left with SIX days.

Let's continue to hold on to one another, and spur each other on in this last week!

Next Thursday, we will leave the stage with our heads lifted, declaring that we have done our best!

ALL THE WAY SN STRINGS! (:

Love,

Jan

7 MORE DAYS :)

2011-04-21T22:21:00.002+08:00

7 more days to show the judges what SNSO is really made off.

7 more days to make all our hard work pay off.

We've been practising our hearts out for the past 6 months just for those 10 minutes on stage. So we CAN'T GIVE UP.

We need to HAVE FAITH in our playing. Embrace the music and relish those 10 minutes on stage. Don't care about what the other performing arts had attained for SYF. Like what Miss Quek said, the results don't matter, as long as we're able to walk off stage after performing, with the mindset that we've done our best and whatever results we get, we'll be proud of ourselves.

We STILL HAVE 7 MORE DAYS ( not only 7 more days)

Many things can be done in this 7 days to improve our standards. CONTINUE PRACTISING THE DIFFICULT PASSAGES, every effort counts and everybody matters!

I know all of us are really stressed now, but we ought to be more confident in ourselves. The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure. So we must learn to believe that we can do it alright! Do our best and God will do the rest.

So rest well for the next few days, try to listen to the recordings if you can, take note of your parts, the dynamics and articulation. PRACTISE HARD ALRIGHT?

我说我们行，我们就行！

There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail
It's hard to kill
Who knows what miracles,you can achieve
When you believe, somehow you will
You will when you believe

When You Believe by Mariah Carey

SNSO WE CAN DO IT! HAVE FAITH.

<3 VP

Random

2011-04-19T08:45:00.002+08:00

9 days more to SYF. Either we throw in the towel, accept that this is our highest standard of playing and do nothing else. OR. We accept the responsibility for changing things the way they are and make it tons better. I believe we will all aim for the latter. 9 days is less than 10 days. We are the last school. So, face it like a true stringer. We end off all the performances, we are the last act of the day, and we are going to do it well. Do it well and have no regrets whatsoever the result. That we can look back, smile and know we have done our best. And have given nothing less than that.

2011-03-14T11:24:00.002+08:00

Hey Stringers,

It's only abt a month to SYF. Let's practice hard and really allow for no regrets at the end of this whole thing! It's the march holidays now, so i suppose most of you would have more time to do many other stuffs. Can we try to put more time into practicing our SYF pieces? Just one challenging passage a day makes a difference too! (:

do you really want that GOLD WITH HONOURS?

Love, jan

Random

2011-03-09T21:12:00.003+08:00

You probably aren't gonna get a senior like me anytime soon, but, hey, all for the betterment of the orchestra.
The amount of bread, sweat, and rosin put into this is a lot.
So, of course we wanna get a lot back.
We've lasted till this far, what's the rest of it going to be?
.
It's as small as that full stop.
I'm not going to put anymore cliche stuff in.
I am tired too.
We're all humans.
I hope you understand that.
But.
Our spirit's still going on strong.
Okay, that's cliche.
But whatsoever, I love you guys, kay?
You don't love me, I don't care.
Just love what we're aiming for and strive for it.
Simple enough?
Yeah, I think it's pretty simple.
So we do it with attitude.

And style.

xoxo
V. F.

2011-03-09T13:19:00.002+08:00

HI STRINGERS (:

im not going to post as long as them haha
so im just gonna say that we can do this!

Without a doubt right?

Love pee (as commanded by ur veepee),
Jan

MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH LOLOL

2011-03-08T21:39:00.003+08:00

OK STRINGERS

I know i'm not your pee or veepee but i'm in charge of the strings blog so i have to post this ok?

FIRSTLY: I know you guys are all sick of the "lecturing", all the constant "YOU MUST PRACTICE HARD FOR S.O BECAUSE WE MUST GET GWH FOR SYF". Believe me, i know. In fact, all the white badges understand. We didn't come into S.O in sec 4 you know? 2 years ago ( yes we are old aunties), we were in the places of the red badges, in sec 2 and practicing for the '09 SYF. Although we knew at the time that the '09 SYF wasn't our last chance, and that we would still have this year's SYF to work hard for, we still gave the '09 SYF our very best. And that made all the difference. Because we wanted our Orchestra to do well. And so we did. It didn't matter to us that we were in sec 2, not sec 4, it didn't matter that we had 2 years worth of chances ahead of us. We tried our best. For S.O. We didn't get the GWH that the LALANG (DHS) got, but we got the very next best thing, a beautiful GOLD.

NOW I'M NOT HERE TO LECTURE

Truly, all us whites, are so proud of you, our fellow stringers, for practicing so hard, and really giving everything that you have into practicing for SYF. I'm sure you all are proud of yourselves too (YES YOU KNOW YOU ARE).

And now it's March and the clock is ticking. Is it too much to ask that all of us-every single stringer-give just that much more?

Because when SYF is over, I want all of us to be able to say "I did my best. I'm proud of my CCA" no matter what the results are. Cause really when 50 amazing stringers give everything they've got, there's no way the results can be anything less than excellent. At least to us.

SO MY DARLINGS, let's just do this right. And let's do it together. Greys and Reds, don't just go through the motions. Do it because you want to. Do it so that our CCA will be outstanding, not just to us, but to everyone. And Whites, all I can say is, LET'S DO THIS!

Just remember, if the pressure gets to much, and you feel like we're working towards nothing at all, don't keep it in okay?

Find your lovely pee, veepee, or any senior/stringer that you're comfortable with.

At the end of the day, we're not robots, we remain and will forever remain:

STRINGERS <3

Lots of Love,

Sonia

P.S (THOMAS NOT LAU)

2011 SYF GWH! :)

2011-03-04T21:28:00.006+08:00

Hey stringers,
SYF is around the corner. In fact, it's in approximately 30 days' time, which is quite soon. I know Mr Chan has extolled us for our efforts yesterday at Republic Polytecnic. I really hope that we would not be too self-conceited with the compliments given and let our guards down, being complacent and all.
I know Mr Chan compared us to the other orchestra, saying we were generally better than them. However, do remember that our pieces are comparatively easier as compared to theirs, and we still have many details to work on. We might be 96% ready now, but we have to be 150%, or maybe even 200% ready during SYF. I know all of us have been working really hard since the beginning of the year, and seriously, I have seen a great improvement in our orchestra. Even so, I think there are still some of us who are not putting their hearts fully into this CCA. Have you really played your best during orchestra practice? Were you playing with all your heart? Have you given SNSO your all? Reflect on it.
Our goal for SYf '2011 is Gold with Honours. Two years back, we were utterly disappointed when we only clinched a Gold Award. I remember many of us cried when the judges announced the results. We expected more than just a Gold award. We wanted the Honours. My heart sank as I saw the disappointed faces of our seniors. I have to admit that it was a strenuous struggle preparing for SYF the other time, given that the pieces were extremely difficult, but eventually we managed to overcome this stumbling block and we played our best for SYF. Although we did not emerge as a GWH orchestra, but we know we had made our seniors and teachers proud. Only one school was awarded GWH and we could only console ourselves for not achieving GWH based on that reason. Many whites promised to do better for the next SYF, to achieve the GWH.
And that 'next syf', is the one happening in a month's time. Are we worthy enough to be announced as a GWH orchestra? Are we really up to standard already? We initiated daily recess practice so that you guys will practise together as a section, to practise together as a level, so that eventually we will be able to play together as ONE ORCHESTRA. Like what the teachers and seniors have said, our individuals may not play as well as players from orchestras of the elite schools, however, the advantage that we have over them, is that we are able to play together as one orchestra. Just as the saying goes, ' United we stand, divided we fall'. We are in a way interdependent on each other. Everybody has a role to play in this orchestra, everybody is of utmost importance and nobody is to be left out.
This is definitely going to be a long and gruelling journey. but I believe that as long as we put in our 100%, at the end of this, we'll be able to look back and smile, knowing that we have tried our best. This is the last 100m, and every nitty gritty detail does matter. Would you feel better if we were awarded a Gold and was only 2 or even 1 mark away from GWH or if we attained a Silver? If I had to choose between the two, I would choose the latter. I would feel so guilty knowing that if I had practised a little more we could have have achieved more. SO, stringers, I really hope that whatever I have mentioned has been able to move you to practise harder. Practise because you really want the GWH, because you really want to do it for the CCA and because you really LOVE this CCA so much that you'll do anything just to make sure we attain what we want to glorify it. Feel the music; play like you've never had before.

This has been a rather long post, but I really hope you guys know what I'm trying to convey. And don't be to offended alright. 良药苦口利于病，忠言逆耳利于行。Practise hard, for with faith, nothing is impossible. Juniors, if you guys have any difficulties come and approach us alright, we can talk things out. After all we're not that scary. Jiayou. I really love you guys! <3

Love your veepee.

2011-01-01T22:39:00.004+08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR STRINGERS!

2011 = GWH year (:

Take note:

CCA STARTS ON TUESDAY, 4TH JANUARY 2011, 315PM IN THE MEP ROOM

Subsequently, there would be cca on 6th jan (thurs), 7th jan (fri)

and 8th jan (sat) - about 745am-130pm

That's for CCA fair!

love,

Jan

2010-12-22T00:26:00.003+08:00

OMM Goes to the Movies!

by the Orchestra of the Music Makers

Time: Saturday, January 8, 2011 · 7:30pm - 10:30pm

Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall

Conductor: Chan Tze Law
Soloist: Edward Tan (Violin)
Choir: Victoria Chorale
Chorus Master: Nelson Kwei

Programme:
JERRY GOLDSMITH Star Trek: First Contact - Main Theme
MIKLOS ROZSA Ben Hur: Choral Suite
ERICH KORNGOLD Violin Concerto in D major

JOHN WILLIAMS Suite from 'Star Wars: The Phantom Menace' (including Duel of the Fates)
GUSTAV MAHLER Adagietto from Symphony No.5, from 'Death in Venice'
JOHN WILLIAMS Suite from 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'
JOHN WILLIAMS Flight to Neverland from 'Hook'
JOHN WILLIAMS Dry Your Tears Afrika from 'Amistad'
HANS ZIMMER Suite from 'The Lion King’

The Orchestra of the Music Makers (OMM) opens its 2011 concert season
with wonderfully familiar original scores from your favourite movies!
Come on a fantastic journey with us as we take a flight on a
broomstick in the magical world of Harry Potter, relive the galatic
battles in Star Wars, journey with the Enterprise in Star Trek, and
take an adventure on the savannah in The Lion King.

Adding further magic to the night is OMM Concertmaster Edward Tan
performing the film-inspired Violin Concerto by composer Erich
Korngold. Edward is a multiple prizewinner at Singapore’s National
Piano and Violin Competition and currently a Masters student at Yale
studying violin performance.

Tickets at $35, $25, $19, $12 available from SISTIC.

I think Jana (our senior) is performing in this concert (: PLEASE TRY TO GO IF YOU CAN!

Love,

Jan

2010-12-21T00:01:00.004+08:00

HEYYYYYYYYY STRINGERS!

Hope you guys are still practising even while you are enjoying your holidays (:

For those who do not know, cca days next year will be

Thursday & Friday, 330pm - 630pm.

Also, since it's SYF next year, we will have practice on Tuesday, 330pm - 630pm as well starting from January until end of SYF. Block your days!

TKGS String Ensemble Concert:

9th January 2010

$10

TKGS is going for SYF next year too, so do go and listen to how other orchestras play and pick up the good points from them! More details will be given to you guys once i get them. Meanwhile, pls let me know if you are interested to go for it!

AND pls remember to do your part for cca fair! (souvenirs + stickers + posters)

Love,

Jan

2010-11-13T23:29:00.003+08:00

Hey Guys!

An update on the timings for cca!

18/11 (thurs): 330pm - 630pm (SECTIONALS with instructors)

19/11 (fri): 1pm - 4pm (Mr CHAN)

25/11 (thurs): 330pm - 630pm (Mr CHAN)

26/11 (fri): 2pm - 5pm (SECTIONALS with instructors), 5pm - 630pm (ORCHESTRA)

27/11 (sat, open house):

1st slot: 0830am - 1245pm

2nd slot: 1215pm - 0430pm

There will be breaks in between so don't worry about your stomach! (:

Love,

Jan

2010-11-03T21:33:00.002+08:00

Hello stringers, hehe hope you guys are enjoying your holidays now.
To all the white badges taking HCL, JIAYOU OKAY? We know we can do it.
Grey and Red badges, we know you'll miss us, we will too! :D heeh must practise hard okay?
Anyway, i have to share these, THEY ARE HILARIOUS.

you drop a blonde and a brunette from 100 ft, which hits the ground first?
The brunette, because the blonde has to ask directions on the way down.

A blonde, a brunette, and a redhead all work at the same office for a female boss who always goes home early.
"Hey, girls," says the brunette, "Let's go home early tomorrow. She'll never know."
So the next day, they all leave early right after the boss does.
The brunette gets some extra gardening done.
The redhead goes to the salon.
The blonde goes home to find her husband cheating with her female boss!
So, the blonde quietly sneaks out of the house.
"That was fun," says the brunette the next day. "We should do it again sometime."
"No way," says the blonde. "I almost got caught."

Okay last one.
There is this blonde going to Disney World. She sees a sign that says, "Disney World left". She turns around and goes home.

HAHA THIS IS EPIC. hope this has made your day like how it made mine. :D

♥ yungci

2010-10-05T21:27:00.004+08:00

Hey Stringers!

All the best for the ongoing review tests for the reds
& to the greys + whites: give your best for the upcoming EOYs!
& to our beloved greens, we know you guys will do super well for Os! (:

ALL THE WAY EVERYONE!

Here's 2 random + lame jokes for you guys to relax!

A teacher asks her class, "If there are 5 birds sitting on a fence and you shoot one of them, how many will be left?" She calls on little Johnny.

"None, they all fly away with the first gunshot."

The teacher replies, "The correct answer is 4, but I like your thinking."

Then Little Johnny says, "I have a question for YOU. There are three women sitting on a bench having ice cream. One is delicately licking the sides of the triple scoop of ice cream. The second is gobbling down the top and sucking the cone. The third is biting off the top of the ice cream. Which one is married?"

The teacher, blushing a great deal, replies, "Well I suppose the one that's gobbled down the top and sucked the cone."

"The correct answer is the one with the wedding ring on... but I like your thinking."

Why do students fail in exams?
BECOZ

Eight hours of sleep each day =122 days
365-122=243

summer holidays=61 days
243-61=182

sundays in a year= 52 days
182-52=130

festival holidays= 40 days
130-40=90

3 hrs of daily routine=46 days
90-46=44

winter holiays=15 days
44-15=29

1hr of chatting per day=15 days
29-15=14

sickness days/yr = 10 days
14-10=4

film time in a yr= 3 days
4-3=1
remaining 1day is their
BIRTHDAY…

'have a break, have a kit-kat'

Yours,
Jan

P.S. Juniors, pls leave ur real names in the tagboard (:

2010-09-04T00:08:00.003+08:00

HI SEXY STRINGERS!

This is my first time posting on this pretty blog. (:

Just a few reminders:

Generally
We are improving! Don't ever give up on practising! No matter how tough it may seem, you will get there, so persevere on! (:

Attendance/puntuality
1. Produce an MC/parent's letter if you cant make it for cca on the particular day
2. Tell Stephanie if you will be late for CCA (including those with extra lessons)
3. Please be puntual for CCA:
Thursdays - 3.15pm
Friday - 3.00pm

Orchestra time
1. SCORES & PENCIL!
2. Respect please, even towards the student conductor

Borders invitation
This is what the person-in-charge sent us:

"
A little insight on what Borders is trying to do as off now. We are trying to form a community outreach movement in where we encourage local musicians and artistes to showcase their talents in our 2 stores in Wheelock and Parkway respectively. We would like it if the crowd can mingle around with the performances and have something that they are able to relate too. Hopefully, in this manner, we are able to bring back the old Borders culture as a favourite hangout for youths and adults due to the amount of entertainment and gigs that is regularly showcased in our stores.

We are happy to provide a platform for musicians to perform in our store and they will be able to promote their album or EP as they perform. In fact, we already had 3 musicians who performed with us recently. They are Eunice Keitan who is a Canadian acoustic performer who is currently in Australia performing now and will be back to perform in September with us, Seyra Tunes, a musician who did the opening act for Yuna, a Zee Avi equivalent and lastly Vivian from Replugged Music, an inspiring ukulele artiste. Eunice performed at Wheelock in July and Seyra and Vivian performed at our EXPO fair just 2 weeks back.
"
Try to take up this opportunity if you can to expose yourself to performing in public, especially the red & grey badges. Probably after EOYs for grey badges! Come and talk to me if you/the group of you wanna put up an item! (:

Aside those stuffs, to anyone of you
if there is anything that you would like to see improvement in the orchestra or any feedback, do let me/string exco know!

RED & GREY & WHITE BADGES -
ALL THE BEST FOR YOUR REVIEW TESTS / END-OF-YEAR EXAMS!

but don't forget to take a break at times! 'have a kit-kat!'
(:

with love,
Jan

CIP

2010-08-01T10:40:00.003+08:00

HEY SO GIRLS

Just a reminder CIP is on 14th August, here are the pieces we're playing....

1) St Paul's Suite
2) Rutter first movement
3) Holberg Suite
4) Eine Klein Nachtmusik first movement.

Remeber to practise hard.

STRINGS COMMITTEE 2010 to 2011

2010-07-31T18:14:00.004+08:00

THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE

President: Jan Chiang An Li
Vice-President: Chai Yung Ci
Secretary: Stephanie Lam
Treasurer: Xu Shu Ya@ Juniana Wijaya
Welfare and Communications officer: Sonia Ann Thomas
Discipline Mistress: Chia Ying Yin
Librarian: Amanda Foo
Quartermistress: Chu Wen
Assistant Librarian: Pui Ying
Assistant Quartermistress: Stefanie See

THE MUSIC COMMITTEE

Student Conductor: Amanda Foo
Assisstant Student Conductor: Valerie Foong
Concert Mistress: Valerie Foong
Assistant Violin 1 Section Leader: Wei Ling
Violin 2 Section leader: Natasha Lee Varella
Violin 2 Assistant Section Leader: Deshalynn
Viola Section Leader: Isobel Tan Hwei Ern
Viola Assistant Section Leader: Amanda Chua Yun Shan
Cello Section Leader: Juniana Wijaya
Cello Assistant Section Leader: Chai Yung Ci
Double Bass Section leader: Chia Ying Yin

LEVEL COs

Sec1: Shu Yi
Sec 2: Michelle
Sec 3: Amanda Chua

VJSE DSA

2010-05-19T19:25:00.003+08:00

Hey green badges!

VJSE DSA is on the 7th and 21st June! Please do come down and take part in the audition. Go to this website to http://www.vjc.moe.edu.sg/dsa/index.html to check it out(:

VJSE has just held our annual concert and we will be holding it again next year! We hope that you will join us next year too! On the 10th of July this year, we will be combining with VJCO and players from Hong Kong, Macau and China under the hong kong conductor in charge of this exchange programme (: we'll be flying to hong kong to have a concert with them in december then to Macau and China! It's a brand new experience for the ensemble. If we were to play well towards the end of the year, this exchange programme will become an annual event(: He has also spotted talent among the players. Some of you may know Grace, our senior from the yellow batch, she was the viola SL and the conductor felt that she would be a loss to the music world when she did not want to study music. You, too, can have this experience (: So do come down and try!

OH!If you do get into VJSE via DSA, you'll be invited to join us in december and get a complementary ticket (: how fun is that? SUPERB

Other than strings, VJ will ensure that you'll have a fun time through your junior college life! (:

I hope to see you guys then (: Thanks (:

2009-11-21T23:35:00.005+08:00

Hi guys! Here's the details for Take 5 concert!

Take 5

Date: 6th Dec, Sunday

Time: 7.30pm

Place: Esplanade

Price: $12 for students (U.P. $20)

Sms me if you're going asap! And please please do go and support Mr. Chan! :D

<333 yingtong

2009-11-11T22:22:00.004+08:00

Hi stringers!

This is the new seating arrangement during orchestra practice. (Done by May :D)

Please do continue to practise during the holidays. Esp. Dvorak Serenade!! We don't want to disappoint Mr Chan again yeah? :/

There will most likely be check ups in January on Dvorak so if you want to get 'promoted' to the front stands, work hard! (:

<333

Wei Tian

2009-10-17T19:20:00.003+08:00

hey stringers!

a note of reminder: CCA ON FRIDAY, 23 OCTOBER 2009! Report at 3.15(:

<3 yeh old boss

2009-09-10T15:13:00.000+08:00

Hey yo stringalings!

How's the blogskin! It's not the final one yet and we'll continue touching it up!:D

It's the holy days now and all of us are studying and mugging. But remember to relax too! When you want to take a break, just take out your instru and play some scales or a small part of Mozart's Eine Kleine or Tchaikovsky! It's good to have some practice!

Oh and to all the sec1s and sec2s performing, ALL THE BEST AND JIAYOU! Play and WOW the audience yeah!

loveeeeeeeeeee you guys to bits!
老板

2009-09-10T14:09:00.000+08:00

SURPRISE!
We finally changed our blogskin!!! Special thanks to Ying Tong(老板/boss) for creating it =D
We're stil in the process of editing the skin and the background pic (which does not include the greys) is just temporary. So don't worry, everyone will have their faces pasted on the blog soon... >:D eheheh.

<3 老板娘

2009-08-01T10:22:00.000+08:00

SNSTRING COMMITTEE 2009

President: OLIVIA NG

Vice-President: ELIZABETH CHEN

Secretary: REBECCA HO

Treasure/ Librarian: VANESSA TAN

Discipline & Welfare Officer: ALETHEA LOH

Quartet Mistress: TEO JING YUN

Quartet Mistress: PRISCILLA LOH

Level Coordinator: REBECCA TAN

Cameraman: ALDEA ZHANG

Screamer: MAK CARMEN

Violin Ones Sectional Leader/ Concert Mistress: JESSALYN TAY

Violin Two Sectional Leader: LI TING

Viola Sectional Leader: AMANDA PAN

Cello Sectional Leader: CHAN WAN TING

Double Bass Sectional Leader: LOW ANN

Student Conductor: LI TING

SNSTRING COMMITTEE 2010

President: YEO YING TONG

Vice-president: TAN WEI TIAN

Secretary: HANNAH HO

Librarian: CHEA RUEI ERN

Treasurer: CHARLYN LEE

Welfare Officer: CHARMAINE WEE

Quartet Mistress: CHERYL LIM

Quartet Mistress: HEIDI TAN

Level Coordinator: TAN WENG CHEN

Violin One Sectional Leader/ Concert Mistress: CHARLYN LEE

Violin Two Sectional Leader: CHARMAINE WEE

Viola Sectional Leader: MAY LOH

Cello Sectional Leader: TAN WEI TIAN

Double Bass Sectional Leader: CHEA RUEI ERN

Student Conductor: CHAN LI TING

FOR ALL THEIR WONDERFUL

HARD WORK AND DEDICATION,

THIS IS TO THE DARK BLUE BADGES AND

SNSTRING COMMITTEE 2009 :

THANK YOU

AND

ALL THE BEST!

2009-05-24T17:26:00.000+08:00

JUBILATE VI 2009
SNSTRING

JUBILATE!!!!

2009-05-16T17:07:00.000+08:00

Hey stringers!

Jubilate is coming REAL SOON, so here are some things to take note of!

So based on our syf recording...

1) Intonation
Take note of this for the running down scales, for example Rounds bar 17. It sounded horrible in the recording, but then again, it might be because of the not really good recording quality.

2) SHORT (Articulation/Accents)
Yes, the acoustics of the hall wasn't very good during syf, but ANYWAY, just play it short. Then it won't sound so draggy! Yep.

Ok thats all for the SYF pieces. I think.

As for Hope, just look at Mr Chan and know what he's doing so you can come in on time. And take note of the dynamics.

THAT'S ALL! Jiayous stringers!!!!! WE CAN DO IT!!!!!!!! =)

-Li Ting

2009-05-01T19:24:00.000+08:00

Dear Juniors :)

This is Jana here. I know many of you are disappointed with the results but I am glad that your seniors (Jessalyn, Olivia.. Vanessa... etc.) are taking it with good spirits. Yes, SNSO didn't reach its goal of getting the very-much-desired Gold With Honours prize, but didn't every single one of you have a GWH SYF journey?

I know it is tough to go out to face the other CCAs when the Symphonic Band, Chinese Orchestra, Choir and Modern Dance all got the GWH, and I do know that your peers have been 'looking down' on SNSO just because we didn't get the GWH. Trust me, I know that how it feels. But you see, the SYF is more than just getting a 'brand' for the orchestra, it is forging bonds with your orchestra mates throughout the months of intense preparations, it is going through so much drama and hatred and yet love and adoration for every little thing about SYF - whether be it the people, your instrument, the piece, the conductor.

Having been through 3 SYFs and a long-time member of SNSO, I do know the excitement and the joy that SYF brings, as well as the disappointment and the tears.

Just a few days ago, SNSO walked out of the RP auditorium in tears, shaking with shock and crying with disappointment. But every single one of you did a STUNNING job and I know (trust me haha) the amount of hard work, the skipping of many recesses, the amount of sandwich bread eaten, the hours of practicing till you feel like ripping your scores apart. Every single one of us who is and was part of the SNSO family knows how much harder we have to work to achieve the kind of standard we have now.

And of course, not forgetting the very handsome and cool man that brought us to this stage: our dear conductor Mr. Chan Wei Shing.

He has never ever given up on us even when we were literally playing like... um.. like... cats. And that is a testament to how much faith he has in the potential of SNSO. Your seniors are always cheering SNSO on, because even though we've left, there's always a part of us that will till remain with SNSO. That is the beauty of an SNSO girl.

So never give up on SNSO, your peers and most importantly, yourselves.

I am so terribly proud of every single one of you. And despite the results we have achieved, dear SNSO, we are still a GWH orchestra.

Fight on! And remember to play with all your heart and soul for Jubilate, and prove everybody that SNSO is of great quality, spirit and determination.

To the rest of the juniors who will be in SYF 2011, I hope all of you have learned from this experience, and continue to hunger for that goal every orchestra has for SYF.

All the best :)
Jana .

2009-04-30T22:56:00.001+08:00

On behalf of string, we congratulate all string orchestra for putting in a lot of hard work for this SYF performance (: we have put in our very best to make this performance the ultimate best (: a round of applause for all string orchestra! WELL DONE!! (:

2009-04-30T22:16:00.000+08:00

HEY STRINGERS!!

We are all super super proud of each and everyone of you guys!! WE DID IT!! WE ROCK MAN, and women!! (: we made an impact and wow everyone! we have proved that we girls are able to play manly songs well! don't care about what others say, in our hearts, we know that we have put in 150% into our playing, we have put in a lot of effort!! We love every single one of you guys!!

now our next mission: JUBILATE!!!! we're gonna practice super super hard to prove that we deserved it! we're gonna shock everyone with our loud, impressive and incredible playing!! everyone is gonna sit up straight and listen to us!

We WILL move like lallangs (basses!), smile confidently, stare at Mr Chan, pluck with such great movements, breathe together making the audience breathe together with us, cellos will play like yankee doodle (: (: (; we will WOW every single one!!

so string, do not feel upset! take this as a learning experience, the best memories we've ever had. JUBILATE, We WILL LEAVE THE BEST IMPRESSION EVER!! WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!! DON'T GIVE UP!!

REMEMBER OUR SMALL WORLD (: it consists of SNSTRING, OUR MUSIC, MEP ROOM, METRONOME, MR CHAN AND THE BATON (: (: (: i love our small world !!

STRING, WE CAN DO IT!! GO FOR IT (: WE WILL SHINE LIKE A FROLICSOME DIAMOND (:

2009-04-30T21:41:00.000+08:00

STRINGERS

As I am typing this, I'm wondering how long I'd be able to post like this.

As I am typing this, our recording is playing in the background.

As I am typing this, my keyboard is gradually getting wetter and wetter.

No don't get me wrong, I am not disappointed nor am I angry or sad.

These are tears of joy for me. No, not only me, your seniors and I were on the phone, listening to it, crying.

SNSTRING

We were good. No matter what others think, we were good. We played with all we had, gave it our best shot and let me tell you this. I don't and I never will regret what we did, what we played.

Yes we lost what we had wanted but we gained so many new things in the process. The other orchestras were fantastic, snstring please don't criticize. Learn from them, and improve ourselves. We have so much we can learn from them, every single one.

This is not our final year in SYF. Not for SNSTRING.
2 years, 4 years, 6 years, 8 years and even more later, you stringers will still be performing.

We got a gold this year. Let me tell you this, we won't be denied an honours for long. Who do you think we are?

We're SNSTRINGERS aren't we?

One time isn't going to put us in a slump forever.

My dears, cry now if you want. Cry and relieve all the stress we have been carrying on our weary shoulders. But promise me stringers, that once we're done crying, pick yourselves up again and move on.

Reach for higher places and grasp the stars. Because we want to, because we can.

I have never been so proud of something before. I am not disappointed with us, never was. What I am feeling right now is really too complex to be put into words and this feeling is something only we stringers can understand. Only we, who played on that very stage can understand.

It's alright if everyone else thinks that we're screwed. Because we're not. We all know that don't we stringers? It doesn't matter if all everyone else want is the result because we know that deep down, we've gotten it already.

I'm not asking you to delude yourselves. But just know that SNSTRING was brilliant. Know that and strive to be better, better and then, the best. We were true performers on the 29th.
True snstringers and I love you all for that.

Our love for string exceeds gold with honours.

SNSTRINGERS we have one last performance this year! Practice and we will show the world what we're made of. Let your love for Rounds and Britten grow. Don't let 2009 become a painful memory, it is not, We will spend the rest of this year growing closer, becoming stronger. We will spend the rest of 2009 in joy.

We deserve it don't we stringers?

This is my last year wearing our beautiful uniform, Jubilate is my last. Make this the best Jubilate we have ever played in.

SNSTRING

OUR BITTERSWEET MEMORIES OF 2009 WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN WILL THEY?

2009-04-28T21:15:00.000+08:00

SMILE!
ONE FINAL SPRINT!
WE HAVE COME SO FAR,
WE CAN DO IT!!!

2009-04-27T22:12:00.000+08:00

STRINGERS

yes another post :D A LONG ONE.

Tomorrow is our last time before we take centre stage. The last time we'll rehearse as an orchestra before we shine as one. Yes we'll give it our best. We're going to go up there, and give it our all. We'll shock the audience, shock the judges, shock Mr Chan. Heck, we're going to shock ourselves.

Not with a whole bunch out-of-tune notes, notes that don't exist in the score, late/early entrances/exits, a plain boring piece of whatever you want to call it.

No.

We're going to show them what we're really made of (not sugar, spice and everything nice). What our music is truly truly made of.

We grasped the fact that yes, we do want that gold with honours. We've proven it to ourselves that we want it, we've proven to our seniors, friends that we want it. We've proven it to the teachers, Mr Chan that we want it.

We're going to prove to the audience that we want it. We're going to prove to the judges that we want it. We're going to prove that we girls, are about as manly as a guy can get.
Yes, we are (albeit a bit weird to say so).

We've come so far. Dragged ourselves back from all those times of disappointment, anger and hopelessness. Even when others gave up on us, we didn't give up on ourselves. We proved our worth to them and we will render them speechless on Wednesday.

The last time we went in, we came out crying. We ended our piece knowing that it was the best we had ever played and string, we are going to feel the same way this time. I know we will.

We'll exchange glances on stage, uncertain, worried, nervous at the beginning. But I know that as our last note rings throughout the hall, we will stand and smile at the audience (smile, not grimace) and walk off stage, unable to contain our tears our joy.

We will walk backstage, laughter and tears all rolled up into one and we will confidently tell our friends praying for us back in school, our teachers, everyone that our music was brilliant, exceptional, excellent, stellar.

In other words, our music was what we wanted it to be.

Forget what others say, forget what our peers achieved, forget expectations placed on us. Because right now, it's only us and our music. Nothing else matters.

When we walk on stage, the hall will be empty, no audience, no judges. Just our dear orchestra, our dear music and our charming conductor and his baton.

My dears, from now on, his baton will be the apple of your eye.

On Wednesday morning, you will be scared. You will tell me you are scared.
Then I'll tell you i'm scared shitless. Sure, it's normal to be scared, afraid, I'm not telling you to lie to yourself and say no I am not scared at all. Nor am i telling you to be really scared with me.

I'm telling you that you're not alone, as cliche as it sounds, we're all in this together. We are an orchestra, we chose this path and we're going to do this together.

Remember eveything single thing Mr Chan, your tutors, your SLs and I told you. Remember them like you would remember how scared you will be, how intimidating the hall is going to get.

I didn't talk my voice hoarse for nothing today.

Remember that.

We're on our 6th lap, and we're not going to flop dead. We're going to go full speed, we're going to give it all we've got. We're going to fight tooth and nail for what we want, what we deserve.

We're going to be one sound, beat with one heart, play with one goal in mind, play with one soul.

Because we are one.

Snstring. This is all my love for you.

2009-04-26T20:06:00.000+08:00

HEY JUNIORS!!!

I just want to say ALL THE BEST in the upcoming Singapore Youth Festival on Wednesday :)

I know you all have worked sooo hard for it and amidst all that drama and tears (plus eating toast for the past few months and sacrificing that lovely dish of an orange bowl), I am confident that each and every single one of you will triumph and gain the results that you all want :)

Play your best, remember to look at Mr. Chan and breathe! I have x435342346 confidence in all of you! I really wish I could be there though :( be in the excitement of things and sharing this wonderful experience with all of you, BUT I'LL BE CHEERING YOU ON IN AUSTRALIA! Mak Carmen Rachel you better remember to sms me then I'll call you all :)

ALL THE BEST GIRLS!

2009-04-26T12:51:00.000+08:00

STRINGERS

THE TIME IS ABOUT TO COME!!!!

PLAY YOUR VERY BEST AND LIKE WHAT MR GOH SAID WE WILL.....................................

WE CAN DO IT (:

2009-04-23T21:28:00.000+08:00

Hello Stringers, it's 5 more days to SYF! ! ! We all know what Mr Chan said today right :) BUT we must continue to practice hard, only then we can get *ahem* we all know what we want.

It's been 4, almost 5 very long months of eating bread, playing the same songs over and over again, and again. But from January till now, we've improved in small steps, large steps, and finally in leaps and bounds and somersaults! Now it's the last 5 days, GO STRING! It doesn't matter what the other schools are playing, because we know that with our music we'll achieve our goal! This time we don't have Hope (peter hope), we have certainty (WITHOUT A DOUBT!)

So, everyone must remember what Mr Chan, Mr Goh, Mrs Tham, Ms Foo, your SLs, Jessalyn says and remember to do it!

St Nicholas String Orchestra, all the way!

2009-04-22T21:20:00.000+08:00

STRINGERS

This is our final lap.

We've come so far and we all know we're going to go even further.

We've got one whole school and more praying for us, believing in us.

We've got it all laid out.

We just have to take this plunge and reach for it together.

Because we want to

Because we can

Let's do this together.

2009-04-20T18:41:00.000+08:00

Hello String,
Heard the news??
Band, Modern Dance, Choir all came back with Gold With Honours(:
Pressurising, but We CAN do it too(:
Hope you have been practising dilligently! I dont want any WhatIfs or IShouldHave's on 29th! give it your all(:
If you're gonna say "I should have practised more", Practise NOW! before its too late(:
1 week to go, persevere!

<33

p.s please control yourselves during britten:/

2009-04-08T22:17:00.000+08:00

HEY STRINGERS!!!

SYF IS GETTING NEARER AND NEARER!!!!!
and we WILL and MUST get better and better then BEST (:

WORK HARD! one of our piece (which i'm not allowed to post on this blog until the end of syf) is the FIRST to be played in SINGAPORE and maybe, SOUTHEAST ASIA or even ASIA!!!

we will play the piece to our extreme extreme best and get EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS to infinity and beyond(: (: (: WOOHOO!!!!
WE CAN DO IT (:

Tickets for Jubilate on the 22nd of may at Republic Poly is selling at $30. Pls let any stringers know if you would like to get tickets (: there are limited number of tickets!!! SNSO will be playing second premiere of a certain piece in the whole of singapore during jubilate!!

2009-03-16T21:42:00.000+08:00

Hey stringers!
Syf is on the 29th april which is not far away.. please practice hard to get what you deserve and then you can enjoy the fruits of your labour. we are a team and please be a team player as we know we are all stars and we are all in this together. every single one of us is of significant importance in this journey to success. like huddles, we have to support each other and help those in need, helping everyone to pull through this tough period. co operate with your sls and teammates as all of them really want and are most willing to help you. the important thing is not to retreat; you have to master yourself :) just because someone has fancy sneakers that doesnt mean they can run faster. we may not have so much experience, however, as long as we work hard and and stick together, im positive we can do it! Stringers, be confident, as long as you put in 200 percent, we WILL get what we want!

REMEMBER: WE LIVE AND BREATHE GOLD WITH HONOURS!

love, the exco :)

2009-01-23T21:04:00.001+08:00

HAPPY LUNAR NIU YEAR!!!

SNSTRING's LOHEI!

look at all the happy faces haha

organised by the one&only darkblues(:

and some just wanted more luck....

keep practising(:

xoxo

2008-11-20T15:00:00.000+08:00

Hi Stringers / seniors / snstring alumni (:

As you all know, our infamous storeroom has not been cleaned for decades !!
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE, WE HAVE WORKED A WONDERFUL MIRACLE

now presenting to you.........

OUR LIVING LEGACY

Our Storeroom!!

Our Library!!

A very big thank you to the...

people who took the instrument cases out of the cupboards filled with dust, cobwebs and spider nest.
people who cleaned the cases until there was no more dust seen.
people who noted down the number of cases and instruments.
people who cleaned the cupboards with duster, cloth and a vacuum cleaner.
people who placed the cases back into the sparkling clean cupboards.
teachers who help by carrying and cleaning.
people who dedicated 3 hours to cleaning the storeroom
people who placed the scores neatly in the plastic folders, slowly filing it into the big ring file.

THANK YOU!!!

2008-10-09T21:40:00.000+08:00

HELLO STRINGERS!!

The comm extends a big warm welcome back to all of you!! (:

we hope that you all are still in good conditions after all the mugging !

do report at 3.15 !!

(FYI, according to the mep room clock)

We have a long and tiring journey ahead of us but we will work together and achieve excellent and magnificent results!!!

once again, WELCOME BACK (:

Love,

Your Comm (:

2008-08-27T22:13:00.000+08:00

To our dearest YELLOWS :

ALL THE WAY FOR O LEVELS !!! :D

Pass with flying colours!! <333

2008-08-19T20:04:00.000+08:00

Hello all stringers!

please remember to practise for this friday alright? Sec ones (excluding those who played in jubilate) don't worry too much because we'll all go easy on you! :D

So Don't Stress!

and don't you all think that...

MR CHAN + WORKING METRONOME = BEST FRIENDS FOREVER :D

oh and comm is planning a mass spring cleaning for the WHOLE mep room since we're using it for one more year and we'll have it maybe sometime in the holidays. So committee members if you guys have any cleaning stuff please keep them!

and the rest of the orch: go try catching some cockroaches as practice. i expect a lot of screaming :D

this friday is the LAST orch prac for the school term! cheers! except for the white badges of course...sec threes and twos will join you guys for practice during the holidays! KEEP PRACTISING!

b(^-^)d

XOXO,
Prince Edward aka James<3333

P.S it's so colourful!!!

2008-08-13T19:11:00.001+08:00

Hello Stringers!

Yes we have finally updated the comm list and the members. Thank you to all the seniors for their GENTLE reminder to update all these. (:

Anyways, here are the groupings for this friday's cip.

Playing group:
we will put the scores nicely for you. (: pls rmb to collect the files from us on friday! (prepare your score, just in case of emergency) btw, we want all BLACK FILES back if you still have it!

Interacting group:
Group leader collect sweets from us on friday!! Mr teoh says that each group must teach the children about string instruments like the parts of your instruments and other informations about the string instruments. pls prepare all these info on your own!! meet up together and decide how you will do it. please take note of the age group you are taking care of! (: have like quizzes to keep them entertain! interact with them or maybe have games session with them!! their hyperactive kids so keep them entertained or the comm members will personally make you bored to death by nagging at you!!!

GROUPINGS:

Playing group:
SEC 3s - ALL
SEC 2s - Charlyn, Li Ting, Charmaine, Alyssa, Hannah, May, Wei Tian, Jia Min
Ruei Ern, Ying Tong
SEC 1s - Stephanie, Valerie, Charis

Interacting group:

Pri 1:
Juniana(L)
Chu Wen
Amanda Foo

Pri 2:
Steffi(L)
Jasmine
Ying Yin

Pri 3:
Cheryl(L)
Yung Ci
Yi Shuen

Pri 4:
Heidi(L)
Sonia
Li Lin

Pri 5:
Qing Wen(L)
Isobel
Ray Yueh

Pri 6:
Hong Lan(L)
Natasha
Amanda Chua
Jan

BTW, WE NEED COOKIES, SWEETS AND BISCUITS FOR THE CENTRE. IF YOU CAN BUY, PASS IT TO US EARLY IN THE MORNING ON FRIDAY! (:

those who are going for the TAKE 5 concert this sunday bring the money by this friday. It's $12 (:

i suppose that's about all. pls get everything ready for this FRIDAY!! (: thank you (:
i shall end this very long post with what i do best (:
Why are fishes so cunning???

haha see you all this friday!!! (:

LOVE, OLIVIA (:
p.s those who know the answer please don't fill the tag board with it, i will reveal it this friday (:

2008-07-05T09:38:00.001+08:00

Hello stringers (:

Thanks for the really memorable farewell! Continue to persevere and work smart always! Love you guys (:

Oh yeah, continue to update too k? (;

<3 Mary-Anne

2008-05-29T23:18:00.000+08:00

Hello! (:

All the best to everybody for Jubilate V! We've all worked very hard the past few months, and it's all culminating on the 30th and 31st. Just play your very best, not because you want to fulfill people's expectations, but because you enjoy the music. Hope everybody enjoys their performance (:

ALL THE WAY!!!

Love!
You-Know-Who

2008-05-14T00:41:00.000+08:00

Hey guys. Jana here again..

I visited rongxuan today. Sent her all your wishes, didn't tell her about the cranes though, didn't have a chance. Will tell her when I have a chance to. I shall not lie but... she really does not look good. It breaks my heart to see a good friend of mine lying there on an ICU hospital bed with tubes stuck all over and looking all swollen and to not do anything about it.

But just keep on praying alright.

Just to inform you, the doctors already said that even if she does make it through, she will never be the same again. There may be paralysis, mental problems, memory loss - but to what degree they don't know till she wakes up. She was supposed to get off the morphine and drugs today so she could wake up but the doctor decided that she isn't ready. Give her 48 more hours.

I told her about Jubilate. I told her that she had to watch the video that will be posted on YouTube after Jubilate. I told her that we had to watch it together (we are in the same school here in Melbourne). Please play well k?

I wanted to plug in Shosta via my iPod into her ear but they were covered by bandages. And violas, you know her duck-that-doesn't-really-look-like-a-duck? It was right beside her... :) I smiled when I saw it. Keep the faith, keep on praying, hope that whatever happens, it's all God's will and it happens for a reason.

<3 you guys,
Jana.

2008-05-13T21:14:00.001+08:00

hello everybody! just wanted to say that i'm really happy that all of you are really trying your best to fold the 1,000 cranes for rongxuan :) though i think some of the sec2s and most/all of the sec1s might not know who she is, you all still tried to help fold as many cranes as you could and that's something really touching :) i'm sure rongxuan will be very very touched :) we've folded more than 500 cranes today in an hour so its really good! with all your help we'll be able to get 1,000 tomorrow so yay very good :) :) :) i know its quite hard folding the hard white paper but yeah try your best okay! my thumbs are hurting from pressing the paper too hard hahaha. you can also write a small note to her if you want to, we'll include it in the box alright! (or like what amanda pan did which was very very very very very very sweet - she wrote (in chinese) jiayou on every crane she folded! i think. so you can easily tell which ones were the ones she folded :) )

anyway, there's only around 17 days more to jubilate! we can do it okay, don't ever ever ever stop practising! (note to mary-anne: i wrote it with an 's'!!!!!!!!!!!) we're halfway there - at least today most/all of you could memorise already so keep it up! jiayou and don't give up. the people from idontknowwhere will be coming on friday so play your best then! and please start sitting half-chair okay!!!!! we can do it, alllllllllllllll the way!

keep praying for vanessa, i'm sure she can feel our support even from melbourne :)

loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove (times 10^infinity),
cassandra :)

psssssssssssssssss whites and greens please please please let us know if you have difficulty getting the attire ready okay! try by this weekend. thanks :)

2008-05-11T15:38:00.000+08:00

Hey juniors, Jana here again...

Would like to ask you to pray for one of your seniors, Vanessa Ong Rong Xuan (Red Badge 2007). She is currently studying in the same school as me in Melbourne. On Thursday, her hostelmates found her unconscious in the bathroom. She was immediately transported to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and has been there since (it's Sunday now). She is very seriously ill and is in the Intensive Care Unit.

It is reported that she has internal bleeding in her brain. Nobody is allowed to visit her yet but I will certainly update you all on her condition ASAP. Please pray for her, I'm really worried.

Jana

2008-05-04T23:02:00.000+08:00

Hello all (:

Yes I am back here, again. I hope all of you will go download the recordings of the pieces okay, not cos some naggy senior is asking you to do so, and so you go download it and then chuck it aside somewhere in your computer files and never touch it again.

That's not the point. The point is so that you have a good idea of how the music should sound like, and that kind of sound is what everybody should be working towards. I don't mean that you should blindly attempt to sound exactly like the recording. It should work as a good reference point for everybody.

Some checkpoints for everybody during rehearsal:
1) How is my tone? (ie steady, wavering, scratchy, inconstant etc)
2) Am I following the composer's directions? (ie dynamics, articulation etc. It's amazing how many people overlook this)
3) Do I blend in together with the rest of my section?
4) Am I satisfied with my level of playing? What can I do to improve? (ie phrasing, intonation, mood, tone etc)
5) Do I pay attention to the conductor during rehearsal? Do I respond to him?

These 5 points are the basics that everybody must pay careful attention to. So instead of talking during rehearsal, you can think about these 5 points!

All the way, only 26 days more to Jubilate! (rhymes)

<3 Mary-Anne

2008-04-22T16:23:00.000+08:00

I've put up the recordings for String Serenade, and the Bach double concerto. The first movement [the one we're playing] is 04, but I've put up the second and third movements as well [05 and 06] for anybody who's interested in them.

Please go download and listen to them! The standard of the string serenade is what everybody should be aiming for, [Like for eg, the cello solo -ahem- :D ] apart from the place where violin2s take over the semiquavers from violin1s. Go listen. You'll get what I mean.

And the Bach. There is energy; it is vivacious, yes? And yes the soloist is damn imba cos she's HILARY HAHN. If you don't know who Hilary Hahn is you deserve a knock on the head.

Gogogo! We have about 5 more weeks only! Jiayou! SNSO is capable of a much higher standard than what it is now, if only everybody plays their part (:

Oh and you might want to go listen to The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba too. It's something that I think should be tried one day, post-Jubilate :D [there's a score for just string orchestra - without harpsichord and oboes]

http://mediafire.com/

Please ask me for the email and password. Thanks(:

-- Mary-Anne

2008-04-20T23:35:00.002+08:00

Exactly a year ago, SNSO achieved GWH at the SYF'07. Tears were shed; but they were tears of joy and elation.

Let's all make our upcoming concerts a similar experience, okay? We can pull through this together.

<3 from You-Know-Who

2008-04-11T18:36:00.000+08:00

Hey Juniors... Jana here.

Heard you all today and well.. Bach sounded okay. But okay isn't enough. Okay is not an SNSO standard. It is something that many other orchestras can reach as well. So, I would like to address some things (this is in the best interests of the entire orchestra k! :) so listennnn)

1. POSTURE.

Yes. It was only the BEGINNING of the practice and I could see MANY people slouching off. Sectional leaders and front desk-ers (I don't want to name who), you have a responsibility to show your juniors and section what GOOD POSTURE IS. And that means, NOT SLOUCHING and HUNCHING, no flopping into your seat like its a squishy, comfortable pillow and I KNOW IT GETS VERY TIRING. But AT LEAST, keep your back STRAIGHT (lean it AGAINST the chair if you need to). If your seniors can do it, SO CAN YOU! -make it work!- :)

2. INTONATION

Sectional Leaders: PLEASE GET YOUR SECTIONS TOGETHER TO CLEAR UP INTONATION. Bach is ALL about intonation and clarity. Having such a small orchestra play Bach, literally every single player can be heard. Some were sharper than the rest, others were flat, and some were okay. So it ends up being this cacophony of sounds - it has to sound like a LOVELY MELODIC TUNEEEE.

3. TOGETHERNESS.

Basically, it sounds pretty OKAY as a section (yes, OKAY again) but it does not sound TOGETHER! Yes, reverberating about the 'Intonation' part, once your section is done with the intonation, it is time to GET the section together. Remember how we practiced so much as a section for SYF? Assimilating, blending in and bonding with your section is very important for you all to play as ONE sound, ONE section, ONE orchestra.

4. SOFT TONES

I have said this many times before (hope I don't sound to bossy! :S but I reeeaally gotta say this), when the dynamic says 'p' or 'pp', it does NOT give you the excuse to play in wispy, airy fairy, light tones (unless stated otherwise - like a HARMONIC or something). There still can be character and punch in a 'p' or 'pp' phrase. DIG IN! But still stay soft at the same time (remember SHOSTA?? Our SUPER SOFT phrase??).

5. SECTION LEADERS

SNSO needs to see more passion, more hunger for good quality, good playing and producing a good section. Be overly concerned, approach your section members and ask if they need help. Be patient. It is only with competent section leaders that an orchestra and truly progress and improve. I have faith in you SLs!

___________________________
I'm only commenting about Bach because I only heard that piece. I have faith in you guys. I have absolute faith and I KNOW you all will be able to pull it off and play EXCELLENTLY in Jubilate. Though I can't be there in person to watch you all play 3 wonderful pieces (you all better do!), I will be cheering you all on from Australia ok!

I KNOW ALL OF YOU CAN DO IT. DON'T GIVE UP COS I'VE NEVER GIVEN UP ON YOU ALL :)

<3

2008-04-06T22:28:00.000+08:00

GO STRINGERS YOU ALL CAN DEFINITELY DO MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW ALRIGHT! WORK HARD, PLAY HARD, AND WE'LL ALL BE HAPPY STRINGERS ON BOTH NIGHTS OF JUBILATE, AND EVERYBODY WILL KNOW WHAT SNSTRING CAN TRULY DO! JIAYOU JIAYOU JIAYOU JIAYOU JIAYOU JIAYOU JIAYOU JIAYOU!

RED BADGES LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY TICKETS FOR JUBILATE SO WE CAN TRY TO GIVE Y'ALL GOOD SEATS!

<3 from Dumbledore (but You-Know-Who is my very good friend, not arch enemy...)

2008-03-31T21:31:00.000+08:00

Hello all, please continue practising hard for all those who are doing so! For those who are not, you better do so or you will find me behind you one day with a saucepan raised over your head. Hahaha kidding BUT PLEASE PRACTISE! DO NOT BECOME COMPLACENT.

So that:
1) Rehearsals will not be spent correcting intonation (ahem)
2) Rehearsals will not be spent getting the rhythm right
3) Rehearsals will not be spent with your SLs telling you to REMEMBER THE DYNAMICS
4) Rehearsals can be spent coordinating all sections together so that we sound like a single unit, instead of several sections made of several people. So that we can actually focus on the music.

If any of you are not sure about anything about the pieces, you can go bug your SLs who will be most happy to answer your questions.

Jiayou!

<3 from You-Know-Who

2008-01-21T22:47:00.000+08:00

Hello all :)

Your lovely senior Jana is back to update this stale pretty blog! And since I haven't loaded my share of SOME Japan trip photos, I shall take this chance to do so too (as I am, obviously, very bored as well) :D

So, this is Mt. Fuji! I tried my best to photoshop it so the mountain looks, at least, visible in lieu of the bright, very eye glaring sunlight.

The Yellows at the toilet stop JUST before the ascent to Mt. Fuji (where handsome Japanese soldiers were aplenty)

Disneyland! Beside Alice's Teaparty a.k.a the spinning teacups.

The BEST SOFT SERVE ICE CREAM YOU CAN EVER GET - in flavours of Vanilla, Peach, Lavender and one more which I forgot.

Tada. A hint of the ancient Japanese civilization in a SHOPPING MALL! Yes, a shopping mall.

The place where we had some really good hotplate beefy thing AND had those paddly kind of goose/duck boats kind of thing which we were so, so tempted to sit.

And this, my dears, is a Bullet Train station. Not a Subway Station, a Bullet Train station (SNSO girls are a classy bunch indeed) hahahaha.

And there you go, the funniest thing in a century. Hot, warm Corn Soup straight from a vending machine at once again, the Bullet Train station! For only 120Yen, it is indeed good stuff.

AHHHAAAAA NYEH NYEH we had Japanese BBQ! Drool.

Another beautiful, picturesque view of Disneyland.

The hamsum bus driver that everybody loves! Kawaii neh! (The one on the left, of course)

And check out the gorrrrgeouuuuus view of the sunset from the hotel room. Land of both the rising and the setting suns!

Tada, the Tokyo Tower. Where they sold many, many SUPER ADORABLE stationery and we, as usual, were too distracted by all those kawaii stuff that we didn't even stop to marvel at the wonder of this pretty tower. But I did! Hahahahaha.

And to all jealous fans out there: This, is an arcade. Yes. Rows and rows and rows and rows of enchanting games. How pretty indeed!

And to top this amazing trip, a photo of an electronic toilet map. Yup, a TOILET MAP that actually tells you what KIND of toilet it is (squat, sit, with baby facilities, yada yada) and where the cubicle is OCCUPIED or not. Talk about amazing, eh.

Anyways, guess I'm done here! The other photos are either very, very irrelevant, or too *eh hem* private for this public blog right here. Ciao juniors!

P.S Practice hard! (yes, I know I do nag - a lot)

<3>

2007-12-03T22:02:00.000+08:00

Lightsabers and Spitfires

Anglo Chinese School (Independent) Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Maestro Chan Tze Law

Venue: The Republic Cultural Centre
Date: 6th January 2008, Sunday
Time: 5pm
Ticketing: $16 (stalls), $13 (circle)

Programme-
William Walton- Prelude and Fugue 'Spitfire'
George Gershwin- Rhapsody in Blue (Soloist: Albert Lin)
John Williams- Star Wars Suite

Please do let me know if anyone wants to go by Saturday night! Notify me of any other orders after Saturday via email k (:

<3Claud

2007-11-30T21:37:00.000+08:00

hi i haven't been here in a long long long time! hahahaha anyway i hope you all had fun at the day camp today with RVSE (i hope its not wrong, sorry if it is!). i think we all enjoyed ourselves during the games session right! especially the uh butt exercising game hahahaha. good job organising the games blue badges :) was really happy to see you all enjoy yourself (yingtong was very good doing the charades of 'hua mulan' hahahahaha!) hopefully we'll get to do such stuff next year, pray hard! here are the group pictures:

yeeeep.

anyway i miss japan :(

you'd never find this sort of scenery in singapore!

stringers at mount fuji! (koped from claudice)

anyway there's no more string practice for the yearrrrrr, i hope you all will have a good holiday and enjoy yourself! :)

blue badges remember to do the banner okay! has to be up by 14th dec. i think you all should be able to do a good job :) go go go!

green badges remember to come up with the ideas for the souvenir! something creative and nice :)

enjoy your holidays everybody! take care :)

<3 cassandra :)

2007-11-28T17:19:00.001+08:00

2007-11-19T16:16:00.000+08:00

I found this on one of my RISE friend's blog. It's so hilarious:

"To the other schools, eg. ACSI, Dunman High, SNGS (hot man), NYGH, ri thereby wishes you congratulations on your success."

HAHAHA. Anyway, we're going to Japan today! Yay! :)

Jana.

2007-11-15T18:31:00.000+08:00

Hi loves,
Jackets have arrived and are currently residing in our dearest Mep room. Do understand that to control the collection and to make sure that everyone who has ordered gets their jacket AND that they get the size they have ordered, DO NOT take the jackets unless anyone of the Comm members are there okay?
Thank you dears

P.S. Final checkups are tomorrow! PRACTICEEEE

<3claud

2007-11-13T23:03:00.000+08:00

Hello stringers (:
I come bearing good news k! Your jackets will be delivered on Thursday at 2pm. So to those that want your jackets on Thursday instead of Friday lmk or leave me a text message so I know to look out for you k.
Also because your jackets are coming on Thursday, means that the balance of $546 has to be in by Thursday, ahem ahem.

So do lmk k, if not just collect on Friday yep!

<3claud

2007-10-25T18:31:00.000+08:00

Hello there,
I'm so sorry, I know by now you'd have probably gotten sick of seeing messages from me but haha what else to do :)

Topic: Upcoming Concert To Attend!
Details:
Hwa Chong String Orchestra & Methodist Girls' String Ensemble
17th November, Saturday
1930
Hwa Chong Institution Drama Centre
Tickets at $5 each

I'm sure most, if not all, of you should know that we had a combined camp with HCISO last year and that members from said orchestra have supported our productions (i.e. Jubiliate IV), so in order to maintain diplomatic ties and ensure their support for upcoming productions (i.e. Jubilate Vi and Vii 2008) you are strongly encouraged to support them. Also, as it is 17th November where everyone including the Yellows are done with school and award presentations whatsoever, school commitments should not be an excuse for unavailability.
Please do let your Level Cos know the number asap! (:

<3claud

2007-10-21T00:15:00.000+08:00

K so this is the finalised design for the jacket, details are as follows:

1) Embroidery of logo in gold courtesy of WengJun on the front, roughly 6cm big
2) Design courtesy of Jana at the back, roughly 28cm
3) Hood
4) Kangaroo pockets
5) Zip-up instead of pull-over
6) Total quantity 50 (Greens, Blues, Yellows) and 14 (Reds)
7) Sizing details (Excluding Reds)
- XS (36): 7
- S (38) : 15
- M (40) : 27
- L (42) : 1
[Total: 50]

Any errors do let me know a-sap (:
Also, the supplier has sent me a worksheet with a drawn jacket with the finalized details shown, if anybody wants it do let me know as well (:
<3 Claud

2007-10-18T22:38:00.001+08:00

SYF PHOTO! :D SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT LOOKING HURRRR HAHAHA. Thank you Rebecca Tan for scanning it in. Anyway, I think this year's SYF photo is VERY CHEAPSKATE. Usually they'll like put 5 or more small photos at the bottom and it'll fill up the entire bottom section. But this year they have decided to be simplistic and put 3 pathetic photos and decorate the top with fairies and a very TEENY WEENY 'Gold with Honours'. Hahahahahaa.

2007-10-15T11:34:00.000+08:00

Hello Stringers! I just dropped by here to say HELLO and to tell everybody to GO FOR THE JAPAN TRIP for the RED BADGES ARE GOING :) It'll be from the 19th to 23rd of November (5 days) and we'll be going to Disneyland and stuff. Those who aren't MEP people won't have to go for the Noh and Kabuki workshops. We'll be having free time instead!

Reds are very, very excited about the trip and SO SHOULD YOU! So come on, come on don't make us disappointed okay! Keep the string spirit ALIVE!

Jana

2007-09-12T16:16:00.001+08:00

Stringers!

In case you havent realised, Mr Chan (and Mr Chan) is having a concert on the 19th of September, it's a Wednesday night and the concert is at 07.30pm

More Information:
"In this inaugural concert, the ensemble will perform two piano quintets representing the zenith of Romantic ideals and musical styles. These are Cesar Franck's intensely spiritual and dramatic Piano Quintet in F Minor and the ghostly and mysterious Piano Quintet in A Minor by Edward Elgar, which was inspired by a group of dead twisted trees near Brinkwells in Sussex, and is often regarded as a quasi-programmatic work.
The musicians in the current series are violinists Foo Say Ming and Lim Shue Shurn, cellist Chan Weishing and Young Artist Award winners Lim Yan (piano) and Chan Yoong Han (viola)."

It isn't exam period yet and for the Greens, you should have no problem with exams I presume. And it'll be a good experience for you all (: Please do try and support Mr Chan k. Tickets are going at $23 and yes i know it might be a teensy little bit steeper than the other concerts we've been to but this one is different. For one, it's at the Esplanade so do try and make it. Let me know if you're interested in going so I can get the tickets kayyyy (:
All the best for exams!

Claud

2007-08-18T22:23:00.000+08:00

haha cassandra you can scratch the last part about being disciplined.. cause i'm not so sure. ))):

2007-08-15T21:04:00.000+08:00

Hello Stringers,
please give your level cos the consent form and $2 for the CIP trip next Tuesday! If not someone will come and hamtam you for the form, and that's for sure. I'm sure you know who hahahaha (: (Not Voldemort, Mary-Anne.) Make things easier for everybody yes.

And continue to practice for the trip to the home okay! We shall play very well and leave a superb impression on the people so that they will know that we are a very good and disciplined orchestra. Work hard! We can do it (:

<3 Cassandra

2007-07-22T21:58:00.000+08:00

Hello Stringalings! I'm back again. Yes, yes after a very long time. Basically, I'm here just to let my presence, or rather, the red badges presence felt. Although we have graduated from SNSO, we'll ALWAYS ALWAYS be a part of SNSO (just like how the greys have been there for us uh huh!)

Anywaaaaaays, I heard that you all picked up new pieces! I'm going to swing by one day and I'm confident that SNSO's going to sound gr-grrrrr-grrrrrrrreat :)

Oh wells, I was browsing through some stuff a few days ago and saw a few quotes that (yes, I know rather cheesy) make a lot of sense! In no random order, they are....:

"Your entry can decide how you exit"

"You exit will be remembered longer than your entry"

"You will never have significant success with anything until it becomes an obsession with you"

Well, so basically, I hope the red badges have proven that and carved the way for all of you! (And hahaha, I hope our exit has been very memorable) So well, set your goals & priorites and you know what SNSO? We have the potential to do well IF WE WANT TO. We also have the potential to sound like a horrible orchestra IF WE WANT TO. So Stringalings, what do you want? :)

<3>

2007-07-21T21:40:00.001+08:00

Hello Stringers, here are the photos from Open House, sorry this is so, uhm. Delayed :/

2007-07-15T16:17:00.000+08:00

Stringers,

I hope the photos are to your satisfaction (: These are the haha least unglam ones I could find. Do feel free to send me any photos you want to be uploaded and I'll upload for you okayy!

<3
Clauds

2007-06-24T15:48:00.001+08:00

SYF INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLES PRESENTATION
(3 Jul, 7.30 pm)

The concert showcases some of the best Western and Ethnic Instrumental groups, from 8 schools: Nanhua High School, Yuhua Secondary School, Nan Chiau High School, Siglap Secondary School, Evergreen Secondary School, Xinmin Secondary School, Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School and Tampines Junior College.

2007-06-23T15:02:00.000+08:00

Concord'07 by Hwa Chong Institution String Orchestra with the Melbourne Boys Choir
11th July 2007
Victoria Concert Hall
Tickets @ $12 (please note the change)
Contact your very trustworthy Communications Manager Claudice Wee to order tickets

Please support HCISO!

(HCISO SAYS, if SNSO buys more than 30 tickets from them, you'll get the tickets at $11.50! It's a very, very special Friends of HCISO deal ONLY for SNSO!)

2007-06-19T20:04:00.000+08:00

Hello Stringers! I'm so happy you all are starting on the Dvorak Serenade for Strings :) although it's an extremely tough piece, it's a beautiful one - and very challenging too! Just take it as a study for the entire orchestra. This piece does not only need YOUR individual effort (by practicing all the notes, phrasings, intonation, etc..), it also requires A LOT of orchestra effort (in terms of phrasings, syncopation, tricky rhythms, overall texture of the piece)

So, we seniors hope that all of you will practice hard! And maybe soon, every single on of you will be able to play all 5 movements! I'll be waiting for that day okay! Oh man, I feel so old. Anyway, the Reds have graduated from string but that won't stop us from supporting every single one of you ALL THE WAY. So if anyone of you have any problems, please FEEL VERY FREE to contact any of us!

I'm trying to load all 5 movements in to the string gmail, but somehow gmail is conked up, so just check it regularly and the recordings may pop up!

STRINGOS YOU CAN DO IT! :DD

Oh yes! Japan trip is CONFIRMED ok (though not the date, but it'll be somewhere around November 27 to December 1) It's a pure REWARD and FUN trip for us so NO INSTRUMENTS WILL BE REQUIRED!

Love,
Jana

2007-06-09T13:52:00.000+08:00

hello all!

sorry, some amendments to the earlier post about the camp kit list. now, instead of coming in your pe attire / level tshirt, please come in your string shirt and shorts and instead pack the pe attire / level tshirt. just do so okay, if you don't have your string shirt come in a dark coloured shirt, if you think logically you will know why (:

anyway just to confirm the red badges who will be coming, because we will be preparing lunch for you all so if you don't want / want lunch but your names are / are not here, please tell wenman / jessica / me / tag on the board asap because we have to change orders and all.
Jana
Jo Hsi
Joey
Rachel
Shireena
Zi Qian
Cherry
Samantha
Vanessa
Sarah
Fen Wee
Michelle
Debbie

this list is not 100% confirmed, so please help ask around to help us double check. and so far the people not going for camp and will be overseas are Sue Hern, Yoceeda and Jomain. only 3 that i've heard, if there's more please tell us also.

that's all for now, thank youuuuuuuu (: please check your emails cause we might be sending stuff to you (:

cassandra

2007-06-04T21:22:00.000+08:00

hello stringers! (:
the string camp is from 18th june to 19th june in case you all forgot! and umm cause we are not seeing you until the day itself, we can only pass you all the camp kit list through this blog. but don't worry, when we get the list of all your emails (blue badges) we will send it to you again. green badges, i only have yingtong's email so if you see this, uh you can either leave your email at the tagboard, or message either amanda or i your email, if not your poor level co would have to somehow find a way to pass you all the camp kit list hahaha! yep (:

okay so here is the camp kit list. its fine with us if you want to bring additional stuff, but please make sure you bring all the stuff on the camp kit list yes, cause... yah we don't have extras (:

CAMP KIT LIST!
-String Tee
-PE Shorts
-1 set of clothes to sleep in (optional)
-Towel
-Undergarments
-Shampoo
-Soap
-Toothpaste
-Toothbrush
-Slippers/Sandals
-Sleeping Bag
-Money (at least 5 bucks, but not too much!)
-Your darling instruments
-Your beautiful scores, a pencil and a eraser (one set per stand if not there would be a fine of 2 bucks each stand for anything missing! don't say we didn't warn you!)

your reporting time on 18th june is 0830hrs. you would also be fined if you are late! please be in your PE attire and shorts and proper shoes, pinafore optional (:

what else. ummmmm. oh yes level cos if you know of anybody in your level who is definitely not coming for camp please tell us so we will not like have extra food that kind of thing, especially the sec1s! yep that's all i think.

if you all don't have your string shirt or cannot fit into it anymore or cannot find it, then uhhh any black shirt will do (: sec2s if you want to wear your level tee, you can wear it on the first day when you are reporting because we will be playing games on that day and a black shirt might be a little hot... yep and the second day there's not much activities, so (:

okay i hope i will get the emails of the sec1s soon so that i can send you all the camp kit list again for those who do not read blogs. do not fall sick okay! we all must be healthy and happy and ready for the string camp hahaha :D

<3 cassandra

P.S. Yoohoo! This is your treasurer (: For those who ordered the photos, please bring the money for your SYF photos during string camp as we have a deadline to meet if we want a probable discount on the price of the photos. We need the cash latest by the first practice when school reopens, 26 June. Our lovely Red Badges also, thank you (:

2007-05-23T16:01:00.000+08:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lOQHgCSZkEw

Click for our farewell vid :) the one that the Sec4s made for the rest of SNSO <3

2007-05-19T20:19:00.001+08:00

Some photos from Jubilate IV! :)

Before setting off! At the Forum.

Ziqian and Angela!

Alethea, you scare us.

Many many Stringers in the holding room!

Hello Sam :)

SLs minus Joanne with Mr. Chan!

SO NEAT RIGHT!!!!!!

Debbie and Claudice @ the Forum

Ziqian, Cherry, Jana being retards

Nat the Minnie Mouse and Angela xD

Entire SNSO! <3

SNSO is lovvvvvve

Violin 1s <3

Blue badges plus an extra

Entire SNSO again!

Jubilate was a blast, red badges are gone :(

2007-05-17T10:40:00.000+08:00

29 Jun (Fri)
1930 hrs
SYF Opening Ceremony
Singapore Indoor Stadium

3 Jul (Tue)
1930 hrs
SYF Instrumental Ensembles Presentation
Singapore Conference Hall

Tadaaaaa. 20% 20% 20%.

2007-05-09T20:10:00.000+08:00

Hello Stringers :(

I keep on thinking about 11th May (which is in about 2 days time) and I want to try and I get so sad and emotional over it because.. because... IT'S THE RED BADGES LAST OFFICIAL PERFORMANCE WITH SNSO :(

Sigh, sigh, sigh. Just so you know - yellow, blue & green badges - WE LOVE YOU ALOT. Too much actually. That's why it's so hard for us to leave this CCA we call our 2nd home (cheesy or whatever I don't care but YES that's how much SNSO means to alot of us). Ah this is crazy. Time flies really, really fast when you're having fun!

Oh, oh, hahaha you know on Tuesday, when some of the reds were having that retarded finale rehearsal, all of us were so infuriated because we were missing string! Then the CO people called us String Freaks hahaha. It's like everytime they told us we could return to CCA for the time being, all of us would RUNNNNNN SPRRIINNNT HOPPP JUMP FLYYYYYYYY all the way back from the hall to the MEP room. Super hilarious :D

BUT YOU KNOW WHY, STRINGERS? DO YOU KNOW WHY!! BECAUSE WE ARE STEPPING DOWN SOON AND WE REALLY WANT TO CHERISH EVERY MOMENT OF IT :( Boo. Okay what a redundant post but - YES.

I think I'll be an emo galzxzZXzXz on Friday.

Go away.

Yours sincerely on a very random night,
Jana Loh

2007-05-06T13:36:00.001+08:00

STRINGERS!

Please listen up, this is very very important.
Mr Jonathan Cher, as some of you have already heard, has contracted Hand-Foot-Mouth disease.
Mr Jonathan Cher, as some of you might have noticed, popped into the MEP room during our practice, remember when Sue Hern was saying her speech.
Now, if you haven't already heard, several stringers are not feeling well and/or showing symptoms of HanD-Foot-Mouth disease.

Stringers, this is very scary okay, I know academic workload and test are piling up since we're coming into the last few weeks of the term, not to mention Jubilate IV in a matter of days. So please do take good care of yourselves and let any of the seniors or Comm members know if you show any signs of HFMD.
Below are signs and symptoms, as well as self-care methods for you guys. There were photos but I couldn't upload them cause blogger is screwed. So here's the link of the photos http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hand-foot-and-mouth-disease/DS00599/DSECTION=2

Signs and symptoms

The signs and symptoms of hand-foot-and-mouth disease include:

-Fever
-Sore throat
-Ulcers in the throat, mouth and tongue
-Headache
-Fatigue
-Loss of appetite
-Irritability in infants and toddlers
-A rash with vesicles on hands, feet, and diaper area. The vesicles are typically on the palm side of the hands, the sole side of the feet, and are very characteristic in appearance. The vesicles are also tender or painful if pressed.

The usual period from initial infection to the onset of signs and symptoms (incubation period) is three to seven days. Fever is often the first sign of hand-foot-and-mouth disease, followed by a sore throat and sometimes a poor appetite and the feeling of being sick (malaise). One or two days after fever begins, painful sores may develop in the mouth or throat. Rash on the hands and feet can follow within one or two days, and may also appear on the buttocks. Hand-foot-and-mouth disease may cause all of the above signs and symptoms or just a few of them.

Self-care

Certain foods and beverages that can cause burning or stinging may irritate blisters on the tongue or in the mouth or throat caused by hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Try these tips to help make blister soreness less bothersome and eating and drinking more tolerable:

-Suck on popsicles or ice chips
-Eat ice cream or sherbet
-Drink cold beverages, such as milk or ice water
-Avoid acidic foods and beverages, such as citrus fruits, fruit drinks and soda
-Avoid salty or spicy foods
-Choose foods that are soft and don't require a lot of chewing
-Rinse your mouth with warm water after meals
-If your child is able to rinse without swallowing, rinsing the inside of his or her mouth with warm salt water may be soothing. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt with 1 cup of warm water. Have your child rinse with this solution several times a day, or as often as needed to help reduce the pain and inflammation of mouth and throat sores caused by hand-foot-and-mouth disease.

Please watch yourself for any signs or symptoms of HFMD and check on your fellow stringers as well. Please pray for Mr Cher and those who are not feeling well. Drink lots of water and get more rest, take good care of yourself and let any of the seniors or Comm members know if you too are not feeling well, even if it might jolly well be a simple normal fever or a cold.
Your health right now is the utmost important thing. And I apologize for being naggy and repeating everything over and over again.

Thank you,
take care,
and God bless.

With Love, Clauds

2007-05-05T18:23:00.000+08:00

Okay. More pictures from the BBQ! These are basically just the group pictures. Blue & Yellow badges, you all can come here yourself to upload your level pics. I don't have them! :)

The entire orch! <3

The entire orccchhh again!

Some of the sec 1s!

Red badges!

Section Leaders (L-R): Cello - Fenwee, Viola - Ziqian, Violin 1 - Jana, Violin 2 - Rachel, Bass - Joanne and the ever-so-gorgeous... MR CHAN!

Blue badges with the Reds. Don't ask why we're sitting like that hahaha.

Okay now I've decided to be random! A picture that the violins took just after coming back from SYF :D

Teeheehee VIOLIN OUTING @ JANA'S! Triple yay.

That's all for now! And more cheers for a sold out Jubilate IV!

2007-04-30T20:29:00.000+08:00

Hello Stringers! Hope you enjoyed the faaaabulous BBQ that Mr. Chan planned for us :) THANK YOU MR. CHAN! You know, ironically, I flipped open the papers this morning and found an article promptly titled "Will the grill kill?" with the opening paragraph stating 'If you love your barbecues, read on. Medical experts have managed the scientific equivalent of pouring cold water on a pile of fiery briquettes: Grilling and other high-heat cooking methods accelerate ageing and several serious health conditions.' AH HORROR! Hahaha.

Anyway, wasn't Mr. Chan's chicken marinade de-de-delicious! <3>

Starting the fire! Debbie's the firestarter hahaha

ANNNNNNA CHAAAAANNN! Enough said, continue ogling. (Hello Mr. Chan we know you're seeing this but she's really far too cute)

SNSO & Swings with Anna <3>

The aerial view of the place

Jessica is very, VERY happy with her chicken

Amanda is very, TERRIBLY happy too :)

Rebecca, Rachel, Ziqian and Jana at the grill!

congyi, Shireena and Joey!

Sec 2s and 1s playing around with Anna

Terrorizing Anna hahaha (okay just joking)

Jana at the grill and Debbie being her usual self

-____________________-

have no idea what the yellows were doing

A very cute picture

A very act cute picture

magic8ball robot rocks!

2007-04-28T10:42:00.000+08:00

yay. all thanks to qian, i asked the magic8ball robot a few questions (some cannot be posted here cos its a sensitive issue but you guys can ask me at the bbq) hahahaha

rachel says:
will mr chan wei-shing leave snso for __________?

magic 8 ball says:
as usual, NO!

YAY! :]

<3 rachel

2007-04-27T23:00:00.000+08:00

Hello stringers! There's this MSN robot called "Magic 8 ball" :D I talked to it today and it's really funny. If you want to talk to it, its email is
magic8ball@botmetro.net!

Ziqian says:
will snso get gold with honours for 2009 syf?
Magic 8 Ball says:
Why, yes!

WHOA HAHA.

Ziqian says:
did snso get gold with honours for 2007 syf?
Magic 8 Ball says:
Dunno...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Anywaaaaaaaay, today during the election speeches, did everyone realise that all nominees talked about discipline? Actually, all nominees talk about discipline every year la right, hahaha. And some people from the audience, I can't remember who, mentioned about the fining system being not effective. Actually its effectiveness really has died off and maybe like the nominees said, we should reward instead of punish. I think that'll work out well :) But why do we even need punishments or rewards?

The root of the problem here is actually our own behaviours. I think we should all have self-control and be able to discipline ourselves. Like, we shouldn't be only coming on time for cca and putting up our shoes on the shoe rack just to not pay $1, or to please the dm. The dm is in a bad position here because there are always people who are not cooperating and complaining about the fine system. So actually we don't need the fine system if everyone does everything without being forced. Right? Right.

For now, I think the rewarding thing will be gooooot. But don't you all think how it'll be if one day, we don't need a dm to be pushing us to have good discipline, and we don't even need fines, and everybody just has good self-control? Someone will be jobless and the strings fund will be poorer, but our CCA will be much greeeeeeeater :) Yesssss we have lots of fun during string practices, obviously. But don't overdo it okay! :)

Okay I've finally said what I've wanted to say for a longggggg time hahahaha.

See you all tomorrow at the BBQ :) Be there!!!

<3
Ziqian

2007-04-25T19:59:00.001+08:00

THIS SATURDAY
27TH APRIL 2007
BBQ @ MR CHAN'S
(Get the address from anybody who's got the address hahaha)
6pm!
(If anybody wants to come earlier to help prepare, tell the comm!)

P.S: I talked to OCC and got us out of Vivaldi, now let's just hope she'll let us play the new uber cool piece!

2007-04-23T18:38:00.000+08:00

AND WE ARE BACK FROM THE ZOO HOO HOO HOO!

To all those who couldn't go, nyeh nyeh nyeh Anna's so cute hahaha. Anyway, as pictures say a thousand words, HERE ARE SOME OF THE PICTURES -mainly, the highlights :D Enjoy!

ANNA AND MR. CHAN. Humanly love - AWWWWWW.

Mr. Chan stealing food from his poor daughter. Sigh.

ANNNA. OMG ANNAAAA.

Everybody wants an otter for a pet :D

Oh yes, after we took this group photo in front of the elephants, the idiotic trainers (or how they call them - mahoots) made the elephants spray water to our faces. AHAHAHAHA.

After lunch -still all hyper.

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. The Best Conductor and The Cutest Kid.

Okay, hope you enjoyed just a FEW of the photos! Notice how majority of them consists of Anna. Haha.

ANYWAY STRINGERS, THIS SATURDAY, 28TH APRIL 2007, MR. CHAN COORDIALLY INVITES US FOR A BBQ AT HIS HOUSE FROM 6PM! (Get the address from us, not going to release it on the World Wide Web else he gets mugged and stalked) And yes, Mr. Chan can cook so please don't be scared.

Yours truly,

Jana the wonderful, Rachel Pang(sai) and Jo Hsi aka Jo His.

2007-04-22T16:31:00.000+08:00

ZOO!
23rd April 2007
Meet @ AMK MRT, 0930hrs
Bring along $15!

2007-04-21T15:42:00.000+08:00

Hey all! These are the picture's that my dad took of our night practice on 17th April :) I'm so glad we achieved our goal! Keep aiming high alright! -JANA

WE DID IT SNSO!

And to aid Mr. Chan Wei Shing....

THAT, Mr. Chan, is a magic 8 ball! :D